The text came from my friend, Paul Duer. Supposedly Chris (Mad Dog) Russo, the XM Radio host, was bashing me this afternoon.
I called Paul a few minutes later. Turns out Russo dismissed Sweetness, a book he almost certainly didn’t read, because—according to him (and some NFL book)—I was wrong in identifying Garin Veris as the man who caused Walter Payton’s fumble in Super Bowl XX.
One problem: I wasn’t wrong, and I knew I wasn’t wrong. I probably watched a tape of that play, oh, 30 times. I interviewed multiple Patriot players, almost all of whom discussed the play in detail. Reporting, reporting, reporting.
Anyhow, after confirming Russo’s mistake (and the unfair bashing), I Tweeted him.
This was the response I received:
God is good.
Hey Pearlman how about some props for ando….I was the one who reported it to Duer
Erik, Duer didn’t mention you. Said he found it out all by himself.
The man who caused Walter’s fumble was Jim McMahon, who never completed the handoff to Walter. You’re both wrong.
Neil, that’s in the book—McMahon turned the wrong way. however, the handoff was certainly completed. watch the tape
Kudos to Russo for acknowledging he was wrong. Good stuff. Haven’t read the Payton book – but will soon. Boys Will Be Boys is my all-time favorite book. The Haley chapter is insane.