Title/Author:
“You Ought To Do a
Story About Me: Addiction, An Unlikely Friendship and the Endless Quest for
Redemption” by Ted Jackson
Tags:
Football (American),
professional, biography, drugs, Vikings, Colts, Rams
Publish date:
August 25, 2020
Length:
336 pages
Rating:
4 of 5 stars (very
good)
Review:
It is not unusual for professional athletes
to encounter hard times after their playing careers end. This book that tells
the story of Jackie Wallace, a former NFL defensive back with the Minnesota
Vikings, Baltimore Colts and Los Angeles Rams is a little different in the
telling of the story of former star athlete who encounters tough times,
recovers and falls back again in a seemingly never-ending cycle.
What makes this story about Wallace written by
photojournalist Ted Jackson different is that Jackson shows genuine concern for
Wallace long after finding him sleeping under a highway overpass in New Orleans
in 1990. Those photos along with the story written by another journalist
brought attention to Wallace’s plight. Some would have just left the story
there, but not Jackson. For more than
twenty-five years, Jackson would attempt to reach Wallace to find out what he
is doing, how is his recovery from drug addiction going and if he has any
future plans. Sometimes the reunion
between the two men was heartwarming, other times it was heart-wrenching as
Wallace fell into the pattern of recovery and remission back into drug
addiction.
Wallace’s football career is recapped in nice fashion, especially
when one considers that Jackson isn’t a sportswriter. Wallace was originally a quarterback, but
switched to defensive back when it was realized he had a better chance to
obtain a football scholarship at that position, which was awarded to him by the
University of Arizona. From there, he
spent seven years in the NFL and played in three Super Bowls between 1973 and
1980. However, that isn’t the main
subject of the book as the reader is taken along the journey Jackson takes to
follow Wallace after that chance encounter in New Orleans.
Speaking of that city, there is plenty of material on New
Orleans history, culture and politics as well as Jackson worked many years for
the city’s daily newspaper. Everything
from the Jim Crow era to Hurricane Katrina is covered and while long, it does
play an important part in the book to frame the story of Wallace, who despite
seeming to have recovered from his addiction and found a good life in Baltimore
in the early 2000’s, kept slipping and ended up back in New Orleans.
Through the entire time, Jackson paints a tough but
sympathetic portrait of Wallace, neither criticizing him too much nor
attempting to make the reader feel sorry for him. It is just a very good story of addiction,
recovery and friendship that will keep readers engrossed. One doesn’t have to be a football fan or
remember Jackie Wallace’s career to enjoy this book.
I wish to thank Dey Street Books for providing a copy of the
book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
Buying Links:
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