Posted on Tue, May. 06, 2008

Herschel Walker stays true to self with disclosure

By CHAREAN WILLIAMS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Herschel Walker scoffs at critics who say he made up his dissociative identity disorder to sell books. Walker's new book, Breaking Free, is No. 18 on this week's New York Times bestseller list for hardcover nonfiction, but the ex-Dallas Cowboy insists his intent is to help people, not sell books.

"I wrote this book when my business [H Walker Enterprises] was doing very, very well," Walker said in a telephone interview. "I could have sacrificed my business in the sense that people could have labeled me as Sybil, The Three Faces of Eve.... The thing is: I didn't have to say anything. But that wouldn't have been true, and that wouldn't have been right, because there are a lot of people out there I can help. That's the real reason I did this."

DID, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis where a person has two or more distinct personalities. Walker reveals in his book that he had a dozen alternate personalities and says the condition nearly drove him to suicide.

Walker, who still lives in Dallas-Fort Worth, said he has been in treatment for nine years.

"I'm doing well; I really am," Walker said. "...Where I am right now, I'm so much better than I was."

Walker talked about a variety of topics:

On signs that he had DID:

I never knew. Everything is going OK. There may be signs that you really don't see. You just don't know it. I think when my ex-wife started saying some things -- and I loved her and I respected her -- then things started coming to the forefront. You know, it's OK to get help. It doesn't show that you're weak. As a matter of fact, it takes a strong person to say, 'I can't do it; I need help.'

On if his condition ever scared him:

It scared me a lot, because I knew it wasn't me. That's not the way I was brought up; that's not the way I lived. I didn't know what it was. I don't drink. I never have. I don't take drugs. I never have. Then, people are telling me things that I was very unfamiliar with that I was doing. That's kind of scary. What in the world is going on? The first thing I did was go to a minister, and he betrayed my trust. Then, they start talking about an exorcist. You start laughing, because it's so far out there; you think it's crazy.

On people making light of mental health conditions:

It's not bad. Everyone may label it as bad, but if you go to the Bible, every person in the Bible has had a fault. They've been humbled.

On what he is most proud of in his football career:

My freshman year at Georgia. It wasn't the national championship. I think I'm proud of the journey getting there. It was a team effort. We were not picked to be the best team in America. We were not picked to be the biggest, the fastest. We worked as a team. That laid a foundation for me in life. I knew then that no matter what you do, if you stay together, you can accomplish great things.

On being traded from the Cowboys to the Minnesota Vikings:

I was surprised, but then being a businessman, I think Jerry Jones is very smart. He is a fine owner, and I think people ought to give him credit. The guy is absolutely incredible at what he does. He's built a great, great team there in Dallas. That's what people forget about. If I was him, I would have done the exact same thing. I don't think anyone can argue with it.

On if he takes any credit for the Cowboys' three championships in the 1990s:

I'm not going to say I should get any credit, because it was Jimmy [Johnson] and Jerry. They still had to go out and get the people. That was the key -- them going out and using the draft picks to get the right people.

Herschel Walker book signing

What: His biography Breaking Free

When: 6 p.m. today

Where: TCU Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 2950 West Berry Street, Fort Worth

Notable: Books will be available for purchase at the bookstore before and during the event... Because of time constraints, Walker will only sign Breaking Free. No other memorabilia will be signed at this event.