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Herschel Walker admits to playing Russian roulette before D.I.D. diagnosis (video)

By Jonathan Bass

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Herschel Walker discussed with Dan Le Batard the times that he had played Russian roulette.

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Herschel Walker has been making the media rounds to promote his MMA career (at age 53!), and on Thursday’s episode of Highly Questionable he discussed some weighty topics with Dan Le Batard, Bomani Jones and Papi. The 1982 Heisman Trophy winner talked about his diagnosis of Dissociative identity disorder (D.I.D.), the affect it’s had on his life, and how he has learned to cope with it.

Perhaps the most startling part of Walker’s interview was when Le Batard asked his about playing Russian roulette – a tale the journalist had read, but had no confirmation of. In a startlingly blunt admission, Walker said that he had indeed engaged in the contest. That at times he felt so invincible and competitive he would load one bullet into a gun, spin the chamber and hand it to a friend with the instruction to point it at Walker and pull the trigger. When friends would decline, Walker would hold the gun to his head and pull the trigger himself. He also claimed to have performed this act more than once.

Editorializing for a moment here, but my God. I currently live in Atlanta, a town where Walker is considered nothing less than a saint. Hearing his battles with these demons, and the fact that he has held a loaded gun to his head is absolutely shocking. Moreover, it’s incredibly sad. Down here it’s as if you’re one person away from somebody who is friends with Walker. Such a heart-wrenching admission from one of the most humble and engaging athletes around. Glad to hear he’s now doing well and has things in order.

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