LAWRENCE TAYLOR, NEW YORK GIANTS VS. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, JANUARY 1994
Now airing on Showtime is “LT: The Life & Times”, a documentary that chronicles the ups and downs of the career of NFL Hall of Famer, Lawrence Taylor. Nicknamed “LT”, Lawrence Taylor is arguably the best linebacker to have ever played the game and considered one of the best defensive players of all time. His tumultuous life off the field, however, brought him equal notoriety for substance abuse, illegal drug possession, and numerous resulting NFL suspensions.
Directed by 27-time Sports Emmy winner Peter Radovich, Jr., and narrated by Jon Bon Jovi, the documentary takes an in depth look at Lawrence Taylor’s life with previously untold stories from Taylor himself, his family, friends, former teammates and coaches, including Bill Parcells, for whom he won the Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 1987; Bill Belichick, who was the Giants defensive coach; Phil Simms, the quarterback; and even Joe Theismann, whose career he ended with that famous hit that broke his leg. Despite LT’s flaws, all seem to have genuine affection for him, Parcells in particular, based on the tenacity with which he played the game.
STILL FROM “LT:THE LIFE & TIMES
The documentary opens and closes at the wedding of his daughter, where we see first hand the toll his infamous lifestyle took on his family and the relative absence from his kids lives growing up. Their emotional interaction and his breakdown is heavy, but we also see a man who has seemingly changed his life around and is looking to redeem himself with a second chance and a new family. Football fan or not, “LT: The Life & Times”, is a riveting and honest portrayal of this sport legend’s life, the player we watched every Sunday, and the man we never really knew.
AP Photo/Paul Spinelli
