Busted: The Rise & Fall of Art Schlichter

by Art Schlichter, Art Schlichter

Art Schlichter was a football God; was being the key word. After playing starting quarterback for coaches Woody Hayes and Earle Bruce at the Ohio State University, he was picked in the first round of the 1982 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts. His star faded when his demons turned him into a gambling addict; swapping his life of football promise for one that would leave him outrunning the mob and the feds, stealing from his own mother and leaving his wife to care for two baby girls as he made 40 different prisons his home over ten years. An unimaginable fall from greatness, Schlichter tells the story of his trips to heaven and hell to sportswriter Jeff Snook.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports

245 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[B.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one. Went through his whole career. Growing up on a farm in a small town in Ohio. Recruited to OSU. Playing in old-style offenses. Gambling starts, and how he legit just couldn't stop. The story of him building up a bankroll to $120k to give half to his wife and leaving with $1,500 is heartbreaking. Wish him the best

[John Lyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad story of a gifted athlete who took the wrong course. An addiction to gambling cost him everything and his continued obsession through multiple stints in jail is a clear testament to the overwhelming power of any addiction. It’s great he’s turned his life around, a testament to therapy.

[Rob Eelkema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early feeling it is a great book.....Art was a great highschool athlete and went on to play the Rose Bowl as The Ohio State starting QB. He was drafted by the Baltimore Colts but we soon found out that Art had a gambling problem. The book is set-up very well and I'm enjoying the book.......

I finished the book today. My sister, Katie, is going to recommend the book to her hubby....which made me feel good about what I'm reading. Art Schlichter was born in 1961 or so and Jeff was a big 10 athlete so he probably has heard of Art.

Art was demonized by gambling and the most impact that it had was he had young kids went he went to jail.....4 & 6 years old...by the time he got out of jail, they were 14 and 16 plus. I can imagine missing that important part of my kid's lives.

After the book was published, Art remains a troubled person as I heard he swindled the CEO's wife of Arbys out of some money in a ticket scam. Same story different day.

Gambling is a disease and if you don't believe it....read the book.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I've followed since his college days at OSU and with all that he has been through I think he is a better person now!
It starts off slow but gets better.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at the life of a professional athlete (from my mother's home town) with a terrible gambling addiction and his experiences in prison.

[Alexander Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of an incredible athlete whose off-field issues derailed his life. It’s narcissistic and poorly written at times, but that makes sense considering the low life that is this author.