This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/12/2013.
The cover of the August 1999 ESPN Magazine had one of the more memorable, eye-catching images. Newly drafted New Orleans Saints running back Ricky Williams was posing in a wedding dress next to his Head Coach Mike Ditka, with the headline, “For Better or Worse - Ricky & Ditka Take The Plunge”. Williams had won the 1998 Heisman Trophy, and Ditka and the Saints traded all of their 1999 draft picks plus future picks to acquire Williams at No. 5 overall. After a few successful NFL seasons, Williams abruptly retired from football going into the 2004 season and studied holistic medicine in California. After a brief return in 2005, Williams was suspended the entire 2006 season for failing multiple drug tests. Later, Williams openly admitted to smoking pot before football games. At the end of his career, Williams surpassed the 10,000 rushing yard mark as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, becoming only the 26th player in NFL history to do so. He still holds Miami Dolphins records for rushing yards and touchdowns in a season.