I have an old rossin with Da 7400 parts. Drive like a dream, first summer with it. Just started creaking and there is some some play drive side of the crankset. I am big. 6'4 225. My drive home is all uphill. I'm hoping I didn't do irreversible damage. Please speculate that I didn't and what I should do to fix it.
I just ordered a basic bike mech tool kit from nashbar and a bench mount bike stand. Here goes nothing.
A bike mech I met at the bar last night said my bearings might be.... Smooshed?

Odds are you're feeling bottom bracket bearing play. Easy enough to test. Set the crankset so either crank is lined up with the chainstay. Hold it there pinching the crank and stay between your fingers. Push the opposite crank in and out, and feel to see of the movement travels through the BB to the crank you're holding. If you do get movement, then there's baring play. The fix depends on the type of BB, with some being adjustable and some not.

And stop taking bike maintenance advice from people you meet in bars, even if they claim to be bike mechanics. It sounds like you're inexperienced about stuff like this, so unless you're ready to buy tools and get educated really fast, I suggest you take ASAP it to a bike mechanic who is on the clock and sober. You just might get it fixed before anything gets smooshed.

Be sure to check the BB is properly tight in the frame, need to pull the cranks to do this properly.

It was the afternoon and he runs the "bike cave" coop in town. I do plan on trying g to fix it myself if I can.

And thank you