A Gift for Ron

In 1981, Everson Walls joined the Dallas Cowboys in training camp as an undrafted rookie free agent. Walls led the nation in interceptions his Senior year at Grambling State University, but he was overlooked during the draft. Walls entered camp as a long-shot to make the team, but not only did he make the team, he became an All-Pro his rookie year leading the league in interceptions.

A Gift for Ron

Walls has faced some difficult challenges throughout his life, but a few of years ago, he decided to face another one. With his former teammate and friend Ron Springs waiting for a kidney transplant, Walls decided to take matters into his own hands and donate his kidney. The book, A Gift for Ron: Friendship and Sacrifice On and Off the Gridiron is the story of Walls’ life and how events led him to a place where he felt enough courage to make a life changing decision.

I had a chance to visit with Walls the day before Thanksgiving about his book and a few other subjects as well.

“We had a nice little platform to talk about the dangers of Type 2 Diabetes and Kidney Failure,” Walls told me when I asked him about the inspiration for the book. “It was an opportunity to share what Ron means to us.”

In spite of the inspirational nature of the story, no publisher expressed interest at first. “[Co -author Kevin] Blackistone did a great job of weaving events of my life into the Ron-event,” he said. In spite of the slow start, Walls and Blackstone’s agent found a publishing company willing to publish the story. Walls called the coming together of the book as “a blessing.”

Walls has embarked on a tour for the book that includes 25-30 radio or TV shows. He also has four book signing events scheduled, one in which he has already attended.

I asked Walls about the enormous rookie salaries as he was instrumental in helping players, especially undrafted free agents such as Tony Romo, obtain a better salary during the 1980′s. “I’m for any person to get what they can get.” However, he told me, when owners decide to pay these big salaries to rookies, “. . . .they open a pandora’s box and they can’t close it.” Walls explained that it creates a situation where owners have to choose between a “. . . veteran who is a liability versus an unproven rookie.”

Walls recalled that the Cowboys were notorious for letting veterans go while they still had good years left during the 1980s. The Cowboys were also known for finding little-known players through the leadership of Gil Brandt who was Vice President of Player Personnel. Brandt was known for finding the “diamonds in the rough.” Bradt and the Cowboys would sign them, sometimes undrafted such as Walls and Michael Downs, and then the players would be locked in to lower salaries. Then, the younger players would be used to replace veterans who have bigger salaries.

Ironically, it was their failure to find more of the younger talent they had found that led to the demise of the Cowboys in the late 1980s. When Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys, he and head coach Jimmy Johnson let go of older players to rebuild the Cowboys with new talent. Walls was one of the players let go, and he ended up winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants.

When I asked Walls if he thought that the NFL depended too much on measurables in the draft, he responded, “Yeah I always have.” Walls mentioned Steve Largent as an example of where the philosophy can break down. The Hall of Famer was never considered fast enough, but he “ran precise routes.” Walls noted a difference between a good athlete and a good player. “The difference,” he said, “is heart and mentality.”

Walls also pointed to what he calls the “big school bias.” The bigger schools, when he was in college, had the TV exposure. “It’s a marketing thing really,” he said. The lack of exposure in college led to the lack of draft status and affected players’ money. These days, the exposure for the smaller schools is better, and NFL scouts are finding players at the smaller schools. However, Walls believes that, “[before] NFL scouts were some of the laziest people in the sport.” They only seemed to notice the players from the big schools and did not look for good players from smaller schools such as Grambling where he starred.

As for guys who are trying to get to the pros from the semi pro football ranks, Walls has some advice:

“Never let anyone else determine your greatness. Only you can determine your fate, by the choices you make. It’s an all-out commitment. You can’t half commit. Be prepared for the blessing [opportunity] that comes your way.”

Sounds like some good advice for all of us who are trying achieve our goals.

About the book:
A Gift for Ron: Friendship and Sacrifice On and Off the Gridiron

The book is written by former Dallas Cowboy Everson Walls and AOL Sports columnist Kevin Blackistone. Blackistone helps Everson weave his life events into a story that reveals a life that was nurtured for the sacrificial act of Walls donating his kidney to former Cowboy Ron Springs. The book follows Walls from the days he grew up in the Hamilton Park area of Dallas to his days at Grambling State University where he played for legendary coach Eddie Robinson.

The book also follows Walls during his first training camp where he beat the odds to make the Dallas Cowboys and earn his rookie salary of $30,000 per year. Walls “lifts the curtain” from behind-the-scenes of the Dallas Cowboys organization during his time from 1981-1989 revealing information about the strikes, the Players Union, and his fight to earn a salary worthy of his production on the field.

More Information:

EversonWalls.com
Gift for Life Foundation

The book is available at your local Borders Books.