Peter Knobler

Hollywood Henderson was a bit before my time paying attention to football. But I've been a fan of Landry and Staubauch for a while so it was neat getting a different perspective on their era other than the frequent adoring view.

Henderson grew up part of a pretty dysfunctional family. His father was an Airman and his mother underage when he was conceived. His grandmother tried to press statutory rape charges but his Dad was shipped overseas before much got going on it. The family in Texas felt the military got him out of there on purpose to help him escape justice.

His parents would fight and scream and his step-dad beat his mom. He ran the streets hanging out at a local pool hall and hustling for a few extra dollars. He finally left to go live with his grandmother in OKC and finished high school there. He started smoking weed then and playing football. He was very good but was not recruited well and ended up going to a small all black college. He was the only one on the team without a scholarship. He played very well and was drafted by the Cowboys. He started off his career with a chip on his shoulder feeling like other players were treated better than he was and he wasn't given the chances to play early on he felt he deserved. It's clear even at the end of the book he never forgave Landry for not giving him the respect and love he craved. He talks about getting into drugs and having sex with many many women. His life and relationships slowly spiraled out of control until he had nothing but his drug addictions and no one to turn to. It's a sad story but ends on a hopeful note as he gets his life turned around after football. Henderson does note that Staubauch sold his house for him when he asked him to and sent him a letter of support and some money while he was in treatment. So it looks like there was some respect and concern between them even after Henderson was out of the Cowboy team.

It's pretty graphic and I wouldn't recommend for kids.… (més)