A Gift for Ron: Friendship and Sacrifice On and Off the Gridiron [Hardcover]

Everson Walls (Author), Kevin B. with Blackistone (Author), Frank Deford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 3, 2009

A Brian’s Song for a new generation … the moving story of a rare friendship between two pro football stars

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Teammates for four years, friends for life. The story of Everson Walls’ gift of life to a former teammate is an inspiration for all of us."

--Boomer Esiason, analyst for CBS Sports and WFAN, and former NFL quarterback and NFL Most Valuable Player

 

“How often do we hear about one person who is not related to another in any profession doing what Everson did? . . . [He] is the only person I’ve ever known who did what he did.”
—Frank Deford, author, sportswriter, and commentator (from the Foreword)

 

 “Everson Walls and Kevin Blackistone have not only written a good football book. They have also given us an important life book. By sharing such a personal and compelling story about organ donation and transplantation, they will inspire and impact for years to come.”

—Jeffrey Marx, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of the New York Times bestseller Season of Life

 

“Everson Walls’ display of unselfishness was the ultimate example of teamwork. A life lesson for us all.”

—James Brown, CBS Sports/Showtime

 

“Everson Walls is a true American hero on and off the field. His moving story of courage, sacrifice, and offering the ultimate gift to save a friend’s life is truly inspiring. This story will motivate millions to sign up to become organ and tissue donors.”

—Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay, legislative sponsor of the Everson Walls and Ron Springs Gift for Life Act of 2009

 

“It’s good to know Everson as a person, but it’s greater to have him as a friend!”

—Doug Williams, Super Bowl XXII MVP

 

 

 

From the Inside Flap

After thirteen seasons as an NFL star, Everson Walls retired to his hometown of Dallas, Texas. He and former Cowboys teammate Ron Springs worked together on charities, their families became close, and they became godfathers to each other’s children. But, as time passed, Ron could no longer conceal the ravaging effects of his diabetes. Before Walls knew it, his friend’s simple medical procedures had become amputations and dialysis. It didn’t matter that Ron was a former football star. It didn’t matter that he was still full of life. Ron was like everyone else in the dialysis center: He was dying.
In A Gift for Ron, Walls tells the moving story of how he witnessed the suffering of Ron and his family. He also recounts their years of friendship against the backdrop of their football careers. Ron had always been willing, never afraid, to take up someone else’s cause. Regardless of the consequences. Walls was to remember this life lesson on the day he heard that a potential kidney donor had fallen through for his friend—and also learned that he and Ron shared something truly precious: a blood type. Bolstered by his faith, Walls finally understood his only option—to donate a kidney to save his friend’s life.
Ultimately, A Gift for Ron is much more than the story of two pro football stars. It is about being a teammate, being a leader, being a friend. Most of all, it is about how one friend made another realize that to be lucky in life does not necessarily mean to receive gifts, but to be able to give them.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press (November 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599215322
• ISBN-13: 978-1599215327
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #680,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gift For Ron: Friendship and Sacrifice On and Off the Gridiron, November 19, 2009

By 

GramblingGirl1991 (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Gift for Ron: Friendship and Sacrifice On and Off the Gridiron (Hardcover)

This is not your typical football story. This book tells the story of how Everson Walls comes of age to give his kidney to his best friend and "brother" off the football field.
From his on-again-off-again high school football experience, his first true football experience that forever shaped his life at Grambling State University and legendary Coach Eddie Robinson, to his time in the NFL, Everson chronicles each of these experiences in detail and depth tying everything that happened to him back to his growth into the person who made a living organ donation. He weaves amazing stories of his life, going back and forth in time, with each chapter being tied to a theme.
This book is more than a one-dimensional look at the career of an NFL player. It looks at all aspects of the life of a true hero (who will NOT call himself that). Everson continues to give the gift of life to all that read this book.

This book is a must read for any sports fan, or any person who wants to understand the mind of someone who truly lives a selfless life.

4.0 out of 5 stars A gift for Ron, July 11, 2010

By 

jrareone - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Gift for Ron: Friendship and Sacrifice On and Off the Gridiron (Hardcover)

This was a remarkable story about true friendship, which the world is so lacking today. It was easily readable and well-written.