Cant Hackett Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2898868 Thomas Henderson: Lending a hand By William Bendetson ESPN.com (Archive) Updated: June 11, 2007 Throughout the offseason, we'll catch up with former NFL players and coaches to find out what they have been up to since leaving the game. Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson has lived two very different lives -- the first as a talented athlete overcome by problems with alcohol and other drugs, the second as a teacher and philanthropist. Henderson, a Dallas Cowboys linebacker from 1975-1980, says he has been sober and drug-free since 1983. "It is something I am most proud of," he said. Henderson List When Hollywood Henderson was asked to list his favorite linebackers of all time, he made it clear he feels he is the best linebacker ever to play the game. Henderson argues he has the best qualities of all the linebackers listed below, as he could play the nickel and cover the best receiver. With that said, here are his five favorite linebackers: 1. Seth Joyner 2. Lawrence Taylor 3. Wilber Marshall 4. Robert Brazile 5. Cornelius Bennett Henderson, 54, who has two daughters, a grandson and a granddaughter, uses his life story to motivate others. Once a month, he lectures about overcoming drug and alcohol addiction at the Hanley Center, a large rehabilitation complex in West Palm Beach, Fla. "I invite anyone to come who wants to," Henderson said. The former Pro Bowler still remembers the one lesson that turned his life around. It is a lesson he tries to teach young people. "While in recovery, I was told something very profound by a clergy member," Henderson said. "He told me, 'Without alcohol and drugs, everything is possible. With alcohol and drugs, nothing is possible.' " Henderson, who has lived in Austin, Texas since his retirement in 1980, has done plenty of charity work through the years. In the 1990s, his nonprofit, East Side Youth Services and Street Outreach, built two football stadiums with tracks around them in Austin, the first at a high school and the second at a local park. Thomas Henderson was one of the premier linebackers in the league. Henderson agreed to fund the second project without having the money to pay for it. He slept in a tent with no food for a week and was prepared to stay in the tent as long as it took to raise the $350,000 needed. "I told my doctor that he could put me on an IV, but I was not going to eat any food," Henderson said. "It was one of the greatest things I ever did, but it was also one of the most difficult." Money has not been an issue since 2000, when Henderson won $28 million in the Texas lottery. He uses some of that money to maintain the athletic facilities his nonprofit helped build. Henderson also plays a lot of golf, and he still keeps in touch with former teammates Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson and Ed "Too Tall" Jones. Henderson is very candid about his coach, Tom Landry, who died in 2000. "I didn't always like him when I played because he was tough, but he taught me about organization, commitment and sacrifice," Henderson said. William Bendetson is an intern for ESPN.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 Good to read about players from the past- I see that an intern wrote this story? ESPN is desperate for writers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cant Hackett Posted June 12, 2007 Author Share Posted June 12, 2007 If I had to guess, I would have said Henderson was dead. Nice story. He once said Terry Bradshaw was so dumb, he could not spell cat even if he was spotted the C and the A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn306 Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2898868 Thomas Henderson: Lending a hand By William Bendetson ESPN.com (Archive) Updated: June 11, 2007 Throughout the offseason, we'll catch up with former NFL players and coaches to find out what they have been up to since leaving the game. Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson has lived two very different lives -- the first as a talented athlete overcome by problems with alcohol and other drugs, the second as a teacher and philanthropist. Henderson, a Dallas Cowboys linebacker from 1975-1980, says he has been sober and drug-free since 1983. "It is something I am most proud of," he said. Henderson List When Hollywood Henderson was asked to list his favorite linebackers of all time, he made it clear he feels he is the best linebacker ever to play the game. Henderson argues he has the best qualities of all the linebackers listed below, as he could play the nickel and cover the best receiver. With that said, here are his five favorite linebackers: 1. Seth Joyner 2. Lawrence Taylor 3. Wilber Marshall 4. Robert Brazile 5. Cornelius Bennett Henderson, 54, who has two daughters, a grandson and a granddaughter, uses his life story to motivate others. Once a month, he lectures about overcoming drug and alcohol addiction at the Hanley Center, a large rehabilitation complex in West Palm Beach, Fla. "I invite anyone to come who wants to," Henderson said. The former Pro Bowler still remembers the one lesson that turned his life around. It is a lesson he tries to teach young people. "While in recovery, I was told something very profound by a clergy member," Henderson said. "He told me, 'Without alcohol and drugs, everything is possible. With alcohol and drugs, nothing is possible.' " Henderson, who has lived in Austin, Texas since his retirement in 1980, has done plenty of charity work through the years. In the 1990s, his nonprofit, East Side Youth Services and Street Outreach, built two football stadiums with tracks around them in Austin, the first at a high school and the second at a local park. Thomas Henderson was one of the premier linebackers in the league. Henderson agreed to fund the second project without having the money to pay for it. He slept in a tent with no food for a week and was prepared to stay in the tent as long as it took to raise the $350,000 needed. "I told my doctor that he could put me on an IV, but I was not going to eat any food," Henderson said. "It was one of the greatest things I ever did, but it was also one of the most difficult." Money has not been an issue since 2000, when Henderson won $28 million in the Texas lottery. He uses some of that money to maintain the athletic facilities his nonprofit helped build. Henderson also plays a lot of golf, and he still keeps in touch with former teammates Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson and Ed "Too Tall" Jones. Henderson is very candid about his coach, Tom Landry, who died in 2000. "I didn't always like him when I played because he was tough, but he taught me about organization, commitment and sacrifice," Henderson said. William Bendetson is an intern for ESPN.com Good Article. He put out a book probably 15 years ago talking about his career and his drug issues. It really showed how low he had sunk in life. It is good to see he got his life together. (winning 28 million in the lottery help too) Great point though in giving props the Robert Brazile. He was an absoulute beast. Unfortunatley there was a guy name Jack Lambert who played in the same division at the time. Brazile, along with Randy Gradishar should both be in the HOF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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