Headslap: The Life and Times of Deacon Jones

by John Klawitter

"This book's going to raise a howl," promises Deacon Jones. "You wait and see!"
From a small rural town in Florida to the NFL Hall of Fame, this is the story of Deacon's rise to the top of the heap in the National Football League. "Headslap" refers to the lightning move popularized by Jones in the early days of the game, when a player could rattle the cage (or at least the helmet) of a blocker by belting him alongside the head. And Deacon did this better than anyone in the game. They weren't jabs; they were full left hooks and right crosses. So devastating was this move that the League outlawed it. "Headslap" has a deeper meaning as well: it's the jarring feeling you get when you realize that things aren't always what they might seem to be.

Genres: Football, Sports, Biography

578 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Let’s All Hear It Now For Being Good

Lyrics, John Klawitter ASCAP

I’d like to be just half the friend/ You always thought I was
I wish I’d had a winning plan/ Worthy of your love.

Your joy came from some hidden space/ Rare light for this time and place.
Your smile lit up the neighborhood/ Let’s all hear it now for being good,
Yeah, let’s shout out/ an’ kick about
Raise a rousing cheer for being good.

Oh we did tootle/ and we’d honk/ Freewheeling at our trade
And we did wander Happytown/ With many a song we made.

Free lancers true/. Joyful and blue
Wandering through/ Do what we do.

The years went by/ we lost our way
Jamming through the life we made
Life water flows/ No place to stay
We couldn’t tell / was night or day
That was the price we paid.

And yet…
You helped out when you could/In boom times and in bust
You advised me what to do/And told me when I must.

Once you were free and clear
I didn’t see; I didn’t know
You flew off from this rocky shore
Too sudden soon no longer here.
Too sudden soon you had to go.

I like to think I’m better now/ I’ve learned a thing or two
I wish I’d learned a little more/ I could have shared with you.

Your smile lit up the neighborhood/Let’s hear it one last time for being good.
Let’s raise a beer and give a cheer/ Let’s all hear it now for being good.
Yeah, come on now everybody—one last time for being good.
Let’s all hear it now for being good.

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

similar to embry's book. combines sports and social policy to describe the US culture of the 20th century from a black male athlete perspective. very inspiring. and fun - it's the deacon - one of the game's most colorful characters.

#deaconjones

[Nick Hussong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was life-changing for me. It was an easy read and Deacon's life and perspective are unique and worth learning about, to say the least. This book altered my perception of many aspects of United States' history and I recommend it be read by everyone.

[Bigred · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book...was really all about football and Deacon's relationship with players and coaches, and not so much oh his personal life.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deacon Jones was the Minister of Defense, and this is his story.