Athletes to the Rescue
Terrell Owens became the hero of one ESPN reporter after the Cowboys wide receiver was the first do-gooder on the scene of an accident at the 2008 ESPY awards. Click through to see some other heroes from the world of sports.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
New England Revolution assistant coach Gwynne Williams was one of three team staff members who helped subdue an erratic man on a recent flight.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez came to the aid of man choking to death in a Huntington Beach restaurant. "Tony saved my life. There's no doubt," the Chargers fan said.
Greg Trott, Getty Images
Former college and NFL star Brian Bosworth recently came to the aid of a woman who crashed her car into a ditch in Canada.
Bernstein Associates / Getty Images
Criminals should think twice before entering the home of Noah Herron. The Packers running back used a post from his bed to foil a burglar in June.
Getty Images
NASCAR's Dario Franchitti was caught without his pants on, but not without his wits, when a would-be robber surprised him in his home in January. Dario, wearing just his boxers, used his car to help track down the intruder.
John Raoux, AP
A man who tried to extort an acquaintance of Terrell Brandon in February got more than he bargained for when the former NBA star set a trap for the crook and then snared him with the help of a friend.
Andy Hayt, NBAE / Getty Images
Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama and two teammates chased down a man who stole an armful of Wildcats football jerseys from a store in 2006. "I am glad we could help out," Tuitama said.
Elaine Thompson, AP
Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe Delaney died in 1983 while attempting to rescue three drowning children in a Louisiana pond. One child was saved, but Delaney and two kids did not survive. Delaney was posthumously awarded the President's Citizen's Medal.
Dan Peak, Kansas City Star / MCT
Longtime NFL kicker Norm Johnson helped save a woman whose car overturned car in a water-filled ditch in December 2007. Johnson, who lives in Silverdale, Wash., where the accident occurred, used a large rock to break a window before pulling the woman to safety.
Rick Stewart, Getty Images
Sot it's reassuring that after watching ESPN reporter Sam Alipour faceplant in the windshield of a moving vehicle, the Cowboys wide receiver was polite enough to hang out and make sure he was alright.
Terrell Owens was standing over me. I'm told he was the first do-gooder on the scene of the accident. That he helped me to my feet and off the street to safe ground. That he didn't leave my side. It seems the mercurial Dallas Cowboys receiver is my hero. But my hero looks scared, and this scares me.Alpiour also says that after dealing with the medics, he looked around and TO had melted into the sweet, dark night, a hero borne out of a more honorable time, clearly unconcerned with the self-celebration that comes with doing something positive for society.
"Wow, you all right, man?" Owens kept asking me, but in a manner that would suggest there is no possible way that I, in fact, could be all right. "Don't move. Just sit there. Breathe. Don't move."
It's now that I noticed the car's jacked windshield, which sports a hole the size of, well, my upper torso.
[...]"That was crazy. Crazy," Owens confirmed. "You all right, man?"
Now, mid-street-pushup jokes aside (I just refuse to make them, I'm too noble), whether or not I actually buy that Owens is going to behave this way for the duration of an NFL season or in any given social situation is a whole different ballgame.
Still, it's pretty fascinating to hear a story that actually paints TO in a positive light. Maybe
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-22-2008 @ 12:38AM
George B Vieto said...
Terrell is growing up a human being. We will see if translates on the football field without the end zone celebrations. I doubt it though. Terrell loves the spotlight too much to be humble on the field.
Reply
7-24-2008 @ 6:24AM
dchosen1 said...
Hey George so it's immature for any football player if they celebrate a touchdown? I don't think so my friend. Anyone is entitled to celebrate their touchdowns, even T.O.
Reply
7-25-2008 @ 4:22PM
Di said...
You, my friend are right. T.O. can rock the house on any given day provided he is a "team player". I ABSOLUTELY LOVE him when he is with the team. I ABSOLUTELY HATE him when he pouts. He's not so cute. Let's not diminish what he did, however...he is growing up. T.O. my hat goes off to you, dude. Now, show me the RING! Love and kisses, Di