
And just when you thought Romo was the model of perfection, he goes and saves a couple from a burning automobile, somehow making him more perfect. Okay, slight exaggeration, but Romo, returning home after the Cowboys thoroughly waxed the Browns earlier in the day in Cleveland, pulled over to assist Bill and Sharon White, who were busily changing a car tire after suffering a blowout.
"I don't know, a hundred cars, probably more, had to go by. Nobody was stopping," said Bill. "That's just kind of the way it is in today's world."
And then ... "Bill was fooling with that tire, and I was standing beside the car watching him," Sharon said. "The next thing I know, a nice-looking young man, very well-dressed, but with something strange on his chin, he walked up, smiled, and said, 'Hey, you need some help?' "
Sharon hadn't even noticed a car pull up. So now it's Bill and the well-dressed young man both bent over a flat tire at midnight on a Sunday, trying to figure out why a faulty air compressor plugged into the cigarette lighter was leaking more than pumping.
Athletes to the Rescue
Tony Romo is well known for being a star quarterback and the boyfriend of singer Jessica Simpson, but for one Texas couple, he's also a knight in shining armor. Returning home after the Cowboys beat the Browns, Romo pulled over to assist Bill and Sharon White, who were stranded on the side of the road after their car tire blew out. Click through to see some other heroes from the world of sports.
Scott Boehm, Getty Images
On July 3, 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. Franchitti, wearing just his boxers, used his car (naturally) 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
Sports agent Drew Rosenhaus saved the life of a 4-year-old boy in 2005. The quick-thinking Rosenhaus administered CPR to the child who had no pulse after being pulled from an Orlando, Fla. hotel swimming pull. "The kid was gone and [Rosenhaus] saved a life," a police spokesman said.
Ron Heflin, AP
Bill admitted to not getting a good look at the guy (probably didn't want to seem like he was staring at that thing on his face), but it didn't take Sharon long to figure out that she was in the presence of greatness (well, save that Seattle game from the '06 playoffs, anyhow):
"I didn't want to bother him," Sharon said, "but I asked again, 'You're Tony Romo, right?' " I knew it was him by then. But he smiled and said, 'Yes, ma'am.' " Sharon: "I did something no 50-year-old woman should be doing, but I screamed real loud, and then jumped up and hugged him."Bill was more concerned with Romo not spilling the beans on how the Cowboys had fared earlier in the day; the Whites were headed home to watch the game on TiVo.
In all seriousness, this is an amazing story, and it says a lot about Romo the person. And although it's a relatively small gesture, it's something the Whites will certainly never forget -- and probably something most of us wouldn't have even thought about doing.
Look, we're driving a 10-year old car that is sitting in a parking lot with a flat tire in the dead of night. He could tell by that we're nothing special. But here's a young man making millions of dollars, and he's got all this fame and glory, and he does this?" The Whites couldn't thank Romo enough. "But if I ever had the opportunity, I'd also like to thank two other people. His mom and dad," Bill said. "They obviously raised him right. ..."Well, except the part about finding the right girl. But otherwise, I couldn't agree more. And for all the mindless stories we see about "making it rain" and "puppy-murdering quarterbacks," it's refreshing to read that everybody in the NFL hasn't lost their mind.
Latest Cheerleader Photos
Cheerleaders dance before a World Cup 2010 qualifying game between Paraguay and Venezuela in Asuncion, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.(AP Photo/Atilio Fernandez)
AP
Steven Lopez shows off his bronze medal in taekwondo to a group of University of Houston cheerleaders during the Houston Olympic Heroes Day at City Hall, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, in Houston. The event honored Houstonians who competed in the Olympics in Beijing. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Smiley N. Pool) ** MANDATORY CREDIT **
AP
PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 07: A cheerleader of the Philadelphia Eagles entertains the crowd during a time out against the St. Louis Rams on September 7, 2008 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 07: A cheerleader of the Philadelphia Eagles entertains the crowd during a time out against the St. Louis Rams on September 7, 2008 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 07: A cheerleader of the Philadelphia Eagles entertains the crowd during a time out against the St. Louis Rams on September 7, 2008 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 07: A cheerleader for the Miami Dolphins performs against the New York Jets at Dolphin Stadium on September 7, 2008 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
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Cheerleaders from the Merrimack Mudcats scrimmage with the cheerleaders from the Carrabassett Valley Rats during the World Championship Mud Bowl in North Conway, N.H., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008.(AP Photo/Jim Cole)
AP
Cheerleaders from the Merrimack Mudcats scrimmage with the cheerleaders from the Carrabassett Valley Rats during the World Championship Mud Bowl in North Conway, N.H., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008.(AP Photo/Jim Cole)
AP
DENVER - AUGUST 31: The Colorado State University Rams cheerleader lead their team onto the field against the University of Colorado Buffaloes at Invesco Field at Mile High on August 31, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. Colorado defeated Colorado State 38-17 to win the Centennial Cup. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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EUGENE, OR - AUGUST 30: A cheerleader performs before the start of the game between the Washington Huskies and the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on August 30, 2008 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 18)
9-11-2008 @ 7:37PM
Url Fan said...
I'm a Bears Fan but after reading this I am also a Romo Fan. What a great guy !!!
Reply
9-11-2008 @ 9:17PM
Marilyn said...
I have always been a Romo fan. I can only hope my car breaks down when he is around.
9-12-2008 @ 1:27AM
jose said...
I'm a New Yorker so i root for both Jets and Giants but from now on im also rooting for Tony Romo... I wish things like this would happen more often
9-12-2008 @ 5:31AM
Marc said...
I'll second that ! I really don't watch alot of football these days, and to be perfectly honest I have never in my life seen Tony Romo play, but you can bet I will make the time to watch him play now !!!
It's nearly impossible to relate to most of the players these days with all the sensational journalism and blather on T.V.
but like the man said Tony Romo's folks definitely raised him right, and that is admirable in my book. It's good to know there are still decent people out there no matter how famous they are or how much they make. Hats off to Tony Romo and the fine folks who raised him right. ;^)
9-12-2008 @ 2:10PM
Russ said...
Url Fan, I'm a 49er fan and I agree with you, this kid has some class! All you read about these days are the stories of shootings muggings,drugs,beating their girlfriends, and what not. This is the real deal! my hat goes off to Tony Romo! the NFL needs more class people like him! P.S. but I can't be a Dallas Fan, no matter WHAT!
9-12-2008 @ 1:37PM
KIM said...
I am a Cowboy fan.....Romo is an exceptional guy....keep up the good work and big ups to your parents who raised you to be the man you are today....
9-14-2008 @ 2:38AM
vince said...
I am an Eagles Fan and normally we hate the Cowboys. However, I am really impressed with Tony Romo did.. I'll bet that if a Supermodel were stuck on the side of the road like that, Tom Brady would stop,too.
9-13-2008 @ 7:13AM
DSmith said...
Pats fan from Maine, but Romo was my first pick on my fantasy league. Now I have two reasons to admire the guy.
9-11-2008 @ 8:09PM
Pat said...
How incredibly impressive - great to hear stories like this!!
Reply
9-11-2008 @ 8:12PM
shadowbabi12892 said...
wow that was a great thing to do. I think that im also now a Romo fan now too :D
Reply
9-11-2008 @ 8:13PM
Marcel said...
Reading this its obvious that Romo is a stand-up guy. A lot of class.
Reply
9-11-2008 @ 8:15PM
David said...
Good job Tony! The world (just not sports) needs more of a helping hand.
Reply
9-11-2008 @ 8:18PM
Brian Hitchcock said...
i am a huge cowboys fan and a big Tony Romo fan
i bet he would have been the only millionair to pull over and help out some one in trouble way to go tony you made me proud to be a cowboys fan now tony is a hero and hero's live on for ever
Reply
9-11-2008 @ 9:23PM
Patrick said...
What a great lesson for all our kids to learn from. If you have kids who like football be sure they read this story
9-11-2008 @ 8:18PM
maria said...
I am totally a Dallas Cowboy fan, and totally in love with Tony Romo. I am a 53-year-old woman, and I too would have screamed and hugged him. He is gorgeous!
GO COWBOYS!
Reply
9-14-2008 @ 12:39AM
Edith said...
I am a 62 year old women and have always been a Cowboys fan. I knew when Romo was drafted he was a class act. He continues to prove it. What a great act of kindness, this couple must past this act of kindness on. This our year, GO COWBOYS!
9-11-2008 @ 8:29PM
john said...
It is soooooo....refreshing to see a young sports star make fans off the playing field as well as on it. Your gifts are not limited to football young man. Bless you.
Reply
9-11-2008 @ 8:28PM
Dee said...
WOW! I'm a hugh Cowboys fan and Romo fan of course! BUT this just topped it all :) what a great all around guy!! Gotta love him...need more people around the world like him
Reply
9-11-2008 @ 8:27PM
BOB said...
THANKS TONY, THAT IS SOMEONES MOM AND DAD...WHAT A STAND-UP GUY. THANKS AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
9-11-2008 @ 8:45PM
John said...
I'm a big Giants fan, but always a fan of somebody going the extra mile, way to go Tony.
Reply