Meeting Our Heroes
They come into our lives on a weekly basis. We watch every game, every play, every move they make. We check to see if they are going to be interviewed on any local or national television show. We search the web for articles and new pictures we haven't seen. They are plastered all over our walls with pictures and posters. We wear T-shirts, caps, jackets any thing we can find that has a star on it and is blue and silver. I even dress my teddy bears in Cowboy clothes. So with the Cowboys being in our lives 24/7 they are a part of our family. They are heroes to us! But how many of us have had the opportunity to meet them in person?
One of the biggest Cowboy fans on myspace, Stargazzing, had the opportunity to meet the great Randy White. She posted pictures and I could feel how nervous she was! So that made me remember the opportunities that I have had in my life to meet my three heroes. Two are Dallas Cowboys and one is just a cowboy!
In the 80's I had the biggest crush on the Dallas Cowboy Quarterback at the time #11 Danny White. I thought he could walk on water. I never missed a game. I was lucky enough to attend a game in 1983. Which was amazing! But, there was more to come for me during the offseason, I found out that Danny was singing at a big club in Tulsa. I was so excited. I had already bought his album (yes album) and listened to it every day. I lacked two months of being 21, the legal age to 
be able to enter a night club. But my amazing Dad was friends with the manager of the club and before I knew it I was sitting with my Dad, Mom, and my future husband in the second row of tables in front of the stage. The manager and her husband joined us and we were having a great time. I had my camera in hand ready for the show then someone grabs my arm and says, "Come with me." I look up and see a security guard. Oh crap! I thought I was busted for not being 21. He leads me to a door, as it opens, who do I see sitting on a couch waiting to take the stage but, Danny! He smiled and said, "Hi, I hear you are a fan." All I could do is shake my head. I couldn't speak, I started shaking. I had a shirt made that read "I love Danny" on the front. Someone pointed that out to him and he smiled and winked at me. I thought I was going to faint! He signed my shirt and gave me a big hug and thanked me for the support. When I got back to table everyone was laughing and I still couldn't speak. All I could think was I didn't have my camera with me, lol!
My second hero is just a cowboy, Garth Brooks. I have had the pleasure of meeting quite a few times. I was a member of his fan club. After concerts we got the opportunity to go backstage and have a meet and greet. Our first one was on his bus. Which was pretty cool. Garth has a way of making every fan feel like a friend. He is a fantastic person and he truly cares about each and every one of us. With him I wasn't nervous at all because he makes you feel like you are talking to a friend.
I didn't think I could possibly be able to meet my third hero one of the best fullbacks the NFL has ever had, Moose! I knew I wasn't going to be able to go to Dallas and he doesn't sing that I know of, so there was no way I was going to meet him. Then one day on the radio I hear that the Cowboys would be playing in a basketball game for charity in Tulsa. Wow that will be fun I thought so I bought tickets not knowing who would be there. The day of the game it was all over the radio that "Moose" was playing in the game! I couldn't believe it! I was standing in line before the game to get a autograph and I had to pinch myself. I had cut from the newspaper a picture of his first touchdown so I took it for him to sign, he looked at it and smiled and said he hadn't seen that picture before. He was really sweet. As the game went on you could see he liked to kid around and had a cute personality.
So I feel like I have been so lucky. I have had three heroes and I was fortunate enough to meet each. Sometimes you hear about fans being let down by stars and athletes. They blow off the fans, are rude and just won't take the time to interact. I have to say I was worried that I had each of these men up on a pedestal and they might just let me down but, these three men were everything I imagined and more.
After seeing Stargazzing pictures I started wondering who lonestarstruck readers have been able to meet. Were you pleased with the meeting or maybe let down? Let's hear about your experience with your heroes.
Contributed by Raina Middleton
Comments
I had the opportunity to meet Jay Novacek. My son was enrolled in his youth football camp in Denton Texas. We were waiting in line at registration, when I caught a glimpse of a man in the back of the room just sitting on a folding table....after my eyes adjusted through a loud room of utter chaos of kids, there he was!! My son just got through signing up when I strolled over and introduced myself. I was blown away by the nicest man on earth. We talked to him for what seemed an hour, and then people started to come over, just realizing who he was!! He was laughing and joking with my children, and my husband and I, and really made an impression on us. We had to take our son to the dorm room, and he grabbed my hand and shook it, and told us that our son is going to have a great time, and he even crouched on the ground towards my other son, then 3 years old, and autographed his T-shirt. Jay has been and will always be our favorite tight-end! He made a big impression on my oldest son, who vows to be a Dallas Cowboy football player! LOL!
Posted by: Alissa | January 31, 2008 09:17 AM
I never had a chance to meet a cowboys player. But I know that having that star on there helmet was special and each knew what it meant. being a Cowboys fan for over 30 yrs, I knew and felt the love from all when my leg was broken. Thank you all, John
Posted by: John V | January 31, 2008 09:18 AM
My mother-in-law used to be the manager of the 7-11 in valley ranch, so i've been lucky enough to meet Emmitt, michael irvin,robert jones, and dixon edwards, and many others. and when i was a kid my sister worked at baylor medical center and she got me roger staubachs autograph.
Posted by: Mike Pepper | January 31, 2008 10:07 AM
Back in the glory days of the mid 90's I was about 14 yrs. old, my brother about 10. we used to go to the Cowboys cafe b/c my father knew a few players thru his music industry contacts. one day we went in and met Playmaker, Kenny "the Shark" Gant, Larry Brown, Alvin Harper, and Charles Haley...getting autographs from all and Irvin trying to give us some crazy handshake I knew nothing about. My father knew Charles so we sat down and had lunch with him and other than what a giant beast he was...the thing I remember most is my brother looking at him, grabs a handfull of fries and holds them out saying "Charles you want some of these fries?" ofcourse he didn't, he had his own that hadn't been fingered but it was funny as shit to me. Haley was a great sport.
Posted by: Ian Backer | January 31, 2008 10:23 AM
I haven't met any of my favorites yet. I'm waiting for the chance. I have my eyes open and my camera ready!!
We did meet Joe Theismann once. You're going to get a kick out of this!! After Joe's motivational talk, he did a meet & greet. My husband and I got in line a little late. While we were waiting, my husband pulled out his Cowboy zippo lighter. It has a HUGE blue star on it.
Our turn to meet Joe came and my husband stepped up. I got ready to snap a pic and watched my hubby hand him the lighter. Some words were exchanged that I didn't catch... Joe gave him a strange look and agreed to hold the lighter for the pic. Just as I went to snap it, Joe put his thumb over the star!
I was LAUGHIN'!! Hubby was like "what, what?" He didn't see what Joe did!! LOL!
So it was my turn and I'm still giggling. I had him hold the lighter for the pic with ME!! Just to see what might happen, ya know.
My pic came out great! Cowboy lighter proudly displayed between the two of us. Hubby's pic was good, too. Every time we come across it, we get a good laugh about Joe's thumb in the middle of the shot! LOL!
Any time I tell this story, I get asked if I got his autograph. The answer is NO. I didn't want to witness the autograph go up in flames when I walked into my house - which is decked out COWBOYS!!!
Nice guy though and has a great message! If you get a chance to see him talk, I recommend seeing it at least once. :)
Posted by: ShelbyK | January 31, 2008 10:35 AM
We haven't met a Cowboy yet. It is a dream of my son's though. When he was first diagnosed with his brain tumors, he made a list of things he wanted to do, his "Bucket List". He has said that he wants to meet the team kick the ball with #1 (Matt McBriar) and have the team carry him around on their shoulders. I have a friend who lives in Dallas, and Jason Witten was doing a Meet and Greet. She asked if he would talk to my boy on the phone and he did. That is the closet thing we have ever come to meeting the guys. I have sent a letter to Jerry Jones in hopes that we can make this happen next season. Hopefully we can.
Posted by: Carolyn | January 31, 2008 10:58 AM
Last season I met Bradie James and Marcus Spears outside the Georgia Dome, and inside I met Jerry Jones.
This year I met Demarcus Ware and Jason Ferguson.
and outside Texas Stadium I met Mel Renfro.
at the Panthers/Cowboys game this year I held up a sign that Said Marry Me Marion B. and he saw it because Bradie James showed it to him.
They even wrote an article about me =]
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/tmacmahon/stories/122307dnspomacmahon.3170c15.html
wow. I'm so amazing.
Posted by: Heather | January 31, 2008 11:05 AM
i wish i could make emmitt smith all those on the superbowl team they gave me great joys and bragging rights on the bus going to school
Posted by: irvin | January 31, 2008 11:22 AM
I've met Roy Williams(see my default pic on Myspace) at a Wal Mart here in McKinney. I have a NCAA blue and black football he signed in silver on the black. I met former Cowboy Dan Campbell at a cell phone store(can't remember which one--it's on 75 and Parker) in Plano on my Mom's birthday. I want to meet everyone in my Cowboys calendar and get it autographed. If and when I get them done, I'll scan the page and post them up on myspace.
Posted by: Sarah | January 31, 2008 11:35 AM
I meet several cowboys player's at the profootball hall fame when akiman and wright went in, I also attended rayfield wrights party. see pic on my page.
Posted by: kenny holder | January 31, 2008 11:48 AM
I have met several Cowboy players and even Jerry Jones. Each time my heart felt as though it would explode with aboslute love. I also had the opportunity this past May 2007 to go to Texas Stadium (I live in Florida) and have a private tour. I then was able to LAY ON THE STAR and look up through God's view hole. Those pics are all posted on my MySpace, along with ones of me in the locker room wearing Williams' jersey and helmet :-) the tour guide was nice enough to pull down the name plates above the lockers to show that underneath it was a chalkboard and the players names were written in chalk as Landry's way of expressing that as quickly as your name is written there is as quickly s it can be erased. Pics of that are there too....probably the single greatest moment of my life outside of having my children. Man I love those Cowboys.
Posted by: Bianca | January 31, 2008 12:37 PM
I have a little story to tell all of you about me meeting my Favorite Cowboy of all time and his name is Dat Nguyen. It all started when I was in high school, you see I was born with CP. I was good friends with this one girl that moved to College Station to attend Texas A&M, when she was there she met Dat's girlfriend and then meet him later on. She told him about me and everything. So he gave her an autographed cap to give to me the next time I saw her!! So time went on and on, then he got drafted by Mr. Jones and the Cowboys and after that I was his number one fan!!! So one day I decided to write him a letter just asking him questions about the guys and stuff. So one day I was at home and my dad brought home a package for me and inside was an autographed A&M jersey that he wore. That first year that the Cowboys had training camp in WF. My parents and I drove 8 hours just to see Dat, (and remember he knew who I was but never met me before) it was the first day of camp and they were all signing at tables and I went up to him and said "Hey Dat it's Shane" his eyes looked him at me and smiled. From then on I have attend Cowboys training camp ever since from WF to San Antonio. He has been a great idol for me. I wish him the best of luck in his life. Thanks Dat for making my dreams come true!!!
Posted by: Shane Bartos | January 31, 2008 12:46 PM
Yeah Whenever My Brother Was In High School He Got The Chance To Scrimmage Elizabethton High School Out Of Tennessee. Little Did We Know Back Then That The Guy Playing Middle Linebacker and Tight End Would Later Go On To Star For The Tennessee Vols And Later For Our Dallas Cowboys. So Yeah That Was The 1st Time I Ever Saw Jason Witten Play and I Was Impressed Even Back Then.
Posted by: Caleb Miller | January 31, 2008 01:20 PM
I have a few fun childhood Cowboy stories. I first met Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson when I was 10 yrs old. We met quite a few times as he lived below a relative. He has always been a fun and colorful guy. Now he is a part of my staff at www.AmericasTeam.info
I also met my idol Roger Staubach at a Catholic Church function in Dallas when I was 8 or 9.
Met Tony D and many others later as an adult..
Great story lonestarstruck!
Best,
David
Posted by: DR | January 31, 2008 01:31 PM
Man, I have had the opportunity to meet several Dallas Cowboy Players. I have met, D. Ware, Tyson Thompson, Marion Barber III, Troy Aikman, Dat Nguyen, Roy Williams, Marcus Spears. A local company brings Dallas Cowboys to the Rio Grande Valley (South Texas) for an opportunity to meet and greet the players. I always thank the players for their time and coming down to meet with their fans. Troy Aikman, I met him outside Texas Stadium. I froze when all of a sudden he came out of nowhere and was standing right in front of me. I was in awe. LOL!! I look forward to meeting more players in the future. Dat Nguyen though I think will always be the more memorable player. He actually talked to us for awhile and told his stories to a room full of people. I remember someone asked him what he thought of Roy Williams, and he said oh no Roy is in another league from where he was. I felt like jumping up and hollering!! No way!!!! They are all in the same league as each other. They are all great Dallas Cowboys players, and in my eyes he was in the same league as Roy Williams. But those are my stories. Can't wait for next season. Let's Go Cowboys!!!!
Posted by: Patti Tamez | January 31, 2008 05:09 PM
I have had the honor of meeting several Dallas Cowboys players both past and present Such as: D-Ware (3 times), Marion Barber, Everson Walls, Jason Witten, Roy Williams, and Micheal Irvin. Me and a few of my freinds drive 110 miles from Delaware to Edison New jersey. so a special event that Tru Blue Cowboy fans attend. I have talked to all these players and they were all really cool people. Ware and MB3 I have to say are two of the coolest people to get to know, they just keep it real and treat you like more then just a fan. and thats a feeling that only Dallas fans get because we are a Blue and silver family. Anyone that would like to see the pictures of me and the dallas players can see them on my myspace page. (www.myspace.com/kydsspace). Feel free to leave comments
Posted by: Bernard Keys | January 31, 2008 06:07 PM
I work at Tanglewood Resort in Pottsboro,Tx on Lake Texoma and every year, the NFL Alumni hold a charity golf tournament. The ones I've met are from the 70's & 80's such as Waddell Smith,(who is a phenominal pianist) Robert Newhouse, Aaron Mitchell, Glen Titensor, Billy Joe Dupree, Preston Pearson, Too Tall Jones, the late Harvey Martin and more current Cowboys such as Tony Romo, Larry Brown and Jimmy Johnson. I also have met other players from other teams like Bake Turner who played with the N.Y. Jets during the Joe Namath era. They are all really nice people and don't mind talking to you or signing autographs, but once a cowboy fan, always a cowboy fan!
Posted by: Chuck Kingston | February 1, 2008 06:16 PM
I can't wait to meet John Shango...LOL
No, really!!!
He's my favorite Cowboy ever!!
<3
Posted by: RoMo2Owens | February 4, 2008 06:11 PM
Well If I was a bears fan I would be a lucky guy. I used to work and live in the Vernon Hills IL. back in the 90s and I got the chance to meet most of the bears and bulls players. That was neat. (MJ) was a big let down! Long story. Richard Dent was the coolest guy! He would mess with ya and joke around every time I saw him. Great guy! The only COWBOY well X cowboy I got to meet was Dave Wanstade. I meet him right after he got the job here in chicago. That was cool. My first cowboy! I told him sorry to lose him to the bears but good luck on his new job. I never got to see (THE RING) I saw him 5-6 times and he never had the ring on? So to all you who live in Texas and get to go to meet and greet shows YOU ARE SO LUCKY!! I would trade in a minute!
Posted by: Jason aka Big.J.74 | February 5, 2008 10:59 AM
I've met a couple of pro players over the years...the first was back in the late 70's after the Steeler's had beaten our boys in the Super Bowl....I was at church one Sunday and our pastor had asked some of us to stay after service for a special baptism service...when who should appear but Franco Harris...he was the childs godfather...we got to talk to him and get an autograph...he was a really nice guy. The other was my childhood hero...I work for the TSA at my local airport and was working one day when a young lady came through wearing a shirt with something about NJ on it...being born and raised in NJ I commented to her about the shirt and a man behind her aked if I was from Jersey...Of course I said yes and he said he was too and asked me if I had ever heard of Drew Pearson...I about dropped dead... we had a short conversation, shook hands and he went on to catch his flight. My only regret was I couldn't get his autograph; as while on duty we are not allowed to ask for autographs from the celebrities we meet. I also get to run into Coach Switzer and Barry Sanders on a regular basis.
Posted by: Doug D | February 5, 2008 11:07 PM