On April 21, 1980 along the gorgeous shorelines of San Diego, a boy named Antonio Ramiro Romo was born, and came into the world roughly about the size of the infant Paul Bunyan. Or so they say. Antonio and his family soon moved to Burlington, Wisconsin, a pleasant town of just under 10,000 people, nestled midway between Milwaukee and the Illinois border: an ideal place to raise someone as special as Antonio. Being submerged into Packer nation for most of his childhood, the young boy soon developed a love for the game of football, especially the quarterback position, lettering three times for the Demons of Burlington High School. The talented, flashy Californian then graduated, leaving his roots and heading due south for Division I-AA Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, home of the Panthers, where he was poised to explode.
After redshirting as a freshman, Romo took the reigns as EIU's starting QB his sophomore year, shattering several school and conference records during his career, finishing first all-time in TD passes (85) and second and third in school and conference respectively with 8,212 passing yards. On December 19, 2002, Romo became the first player in Eastern Illinois and Ohio Valley Conference history to win the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the nation's best offensive player at the DI-AA level. Yet on draft day 2003, even with the prestigious honor under his belt, every single NFL team passed on The Kid Who Only Threw Touchdowns.
Okay, so maybe Romo wasn't a Matt Christopher character, but he certainly deserved a chance. And thanks to another guy named Payton, he would soon get that chance.
Then-Dallas Cowboy quarterbacks coach Sean Payton?now head coach of the New Orleans Saints?advised the front office to sign the talented, undrafted rookie and bring him to training camp, which they did. And for those of you that have been paying attention, you know the story after that. Amongst the chaos surrounding Quincy Carter's alleged problem with cocaine, followed by the failure of St. Louis Cardinals hurler Chad Hutchinson, leading to the resurrection of Vinny & Bill, then Drew & Bill, like Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, there was Romo. Tony Romo: the most recent Cowboys starting quarterback as of October 29, 2006/coolest guy in the NFL.
Some of you now are probably sifting through players in your head, in hopes of finding a more suitable fit for the label in the latter part of the title that I have given Mr. Romo. If you weren't doing that before, you're definitely doing it now. Sure, you throw out names like Tom Brady and his three rings, watch-commercials, and Bridget Moynahan. Or LaDainian Tomlinson, with his visor, abbreviation, visor, speed, and visor. Two birds have prevented Mike Vick from being nominated, Ocho Cinco isn't his real name, and Randy Moss is always in a bad mood. So the truth remains and I'll say it again: Tony Romo is the coolest guy in the NFL.
You wish you were Tony Romo. You wish you were a 6'2", 225-pound starting QB that wore No. 9?same number as Gordie Howe, lives a cat has, innings in a baseball game, times J. Lo has been remarried, and World Series rings A-Rod will have at the end of his career (minus 9). You wish you were a good-looking, 26-year-old starting dude who could sling the ball like Nomar-the-shortstop used to. Simply put, you wish you could be that cool.
This past Thanksgiving, I was feeling extremely annoyed when I saw Dolphins QB Joey Harrington on my television screen for the fifth straight year despite leaving Detroit for Miami. I was absolutely dumbfounded as to how this could have happened. Luckily however, a second game followed: Cowboys vs. Bucs, a game that coincidently featured Tony Romo. 22-of-29 passing for 306 yards later in a 38-10 annihilation of Tampa Bay, and the guy who had sat on the bench for the past three-and-a-half years, starting just his fifth game ever, had accomplished something that Troy Aikman had done once (he needed overtime), and something Hall-of-Famer Roger Staubach had never done: throw five (yes, five) touchdown passes in a single game.
"The sky is the limit for the guy," said the normally selfish, disgruntled Terrell Owens of Romo after catching eight balls for 107 yards and a score last Thursday. "He's poised back there in the pocket. He makes things happen on the run. He makes great decisions and he's managing the game. He's exceeding expectations right now."
Exceeding expectations is an understatement. Before stealing the starting job away from Buffalo Bills legend Drew Bledsoe, Romo was heavily criticized by football experts and talk-show hosts alike for his inexperience and unpredictability in the pocket. Since he's been under center however, Dallas has regained control of first place atop the NFC East, and Romo has thrown for over 1,650 yards with thirteen touchdowns and five interceptions (just two in his last four games) earning him the highest passer rating in the NFL (110.8) as well as comparisons to one Tom Brady. Now you're all really upset.
Sure, Brady has Bridget Moynahan, but I'll take Jessica Simpson every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Romo and Nick Lachey's bodacious, blonde ex are now rumored to be dating; this coming merely two weeks after Tony was dumped by his ex-girlfriend. He declined to comment on whether or not the rumors were true this past Sunday on NBC's Sunday Night Football, but don't be surprised if his new introduction song on gameday suddenly becomes "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'."
Tony Romo is the starting quarterback for America's team, arguably the best squad in the NFC. He's not only pleasing, but also gaining the respect of two of the most critical figures in professional sports: T.O. and his head coach, Bill Parcells. He's 4-1 as a starter, an avid golfer, (the next Tom Brady?!?), and he's reportedly got the girl. And through all of this, he sits comfortably, hat backwards, smile beaming, as the greatest thing since Hot Pockets. Oh yeah, and he doesn't have to play with Mike Vanderjagt anymore either.
At this point, I can't help but think that Tony Romo may have actually been the subject of a late Seinfeld episode, "The Stall." At the beginning of the show, Elaine alludes to her new boyfriend, Tony, whom Jerry calls a "pretty boy," fixing up his collar, while cynically acting "hip," mimicking Tony himself. Shortly thereafter, George, who evidently has a nonsexual crush on Tony, enthusiastically calls him "such a cool guy!" Rolling his eyes, Jerry sarcastically asks his currently infatuated friend, "Cool guy? What're you like in eighth grade?" To answer for George and the rest of us, yes, we are all in eighth grade when it comes to upperclassman Tony Romo. And he's the coolest kid in school.