The Dallas Mavericks are celebrating Fan Appreciation Night at AmericanAirlines Arena on Tuesday and, as promised, just-retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is in full uniform and on the bench for the Mavs’ home finale against the Denver Nuggets.
First look at @tonyromo in a Mavs uniform and in the locker room! Make sure you tune in on TXA21 at 7PM tonight! pic.twitter.com/aIdN95zwOr— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 11, 2017
The Mavericks invited Romo, whom the Cowboys released last week so that he could retire and begin a career in broadcasting, to suit up and take a spot on their bench for their home finale as a way of bidding a fond farewell to the longtime Dallas signal-caller, and saying thank you for his service to the city during a 13-year NFL career that included four Pro Bowl trips.
“For me, it’s a huge honor just to see that they want to do something just to say thank you for your career, what you did for the city to help the city and they way that I’ve supported them,” Romo said at the Mavericks shootaround on Tuesday. “I don’t feel like I deserve anything like this. I feel like this whole week has been emotional in the sense of just the outpouring of support from people who appreciated you and loved you.”
He's here! It's Fan Appreciation Night and @tonyromo has arrived for his special night honoring him as a Maverick! #MFFL pic.twitter.com/YulQqbEbUb— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 11, 2017
Not exactly a Westbrook-level entrance ensemble, but I guess it’ll do for one night.
Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki had some fun with the idea …
Fan appreciation night. Also honoring @tonyromo tonight. Come early and you can watch him shoot some airballs in layup line….— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) April 11, 2017
… and when Romo took the floor for warmups, Dirk was proven a prophet:
Romo just airballed a 3-pointer. A very delighted Dirk caught the rebound. That settles their earlier debate.— Bobby Karalla (@bobbykaralla) April 12, 2017
… if only briefly.
True to form, Romo made the next one and did Dirk's famed double drei.— Bobby Karalla (@bobbykaralla) April 12, 2017
The 36-year-old quarterback-turned-CBS analyst got pretty comfortable in the pre-game layup lines:
Layup line. #9 pic.twitter.com/MvY80m4cdH— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 12, 2017
Tony Romo going behind the back pic.twitter.com/fWmX1zmA6u— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 12, 2017
… and even took some Mavs guards off the bounce:
Tony Romo takes Devin Harris one on one. Nothing but net. pic.twitter.com/RGbPRdHEqN— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) April 12, 2017
Tony Romo taking Yogi Ferrell to the rim. (via @dallasmavs) pic.twitter.com/JAk9gsIHJG— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) April 12, 2017
After the former Pro Bowler got an appropriate number of shots up, it was time for a video package featuring some Romo footage spliced in for the fans:
Our opening video that ran tonight…with a few special clips added in! #MFFL pic.twitter.com/8tpJpElWPO— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 12, 2017
… followed by the introduction of the Mavs’ starting lineup — and also, the ex-football player in uniform who was not actually allowed to play, but who cares, it’s Fan Appreciation Night, let’s pop the crowd!
“We’re here to celebrate and honor my good friend Tony Romo,” Nowitzki said during a pre-game address of the crowd on hand at the AAC. “Thanks for everything you’ve done for Dallas. You’ve represented us great, and we’re all proud of you. Thank you very much. Go Tony Romo.”
And then, it was Romo’s turn to take the mic.
“This is an honor that I could never dream of. It’s a little embarrassing,” Romo said. “But, I’ll tell you what, I’m a very lucky guy. Thank you, Dallas. I love you.”
Was it kind of odd? Yes, it was kind of odd.
Even Dan Marino's jersey that was retired by the Miami Heat finds this weird https://t.co/78pXSgnhbM— J.A. Adande (@jadande) April 12, 2017
But it also made made the day of one special guest …
You've never been this happy in your life. pic.twitter.com/BySH6OhhcJ— Jason Gallagher (@jga41agher) April 12, 2017
… and went over like gangbusters with the hometown faithful …
Nobody in this arena has sat down since Romo came onto the court— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) April 12, 2017
Cuban: "If you look at our videos we're not self-important. We're very self-aware and that starts with Dirk." Says it's about entertainment.— Bobby Karalla (@bobbykaralla) April 11, 2017
… which was the whole point all along.
Well, maybe not the whole point.
Mavs were selling Tony Romo T-shirts ($25) and jerseys ($85 and $70 kids) Sold out by the end of the first quarter. pic.twitter.com/qNjPTxfdqj— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 12, 2017
Easy alteration and they finally got rid of all the Rajon Rondo inventory. https://t.co/gPzsTHUU06— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 12, 2017
Y’know, I’m starting to think this Cuban guy just might have a future in business.
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