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Shutdown Corner

Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:17 pm EST

Tony Romo takes a homeless guy to the movies

By Chris Chase

Tony Romo recently treated a homeless man to an afternoon at the movies, according to the Dallas Morning News. The man, who simply goes by Doc, told the paper that Romo offered to buy him a ticket to a film, but Doc declined so he could make some money passing out fliers instead. It wasn't until Doc confirmed the fact that the ticket offer came from Romo that he accepted the offer, meeting Romo and his friend (not Jessica Simpson, because you know there's no way she'd have let Romo invite a homeless guy to the movies) inside the theater after the movie had started. They saw Role Models, which, despite the title, is not a biography of the 1990s Cowboys.

This is the second such 'Romo as good samaritan' story to come out in recent months. On the night of the Cowboys' season opener, Romo reportedly stopped to help change the tire of a couple stranded in a parking lot.

They're both nice stories, and I'm sure Romo is a good guy (albeit one with questionable taste in headwear). But what I'd like to know is, who's feeding these stories about Romo's good deeds to the press? It's not unreasonable, I guess, to believe that the couple with the blown tire called up the newspaper to report a selfless act being done by the city's most famous athlete. But what about Doc, the homeless man? In general, I'd assume that media outlets don't run with every story suggested to them by random homeless men. If they did, our papers would be overrun with articles about the end being near. So who fed this tale to the press? 

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149 Comments

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  1. Will
    1. Posted by Will Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:25 pm EDT

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    In the story I read, Doc ran across the street to the store for which he hands out fliers. Maybe someone from the store called? Maybe they even verified it, seeing if Doc was just full of BS.
  2. Anrkist
    2. Posted by Anrkist Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    If I'm living on the street, please give me some food... heck, a beer. Don't take me to see Role Models. The name alone would make me cringe.
  3. FairlyHonestBob
    3. Posted by FairlyHonestBob Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:28 pm EDT

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    I'm weeping on my keyboard as I type.
  4. Mr. Z
    4. Posted by Mr. Z Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    Gestures such as this are really nice, unless they're done for the wrong reasons. If Doc called the press, fine. If Romo's people called them then it was done for attention, not just because he's a nice guy.
  5. wassup
    5. Posted by wassup Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:28 pm EDT

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    I think that being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys is going to get you into the papers when you do something like this even if you might not want it to... that said, if more of these come out soon, I'm going to start being a little more skeptical of Tony's big heart.
  6. Raider Fan
    6. Posted by Raider Fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    I heard on the radio that Tony didn't want this publicized but the Cowboys PR department felt otherwise...go figure. How they got wind of the story is a mystery I suppose. I'm going to pose as a homeless guy in front of Al Davis' house and see if he'll offer me a head coaching job! Sounds like a move that would be right up his alley.
  7. ginevg
    7. Posted by ginevg Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:09 pm EDT

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    Is Jessica Simpson that bad? Why in this relationship Romo is the good guy, while she is the bad girl?
  8. J-D
    8. Posted by J-D Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    Did the movie theater call the Cowboys or the DMN?
  9. Dan
    9. Posted by Dan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, tony does dallas next yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
  10. Tetz
    10. Posted by Tetz Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:12 pm EDT

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    Lucy b!!! your post made me laugh out loud. damn you're funny!
  11. Robert D
    11. Posted by Robert D Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    Who cares the reason... Be nice to people... do it so you get your name in the paper! Awesome... Just do it.
  12. Tetz
    12. Posted by Tetz Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:12 pm EDT

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    Lucy b!!! your post made me laugh out loud. damn you're funny!
  13. Mack
    13. Posted by Mack Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    Shoot, I would share a bucket of popcorn with Lucy B.
  14. Jon Hoffman
    14. Posted by Jon Hoffman Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:40 pm EDT

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    I can't believe how insensitive and ignorant towards Tony Romo. Hes a generous and great guy, why do you have to hate on him!!!
  15. Gerardo H
    15. Posted by Gerardo H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    Blah Blah Blah. Tony Romo's PR firm release story of him taking a homeless guy to the movies and a couple weeks ago he changed a couples tire on the freeway. Please... He is part of a machine that is public relations for the Cowboys. He's learning from Jessica's dad.
  16. A Yahoo! User
    16. Posted by A Yahoo! User Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:28 pm EDT

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    too funny Lucy B, want to go to a movie? I'll bring the popcorn :)
  17. David
    17. Posted by David Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    A millionaire or close enough to one spending $20 tops on a homeless man. What a generous guy. This definately deserves some press.
  18. Sir Wick
    18. Posted by Sir Wick Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    Romo's a class act. Lets hope he continues to be a good roll-model. Hopefully he will take after Kurt Warner who is one of the best roll-models in the NFL.
  19. woodguy
    19. Posted by woodguy Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:52 pm EDT

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    I heard it was actually Doc from the Love Boat.
  20. wytehabib
    20. Posted by wytehabib Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:51 pm EDT

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    I'm sure SOMEONE who saw them at the theater recognized Romo and called...
  21. gotz
    21. Posted by gotz Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    Romo's a good guy. This was a great read.
  22. dnastpmal
    22. Posted by dnastpmal Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    a homeless guy needs a HOME not a movie ticket
    GIANTS RULE!!!!
  23. Dion J
    23. Posted by Dion J Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    Did T.O. call the movie theater in advance of there arrival and tell them to "get there popcorn ready?....................LMFAO!
  24. Dion J
    24. Posted by Dion J Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    Did T.O. call the movie theater in advance of there arrival and tell them " they better get there popcorn ready?
  25. Jeffery H
    25. Posted by Jeffery H Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:00 pm EDT

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    hey Lucy B, YOUR CUTE!!!!!
    Tony is a good guy with a good heart.......please people dont take this as funny, helping homeless people is a heartfelt gesture. i wish i could help more.....
    your cute Lucy B......
    J

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