Sideline
Veteran
Hey Guys and Gals, I have now touched down back in rainy England, talk about being brought back down to earth with a bang, its wet and cold here right now.
I need to start of by saying Thank You to everyone who helped me and made me feel welcome while I was over in Houston; I was well and truly overwhelmed by everything that you all did for me.
There are a few big thank you calls that I need to make right here in no particular order.
Ted, he was the reason that I made the final decision to come out to Houston for the game, he did everything for me, arranged the ticket, arranged to meet with all the guys, arranged for me to meet up with Greg for the Cougars game and generally just looked after me while I was in Houston, It means a lot, thank you.
Ryan, took me out and got me drunk, taught me the art of Corn Hole (I think that is right), Painted my face at the game, and was all in all awesome. I don’t know what the drinks were that he was buying me, however they definitely got me ‘smashed’ I know he liked that term and I had an excellent night. Also thank you to his fantastic fiancé and our favorite cheerleader Lindsey, she was great, made me feel very welcome. And my buddies back home are now very jealous that I met an NFL Cheerleader in person.
Jeff, also took me out drinking with Ryan, got me quite drink and we had a great time talking about all sorts of different things from the Rodeo, to why I don’t get the whole NASCAR thing and the fact the Def Leopard are from the same city as I am. I also owe him my weight in gold as he managed to hook me up with tickets to the Sideline for pre game warm-ups, he and his people managed to get Sideline on the Sideline. That was an amazing experience and one that I won’t forget for as long as I live.
Dean, also took me out drinking, the ladies man that he is always found someone to talk too, Lindsey pointed out to me that wherever you guys go he always seems to find somebody he knows. Also a big Def leopard fan if I remember rightly and was also pretty amazed that I was from their city.
Preston, showed me a great day on Friday and saved me a hell of a lot in cab fairs, taking me to Academy to spend all my money on some new cleats and gear, before taking me to the UH campus to pick up my game tickets for the game the next day. Then taking me out for dinner, to see his Texans room (the most amazing collection of Texans memorabilia anywhere) and watch Matt Schaub who was on Jim Rome that day. And finally onto an incredibly exciting High School Football game in the Conroe Tigers and Tomball Cougars, the game coming down to the last few seconds before Conroe sealed the victory.
Greg, picked me up with his family from my Hotel and took me to tailgate at the Cougars game, the whole day was incredible, I had a fantastic time tailgating and then the game was utterly amazing, so much so Greg could hardly talk the next day for the Texans game due to him shouting so much for the Cougars. Thanks for making me feel welcome, and bringing me into your little crew of tailgaters and your family. It was fantastic.
Joe Texan, Came out to see me at Papasitos, where we had a great meal with everyone, gave me a ton of gifts that all have their own place now at home. Then picked me up at the crack of dawn for the Texans game, it was fantastic riding into the car park in Joes big truck with all the gear on the back. He then introduced me to a load of people all around the stadium car park and made me feel very welcome. Also allowing me to take the head off of Manning the piñata, which can be seen in the Texans Bullpen photo gallery. You are a legend Joe, thanks for everything.
Sandy/G’ma/SheTexan, I was pretty overwhelmed to see her make it out to Papasitoes for the meal, as I was previously told she had to work, so when I found out that she had re arranged her shift just to come out and see me it took me back a bit. Thank you so much for that, It meant a lot. And also it was great to finally meet you, having talked to you a fair amount of the past 6 years. Thank you so much for all the gifts you gave me as well, they are all fantastic, I appreciate them so much.
Lyle, thanks for all the gifts you gave me and the great time you showed me. Thanks to Lyle I managed to go around the back after the game and meet Travis Johnson, Amobi Akoye and Eric Winston. He made me feel very welcome and like I was one of the guys. Also bringing me in some beers for the tailgate as he remembered my favourite sup.
Andy, Took some awesome pictures of the tailgate and the game, it’s his photos that get me through many a dark rainy English night as I can look onto them to see the nice weather, football, and fun you guys are having over there. Also got some perfect shots of my vacation, (photos on the sideline with Yankee, me knocking Peyton’s head off) that will live with me forever, thanks so much.
I also need to thank you all for all the gifts I received from you, they are all fantastic, I was especially moved when I was presented with the Jacoby Jones signed helmet that you guys got at the Breakfast with the team. That meant so much to me and Is now by far my most prized possession, taking pride of place on my desk at home right now. As I type I look at it in front of my laptop.
The guys I went down on the sideline with may also be pleased to know that I made it home safe with my Turf from Reliant Stadium, I was concerned when I realized after I had got on the plane that I put the grass in a clear plastic bag in my case, this may have looked suspiciously like another form of grass, that Ricky Williams may be familiar with.
All in all I need to thank so many more people for the excellent time that you guys showed me while in Houston, I can honestly say I have never met a better bunch of people than yourselves, I felt like one of you and will continue to feel like one of you forever thanks to this vacation. I think I have mentioned everyone and everything, I am sorry If I have forgotten to mention you It has been such an overwhelming few weeks, I am yet to take everything in fully.
All this is without mentioning the game, Reliant is a magical place and I loved every second of my time in the stadium, the game was amazing, even though we came out on the losing end getting to see Texans play, along with Manning and the Colts, and pushing them as far as we did with a beaten up team. It was amazing.
I thought that the opening introductions made my hairs stand on end, but when Jerome returned that opening Kickoff to the house, I was in absolute heaven, that feeling will live with me forever.
This is now the start of a yearly thing I can promise you. This time next year I will once again be back in Houston with you guys and the team I love.
Thank you all so much for everything. YOU GUYS ROCK!!
I need to start of by saying Thank You to everyone who helped me and made me feel welcome while I was over in Houston; I was well and truly overwhelmed by everything that you all did for me.
There are a few big thank you calls that I need to make right here in no particular order.
Ted, he was the reason that I made the final decision to come out to Houston for the game, he did everything for me, arranged the ticket, arranged to meet with all the guys, arranged for me to meet up with Greg for the Cougars game and generally just looked after me while I was in Houston, It means a lot, thank you.
Ryan, took me out and got me drunk, taught me the art of Corn Hole (I think that is right), Painted my face at the game, and was all in all awesome. I don’t know what the drinks were that he was buying me, however they definitely got me ‘smashed’ I know he liked that term and I had an excellent night. Also thank you to his fantastic fiancé and our favorite cheerleader Lindsey, she was great, made me feel very welcome. And my buddies back home are now very jealous that I met an NFL Cheerleader in person.
Jeff, also took me out drinking with Ryan, got me quite drink and we had a great time talking about all sorts of different things from the Rodeo, to why I don’t get the whole NASCAR thing and the fact the Def Leopard are from the same city as I am. I also owe him my weight in gold as he managed to hook me up with tickets to the Sideline for pre game warm-ups, he and his people managed to get Sideline on the Sideline. That was an amazing experience and one that I won’t forget for as long as I live.
Dean, also took me out drinking, the ladies man that he is always found someone to talk too, Lindsey pointed out to me that wherever you guys go he always seems to find somebody he knows. Also a big Def leopard fan if I remember rightly and was also pretty amazed that I was from their city.
Preston, showed me a great day on Friday and saved me a hell of a lot in cab fairs, taking me to Academy to spend all my money on some new cleats and gear, before taking me to the UH campus to pick up my game tickets for the game the next day. Then taking me out for dinner, to see his Texans room (the most amazing collection of Texans memorabilia anywhere) and watch Matt Schaub who was on Jim Rome that day. And finally onto an incredibly exciting High School Football game in the Conroe Tigers and Tomball Cougars, the game coming down to the last few seconds before Conroe sealed the victory.
Greg, picked me up with his family from my Hotel and took me to tailgate at the Cougars game, the whole day was incredible, I had a fantastic time tailgating and then the game was utterly amazing, so much so Greg could hardly talk the next day for the Texans game due to him shouting so much for the Cougars. Thanks for making me feel welcome, and bringing me into your little crew of tailgaters and your family. It was fantastic.
Joe Texan, Came out to see me at Papasitos, where we had a great meal with everyone, gave me a ton of gifts that all have their own place now at home. Then picked me up at the crack of dawn for the Texans game, it was fantastic riding into the car park in Joes big truck with all the gear on the back. He then introduced me to a load of people all around the stadium car park and made me feel very welcome. Also allowing me to take the head off of Manning the piñata, which can be seen in the Texans Bullpen photo gallery. You are a legend Joe, thanks for everything.
Sandy/G’ma/SheTexan, I was pretty overwhelmed to see her make it out to Papasitoes for the meal, as I was previously told she had to work, so when I found out that she had re arranged her shift just to come out and see me it took me back a bit. Thank you so much for that, It meant a lot. And also it was great to finally meet you, having talked to you a fair amount of the past 6 years. Thank you so much for all the gifts you gave me as well, they are all fantastic, I appreciate them so much.
Lyle, thanks for all the gifts you gave me and the great time you showed me. Thanks to Lyle I managed to go around the back after the game and meet Travis Johnson, Amobi Akoye and Eric Winston. He made me feel very welcome and like I was one of the guys. Also bringing me in some beers for the tailgate as he remembered my favourite sup.
Andy, Took some awesome pictures of the tailgate and the game, it’s his photos that get me through many a dark rainy English night as I can look onto them to see the nice weather, football, and fun you guys are having over there. Also got some perfect shots of my vacation, (photos on the sideline with Yankee, me knocking Peyton’s head off) that will live with me forever, thanks so much.
I also need to thank you all for all the gifts I received from you, they are all fantastic, I was especially moved when I was presented with the Jacoby Jones signed helmet that you guys got at the Breakfast with the team. That meant so much to me and Is now by far my most prized possession, taking pride of place on my desk at home right now. As I type I look at it in front of my laptop.
The guys I went down on the sideline with may also be pleased to know that I made it home safe with my Turf from Reliant Stadium, I was concerned when I realized after I had got on the plane that I put the grass in a clear plastic bag in my case, this may have looked suspiciously like another form of grass, that Ricky Williams may be familiar with.
All in all I need to thank so many more people for the excellent time that you guys showed me while in Houston, I can honestly say I have never met a better bunch of people than yourselves, I felt like one of you and will continue to feel like one of you forever thanks to this vacation. I think I have mentioned everyone and everything, I am sorry If I have forgotten to mention you It has been such an overwhelming few weeks, I am yet to take everything in fully.
All this is without mentioning the game, Reliant is a magical place and I loved every second of my time in the stadium, the game was amazing, even though we came out on the losing end getting to see Texans play, along with Manning and the Colts, and pushing them as far as we did with a beaten up team. It was amazing.
I thought that the opening introductions made my hairs stand on end, but when Jerome returned that opening Kickoff to the house, I was in absolute heaven, that feeling will live with me forever.
This is now the start of a yearly thing I can promise you. This time next year I will once again be back in Houston with you guys and the team I love.
Thank you all so much for everything. YOU GUYS ROCK!!
It was great meeting you!
