HOUSTON (AP) — With a stirring rendition of “I’ll Fly Away” marking the conclusion of a memorial service for former Houston Texans founder and owner Bob McNair
Jadeveon Clowney Jersey , Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wiped tears from his eyes Friday afternoon.“It’s ironic that I’m getting emotional because the only other time I ever teared up was right on this field when the Texans and Bob kicked our butt in the first game that was ever played in this stadium,” Jones said, recalling Houston’s 19-10 win over the Cowboys in their inaugural game in 2002. “The Texans put it on the Cowboys and it was a glorious night to begin the Texans. Bob was so special.”More than 1,000 of McNair’s friends, members of the Houston and NFL community, players and coaches past and present, gathered to pay respects and say goodbye to McNair, who brought the NFL back to Houston for its inaugural season in 2002 after the Oilers moved to Tennessee.Former Secretary of State James A. Baker, a close friend of McNair’s, opened up tributes by saying the gathering was in the “House that Bob Built.” Baker said he and McNair enjoyed a love of politics, football and quail hunting, and said it was former President George H.W. Bush who converted both of them from Democrats to Republicans.Baker talked about McNair’s determination and told a story of how he only saw McNair give up on a quest once in his life, when the two were quail hunting in sweltering south Texas heat. After a long and miserable day
Johnathan Joseph Jersey , McNair finally said in his Southern drawl, “Calf rope,” an expression similar to “Uncle” or “I give up.”The Rev. Eric Manning provided a welcome and an opening invocation. Manning is the senior pastor at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina, the site of a July 2015 race-inspired mass shooting.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also spoke, calling McNair one of America’s finest sportsmen and business leaders. Goodell talked about that expansion process and how Houston was a long shot early on, but McNair never wavered.“Bob was not in it for himself. He wanted to return the NFL to Houston because of his tremendous loyalty to the community,” Goodell said. “He knew that bringing the NFL back would help show the world what an extraordinary place Houston is.”Goodell praised McNair for his faith, integrity, patience, honesty and thoughtfulness.“Not to put any more pressure on you and the team, but you know how much Bob wanted to win a Super Bowl,” Goodell said
Charles Omenihu Houston Texans Jersey , looking to Texans coach Bill O’Brien.Texans defensive end J.J. Watt praised McNair for his philanthropy and generosity in the community. Watt recalled a charity event at NRG Stadium when, at the end of the event after “tons of money” had been raised, it was announced that McNair committed to matching everyone’s combined donations.“That’s what Mr. McNair did. He would do the kindest things at random moments, and he would do it many times when people had no idea that he was doing it,” Watt said. “I consider myself lucky to have known him, lucky to have learned from him, and I can only hope that I’m making him proud in the way that we represent his organization.”Dr. Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina, mentioned a commencement speech McNair did at his alma mater in 1999 and how McNair talked about meeting his wife, Janice, and telling her parents they were moving to Texas for a few years to build some capital before returning home.“He then reminded the graduates to never make promises they could not keep,” Pastides said.Dr. Dave Peterson, pastor emeritus at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church
Charles Omenihu Jersey 2019 , talked about McNair’s drive, which he said he believed was instilled in McNair from an early age. Peterson told a story of a young McNair in his small hometown of Forest City, North Carolina who wanted his country dirt road to be paved so badly that he would repeatedly stomp on a strip provided by the state’s transportation department to determine how busy the road was and whether or not it needed to be paved.Peterson said he visited McNair at the hospital on Thanksgiving and said he was saddened to see him suffering. Peterson noted the last few months of McNair’s life were painful, adding that in seeing the pictures and videos paying tribute to McNair, “It’s good to see him smiling again.”McNair died on Nov. 23 at the age of 81. He had battled both leukemia and squamous cell carcinoma in recent years. He died peacefully with wife Janice and his family by his side, the Texans said.Following the tributes, a short video montage highlighted McNair’s life, with a focus on his time as Texans owner.“I’d like to think that I’ll be remembered as an honorable man, as a good Christian man, and that I always did things in a first-class manner and treated people honestly,” McNair said on the video. “I think that would be a good legacy.” Welcome to SB Nation FanPulse, a survey of fans across the NFL, powered by SurveyMonkey. Each week
Color Rush Charles Omenihu Jersey , we send 32 polls to 100+ plugged in fans from each team. Texans fans, sign up HERE to join FanPulse.Your Houston Texans are 10-4.They hold a two-game lead in the AFC South.They are currently the second seed in the AFC Playoffs.Given all that, you might think Texans fans would be pretty confident about the direction of their team.Compared to the confidence level of those surveyed before the season began (back then, 89% of the Texans fans surveyed said they were confident about the direction of their team), you would be wrong.Right now, only 65% of the Texans fans surveyed said they’re confident about the direction of their beloved squad.A squad that boasts Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, J.J. Watt, and a litany of other very, very good players.A team that currently stands to have somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 to $55 million cap space to spend this offseason (and that’s before the inevitable roster cuts or contract rejiggering create more room).It would seem the future is bright for the Houston Texans.I’d think Texans fans would be more confident than they apparently are at the moment. Am I missing the forest for the trees here?