Tony Romo really did get to be a Maverick for a day, and Dallas sent him off in style

[admin]

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.
[Sign up for Yahoo Fantasy Baseball: It’s not too late to get in the game]

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:

Tony Romo gets some shots up. (AP)

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.”
[Follow Ball Don’t Lie on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tumblr]
With just over two minutes left in an afterthought of a game that the Mavs were losing by double figures, Romo stood up, made his way from the end of the bench to Rick Carlisle’s side, and briefly put a charge into a crowd that had been chanting for Romo, and was apparently unaware that Romo had not actually signed a contract to play NBA basketball, and could not be put into the game:

Mark Cuban jokingly tells Tony Romo to go up to Rick Carlisle and say Cuban wants me to check in the game! It was only a prank! ????#MFFL pic.twitter.com/79OT4u1kSt
— The Fuzz (@TheFuzzNBA) April 12, 2017
​

But then Cuban got up, walked over and pulled Romo back, laughing all the way. The Mavericks lost by 18 points.
Was this whole thing 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
​

Some saw it as harmless:

Don't understand the people mad about the Romo night with the Mavs. Seems great and all in perfect fun to me.
— Andrew Carter (@Andrew__Carter) April 12, 2017
​

Others saw it as kind of disrespectful:

Romo my guy but I don't like the player for a day thing. It's guys out there dying just to throw that uniform on.
— James White (@Flight8) April 11, 2017
​

Whichever side you fall on, it 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.
More NBA coverage:

– – – – – – –​

Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
Follow @YourManDevine