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Changing The Game: Mario Williams At All-Access

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Sponsored Post: This post is presented by Sprint. Bringing you the first wireless 4G network from a national carrier. Only on the Now Network.

As you may or may not know, your Houston Texans hosted their annual All-Access extravaganza at Reliant on Wednesday night. I had the good fortune to attend again this year; last year's write-up on the event can be found here (worth a read if for nothing else than to see yet another example of my hatred for the Brian Cushing pick this time a year ago).

One of the coolest things about All-Access is getting to see how the players interact with the fans. You can tell that the vast majority of the Texans truly enjoy getting to meet the folks who fill up the stands; in other words, most of the Texans appear to "get it." The latest example of this phenomenon was two nights ago, and it involved none other than Mario Williams. Details after the jump.

Star-divide

The players typically sign autographs for about an hour and a half. The lines vary; for the stars, the lines are considerably long, whereas an undrafted rookie free agent like Aaron Webster doesn't have much of a line at all. For the high profile guys, I imagine it's entirely possible to wait on the line for an hour and still not get an autograph. Generally, the players sign until they're ushered away by a team official.

As I was waiting in line for a beer, my buddies and I saw Super Mario being ushered away; his time was up. Team officials took him behind a gate and began leading him into a tunnel. As he was walking away, a father and what was presumably his young son, wearing a No. 90 jersey, ran up to the gate, yelling Mario's name, only to be turned away by two team officials. The kid kept begging for Mario to sign his ball, and Mario was far enough away that he could have kept on walking. He could have pretended not to hear the kid, or he could've simply decided he'd put his time in with the fans.

He didn't. Mario heard the kid, turned around, and came back to the gate. He shook the dad's hand, signed the kid's ball, and chatted with the kid for a minute.

When I see stuff like that, I feel obligated to spread the word. Every day, we read stories about athletes who would've kept walking away from that kid and his dad, even at an event that's specifically for the fans. Mario Williams stopped and turned around. That's worth a post and some good publicity.

7 recs  |  Comment 20 comments |

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As I've said many times before

This is a very easy team to root for. Mario has always struck me as decent guy despite Dicky’s attempts to smear him.

I'll eliminate you like I eliminate gluten from my diet.

by tehGrindCrusher on May 28, 2010 6:23 AM CDT reply actions  

Nice post

I find it really easy to cheer for this team as well. Mario is one of my favorites and stories like these make it hard for me to ever think I will change my mind.

I imagine contract negotiations are going to be tough… hope we keep him!

by wasteph on May 28, 2010 10:04 AM CDT reply actions  

Same on all counts

I’m confident the Texans will make him the highest payed player in franchise history in a couple years. If for no other reason than I feel he’s a cornerstone for faith in the FO’s drafting prowess. 90% of Houstonians (including me) hated the pick, and 99% of the rest of the world was laughing. They’ll keep him around as a 6’7’’ 300 lb. I-Told-You-So. Oh and because he’ll be getting at least a dozen sacks a year for a decade :)

by Superdave532 on May 28, 2010 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions  

Nice post.

Kudos to Super Mario.

"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley

by bone31crusher on May 28, 2010 10:53 AM CDT reply actions  

Great story...

I replied on a fanpost about access last night that Andre looked like he would have rather been at the dentist that sign autographs. Mario, Cush, and Scaub all were real friendly (or at least it seemed) with fans from what my wife and I witnessed.

I still think the Texans should come up with an average number (after this many years they should know) of how many signatures a player can do so fans don’t wait so long to not get anything. That way the Texans’ employees can let fans know if they are past that number, they can move on to other players. I think if you can’t meet a big name, it still isn’t half-bad to meet an up-and-comer.

"I've never gone into a game trying to win the Heisman Trophy; I go into a game trying to win." - Colt McCoy

by Robertpz on May 28, 2010 11:41 AM CDT reply actions  

Seriously?

That’s pretty impressive. Good for him.

I'll eliminate you like I eliminate gluten from my diet.

by tehGrindCrusher on May 28, 2010 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

And good for you.

I'll eliminate you like I eliminate gluten from my diet.

by tehGrindCrusher on May 28, 2010 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

He was so nice

I thought he was just fucking around and was going to pull off. Nice guy. Just genuinely a
normal 24 year old guy

by AllenOU on May 28, 2010 2:48 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

Mario Steals Children

Kidding of course but I can’t watch this commercial again without thinking he practices chasing down children to improve on his footwork

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCCgYHpeuTQ

by TexanTerp on May 28, 2010 11:54 AM CDT reply actions  

That kids smiling on the outside

but inside he must be scared to death of the giant coming to get him.

Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.

by nolander on May 28, 2010 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions  

It does look like a forced smile, doesn't it?

I'll eliminate you like I eliminate gluten from my diet.

by tehGrindCrusher on May 29, 2010 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions  

Mario is awesome

And so is his warp pipe to the qaurterback.

by b0ng on May 28, 2010 12:14 PM CDT via mobile reply actions   1 recs

rec for

Super Mario Brothers Reference!

"Your mother is a hamster and your father smells of elderberries! Now Go away or I shall taunt you a second time!"
Go Texans!

by Taco Joe on May 28, 2010 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions  

I met Mario...

In a club in Houston. I belive it was called club 8 or something. I am a Houstonian but joined the military and was stationed in San Diego. I’m still here but no longer in the military and get back to H-town every chance I get. I’m still a loyal Houston fan in all sports. When I met Mario it was in line to use the restroom. I felt like a little kid and I’m 6’ tall. I tugged on his shirt and we chatted for a few minutes. Super cool guy and he was more interested in hearing about my military experience and thanking me for serving, than anything else. Just a friendly humble guy. I was already a big Mario fan, but this made me a super fan.

I play real sports...Not try to be the best at exercising.

by wescox10 on Jun 1, 2010 6:55 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Rec'd

If the Treasury Secretary doesn't have to pay taxes, then why do I?

by Shake on Jun 3, 2010 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions  

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