Catching Up with Roger Staubach
Grant Hill has undoubtedly made many people around the world Orlando Magic fans – and Roger Staubach is no exception. The NFL Hall of Fame legend and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback became a Magic fan once Hill joined the organization and has been rooting for Orlando, and Hill, ever since.
Staubach may be a fan of Hill like any normal fan, but his ties to the All-Star are a bit tighter than most. Hill’s father, Calvin, played with Staubach on the Cowboys, where they formed a friendship so close-knit that Staubach accompanied Calvin to the hospital when he and his wife, Janet, gave birth to their only son. In fact, Staubach can even say that he is a big part of making Grant Hill who he is today.
We caught with with Staubach at the Magic vs. Atlanta game on Thursday night.
Q: We hear you are a big Grant Hill fan – tell us a bit about your history with the Hill family.
A: “I was a 27-year old rookie who was coming out of the Navy in 1969, and Calvin was the No. 1 draft choice, so we were rookies together with the Dallas Cowboys. We became great friends, and I was at the hospital when Grant was born, and I helped name his as a matter of fact. They argued (about the name) – they had a family name of Grant on Janet’s side, and then Calvin’s father was named Henry, and they were going back and forth. I said, ‘why don’t you just spilt the difference and call him Grant Henry.’ So, I was instrumental in naming him – Grant wouldn’t have a name if it wasn’t for me.”
Q: Tell us a little bit about your experiences with Grant.
A: “(The Hill family would) come over in Dallas and we had a basketball court at our house. Grant was 10 or 11 years old, and he would come over there and play. He’s really a good person too, besides being a great athlete.”
Q: Are you a Magic fan? Do you keep up with the team during the season or get to come to many games?
A: “I am a Magic fan because of Grant. We have an office here now in Orlando – I have a real estate firm, so I get to come here. I am a Magic fan because of him – I am a real big Grant Hill fan.”
Staubach’s NFL Highlights:
• Pro Bowl Selection Six Times
• 4-Time NFL Passing Champion
• Super Bowl MVP (VI)
• Won two Super Bowl Titles (VI, XII)
• Won Five NFC Titles
• Won Seven Division Titles
• Received the Byron "Whizzer" White Award (1979)
• Named Vince Lombardi Sportsman of the Year (1975)
• Named NFL Players Association Most Valuable Player (1971)
• Received Bert Bell Award (1971)
• Received Field Scovill Award by the All-Sports Association of Dallas (1975)
• Named to the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor (1983)
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1985)
Staubach may be a fan of Hill like any normal fan, but his ties to the All-Star are a bit tighter than most. Hill’s father, Calvin, played with Staubach on the Cowboys, where they formed a friendship so close-knit that Staubach accompanied Calvin to the hospital when he and his wife, Janet, gave birth to their only son. In fact, Staubach can even say that he is a big part of making Grant Hill who he is today.
We caught with with Staubach at the Magic vs. Atlanta game on Thursday night.
Q: We hear you are a big Grant Hill fan – tell us a bit about your history with the Hill family.
A: “I was a 27-year old rookie who was coming out of the Navy in 1969, and Calvin was the No. 1 draft choice, so we were rookies together with the Dallas Cowboys. We became great friends, and I was at the hospital when Grant was born, and I helped name his as a matter of fact. They argued (about the name) – they had a family name of Grant on Janet’s side, and then Calvin’s father was named Henry, and they were going back and forth. I said, ‘why don’t you just spilt the difference and call him Grant Henry.’ So, I was instrumental in naming him – Grant wouldn’t have a name if it wasn’t for me.”
Q: Tell us a little bit about your experiences with Grant.
A: “(The Hill family would) come over in Dallas and we had a basketball court at our house. Grant was 10 or 11 years old, and he would come over there and play. He’s really a good person too, besides being a great athlete.”
Q: Are you a Magic fan? Do you keep up with the team during the season or get to come to many games?
A: “I am a Magic fan because of Grant. We have an office here now in Orlando – I have a real estate firm, so I get to come here. I am a Magic fan because of him – I am a real big Grant Hill fan.”
Staubach’s NFL Highlights:
• Pro Bowl Selection Six Times
• 4-Time NFL Passing Champion
• Super Bowl MVP (VI)
• Won two Super Bowl Titles (VI, XII)
• Won Five NFC Titles
• Won Seven Division Titles
• Received the Byron "Whizzer" White Award (1979)
• Named Vince Lombardi Sportsman of the Year (1975)
• Named NFL Players Association Most Valuable Player (1971)
• Received Bert Bell Award (1971)
• Received Field Scovill Award by the All-Sports Association of Dallas (1975)
• Named to the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor (1983)
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1985)
