Cowboys cheerleaders join NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and others in USO tour

by PegNews wire

IRVING — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, will soon leave on a seven-day, three-country summer USO tour. Accompanying Admiral Mullen on this tour are NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, defensive end Osi Umenyiora of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, actor Milo Ventimiglia of the NBC series "Heroes," software engineer/former head football coach of Marshall University Jack Lengyel, and two members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. As part of the Chairman's USO tour, Admiral Mullen's special guests will visit with troops, distribute giveaways, pose for photographs and sign autographs.

Assembled to boost morale and bring a touch of home to America's armed forces, Admiral Mullen's USO tour will make stops at a handful of military bases and extend America's thanks to service members. Admiral Mullen will also provide thousands of soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors with a break from day-to-day activities, and meet with senior military officials.

"I had such a great time visiting our nation's troops during my last USO tour in December, I made plans to do it again just six months later," says Admiral Mullen. "The fact we were able to pull together such an impressive lineup of celebrities and sports figures again mirrors our country's support to our men and women in uniform. This tour means a lot to me, to our troops and to all of those involved. I can't wait to kick it off."

Commissioner Goodell becomes the first commissioner of a sports league to visit U.S. troops overseas on a USO tour. Far from being a stranger to USO entertainment, the NFL has partnered with the USO for more than 40 years and continues its long-standing tradition of bringing celebrity sports figures and entertainers to service members year-round. The NFL was the first sports organization to send players on USO tours to visit troops when future Hall of Famers John Unitas, Willie Davis, Sam Huff and Frank Gifford went to Vietnam and other parts of the Far East in 1966. More than 1,200 NFL players, coaches and team owners have interrupted or delayed their NFL careers to serve in the U.S. military since World War II. Twenty-four of them, including Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, gave their lives for their country.

"It is a great honor to have been asked to join Admiral Mullen on this USO tour and I anticipate that it will be a very humbling and memorable experience," says Commissioner Goodell. "I am inspired by the many NFL players that, over the decades, have volunteered to visit our troops overseas and have talked about it being a life-changing experience. I want to do my part and emphasize that the entire NFL appreciates and supports the work that our military does to protect our country."

Since taking command of the NFL in 2006, Commissioner Goodell has focused on strengthening the game and all 32 NFL franchises through innovation. He has addressed a wide range of issues, including player health and safety, the medical needs of retired players, personal conduct, revenue sharing, stadium construction, media strategy and international development. Commissioner Goodell created the first NFL Player Advisory Council, improved the league's anti-steroids policy and launched innovative new television contracts. Prior to becoming commissioner, he managed a wide array of football and business operations during a 24-year career in the NFL. The son of former U.S. Senator Charles Goodell, he now serves on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Commissioner Goodell is also president of NFL Charities, the league's charitable foundation.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has posted the two most successful seasons in franchise history since joining the team in 2006. He started all 32 regular-season games, threw 54 touchdown passes, and compiled the first two 4,000-yard passing seasons in team history. In his first season with the Saints, Brees led the team to the NFC Championship, was voted to the Pro Bowl and was also honored as the co-winner of the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The Purdue graduate's NFL career includes the 2001-2005 seasons with the San Diego Chargers. He traveled on two previous USO tours – to Okinawa in 2008 and to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in 2007.

While on the USO tour to Okinawa earlier this year with fellow NFL players Billy Miller and Donnie Edwards, Brees had a once-in-a-life-time experience. He spoke with his grandfather by telephone from the same beach where he had landed as a U.S. Marine in World War II. Touched by the experience, Brees gained perspective surrounding everything our nation's military personnel has done for America and what they are currently doing for us now. Today, Brees is committed more than ever to demonstrating his support to our men and women in uniform through the USO.

Osi Umenyiora is a two-time Pro Bowl defensive end with the Giants. In 72 regular-season games, he has registered 238 tackles, 41.5 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries. Umenyiora is also the first Giant to top the team in sacks four years in a row since Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, who led the Giants for five consecutive seasons. Voted to the Pro Bowl following the 2005 and 2007 seasons, he helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII and was twice named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Born in London, he is very active in his community. He recently returned from Nigeria, where he helped establish college scholarships and distribute HIV testing kits to clinics. This will be Umenyiora's first USO tour.

A staple in USO entertainment, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have participated in more tours than any other entertainment group in USO history. Since being extended an invitation by the U.S. Department of Defense to participate in their first USO tour to Korea in 1979, they have visited millions of soldiers, assembled thousands of USO care packages, delivered holiday cards and volunteered during the holidays to entertain troops. Embraced by America's troops, they were also among the first of a long line of entertainers to travel with the USO to Iraq. Whether visiting service members stationed thousands of miles from home, performing fully choreographed dance routines or hosting cheerleading clinics for military schoolchildren, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have touched down virtually every where the troops serve.

"Being a former member of the DCC and having served as the squad's director for the past 17 years, I know first-hand what a privilege it is to visit and entertain troops with the USO," says director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Kelli Finglass. "We are proud to be embarking on our 66th USO tour and are truly honored to have been invited by the Chairman to participate."

Best known for their trend-setting dance routines, the squad is synonymous with football and is regarded as "America's Sweethearts." Recognized worldwide, the 38-member troupe has performed on "Saturday Night Live," starred in commercials and motion pictures. The troupe can now be seen on Country Music Television's "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team," a series revealing exclusive behind-the-scenes footage during try-outs. This tour marks the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' 66th USO tour.

One of Hollywood's most promising talents, Milo Ventimiglia stars as 'Peter Petrelli' in NBC's critically acclaimed drama "Heroes." Prior to winning the coveted role, he garnered attention after joining the cast of the Emmy Award winning drama "Gilmore Girls" and the critically acclaimed drama "American Dreams." Segueing effortlessly between the big and small screen, Ventimiglia recently wrapped up filming the motion picture "Armored" with Matt Dillon and Laurence Fishburne and "Game" with Gerard Butler. He was most recently seen "Pathology" alongside Alyssa Milano and "Rocky Balboa" starring Sylvester Stallone. This will be Ventimiglia's first USO tour.

"This opportunity gives me the chance to meet the real heroes of this country," says Ventimiglia. "I am looking forward to spending time with the men and women of the U.S. armed forces."

The former head coach of Marshall University's Thundering Herd football team, Jack Lengyel succeeded Rick Tolley, who was killed in a plane crash in 1970 with 37 players, four coaches and several boosters. After the worst sports-related disaster in U.S. history, Lengyel rebuilt the school's football program and re-energized its community. After leaving the university, he went on to become athletics director at Louisville, Missouri, Fresno State and the U.S. Naval Academy. In 2001, he retired from Navy and was later awarded the John L. Toner Award from the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame for his work in football. Since retiring, he has served as the interim director of athletics at Temple University, Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Colorado. He is also the vice president of business development for XOS Technologies, a provider of software solutions for sports programs.

In times of peace and war, the USO consistently delivers its special brand of entertainment and comfort to service men and women. USO tours are essential to fulfilling the USO's mission of boosting troop morale. In 2007, the USO produced 74 tours and staged 453 special events, to include music concerts, autograph signings, hospital visits and movie screenings

Source: Dallas Cowboys