Joe Theismann's leg snapping like a twig is usually the first memory for many OG football fanatics when his name is brought up. What many forget about Theismann was his willingness to take risks in the pocket, get yards himself on foot, and the rocket he had for an arm. The three-sport high school athlete decided to take his talents to the University of Notre Dame to play his collegiate football. In his sophomore year, he earned the starting quarterback job and instantaneously became a force compiling an overall record of 20-3-2. In 1970, he helped the Fightin' Irish secure a Cotton Bowl Classic victory over Texas and set school records for completions in a single game (33), passing yards in a single season (2,429), passing yards in a single game (526), and touchdowns in a single season (16).
After finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting behind Jim Plunkett, Theismann was drafted 99th overall in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins and drafted in the 39th round of the 1971 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. After being unable to come to contract terms with the Dolphins, Theismann took his talents to the CFL where he played for the Toronto Argonauts where he was named an all-star in two out of the three seasons he played with the league. In 1974, Theismann signed a contract with the Washington Redskins where he would play his entire twelve-season NFL career. In 1982, Theismann would lead the Redskins to their first championship in 40 years after defeating the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. The following season, Theismann led the Redskins to another Super Bowl appearance but fell short to the Los Angeles Raiders. Joe Theismann's prosperous NFL career was cut short after a lower right leg hit by Lawernce Taylor shattered the fibula and tibia. It wasn't a pretty sight, but the 1x NFL MVP (1983) left a legacy behind worthy of compliment.
When you fly by private jet charter, you experience travel comfort known only to those who know private jets. And nothing illustrates this luxury better than celebrity private jets. Stars with their own private aircraft fly fancy.
John Travolta, the star of 70s cult movies like “Grease” and “Saturday Night Fever”, is not only one of the most famous Hollywood actors, but also one of the best celebrity pilots. John Travolta is a bonafide aviation enthusiast with five private planes total, which he parks on his front lawn. His most impressive aircraft is a customized Boeing 707-138 (as pictured above), a beast of a plane that he acquired in 1998 upon his promotion to an honorary pilot of Qantas, the Australian airline.
Oprah Winfrey’s production company HARPO bought her custom-built Global Express XRS VIP business jet to provide the media mogul and her associates with maximum aviation comfort. Oprah’s private jet features designer fixtures in the bathroom and galley, along with an exquisite all-leather interior. The aircraft was designed by Bombardier Aerospace to perform as a premier long-range business jet. Custom design allowed for an enhanced cabin layout with nine cushy leather seats, aesthetically-placed lighting, and additional luxury amenities. The jet cruises through the air at high speeds, made possible by two Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines, which produce enough power to send HARPO clear across the map with only one refuel stop
Tom Cruise played an elite naval fighter jet pilot in the blockbuster movie “Top Gun”, and he now indulges his real love for flying in his own Gulfstream IV, one of the finest celebrity private jets around. Cruise’s beautiful business jet accommodates up to 19 passengers, providing comfort and class with state-of-the-art furnishings and aircraft technology. The jet even automatically refreshes the air inside the cabin every two minutes. Designed by Gulfstream Aerospace, Cruise’s jet is powered by two Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engines, propelling the aircraft to a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet over a maximum range of 7,820 km, zipping through the air at speeds up to Mach 0.80.
Mark Cuban, business mogul and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, landed himself in the Guinness Book of World Records for purchasing his Boeing 767-277 online in 1999, making “the largest single e-commerce transaction”. Cuban modified the jet with large, custom seats to give his team’s lengthy players plenty of room while flying.