Reaching Out
Arian Foster is one generous cowboy: NFL star brings fans with him to Rodeo
Arian Foster is spreading the love from his new $43 million contract — in the most Houston way possible.
The Houston Texans' star tailback took two fans to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Sunday, bringing them into a suite he had at Reliant Stadium to hang out. It all started with a tweet from Foster at 2:20 p.m. Sunday — a last-minute suprrise for his fans.
"I have 2 tickets to the Houston rodeo in a suite with me.! If anybody is serious about coming. Starts at 3:30, first person wins !!!" Foster tweeted.
"This is where I live permanently in the offseason," Foster said. "I'm a Houstonian."
Foster follower Vishal Desai replied in less than a minute and he was soon heading to the Rodeo on Foster with his friend Pooja Patel. Desai and Patel spent the rest of the day in Foster's Reliant suite with the running back and his friends and family, including Foster's 2-year-old daughter Zeniah.
None of this is surprising from Foster, who is one of the more grounded superstars in sports. This is a guy who doesn't just tweet — he keeps a running dialogue with his fans going on Twitter. And he's promised more Twitter surprises in the months to come.
After signing his new contract, Foster talked about his love of Houston, noting how quickly he's become a part of the city.
"This is where I live permanently in the offseason," he said. "I'm a Houstonian."
Foster may have seen two fifths of the offensive line he loves leave in free agency — with right tackle Eric Winston signing with Kansas City after being cut by the Texans and right guard Mike Brisiel signing with the Oakland Raiders — but he obviously hasn't lost his excitement for Houston. He knows how to Rodeo — and how to make it special for some regular fans.