Virgen: Everett helps out with TACA, more
Jim Everett can only laugh now when he thinks about that heated, yet silly confrontation he had with Jim Rome 20 years ago.
“I throw 200 touchdowns and get remembered for one reporter,” said Everett, the former NFL quarterback who played for the Rams and Saints. “It’s funny.”
Everett went out of his comfort zone when Rome called him, “Chris,” in reference to the women’s tennis pro Chris Evert. Everett became angry, pushed aside a table and took Rome to the ground in a memorable scene.
These days, Everett isn’t as heated. The quarterback who played for 14 years is more about charities and being a part of a new and exciting project that deals with concussion prevention.
Last month, Everett helped Talk About Curing Autism raise more than $365,000 at the eighth annual Ante Up for Autism poker event at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point.
December is Autism Awareness month. Everett did his best to help the cause for TACA, the Irvine-based non-profit that helps families affected by autism.
Everett, who lives in Dana Point, showed up with daughter, Alexa. He said he donated a Kings hockey stick for auction.
He really wanted to do anything to help. He said his parents were both special education teachers.
Everett is also heavily involved with the Fish For Life program, which takes children with special needs out fishing.
He’s an ambassador/promoter for ShockStrip, helmet pads that lower the impact on a player’s head.
“ShockStrip is a company I’m trying to help,” said Everett, who also usually attends the Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy ceremony Dec. 14 at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach. “The test results are fabulous. I think it can be the standard within a short period of time.”
He experienced concussions in his playing days, but he said it was much different then than it is now. He continued to play rather than sit out.
“I just forgot about them,” he said. “P.T.P., you’re going to play through pain. It’s part of the gig. If you can look at the scoreboard and repeat it, you’re still good.”
The reasoning for Rome’s nickname of Everett came from the time when Everett went down without being touched, the infamous, “Phantom sack.”
Everett said he was caught off guard when he was interviewed by Rome because he had just been traded to the Saints and thought the interview would be more about his new team.
Also, Everett said he thought he was at the ESPN studio to be on air with Roy Firestone.
However, Everett did an excellent gift as a result.
“Chris Evert is pretty cool by the way,” Everett said of meeting the former tennis star. “I have a signed Chris Evert tennis racquet. Thank you, Jim Rome.”