Player Info: WR Terrell Owens Bios
Sunday, October 07, 2007 at 06:35:43 pm

PICTURES

Terrell Owens #81
Wide Receiver
6'3 * 226 * 12/7/73
Tennessee-Chattanooga * FA-'06
NFL: 12th Year * COWBOYS: 2nd Year

PRO: One of the most prolific receivers in league history, Owens led the team with 85 receptions, 1,180 receiving yards, and an NFL-best 13 touchdown catches in 2006, his first season in Dallas. Through 11 seasons, he is 17th all-time in the NFL with 801 receptions; 16th all-time with 11,715 yards, just 120 yards behind Don Hutson in 15th; and fourth all-time with 114 touchdown receptions, behind Jerry Rice (197), Cris Carter (130), and Marvin Harrison (122). Owens also has 74.1 receiving yards per game, seventh-most in NFL history. Entering the 2007 season, he has made at least one reception in 152 consecutive regular-season games, the second-longest active streak in the NFL, behind Marvin Harrison (171). His last game without a catch was Oct. 14, 1996, at Green Bay. With seven seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards and five seasons with at least 80 receptions, Owens' career has been filled with memorable single-game performances and milestones. On Dec. 17, 2000, Owens set an NFL record with 20 receptions against Chicago, breaking Tom Fears' 50-year-old record of 18. In 2004, Owens played for the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX just seven weeks after having ankle surgery. He had nine receptions for 122 yards. Owens is the second player in NFL history to finish six seasons with 13 or more touchdown receptions, joining Jerry Rice, who did it eight times. Owens also has 26 games with multiple touchdown receptions, trailing Jerry Rice (44), Cris Carter (29), Don Hutson (28), and Marvin Harrison (28). With 39 career 100-yard receiving games, he is fifth among active players, behind Harrison (59), Randy Moss (46), Torry Holt (43), and Isaac Bruce (42). Since the beginning of the 2000 season, Owens is in the top five in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, and he has led his team in receiving yards in each of the last seven seasons. On Dec. 31, 2006, he became the 17th player in NFL history to record 800 career receptions. He did it in his 158th career game, the third-fastest in NFL history, behind Harrison (131) and Rice (154). A durable player throughout his career, Owens has missed only eight games because of an injury. He signed with Dallas on March 18, 2006, after being released by Philadelphia, where he played for two seasons. He was acquired by the Eagles in a three-way trade involving Baltimore and San Francisco on March 16, 2003. A five-time Pro Bowler (2000-04) and five-time All-Pro selection (1998, 2000-02, 2004), Owens was a third-round draft pick (98th overall) out of Tennessee-Chattanooga in 1996 by San Francisco.

2006: Owens lived up to his billing in his first season with Dallas, leading the NFL with 13 touchdown receptions and leading the Cowboys with 85 catches and 1,180 receiving yards. His receptions were sixth-best in the NFC and 13th-best in the NFL, and his receiving yards were fifth-best in the NFC and ninth-best in the NFL. He tied Bob Hayes' 1966 mark for second-most touchdown receptions in a season in team history, one shy of Frank Clarke's club record of 14 in 1962. It marked Owens' sixth season with 13 or more touchdown receptions. Along with wide receiver Terry Glenn (1,047 yards), the Cowboys had two 1,000-yard wide receivers in the same season for just the second time in club history. In 1979, Tony Hill had 1,062 yards and Drew Pearson had 1,026 yards. Owens also became the fourth player in club history to make at least 80 receptions in a season. With 1,180 receiving yards, he recorded his seventh career 1,000-yard receiving season and the 19th in Cowboys history. Owens is the ninth Dallas receiver to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season, joining Frank Clarke (1 season), Bob Hayes (2), Lance Rentzel (1), Drew Pearson (2), Tony Hill (3), Michael Irvin (7), Raghib Ismail (1), and Terry Glenn (1). In the season opener at Jacksonville (9/10), he led the team with six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Four of his six catches picked up a first down, including three on third down. He also drew a 31-yard pass-interference penalty. In the home-opening win over Washington (9/17), he had three catches for 19 yards, all on the club's first two scoring drives. In the fourth quarter, he fractured the fourth metacarpal in his right hand and had to leave the game. He underwent surgery Sept. 18 to insert a plate and screws in the hand. He returned to practice following the bye Sept. 28 and played in the Cowboys' win at Tennessee (10/1), catching five passes for 88 yards. In the loss at Philadelphia, he had three receptions for 45 yards. In the Texas Stadium win over Houston (10/15), he had five receptions for 45 yards and a team-high and career-high three touchdowns. It marked Owens' 25th game with multiple touchdown receptions, the fourth-most in NFL history, and his fourth game with three. It was also the 13th time a Cowboys receiver had three touchdown receptions in a game. Bob Hayes owns the club record of four, which was set Dec. 20, 1970, against Houston. Owens was the first Cowboy with three touchdown receptions in a game since Terry Glenn, who did it at Detroit on Oct. 19, 2003. In the Monday night loss to the Giants (10/23), Owens had a team-high six catches for 98 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. In the loss, he reached 744 career receptions, passing Andre Rison for 21st all-time. He also reached 10,910 receiving yards, passing Gary Clark (10,856) and Keenan McCardell (10,909) for 17th all-time. In the Sunday night win at Carolina (10/29), quarterback Tony Romo's first start, Owens led the team with a season-high nine receptions for 107 yards, his first 100-yard game of the season and the 37th of his career. Six of his nine catches against the Panthers picked up a first down. He also added a two-point conversion on a pass from Romo. In the game, he moved past Michael Irvin and Charlie Joiner (750 receptions) for 19th all-time in receptions and became the 17th player in NFL history to record 11,000 receiving yards.

In the following week's loss at Washington (11/5), Owens had seven receptions to lead the team for the third consecutive week. He was second on the team with 76 receiving yards and a touchdown. Five of his seven receptions went for a first down, including two on third down. In the win at Arizona (11/12), he led or tied for the team lead in receptions for the fourth consecutive week with five catches for 96 yards. He also had a 51-yard touchdown catch, which was then a season high. His final reception of the game moved him past James Lofton for 18th all-time. In the victory over previously undefeated Indianapolis (11/19), he made four receptions for 70 yards. All four receptions picked up a first down, and Owens moved past Marshall Faulk (767 career receptions) for 17th all-time with 769. In the Thanksgiving Day win over Tampa Bay (11/23), Owens led the team with eight receptions and tied a season high with 107 receiving yards, his second 100-yard game of the season and the 38th of his career. He also made his 109th career touchdown reception. In the last-minute victory at the Giants (12/3), he again led the team in catches, posting eight for 84 yards. Six of his receptions came on scoring drives, including three catches for 28 yards on the Cowboys' fourth-quarter touchdown drive. In the Sunday night loss to New Orleans (12/10), he caught three passes for 56 yards, including a 34-yard reception for a touchdown. In the playoff-clinching win at Atlanta (12/16), Owens caught five passes for 69 yards, including touchdown receptions of seven and 51 yards in the first half. It was his second multiple-touchdown game of the season. All five of his receptions came on Dallas touchdown drives. His 51-yard touchdown reception put him over 1,000 receiving yards for the season. In the Christmas day loss to Philadelphia (12/25), he had two receptions for 23 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. In the season-ending loss to Detroit (12/31), Owens tied for the team lead with six receptions for a season-high 117 yards, including a season-long 56-yard touchdown. It marked his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and the 39th of his career. Glenn had 109 receiving yards, giving Dallas two 100-yard receivers in a game for the first time since Sept. 12, 2004, at Minnesota, when Antonio Bryant (eight catches for 112 yards) and Keyshawn Johnson (nine catches for 111 yards) did it. In the wild-card loss at Seattle (1/6), he made two catches for 26 yards.

2005: Before being suspended following the seventh game of the season, Owens ranked third in the NFL with 47 receptions and 763 receiving yards and was tied for second with six touchdown receptions. He had four 100-yard receiving games and scored in five of the seven games. Owens opened the season with seven receptions for 112 yards at Atlanta (9/12). He made five receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns against San Francisco (9/18), becoming the first Eagle since Harold Jackson in 1972 to start the season with two consecutive 100-yard receiving games. He also became the 24th player in NFL history to reach 10,000 receiving yards. Against Oakland (9/25), he had nine receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown, the 100th touchdown of his career. At Kansas City (10/2), Owens had 11 receptions for 171 yards, his highest totals as an Eagle, and also scored a touchdown. He made five catches for 50 yards at Dallas (10/9). Against San Diego (10/23), he made seven receptions, including the 100th touchdown of his career. In his final game as an Eagle, Owens made the longest reception of his career, a 91-yard touchdown reception, and finished with 154 receiving yards. The touchdown reception was the 101st of his career, moving him into fourth all-time. The following week, he was suspended by the team and deactivated for the final nine games of the season.

2004: In his first season as an Eagle, Owens posted several personal records despite missing the final two games of the season with an injury. He was named a Pro Bowl starter for the NFC team and also earned first-team All-Pro honors from The Associated Press, College and Pro Football Newsweekly, The Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly, and Football Digest. He finished the season with 77 catches for 1,200 yards and had 14 touchdown receptions, the third-most in the NFL in 2004 and the most in team history. He also had a career-best seven 100-yard games, including five straight. Both were Philadelphia records. Against the Giants (9/12), in his Eagles debut, Owens tied a career high with three touchdown receptions. Only two other players in NFL history have scored three touchdowns in their first game with a new team: Bobby Mitchell, who did it for Washington in 1962, and Anthony Allen, who did it for Washington in 1987. Owens finished with a season-high eight catches for 68 yards. At Detroit (9/26), he made six receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown, beginning a string of five straight games with over 100 receiving yards. The next week at Chicago (10/3), he tied his season high with eight receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown, his fourth consecutive game with a touchdown reception. He had 123 receiving yards on four receptions against Carolina (10/17). At Cleveland (10/24), he made four catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns, marking the first time in his career that he recorded four straight 100-yard games. Along with Todd Pinkston, who made six catches for 100 yards, they became the first Eagles to have 100 receiving yards in the same game since Calvin Williams and Fred Barnett against Denver on Sept. 20, 1992. The following week against Baltimore (10/31), he set an Eagles record by posting his fifth consecutive 100-yard receiving game, gaining 101 yards on eight receptions. Since 1970, only Michael Irvin and Isaac Bruce (both in 1995) have held longer streaks. Owens also scored the winning touchdown on an 11-yard catch and run. With three touchdowns at Dallas (11/15), he became the first player to post a touchdown reception in seven straight Monday Night Football games. With 15 touchdowns in 18 Monday Night games, he trails only Jerry Rice, who has 33 touchdowns in 44 games. Owens finished the game with six catches for 134 yards. Against Green Bay (12/5), Owens tied a season high with eight receptions, set a season high with 161 receiving yards, and scored a touchdown. Along with Brian Westbrook, who had 11 receptions for 156 yards, they became the second pair of Eagles to top 150 receiving yards in the same game. Tommy McDonald (four catches for 162 yards) and Timmy Brown (five catches for 199 yards) did it for Philadelphia at St. Louis on Dec. 16, 1962. The game marked Owens' career-best seventh 100-yard receiving game of the season. Against Dallas (12/19), Owens had six receptions for 46 yards and suffered a fractured ankle in the third quarter on a tackle by Roy Williams. He missed the final two weeks of the season as well as the club's first two playoff games. He returned in Super Bowl XXXIX against New England (2/6/05) and made nine receptions for 122 yards.

2003: In his final year in San Francisco, Owens made his fourth straight Pro Bowl after posting 80 receptions for 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns. He finished second to Jerry Rice in five 49ers career records: total touchdowns (83), receptions (592), receiving yards (8,572), receiving touchdowns (81), and 100-yard receiving games (25). Owens opened the season with seven receptions for 112 yards against Chicago (9/7). He had a season-high eight receptions against Cleveland (9/21) for 90 yards. Against Tampa Bay (10/19), he led the team with six receptions for 152 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown catch. Against Pittsburgh (11/17) on Monday Night Football, Owens gained a season-high 155 receiving yards and tied a season high with eight receptions, including a 61-yard touchdown catch. At Cincinnati (12/14), he had eight receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown.

2002: Despite missing the final two weeks of the regular season with a groin injury, Owens made his third straight Pro Bowl and was a consensus All-Pro selection after making a career-high 100 receptions for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns. He tied for fourth in the NFL in receptions, was eighth in the NFL in receiving yards, and led the NFL with 13 touchdown receptions. He also had five multiple-touchdown games and five 100-yard receiving games. At the Giants (9/5), he caught four passes for 41 yards, including a long of 33 yards to put the team in position for the winning field goal. Against Washington (9/22), he recorded a career-long 38-yard touchdown run and added two catches for 33 yards. At Seattle (10/14), he caught six passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns, including the winning 37-yard touchdown in fourth quarter. Against Arizona (10/27), he caught eight passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, including a 61-yard catch in the second quarter. At Oakland (11/3), Owens gained a season-high 191 yards on 12 receptions, including three on the winning drive in overtime. The 12 receptions were the second-most in a game in his career. He led the team with seven catches for 51 yards against Kansas City (11/10) and added two rushes for 23 yards. At San Diego (11/17), Owens made seven receptions for 171 yards (24.4 yards per reception) and two touchdowns, including a season-long 76-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He had a season-high 13 receptions against Philadelphia (11/25) for 166 yards and two touchdowns. At Dallas (12/8), Owens made 12 catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns, including an eight-yard touchdown to win the game with 12 seconds left. His 11-yard reception on third-and-10 with 23 seconds remaining set up the winning score. The following week against Green Bay (12/15), Owens reached 100 receptions for the season when he made eight receptions for 75 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown in the third quarter. A groin injury sidelined him the final two weeks of the regular season, but he returned in the wild-card game against the Giants (1/5/03), setting postseason career highs of nine receptions for 177 yards (19.7 yards per reception) and two touchdowns. His 76-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was a postseason career best and the second-longest scoring play in team postseason history. It was Owens' second postseason game with 100 receiving yards. Owens also completed his first career pass with a 25-yard completion to Tai Streets. In the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Tampa Bay (1/12/03), he had four receptions for 35 yards.

2001: For the first time in his career, Owens played and started in every game, including the postseason. He made his second consecutive Pro Bowl and was a consensus first-team All-Pro selection. Owens finished with 93 receptions, fourth in the NFC and ninth in the NFL; 1,412 receiving yards, second in the NFC and third in the NFL; and a career-high 16 touchdowns, which led the NFL. Owens had six 100-yard receiving games and five multiple-touchdown games. Against Atlanta (9/23), Owens made a game-high seven receptions for 93 yards, including a 40-yard reception during the tying drive at the end of regulation. His diving touchdown catch at the Jets (10/1) completed San Francisco's lone touchdown drive of the day. He finished the game with four receptions for 38 yards and also rushed once for four yards. He had his first 100-yard receiving game of the season against Carolina (10/7), when he made eight catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. In the game, he surpassed 5,000 career receiving yards. At Atlanta (10/14), Owens posted season highs with nine receptions for 183 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. He scored the tying touchdown with 17 seconds left in regulation and then made a 52-yard touchdown reception in overtime to win the game. All nine of his receptions came after halftime. Against Detroit (11/4), he made nine catches for 125 yards, including touchdown receptions of 30 and seven yards. It was Owens' third game of the season with multiple touchdown receptions. He made it four games the following week against New Orleans (11/11), when he had touchdown receptions of 25 and five yards. He finished with eight receptions for 100 yards. At Carolina (11/18), he made seven receptions for 99 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown to tie the game with one second left. The following week at Indianapolis (11/25), he led the team with six receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown. Playing with minor injuries to his foot and ankle, Owens caught six passes for 72 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo (12/2). He added four receptions for 64 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown reception, against Philadelphia (12/22). In the regular-season finale at New Orleans (1/6/01), he made touchdown receptions of 56 and 60 yards. In the wild-card game at Green Bay (1/13), Owens made four receptions for 40 yards.

2000: Owens had a breakout season, ranking fifth in the NFL with 97 receptions and third in the NFC with a career-high 1,451 receiving yards. He was also third in the NFL with 13 touchdown receptions, including four multiple-touchdown games, and had five 100-yard receiving games. He also made his first career Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro by The Associated Press. In the season opener at Atlanta (9/3), he made a team-high seven receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. He then made a team-high six receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns at Dallas (9/24). He was inactive against Arizona (10/1), but then made a team-high 12 receptions for 176 yards and two touchdowns against Oakland (10/8). He made eight receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns at Green Bay (10/15) and six receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown at Carolina (10/22). His second 100-yard receiving day of season came against St. Louis (10/29), when he made eight receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns, including a 53-yard catch and run. He played with an injured toe at New Orleans (11/5) and gained a team-high 97 yards on six receptions. Because of the toe injury, he did not start against Kansas City (11/12) and was limited to one catch for six yards. The 49ers deactivated him against Atlanta (11/19), but he returned at San Diego (12/3) and made four receptions for a team-high 93 yards. He then made six receptions for 129 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown catch, against New Orleans (12/10). Against Chicago (12/17), Owens made 20 receptions, breaking a 50-year-old record held by Tom Fears, and had a career-high 283 receiving yards and one touchdown.

1999: Owens started 14 games and finished the season with 60 receptions for 754 yards and four touchdowns. He also led the team with 12.6 yards per catch. He made five receptions for 76 yards at Jacksonville (9/12) and five receptions for 49 yards and two touchdowns against New Orleans (9/19). He made three receptions for 33 yards against Tennessee (10/3), including a 21-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. At St. Louis (11/21), he made six receptions for 60 yards before leaving the game with a high ankle sprain. The injury kept him sidelined the following two weeks, but he returned at New Orleans (11/14) and made five receptions for 56 yards. Against St. Louis (11/21), he had the team's first 100-yard receiving game of the season, gaining 120 yards on six receptions. He then posted seasons highs of nine receptions and 145 yards at Cincinnati (12/5) and closed the season at Atlanta (1/3/00) with five receptions for 31 yards, including a four-yard touchdown.

1998: Owens earned All-Pro honors for the first time in his career after playing in 16 regular-season games, including 10 starts, and finishing second on the team with 67 receptions. He tied Antonio Freeman for second in the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions, and among non-kickers, he ranked third in the NFC and fifth in the NFL with 92 points. He scored 10 touchdowns in his final eight games, including at least one touchdown in each of those games. He led the team with 16.4 yards per catch. In the season opener against the Jets (9/6), he started and caught three passes for 60 yards. He made six receptions for 94 yards, including a six-yard touchdown, at New Orleans (10/11). At St. Louis (10/25), he had his first 100-yard receiving game of the season, making five receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown. He also scored his first career rushing touchdown with a 21-yard reverse. Against Carolina (11/8), he had four receptions for 72 yards, including touchdown receptions of 36 and five yards. Against the Panthers, he scored on a two-point conversion and forced a fumble and returned it 13 yards to set up a J.J. Stokes touchdown. He had three receptions for 87 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown, at Atlanta (11/15). His four receptions against New Orleans (11/22) included two eight-yard touchdowns. Against the Giants (11/30), he started and recorded a season-high 140 yards on five receptions, including a season-best 79-yard touchdown reception. At Carolina (12/6), he had four catches for 53 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown reception on a pass by running back Terry Kirby. In the postseason, Owens had 11 receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown. In the wild-card game against Green Bay (1/3/99), he had three receptions for 73 yards, including one of the most memorable touchdowns in NFL postseason history. Owens caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Steve Young with three seconds left in the game to give the 49ers a 30-27 win. Owens, who had dropped four passes earlier in the game, labeled the winning catch Redemption Reception. He had eight receptions for 73 yards at Atlanta (1/9/99) in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game.

1997: Owens played in 16 games, including 15 starts. He ranked 13th in the NFC with a team-high 60 receptions and 12th in the NFC with 936 receiving yards. He also led the team with 15.6 yards per catch and became the first player other than Jerry Rice to lead the 49ers in receptions since 1988. He ranked fifth in the NFC and ninth in the NFL with eight touchdown receptions. Of his 60 catches, 48 picked up a first down. He led or tied for the team lead in receptions eight times and in receiving yards nine times. Owens did not start at Tampa Bay (8/31) but replaced Jerry Rice as the starting flanker at St. Louis (9/7) after Rice injured his knee. Owens made two receptions for 24 yards. Against New Orleans (9/14), he averaged 24.7 yards on three receptions, and his only catch against Atlanta (9/21) went for a 56-yard touchdown. He then caught five passes for 48 yards, including a one-handed, leaping reception and touchdown, at Carolina (9/29). Against St. Louis (10/12), Owens made five receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns, the first multiple-touchdown game of his career. The following week at Atlanta (10/19), he scored two touchdowns on six receptions for 93 yards. He made four receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown against San Diego (11/23), then made a team-high six receptions for 74 yards against Minnesota (12/7), including a 21-yard touchdown after shedding a tackler at the five-yard line. Owens started both postseason games and finished with 10 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown. In the divisional playoff game against Minnesota (1/3/98), he made four receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown. Against Green Bay (1/11/98) in the NFC Championship Game, Owens became the seventh 49er to record 100 receiving yards in a playoff game, making six receptions for 100 yards.

1996: Owens started 10 of the 16 games he played, the most starts by a 49ers rookie receiver since Gene Washington had 14 in 1969. He finished third on the team with 35 receptions and four receiving touchdowns, and he was second with 520 receiving yards. He led the team with 14.9 yards per catch, and he averaged more than 20 yards per catch in a team-high four games. He made three receptions for 32 yards during the first six games of the season, but he finished strong in the second half of the year, making 32 receptions for 488 yards and four touchdowns in the final 10 games. Against Atlanta (9/29), he caught one pass for 26 yards, returned a kickoff 17 yards, and made a season-high three special teams tackles. He caught four passes for 42 yards, including the winning 20-yard touchdown, at Houston (10/27). Against Cincinnati (10/20), he made his first career start, replacing an injured J.J. Stokes (right wrist), and caught four passes for 94 yards. He also scored the first touchdown of his career, on a 45-yard pass from Steve Young to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. Owens also returned one kickoff for 12 yards against the Bengals. He had five catches for 110 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown, against Carolina (12/8). It was the first 100-yard receiving game of his career. Owens caught three passes for 45 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown, at Pittsburgh (12/15). He played in both postseason games and finished with one reception for seven yards.

COLLEGE: Owens made 144 receptions for 2,320 yards with 19 touchdowns during his career at Tennessee-Chattanooga. He earned first-team All-Southern Conference honors as a senior, setting a school record by catching a pass in 11 consecutive games. He earned second-team All-Southern Conference honors as a junior and first-team honors as a sophomore, when he scored a career-high eight touchdowns and averaged 19.1 yards per catch. He set a Mocs' single-game record with four touchdowns against Marshall in 1993. Owens played three years on the school's basketball team and made five starts for a team that qualified for NCAA Tournament in 1995. He also ran the anchor leg on the school's 4 x 100 relay team as senior.

PERSONAL: Terrell Eldorado Owens was born in Alexander City, Ala., where he was a four-time letterman in football and track at Benjamin Russell High. He added three letters in basketball and one in baseball. The son of Marilyn Heard and Tit Russell, Owens has two sisters - Sharmaine Stowes (23) and Latasha Scales (31) - and a brother, Victor Stowes (21). He celebrated his first NFL touchdown by doing the 'bank-head bounce' dance for his mother. He nearly quit football to concentrate on basketball in high school, but was advised against it by his prep football coach. Owens has maintained his love for basketball, building a full-court basketball gymnasium in his home and using it as part of his off-season conditioning. He won a celebrity slam dunk competition at the 2000 NBA All-Star Game in Oakland and played five games with the Adirondack Wildcats of the United States Basketball League during the 2002 off-season, averaging 4.2 points and 1.2 rebounds. He won the 100-meter race at the Superstars competition in 2000 and 2001. On Sept. 6, 2005, Owens visited Houston to spend time with victims of Hurricane Katrina who had been relocated from New Orleans to the Astrodome. With the help of NFL Auctions, he also auctioned off his 2004 Philadelphia Eagles NFC Championship ring to raise money for hurricane relief. The winning bid was for $48,200. Owens, whose grandmother, Alice Black, has Alzheimer's disease, serves as the celebrity chairperson for the Alzheimer's Association, a voluntary health organization whose mission is to eliminate the disease through the advancement of research. He addressed Congress in 2003 to request more funding for Alzheimer's research. In 2004, he hosted a charity weekend in Atlanta, 'Stars with a Cause,' that benefited the Atlanta Chapter of the National Alzheimer's Foundation. The weekend included a night of bowling, billiards, dominoes, and cards. The stars visited AG Rhodes Home, an Atlanta Alzheimer's care center, to play bingo and sing karaoke. A celebrity basketball game was played at Owens' home gym. Owens majored in merchandising at Tennessee-Chattanooga and was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.