We're not exactly sure what Texas is feeding their children, but the state has produced more NFL superstars and Hall of Famers than any other state has in America. From Earl Campbell to Eric Dickerson to Mike Singletary, Texas continues to pump out some of the greatest NFL talent we've ever witnessed. However, we had to chose one athlete to represent Texas and that honor had to go to 'Mean' Joe Greene, the most feared defensive tackle in NFL history. Hailing from Temple, Texas, Greene played his college ball at the North Texas State University.
Greene was selected 4th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1969 NFL Draft where instantly became the centerpiece for the infamous 'Steel Curtain' defense. His rookie year, Greene took home the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and never looked back. He was named Defensive Player of the Year twice (1972, 1974), selected for the Pro Bowl ten times, named First-Team All-Pro five times, and a crucial component to the Steelers four Super Bowl wins in the '70s (Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, XIV). He played all thirteen seasons of his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and notching 172 starts in 181 games. There will never be another 'Mean' Joe Greene.
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.