Wrestler T.C. Dantzler wins trip to Super Bowl with help from Kurt Angle and Rulon Gardner
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Sara Levin (USA Wrestling)
01/24/2003
Disc jockeys at a Colorado Springs radio station conducted a contest for listeners to win free tickets to the Super Bowl and one Team USA wrestler took them up on the offer…and won. When the Colorado Springs radio station KKMG 98.9 offered two of the much sought-after tickets to the listener who had the biggest celebrity call in to the Morning Show with C.K. and Lazorman, Olympic Training Center resident athlete and 2002 Greco-Roman World Team Member T.C. Dantzler turned to his wrestling friends for help. World Wrestling Entertainment superstar and 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle and 2000 Olympic Champion and 2001 World Champion Rulon Gardner both called in to the station for Dantzler. When the disc jockeys' votes were tallied, it was Angle's stardom that won the tickets for Dantzler. "It was close," said Dantzler. "I think Kurt got two votes and Rulon had one." Auto racer Bobby Allison, football hero Tony Dorsett, Shifty from Crazy Town, local TV news anchor Eric Singer and baseball hero Goose Gossage were among the other celebrities who called in for local listeners. As the majority of Americans watch from their living rooms, Dantzler will be enjoying the big game firsthand from Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego as the Oakland Raiders take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII on Sunday, January 26. "I'm pretty excited about my trip to watch the Super Bowl," said Dantzler. "I'm really glad Kurt Angle and Rulon Gardner were willing to call in for me." Although very excited, Dantzler won't be watching either of his favorite teams that day. "I'm a Bears and Broncos fan," said Dantzler, "but if I have to pick a team, I'm pulling for the Raiders to win." Dantzler, who won two tickets to the big game, declined to say who he will take as a guest. "I've had so many people asking for my other ticket, I had to start telling them I only won one ticket and I'm not taking anyone," he joked. TheMat.com will visit with Dantzler following the big game for a full report on his Super Bowl experience.