Lost bet lands Rangers' Nathan in Cowboys uniform

Mike Adams called it the best bet he ever made. For Joe Nathan, it ranks among the worst he's made.

Adams, a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan, and Nathan, a die-hard New York Giants fan, wagered on the Cowboys-Giants game Sept. 5 that kicked off the NFL season. The loser had to wear the winning team's uniform during batting practice and for five minutes while signing autographs.

Adams and the Cowboys emerged with a 24-17 victory, and Nathan had to pay the price Tuesday afternoon.

Thanks to Cowboys equipment manager Mike McCord, Adams was able to get a full Tony Romo uniform with pants, shoulder pads and a helmet for Nathan.

"It feels just like I thought it would -- absolutely terrible," Nathan said while signing autographs.

The 6-foot-4, 227-pound Nathan looked like a natural in the football uniform, but that wasn't the case in high school. He didn't even play the sport.

"When I was in high school, I was real small," Nathan said. "I would've gotten crushed."

As far as the game, Nathan said it was clearly an "upset" that Dallas defeated the defending Super Bowl champions.

"The Giants are the best team ever," Nathan said.

Adams, meanwhile, basked in the glory of winning, taking pictures and laughing along with fans who jokingly addressed Nathan as "Mr. Romo."

The bet originated in spring training when Nathan saw a Cowboys helmet in Adams' locker.

"The first thing he told me, 'I see that crappy helmet in your locker,'" Adams recalled. "He said he was a Giants fan, so we should have some good bets going on. It went from there."

Adams had a friendly wager on the game with general manager and Giants fan Jon Daniels, too. Daniels doesn't get the Romo treatment, but will be wearing a Cowboys hat during his next press conference. -- Drew Davison

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