By Michael Stets
ALLEN PARK–Golden Tate is a man of his word and proved so on Wednesday by honoring a bet he made with action movie star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Tate, who played at Notre Dame during college, and Johnson, who played at Miami, made a bet on the Notre Dame vs. Miami game a couple of weeks ago. They both agreed on Twitter that the loser of the bet would wear the jersey of the winner’s team and post proof of it online. And since The Hurricanes drubbed The Fighting Irish 41-8, Tate had to make good on the bet.
“It’s a little big, but a bet is a bet,” said Tate, clad in an authentic Miami Hurricanes jersey with Johnson’s name on the back. “So I’m a man of my word.” He added: “If I’m going to lose a bet I’m going to do it the correct way.”
Man of his word. @ShowtimeTate lost a bet to me when my @univmiami Canes beat his @NDFootball team. Had to wear my #94 jersey from The U.
Have a great game tomorrow brotha and Happy Thanksgiving. #ColorsOfAChamp #TheU https://t.co/5Yf7mpS6Km— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) November 22, 2017
A fan of Miami while growing up, Tate ordered the Hurricanes jersey off of EBAY, he said. And as for what he will do with it after today, he says he’s unsure at the moment.
“I can’t decide,” said Tate. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with it yet. Hopefully he’ll sign it.”
Tate and Johnson have been building a relationship online, but what about outside of social media?
“We’ve exchanged DMs, but he’s filming his movie out in Canada somewhere so he’s kind of been pretty busy,” said Tate. “But I think this offseason might be the chance or the time to meet up and hang with him, if he wants.”
The Lions’ leading wide receiver said he became a fan of “The Rock” when he was in the WWE. After scoring a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6, Tate used the former professional wrestler’s finishing move, “The People’s Elbow,” for his celebration, much to the delight of Johnson, who gave his approval on Twitter.
“I used to re-enact it on the bed, my brother and I. We loved Triple H, [and]The Rock.”
Tate then closed with “The Rock’s most famous phrase.
“Do you smell what The Rock is cooking!”
