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During his final NFL season with the Cardinals, JJ Watt, talking about his newborn, said, “When I go home, A, I really, really wanna spend time with him. I mean, I miss him all day long.” And when it came to his wife handling things as a new mom, he added, “B, I want her to have time to herself.” That same year, Watt hung up his cleats and stepped fully into fatherhood. Now, he’s living retirement the way he probably pictured it – soaking in every messy, hilarious, heartwarming moment of being a full-time father. 

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Watt and his wife, Kealia Ohai Watt, welcomed their first child, Koa James Watt, in October 2022. Fast forward to now, little Koa is 2.5 years old and already stealing all the spotlight as Dad tries to enjoy a weekend watching March Madness. While JJ tried to catch the Houston game, his toddler was on a whole different mission. That, too, with a toy airplane and a seafood tower.

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On Monday, Watt shared a picture of his 2.5-year-old son playing with a toy airplane at a restaurant. Little Koa was full-on buzzing over the seafood tower like he was Maverick from Top Gun. Sharing the sweet and slightly chaotic moment, the former Texan legend wrote, “Koa is buzzin’ the seafood tower with a toy airplane like he’s Maverick on the USS Enterprise. I’m trying to watch the Houston game.

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But his caption didn’t end there. Watt added, “We’re not ready for this level of establishment at age 2.5. We gotta get outta here.” Safe to say, JJ figured it was time to pack it up before the shrimp tower officially turned onto a runway.

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While JJ was busy dodging flying shrimp and toddler air raids, an entirely different kind of chaos went down in Houston. And it caught the former DE’s attention.

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JJ Watt’s got smoke for Houston security

On Sunday, when Houston beat Duke 70–67, someone very important in the audience cheering on the team – 2x NBA champion and Houston Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon. The 62-year-old was watching his alma mater clinch a spot in the Final Four, so it was a big moment for him. And having him in the stands was a huge deal for the young Cougars players.

So, when the team pulled off the win and celebrations broke out, Hakeem thought about joining the party on the court. But just as he tried, a security staff member stopped the NBA legend from stepping onto the floor. The video capturing the moment quickly went viral online.

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And when JJ Watt stumbled upon it, he couldn’t help but weigh in. “C’monnnnn man. You let The Dream on the court. What are we doing here…” Watt wrote on X, reacting to the viral clip.

In the viral clip, Olajuwon is trying to join the team on the court when a security personnel steps in and stops him. The 12-time NBA All-Star looks stunned, clearly not expecting to be turned away. Someone with Hakeem tries to explain who he is and vouch for him, but the guard holds his ground. And just like that, The Dream was left courtside.

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The internet, of course, had thoughts. Some fans slammed the security for not recognizing a Houston legend, while others defended the decision, saying rules are rules, no matter who you are.

What do you think: Should the legend have gotten a pass, or was the guard just doing his job?

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Written by

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Komal

1,030 Articles

Komal is EssentiallySports’ Football News writer with a strong focus on Bay Area coverage. Reporting from the 49ers beat, she covers both game-day action and a range of thought-provoking off-field narratives. Her detailed coverage of the Brock Purdy contract saga drew attention from Bay Area NFL fans. Komal believes the NFL is expanding its global reach, strategically targeting Gen Z fans, thereby adding the extra layer of emphasis on storytelling through digital innovations.

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Jacob Gijy

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