International local personality Gordon Keith sat down* with Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo to get his take on life, love and the upcoming season of professional pro football. Tony was candid, playful and punctual. Here’s more from the chat.

(*via e-mail)

Q: Tony, thanks for sitting down with me. I hope you don’t mind that I’m drinking. I’ve had a rough couple of weeks. Her new boyfriend called my parole officer and blah, blah, blah … Anyway, I am sure you are Ready For Some Footballll!!!

(I stand and air-guitar for five minutes.)

Sorry. I’m nervous. What have you done differently this offseason than previous ones?

Romo: I played a round of golf with Tiger Woods. That was fun. I don’t do that every year.

Q: Who is the toughest guy on the Cowboys? Like the one guy you would want to have your back in a barfight? Not that you get in fights at bars, or organize dogfights, or anything else. Just who is the biggest badass on the Cowboys?

Romo: Mat McBriar. You think I’m going to choose one of my offensive linemen over the other four?

Q: Jerry’s new stadium is amazing and the talk of the free world. What is your favorite thing about it?

Romo: Honestly, I like all of the excitement that it has created with all of the people in town. There was such a great sense of anticipation for the stadium to open, and I think it is one of those rare occasions where the advanced hype has been outdone by the actual show. The place is amazing, and I’m happy for Jerry and his family, because everyone likes it so much.

Q: When they show you on the video screen, your dimples are the size of stock ponds, and your handsome eyes say “Gordon, stop following me.” With that in mind, do you think the screen is too big?

Romo: Definitely not too big. All of the feedback that I’ve received from anyone who has been to the games is that they absolutely love it. I just don’t want you (Gordon) staring at me on that board all of the time when you’re at the games. You’re a little weird that way. That’s a concern.

Q: Do you ever wish you could have the job without the fame?

Romo: I don’t think you can have this job without all of the stuff that goes with it. It’s just a matter of how you manage it and deal with it once you have the job. It’s a great job, and I’m lucky to have it.

Q: Let’s get to know you a little better. What was your first car, and what kind of car do you drive now?

Romo: I never had a first car. My parents would let me borrow their car to take to college every now and then. It was some kind of Toyota van or bus — something like they had on The A-Team or Scooby-Doo, only blue. I didn’t get to use it all of the time. I had to ask for keys.

Today, I drive a 2006 Ford Expedition.

Q: Can you play a musical instrument? If so, how?

Romo: I play guitar. I’m the best that I know. I just choose never to let anyone hear me.

Q: What band is on your iPod that you’re slightly embarrassed about?

Romo: Free Reign.

Q: Favorite place outside the U.S. and why?

Romo: I’ve never been outside the U.S. (grin)

Q: What is more stressful, being in a celebrity couple, or sitting this close to me knowing how much I need to shower?

Romo: Hearing your voice on the radio is as close as I want to get to you.

Q: Final question. Will you ever start blogging or tweeting?

Romo: I might blog someday because I have a Web site. Don’t plan on getting into Twitter.

Q: Thank you, good Tony. Throw good touchdowns for me.

Romo: Don’t take yourself too seriously, Gordon.

GORDO'S FEARLESS FOOTBALL FORECAST

Now that the Death Star in Arlington is fully operational, Jerry's plan for controlling the NFL galaxy is coming to fruition. All he needs now is the cooperation of a powerful, somewhat young Jedi (Romo), and the cunning of a beautiful princess who was once attracted to her brother (Wade).

Since I have relaxed my rule about ending a sentence in a preposition, there is much for Cowboys fans to be excited about. Here are my predictions for the upcoming Cowboys season.

• The Cowboys will go 10-6, and win at least two playoff games. Beyond that, they might make it to the Super Bowl, but only if the Super Bowl allows teams that have lost a playoff game.

• Leonard Davis will pass a stool the size of a small orphan, completely gumming up the state-of-the-art plumbing at the new stadium. A team of wildcatters will be called in to drill through the core.

• Marion Barber III will set a new Cowboys single-game rushing record with more than 523 yards (524 yards). He will celebrate by cutting off his hair, causing a massive decrease in production. Two weeks later, he will find himself in a soup line, unloved, bitter and wearing a possum wig.

• Tony Romo, in an effort to cleanse his celebrity palate, will date a 53-year-old divorcee from Euless who answers to the name of "Marylou," and has the complexion of the melting guy from Raiders of the Lost Ark. Marylou will later claim she is pregnant with Romo's child in a jailhouse interview.

• Rowdy, the maligned Cowboys mascot, will entertain crowds by making balloon animals before blowing himself up in a humorous-but-touching freebasing routine.

• Wade will get his nipples pierced, sparking complaints from family groups who already felt his shirts were too revealing.

• Bob Lilly makes an ill-advised comeback.

• After his 73rd false-start penalty, Flozell Adams is fined by a tougher Wade.

• Under pressure from Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly retires.

• Roger Staubach makes an ill-advised comeback.

• In an innovative NFL first, the Cowboys sign conjoined twins, but unwisely play them on opposite sides of the line.

• Marc Colombo gets Veronese's The Wedding at Cana tattooed on his back.

• Mat McBriar, Cowboys punter and Australian sleeper cell, will slip into Jerry Jones' office and steal the plans for the Death Star. He will find the 2-meter hole on the bottom of the Screen Monster that, if hit with a punt, will immediately explode the stadium. Two million dollars of Tom Hicks' money is quietly deposited in McBriar's account the Monday after the explosion.

• All of the NFL retires.

Hear Gordon on “The Ticket” KTCK-AM (1310) weekdays from 5:30 to 10 a.m. E-mail him at gordon@gordonkeith.com.