Dolphins Johnson Gets Married
Miami Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson married longtime girlfriend Rhonda Rookmaaker on Saturday, fulfilling a commitment he made when he flirted with the idea of retirement earlier this year.
The wedding took place in a private ceremony at an oceanfront home Johnson recently purchased in the Florida Keys.
It is the second marriage for both Johnson, who turned 56 Friday, and Rookmaaker, 45. They met in 1984 while he was coaching the University of Miami and she was a hairdresser at a Coral Gables salon.
Five years later, Johnson split with his first wife shortly after being hired by the Dallas Cowboys. He awkwardly ended his marriage to the former Linda Kay Cooper after 26 years, telling reporters he no longer needed the social prop of a spouse.
Rookmaaker moved to Dallas shortly thereafter, and both returned to South Florida following his 1994 departure from the Cowboys after winning two Super Bowl titles.
After 15 years, the couple became engaged last January as a distraught Johnson nearly decided to retire from coaching. He disclosed their engagement at the news conference in which he was to announce his retirement, but suddenly decided to stay.
At the time, Johnson emphasized that the change of heart was only about retirement.
"The only thing she said was, `I'm not letting you off the hook. You're still marrying me,"' Johnson said.
©1999 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed