Hate the Dallas Cowboys? They’re not worthy

[tr1]

They're always worthy in my book!...this is a total indictment of anything cowboys this year and the last ten years....good read.


JOHN MCGRATH; THE NEWS TRIBUNE
Published: January 3rd, 2007 01:00 AM
http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/columnists/mcgrath/story/6307690p-5500064c.html

The defining moment of the Seattle Seahawks’ final regular-season weekend had nothing to do with their all-business performance at Tampa Bay, where the defending conference champions won a contest that occasionally resembled an intrasquad scrimmage.

For Seattle fans, the defining moment of The Last Weekend came in Irving, Texas, where scrambling Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was stopped a yard shy of scoring a potential game-tying touchdown in the final seconds. By losing for the third time in a month, the Cowboys “earned” a first-ever playoff game against Seattle.

At first glance, the 2006 Dallas Cowboys are not all that different from their predecessors. They’ve still got the trademark star on their helmet. They still appear on TV, to borrow Jim Calhoun’s line about Duke basketball, more often than reruns of “Leave it to Beaver.” They’re still a prime-time soap opera – “Dallas” – albeit with a slight plot twist: The character of J.R. has been replaced by T.O.

Their game-day presentations still lean toward Las Vegas, with pyrotechnics and sideline dancers, while the franchise itself still carries on as Las Vegas’ philosophical opposite: What happens in Dallas doesn’t stay in Dallas. It makes news coast to coast.

(Rams quarterback Bob Waterfield was married to movie star Jane Russell. A fellow Hall-of-Famer, Lions defensive back Dick “Night Train” Lane, was married to singer Dinah Washington. It’s hard to believe either of those romances was chronicled as comprehensively as quarterback Tony Romo’s recent pregame hug with former “American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood.)

But the blue star on the silver helmet is an illusion. The team that made national news this season for every breath it took (or, in the case of Terrell Owens, every breath he supposedly struggled to take before an ambulance was called, fueling rumors of a suicide attempt his publicist denied by pointing out T.O. has “25 million reasons to live”) should not be confused with the Cowboys teams that came of age in the 1960s, dominated in the ’70s, hit a bump but regrouped with a clear vision in the ’80s, and returned with a vengeance in the ’90s.

Those Cowboys authored NFL history. These Cowboys are perpetuating a 10-year run of mediocrity that finds them ensconced among the two-dozen teams that are better than the Browns and not as good as the Ravens.

Once upon a time, there were two kinds of football fans: Those who loved the Cowboys and saw them as America’s Team, and those who hated the Cowboys and saw them as, well, Miss America’s Team. (Thinking here of Phyllis George, the former beauty queen whose studio reports on CBS broadcasts during the late 1970s always seemed to be delivered with a Dallas slant.)

In any case, I belonged to the anti-Dallas faction, skeptical of a franchise having the gall to call itself “America’s Team” some 40 years after the Bears had cut their teeth as virtual minor leaguers and lost their teeth on stone-cold fields in places like Portsmouth and Rock Island and Canton.

And then there was the marketing element. Cheerleaders at a football game? Who’da thunk? The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders inspired a 1979 made-for-TV movie called – get this – “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.” It was such a hit, a 1980 sequel was made, and it was called – brace yourself – “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II.”

All the while, the Cowboys won. And the more they won, they more they were inclined to swagger.

“Texas Stadium has a hole in its roof,” linebacker D.D. Lewis once said, “so God can watch his favorite football team play.”

If God is watching these Cowboys, it’s without an apparent rooting interest. In their 39-31 defeat to Detroit on Sunday, Romo fumbled four times and threw an interception, while the defense gave up four touchdown passes to Lions quarterback Jon Kitna.

“This is about as tough as it can get,” coach Bill Parcells pronounced afterward. He was on the verge of crying.

Parcells is a piece of work. During a Monday night game – I forget which one, they all seem to run together – the famously gruff coach morphed into Oprah, hugging and kissing everybody in sight.

“The Cowboys Are Back!” was the theme of the broadcast. Back? Back from what? Their regular-season record over the past 10 years is 73-85. Their most recent playoff victory was a conquest of the Vikings in the 1996 wild-card round.

The Cowboys will show up Saturday in Qwest Field with a frustrated head coach, a beaten-up defense and a Pro Bowl quarterback whose fall to earth has been as sudden as his ascent to stardom.

Hate ’em? Sorry, I can’t. The Cowboys are just another fringe playoff team. They’re not imposing enough to hate.

On the other hand, if the Seahawks’ depleted secondary is burned by three early touchdown passes – if Bill Parcells plants a kiss on the forehead of Terrell Owens before halftime – I’ll give it a try.

[KLJ]

i agree.. the cowboys aren't worth hating..

[Westbrook36]

Wow. The author has more venom than tr1? Did your wife write this? :laugh:

[BAFGA]

The author of the article needs to research more. It wasn't Jim Calhoun that said that Duke is on more than Leave it to Beaver. It was PETE friggin' GILLEN!

[HapHaszard]

I think the author if this article is a frustrated former Dallas fan. Used to be a lot of Cowboy fans around, this year they are hard to find.

[bubba9497]

They still appear on TV, , more often than reruns of “Leave it to Beaver.”


I don't care who you are.... that's funny :laugh:

[sableholic]

I don't care who you are.... that's funny :laugh:

I actually lol'ed.

[Rocky21]

You mean there are other people other than Redskins fans that are sick of the Cowpies? I thought it was just us.

[Cassow]

wow....an article trashing the cowboys from a newspaper in seattle....whodathunkit?


I guess its easy to be jealous of the Cowboys when your a fan of a franchise that has never won anything.....EVER.

I guess Seattle "earned" their playoff spot too, by losing 3 out of their last 4.

[tr1]

wow....an article trashing the cowboys from a newspaper in seattle....whodathunkit?


I guess its easy to be jealous of the Cowboys when your a fan of a franchise that has never won anything.....EVER.

I guess Seattle "earned" their playoff spot too, by losing 3 out of their last 4.

I think he was making the point that the pukes SUCK...which is quite evident from their customary nose-dive at this time of year....of course, I could be wrong.

[bubba9497]

wow....an article trashing the cowboys from a newspaper in seattle....whodathunkit?


I guess its easy to be jealous of the Cowboys when your a fan of a franchise that has never won anything.....EVER.

I guess Seattle "earned" their playoff spot too, by losing 3 out of their last 4.



wow what an orginial poke fan response :laugh:

[Phixius]

IMO Cowboys never improved from last season. They still finished 9-7 again. Only reason they in the playoffs because NFC is so bad.

[OWUeagleMD]

IMO Cowboys never improved from last season. They still finished 9-7 again. Only reason they in the playoffs because NFC is so bad.

Comparing the NFC of this year and the NFC of last year is nothing more than splitting hairs.

[tr1]

Comparing the NFC of this year and the NFC of last year is nothing more than splitting hairs.

Nice try.

At this time last year, an NFC East team was projected for the SB...the Giants.

Please...stop the spin.

[OWUeagleMD]

Nice try.

At this time last year, an NFC East team was projected for the SB...the Giants.

Please...stop the spin.

What would I serve to gain from this "spin."

Keep in mind, the Eagles were 6-10 last year, including an 0-6 NFC East record, in a conference that I'm deeming to be just as bas as the current one.

My point: the NFC was a fraud last year. This year, it's more of the same. Could you differentiate the two if you so chose? Sure, but what would be the point? They were both laughingstocks.

[Cassow]

I think he was making the point that the pukes SUCK...which is quite evident from their customary nose-dive at this time of year....of course, I could be wrong.

No tr1, 5-11 means you SUCK....making the playoffs?--not so much. (typical boys fan response, I know....i'll save you the typing)

We have taken a nose-dive the last couple years at this time....and it worries me--no argument from me there. But, we are in the playoffs, and as we have seen this year, one game can change everything.

He could have written an article about the cowboys troubles in December....but this isn't it. 90% of it is him just going on a rant about his hatred of the cowboys.....the cheerleaders, the stadium....etc.

[HeHateMe]

I think the author if this article is a frustrated former Dallas fan. Used to be a lot of Cowboy fans around, this year they are hard to find.

Amazing how the networks love them and theyre always getting the highest rated games in the NFL.

[Reic]

Who would of thought my flight to Dallas and Seattle would be a foreshadow of the playoffs.

Dallas airport has coushy moving walkways though.

[The Chief]

Amazing how the networks love them and theyre always getting the highest rated games in the NFL.

Not so amazing. The networks know that they get good ratings by serving up the latest episode of the soap opera that is the Dallas Cowboys.

And don't make the mistake of thinking that all of those viewers watching those "highest-rated games in the NFL" are tuning in because they want to see the Cowboys WIN. ;)

[tr1]

But, we are in the playoffs, and as we have seen this year, one game can change everything.

Then again, one game could confirm everything...

[THEHEREAFTER]

IMO Cowboys never improved from last season. They still finished 9-7 again. Only reason they in the playoffs because NFC is so bad.


Some teams are worse than they were last year.

[THEHEREAFTER]

[QUOTE]Not so amazing. The networks know that they get good ratings by serving up the latest episode of the soap opera that is the Dallas Cowboys.

Great cowardly explanation. :rolleyes:

And don't make the mistake of thinking that all of those viewers watching those "highest-rated games in the NFL" are tuning in because they want to see the Cowboys WIN. ;)

Yeah, you love'm or you hate'm but you watch. Your jealousy is too transparent.

[OWUeagleMD]

[QUOTE=The Chief]

Great cowardly explanation. :rolleyes:



Yeah, you love'm or you hate'm but you watch. Your jealousy is too transparent.

I can only imagine how proud I'd be of a child if they said "my favorite team is __________, because they get the highest ratings every week."

Who cares either way? Why would this be a source of pride?

[BlueTalon]

Yeah, you love'm or you hate'm but you watch.
Only if they're in your division or you happen to be playing them (or perhaps if they're playing another team you happen to be interested in, or are playing in a game with playoff implications). Otherwise, there are lots better things to watch and do.

[Fred Jones]

What goes around comes around. Patience is required this year if you are a skin fan. However, when next year comes things will change. Now it is time to watch the pukes lose in the playoffs.

[THEHEREAFTER]

What goes around comes around. Patience is required this year if you are a skin fan. However, when next year comes things will change. Now it is time to watch the pukes lose in the playoffs.

This is a skins website.

[THEHEREAFTER]

Only if they're in your division or you happen to be playing them (or perhaps if they're playing another team you happen to be interested in, or are playing in a game with playoff implications). Otherwise, there are lots better things to watch and do.

Right like watch the seahawks!? :(

[THEHEREAFTER]

[QUOTE=THEHEREAFTER]

I can only imagine how proud I'd be of a child if they said "my favorite team is __________, because they get the highest ratings every week."

Who cares either way? Why would this be a source of pride?


Who said they like the Cowboys BECAUSE of the ratings they generate?

[OWUeagleMD]

[QUOTE=OWUeagleMD]


Who said they like the Cowboys BECAUSE of the ratings they generate?

Fact or Fiction:

You boasted about the fact that the Cowboys are routinely the league's highest rated team.

[THEHEREAFTER]

Fact or Fiction:

You boasted about the fact that the Cowboys are routinely the league's highest rated team.


I may have mentioned that in some post at some point one day but what does that have to do with the reason someone follows the Cowboys? You're above statement is a merely a simple fact.

[BlueTalon]

Right like watch the seahawks!?
Hey, those are just the sentiments of any fan.

And anyway, the Seahawks are not the ones calling themselves "America's" team.

[OWUeagleMD]

I may have mentioned that in some post at some point one day but what does that have to do with the reason someone follows the Cowboys? You're above statement is a merely a simple fact.

If you had stated the Cowboys status atop ratings as merely a fact then there wouldn't have been any reason for me to mention it. The fact that you bragged about it, as if it was something you were proud of, struck me as simply absurd. The situation I posed above was an extension of the same logic that would have caused you to boast of the matter to begin with.

The point is, why would anyone care about how their team does in ratings?

[THEHEREAFTER]

If you had stated the Cowboys status atop ratings as merely a fact then there wouldn't have been any reason for me to mention it. The fact that you bragged about it, as if it was something you were proud of, struck me as simply absurd. The situation I posed above was an extension of the same logic that would have caused you to boast of the matter to begin with.

The point is, why would anyone care about how their team does in ratings?


I think it's awesome that I can travel and find other Cowboy fans easily. Where did I brag about their ratings in this thread? I think you're confusing me with another Cowboy fan perhaps. I love the fact that the Cowboys are a marquee team even during are less dominant years. I live in MD and I've had to go to a sports bar only twice all year to watch Dallas play. I think that's pretty cool but all this has nothing to do with WHY I started liking Dallas.

[THEHEREAFTER]

Hey, those are just the sentiments of any fan.

And anyway, the Seahawks are not the ones calling themselves "America's" team.

I get it. I get it. So which seahawks team is gonna show up Saturday and how do you see the game playing out?

[OWUeagleMD]

I think it's awesome that I can travel and find other Cowboy fans easily. Where did I brag about their ratings in this thread? I think you're confusing me with another Cowboy fan perhaps. I love the fact that the Cowboys are a marquee team even during are less dominant years. I live in MD and I've had to go to a sports bar only twice all year to watch Dallas play. I think that's pretty cool but all this has nothing to do with WHY I started liking Dallas.

You are correct. I confused you with another Cowboy fan. My bad.

[bubba9497]

What would I serve to gain from this "spin."

Keep in mind, the Eagles were 6-10 last year, including an 0-6 NFC East record, in a conference that I'm deeming to be just as bas as the current one.

My point: the NFC was a fraud last year. This year, it's more of the same. Could you differentiate the two if you so chose? Sure, but what would be the point? They were both laughingstocks.


Last season the Giants won the east with an 11-5 record

The Skins were the #6 wildcard at 10-6 (a 2pt conversion call away from the NFC East title and the #2 seed) the overall records of the teams in the NFC playoffs were better than last season by a large margin, Dallas missed th playoffs with the exact same 9-7 record ad the #5 seed.

this season every division champ except Chicage (same NFC North Champ) has a worse record than last season's division champ, and the wild card #6 seed is 8-8

As a #6 wild card team at 10-6 the Redskins were 5-1 in the NFC East, and 8-2 in the NFC, so I can't see how you can claim last season's NFC , or NFC East were as bad as they are this year

[The Chief]

Great cowardly explanation. :rolleyes:

No, I readily admit that the Redskins are running a soap opera as well. All you had to do was ask, instead of hurling insults. :)

The difference, perhaps, is that the Cowboys willingly sold their soul to the devil when they signed T.O., while the Skins were too incompetant to even recognize the devil when they saw him in Lloyd. Neither approach is what you might call 'optimal'.

Should I take it that you deny that the Cowboys have a history of signing players, who, like our own Sean Taylor, manage to attract a bit of negative media attention?


Yeah, you love'm or you hate'm but you watch.

Me? Actually, I only watch the Cowboys when they're playing the Redskins. But any team arrogant enough to dub themselves "America's Team" will always have more than their fair share of detractors, right?


Your jealousy is too transparent.

:laugh: :laugh:

Not so much to be jealous of nowadays, my friend. Congratulations on getting to the playoffs, but only a Lombardi would make me jealous.

Now since we're on the subject, I'll gladly admit to having been jealous of the Cowboys back when they had Tom Landry - he was a great coach, a class act and an exemplary man. It's a shame that Jerry couldn't do right by old Tom, wouldn't you say? Ah well, sometimes team owners can be a real pain in the...

Have you bought your Super Bowl tickets? :)

[BlueTalon]

I get it. I get it. So which seahawks team is gonna show up Saturday and how do you see the game playing out?
That's a damn good question. I think the O-line has seen the worst of their problems earlier in the year, and they're at the point where they're playing with cohesion, and that's going to set up the rest of the offense. Defensively, I just don't know. The front four has been inconsistant in getting pressure on the QB. The LB corps is solid. The secondary will be interesting to watch. We have our starting safeties, but right now our most experienced CB is our rookie. I think they'll do better than most people expect, but it remains to be seen.

Emotion certainly won't be in short supply, and the crowd is going to be LOUD. (Ask any of the Skins fans that made it to last year's divisional playoff game.)

[tr1]

Last season the Giants won the east with an 11-5 record

The Skins were the #6 wildcard at 10-6 (a 2pt conversion call away from the NFC East title and the #2 seed) the overall records of the teams in the NFC playoffs were better than last season by a large margin, Dallas missed th playoffs with the exact same 9-7 record ad the #5 seed.

this season every division champ except Chicage (same NFC North Champ) has a worse record than last season's division champ, and the wild card #6 seed is 8-8

As a #6 wild card team at 10-6 the Redskins were 5-1 in the NFC East, and 8-2 in the NFC, so I can't see how you can claim last season's NFC , or NFC East were as bad as they are this year

Eagle revisionist history is rampant these days....they're BEASTS, you know.
:laugh:

[Om]

If it makes any of our resident Cowboy fans feel any better ... I still hate that damn team.

It used to be because they were good all the time, and became the perfect foil for MY team for a decade in which both teams were among the best in the league.

Nowadays, given both teams are perennial also-rans, it's mostly due to the fact so many of their fans still say things like fans of other teams are "jealous."

As long as that kind of shout-in-the-dark arrogance persists, that team simply can't lose enough for me. :)

[OWUeagleMD]

Last season the Giants won the east with an 11-5 record

The Skins were the #6 wildcard at 10-6 (a 2pt conversion call away from the NFC East title and the #2 seed) the overall records of the teams in the NFC playoffs were better than last season by a large margin, Dallas missed th playoffs with the exact same 9-7 record ad the #5 seed.

this season every division champ except Chicage (same NFC North Champ) has a worse record than last season's division champ, and the wild card #6 seed is 8-8

As a #6 wild card team at 10-6 the Redskins were 5-1 in the NFC East, and 8-2 in the NFC, so I can't see how you can claim last season's NFC , or NFC East were as bad as they are this year

Like I said, you could draw lines in the sand between the two conferences if you so chose, but that doesn't change the most basic fact that the NFC has been a joke for three seasons running. The level of play may have been a bit higher last year, but even then, I would have said that the 3 or 4 best teams in the playoffs were in the AFC, just like this year.

You guys can see this as me being some absurd homer if you'd ike (an accusation that I've heard is meant to be curtailed around these parts) but I truly can't imagine what I'd serve to gain for my Eagles by declaring the NFC this year, in which we needed a 5-1 miracle stretch to make the playoffs, to be just as bad as last season, in which we had one of the most abysmal seasons in recent memory, including an 0-6 NFC East record and an absolute drubbing by Seattle on national television.

[OWUeagleMD]

Eagle revisionist history is rampant these days....they're BEASTS, you know.
:laugh:

I'm talking about the conference as a whole. It's an attempt to have an actual discussion. You're the one who spent the last two weeks talking about personal attacks and accusations of homerism destroying the foundation of this board; set your change in motion here.

If I'm so out of line to say that the NFC of this year and last year were so horrible, let's have a discussion. Anyone could throw a tombstone line into the wind and mark it with an emoticon.

[bubba9497]

Like I said, you could draw lines in the sand between the two conferences if you so chose, but that doesn't change the most basic fact that the NFC has been a joke for three seasons running. The level of play may have been a bit higher last year, but even then, I would have said that the 3 or 4 best teams in the playoffs were in the AFC, just like this year.




Every season is different

last season the AFC was so dominate the #6 seed won it all, and many think the hawks were hosed

Seattle beat the AFC #1 seed Colts in the regular season