Why America’s Team?
By RAIDERRED, Cowboysguide.com
The thought occurred to me the other day, why America’s team? After all, Dallas Cowboy fans have been the most spoiled of any other in the NFL. Even before the moniker America’s team was applied. I might add that we fans were not the ones who gave this tag to our own team. See NFL films for that one.
Well before the time of Superbowl Glory, the Cowboys were the media’s darlings. Next year’s champions, they were called. Bridesmaids, lovable losers. Where the Cowboys went, the media followed. Back in the day, the likes of Meredith, Lilly, Hayes, Howley, Jordan, Renfro, Pugh, Andrie, etc., were a colorful cast set against the Wild West backdrop known as Dallas, Texas. For heavens sake, they played in the historical confines of the Cotton Bowl, which has hosted numerous NFL stars to be.
It seems to me anyway, that destiny has been on the Cowboys’ side from the beginning. The love’em or hate’em attitude can be traced back to the inaugural campaign of 1960. That season, they shared the city with the Dallas Texans of the AFL. It was a struggle, to say the least, to put people in the seats. The organization mailed out 200,000 letters to potential season ticket holders. 2,165 accepted the initial offering. Yes, the Cowboys were loved and hated by their own kind. That season, the Cowboys faithful waited till December 4th to taste victory, sort of. A 31-31 tie with The New York Giants. The Love-Hate affair was on. Maybe it was the squeaky clean image of Tom Landry. Maybe it was the innovations that organization contributed to the game, such as computers for scouting purposes. Maybe it is the infamous stadium with the hole in the roof. Whatever the reasons, the Cowboys were destined for success.
The sixties yielded success, but the seventies would put the Cowboys on the Radar to stay. The rivalries with the Redskins, Eagles and Giants, mixed with the 49ers, Rams and Vikings only added to the love –hate relationship. The Cowboys were always a part of the media’s focus pro and con. The media generally are con when it comes to the Cowboys. Look no further than the lack of Cowboys in the Pro football hall of fame. Live with them, but the media just can’t live without them. What other NFL organization can boast the exposure the Dallas Cowboys have had? Even when they are down, the spotlight still glares. The success of the seventies, yielded to the downturn of the eighties. Still, the Cowboys were in sight. The brash new owner and coach along with a number one draft pick got things going again. A 1-15 season was a delight to those who hated the Cowboy way. Still America’s team was poised for its long anticipated return to the big stage. Success still breeds success. Jerry Jones has not settled for second best, when it comes to America’s team.
Once again, the Cowboys stand on the brink of another run to glory. The cast of characters has changed throughout the years, but the results are sure to be the same. Doomsday, Jolly Roger, TooTall,
Too Mean, the Manster blended into the Triplets, the Playmaker and the Kitchen. The newest cast has the makings of something special. Time will tell. Destiny has always been on their side. Why America’s team you ask? Because love’em or hate’em, Sunday afternoon would not be the same without the Dallas Cowboys.
Source : Dallas Cowboys, The first twenty five years
The thought occurred to me the other day, why America’s team? After all, Dallas Cowboy fans have been the most spoiled of any other in the NFL. Even before the moniker America’s team was applied. I might add that we fans were not the ones who gave this tag to our own team. See NFL films for that one.
Well before the time of Superbowl Glory, the Cowboys were the media’s darlings. Next year’s champions, they were called. Bridesmaids, lovable losers. Where the Cowboys went, the media followed. Back in the day, the likes of Meredith, Lilly, Hayes, Howley, Jordan, Renfro, Pugh, Andrie, etc., were a colorful cast set against the Wild West backdrop known as Dallas, Texas. For heavens sake, they played in the historical confines of the Cotton Bowl, which has hosted numerous NFL stars to be.
It seems to me anyway, that destiny has been on the Cowboys’ side from the beginning. The love’em or hate’em attitude can be traced back to the inaugural campaign of 1960. That season, they shared the city with the Dallas Texans of the AFL. It was a struggle, to say the least, to put people in the seats. The organization mailed out 200,000 letters to potential season ticket holders. 2,165 accepted the initial offering. Yes, the Cowboys were loved and hated by their own kind. That season, the Cowboys faithful waited till December 4th to taste victory, sort of. A 31-31 tie with The New York Giants. The Love-Hate affair was on. Maybe it was the squeaky clean image of Tom Landry. Maybe it was the innovations that organization contributed to the game, such as computers for scouting purposes. Maybe it is the infamous stadium with the hole in the roof. Whatever the reasons, the Cowboys were destined for success.
The sixties yielded success, but the seventies would put the Cowboys on the Radar to stay. The rivalries with the Redskins, Eagles and Giants, mixed with the 49ers, Rams and Vikings only added to the love –hate relationship. The Cowboys were always a part of the media’s focus pro and con. The media generally are con when it comes to the Cowboys. Look no further than the lack of Cowboys in the Pro football hall of fame. Live with them, but the media just can’t live without them. What other NFL organization can boast the exposure the Dallas Cowboys have had? Even when they are down, the spotlight still glares. The success of the seventies, yielded to the downturn of the eighties. Still, the Cowboys were in sight. The brash new owner and coach along with a number one draft pick got things going again. A 1-15 season was a delight to those who hated the Cowboy way. Still America’s team was poised for its long anticipated return to the big stage. Success still breeds success. Jerry Jones has not settled for second best, when it comes to America’s team.
Once again, the Cowboys stand on the brink of another run to glory. The cast of characters has changed throughout the years, but the results are sure to be the same. Doomsday, Jolly Roger, TooTall,
Too Mean, the Manster blended into the Triplets, the Playmaker and the Kitchen. The newest cast has the makings of something special. Time will tell. Destiny has always been on their side. Why America’s team you ask? Because love’em or hate’em, Sunday afternoon would not be the same without the Dallas Cowboys.
Source : Dallas Cowboys, The first twenty five years
posted by The Gryphon at 8:28 PM
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