There's something about Jerry
By JAIME ARON
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
IRVING, Texas -- Jerry Jones wants to emphasize a point, so he starts scribbling.
He draws a circle down here, then a circle up there, followed by a straight line connecting the dots. He does this so often that at the end of an hour-long interview there is hardly any white space left on his paper.
The finished product is a portrait of Jones himself: Busy, moving in a lot of directions and, shrewdly enough, done in pencil so he can go back and correct any mistakes.
No need for the eraser lately. Jones has connected so many dots that his Dallas Cowboys are 5-0 for the first time in his 19 seasons as owner and general manager; his franchise's claim to being "America's Team" has been dipped in gold by recent polls ranking the club as the most valuable and most popular in the country; and the US$1-billion stadium he's building already has captured the 2011 Super Bowl.
The crowning achievement would be another Super Bowl title, which would give him four and the franchise six, meaning sole possession of the league's most cherished record. Although that must wait until at least February, he gets to enjoy the next best thing this weekend -- a home game against fellow unbeaten New England that many consider to be a Super Bowl preview.
Wait, it gets better.
At halftime, Jones will give Michael Irvin his Hall of Fame ring. Expect a loud ovation for both. While fans are at it, they might as well sing "Happy Birthday" because Jerry turns 65 on Saturday.
Life is certainly good for Jerry Jones. Even though he's 12 seasons removed from hoisting a Super Bowl trophy, 11 since even savouring a playoff win, seeing the pieces fall back in place makes it worth the wait.
"There's a case to be made that the anticipation of success is a more pleasant time than after you've had success," Jones said. "You create more energy without the total responsibility of having to live up to anything. That makes it a lot of fun."
Jerral Wayne Jones was born Oct. 13, 1942, in Los Angeles, then moved at a young age to North Little Rock, Ark.
As a kid, Jerry went door-to-door selling a "kind of lubricant-type stuff that came in cans," and delivered circulars into the handles of screen doors.
He got a scholarship to play football for the Razorbacks.
After college, Jones made a fortune drilling for oil, often in places other considered dry holes. He always had an eye on pro football, even trying to buy the San Diego Chargers in the mid-1960s. When he was 23.
In February 1989, Jones sold practically everything he owned to buy the Cowboys for $140 million.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
IRVING, Texas -- Jerry Jones wants to emphasize a point, so he starts scribbling.
He draws a circle down here, then a circle up there, followed by a straight line connecting the dots. He does this so often that at the end of an hour-long interview there is hardly any white space left on his paper.
The finished product is a portrait of Jones himself: Busy, moving in a lot of directions and, shrewdly enough, done in pencil so he can go back and correct any mistakes.
No need for the eraser lately. Jones has connected so many dots that his Dallas Cowboys are 5-0 for the first time in his 19 seasons as owner and general manager; his franchise's claim to being "America's Team" has been dipped in gold by recent polls ranking the club as the most valuable and most popular in the country; and the US$1-billion stadium he's building already has captured the 2011 Super Bowl.
The crowning achievement would be another Super Bowl title, which would give him four and the franchise six, meaning sole possession of the league's most cherished record. Although that must wait until at least February, he gets to enjoy the next best thing this weekend -- a home game against fellow unbeaten New England that many consider to be a Super Bowl preview.
Wait, it gets better.
At halftime, Jones will give Michael Irvin his Hall of Fame ring. Expect a loud ovation for both. While fans are at it, they might as well sing "Happy Birthday" because Jerry turns 65 on Saturday.
Life is certainly good for Jerry Jones. Even though he's 12 seasons removed from hoisting a Super Bowl trophy, 11 since even savouring a playoff win, seeing the pieces fall back in place makes it worth the wait.
"There's a case to be made that the anticipation of success is a more pleasant time than after you've had success," Jones said. "You create more energy without the total responsibility of having to live up to anything. That makes it a lot of fun."
Jerral Wayne Jones was born Oct. 13, 1942, in Los Angeles, then moved at a young age to North Little Rock, Ark.
As a kid, Jerry went door-to-door selling a "kind of lubricant-type stuff that came in cans," and delivered circulars into the handles of screen doors.
He got a scholarship to play football for the Razorbacks.
After college, Jones made a fortune drilling for oil, often in places other considered dry holes. He always had an eye on pro football, even trying to buy the San Diego Chargers in the mid-1960s. When he was 23.
In February 1989, Jones sold practically everything he owned to buy the Cowboys for $140 million.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:34 AM
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