SportsNetUSA Blogs

“Well ya see, Norm, it’s like this… A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.  In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”

The above should have been the conversation the other night in the lovely state of Texas with the owner of the Dallas cowboys. If it had been, there would be no controversy at the present time about his statements.  But then again, should there be any controversy at all? Let us be realistic, when are our conversations ‘our conversations’?

Welcome to the world of SportsNetUSA.net, or should I more specific and welcome to the world of sports inner-sanctum, “Friday Night Mics”.  You must realize that FNM was built around the fact that we had a few of us who spoke our minds and did not mind letting our mouths jump off our faces and into the other peoples’ conversations before they were finished. I am the biggest culprit of this group, followed by the Franchise, Title IX, Big EEEE, Pedal to the Metal and then Stick Boy. There were a few others, the Encyclopedia of Baseball (especially if you talked about Pete Rose) and the Mouth from the South.

Yes, this group could go round and round until three or four in the morning, but through it all, we all knew that our statements were going out over the airwaves. After FNM, there would be other conversations, in the studio, locking the door as we left for the night and standing out in the parking lot. These conversations would go on and on, until finally someone would say, “I have to go home.”

You see, there was never that dilemma about what to release on the air at SportsNetUSA.net, because we understood that our rants and conversation on FNM were for human consumption. We also knew that the other conversations we had after the show, with inside thoughts, statements, and feelings, belonged to us as a group of sports people having a conversation and discovering certain stories amongst ourselves that gave us a better look at the overall picture.

Are there times I speak out of turn? You bet I do. But at the same time, I do watch what I say at certain times to certain people, and I respect the private conversations I have had with a variety of people in all sorts of walks of life. Yes, I have been told things in the world of business, sports and everyday life that I should not have known. People sometimes just “need” to say something and when those times happen, we should really look at ourselves and turn off the repeat button in our minds and just save it for ourselves.

I have talked and I have been talked about, and I know how it feels when I have heard the words from someone else’s mouth. So maybe it is the press’s turn to realize that not every statement made by a known person is a reportable statement. Maybe the press should shut off a recorder, or turn off a cell phone camera, or look at the seller of a supposed juicy item and say, “no thank you.”

Because we all have our moments of sticking our feet in our mouths, be it at a bar, a dinner table, or riding in a car with a group of friends on a long ride home from Santa Monica. I would like to think that after the laughter subsides and everyone catches their breath, that the statement that was made didn’t belong to everyone, just the group that it was intended for.  The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.-that was Jerry’s mistake, leave the man and the statement alone.

I admit it, I am a Dallas Cowboy fan. I am not a late get on the bandwagon Cowboy fan. A few weeks ago a lot of people were banging on the Cowboys big time. Most of those same people are now talking about them going to the Super Bowl. I am not one of those delusional Cowboys fans. I have been a fan most of my life. Started when I was about seven and saw them on television. Yes there were televisions back then but they were black and white with a lot of toying with rabbit ears. I chose the Cowboys because I liked their uniforms and I had family that lived in Texas.  To me, Texas seemed like some far off magical land that had to be better than my home in Iowa. Iowa then nor now has a pro major league team of any kind. Most in Iowa cheered for the Vikings, Bears, Packers and the Chiefs. My team the Cowboys were hated and despised. It seemed to me when it came to my beloved Cowboys it was me against the state of Iowa. I feel lucky looking back now.

The Cowboys had a coach and a man that I admired in Tom Landry and they won most of the time. How many fans can say the first team they rooted for and loved had a coach that they liked as a coach and as a person. I believe Coach Landry is underrated. I also believe that Tony Dorsett and Roger Staubach are under rated also. All three are in the NFL Hall of Fame but not usually mentioned when the all time top five or even top ten are discussed. I do not want to stay in the past for too long but indulge me a little longer. Recently I found out that Doug Cosbie a former tight end for Dallas, is the coach of Sacramento High School. Like a true fan I was excited and my thought was I need to interview this guy. Last thing from the far past is a brief great moment in my life.

In the early 80’s I moved from Iowa to Orange County. I trekked up to Thousand Oaks where the Cowboys had their training camp for a scrimmage with the Rams. It was very laid back then as there was no fence around the field and after the game all fans could go down on the field. Fans and players were talking, how different things were then. I cut across the field and headed to my car. After a short ways I glanced behind me and Coach Landry was walking and talking with a man. There was no one else around and I was maybe only five to eight yards ahead of them. My mind was racing and I thought if they keep coming my way and Coach Landry is alone I have to talk to him. Amazingly, after a few steps more, the man left and there was Coach Landry all by himself. He was walking my direction. I decided to introduce myself and expected him to be cold(those were the stories back then that he was cold). The man could not have been any more friendly as he shook my hand. The conversation was short as I told him I was a lifelong Cowboy fan and had finished reading one of his biographies. He asked me which one and he knew of it and liked it. He thanked me for my support and for coming to the scrimmage and wished me well. That was my one and only time ever going up to a famous person. Something I always look back on with joy. I would like to hear any stories that you may have of an experience you may have had like that.

Now to the present state of the Cowboys. I still cheer for the Cowboys but this team has to prove it on the field. All year long I have supported Brett Favre and now I have to go against him. I like the defense and was shocked when I heard that for the first time ever the Cowboys had back to back shutouts. This franchise has had many great defenses and that stat stunned me. I like now that Jason Garrett is calling more running plays than he did in the past. I have always liked Romo as a quarterback. This line has never been that great at pass blocking. Remember when Bledsoe was the quarterback and all of the sacks he had to take. Romo escapes so many sacks and now is taking better care of the ball. I also like his attitude better now that he does not smile on the field and sidelines all of the time. He now looks like he knows he belongs. Before, I always had the feeling he could not believe his luck! He was an undrafted player from Eastern Illinois and then became the quarterback of the Cowboys and dating starlets. Still the Vikings are the better team. The great thing about one and done playoffs is the best team does not always win. There is no doubt the Patriots were a better team than the Giants over that season. However the Giants got hot at the end and was the better team that year in the Super Bowl. It is not about who is the better team nor has the most talent. It is about being the Champions!!!

Last, I must congratulate Wade Phillips and Jerry Jones. I have been critical of Phillips. I like him but did not think he should be coaching the Cowboys. He has really done a great job developing the defense. I have also been critical of Jerry Jones as I felt like he lost his way for awhile. I felt like Jerry became more concerned about being right than about winning. There is no way the Dallas Cowboys should ever go from 1996 to 2010 without winning a playoff game! The tension of a playoff football game with your favorite team in it is unmatched. I will be a Dallas Cowboy fan for life come win or lose. However it is much better to win! Go Cowboys!