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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!