The Moment I Questioned my Cowboys Fanhood
by rioplayer7 on Feb 11, 2009 2:59 PM CST
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PrintThe date was Sunday, December 14, 2008. It was a very pivotal game and I was as excited as ever for the biggest game on our schedule. It was my favorite time of the year, a classic battle between the top two teams in the division. Then I saw something that absolutely disgusted me.....
The fireworks are going off and the Cowboys Stars are being introduced. And here comes one of our most electrifying players. He who should not be named (because personally I am tired of typing it up in every blog I post) was ready to play as always and ready to help the Cowboys get a very pivotal win. Then came the Boos. I was shocked. For a second I thought I was watching a Philly game. The rudest fans in the world, the reason I have the biggest disgust for the Philadelphia Eagles was happening among my own peers. Instead of giving our team the advantage, by showing one of our best players we support him, we do this. Instead of trying to give our team the home field advantage we take it away from he who should not be named and try to take away the winning mood. My stomach shrank, I have always been a Cowboys fan because hands down we are the best fans in the world.
Until this moment and to this day I do not think I can still back this up. I noticed that it had actually happened the media had won. No longer are the days were their will be a sports bar argument free from the likes of anonymous source reporting from the likes of Ed Werder and other terrible reporters. Instead the days of Star Magazine and ESPN, will rule the conversations of the arguments to come. It was the day I never thought I would see in Dallas. Is this really what has become of the best fans in the world? If anything I believe they are fans of ESPN. Stop listening to all this media, they look to create controversy in order to get ratings. A true fan continues to support his team through thick and thin. The worst thing we were in at this moment was an ESPN report. Is that really what is going to cause our decision making on who to cheer and boo?
We were still in the playoff race and this is what happens. It was the worst thing to ever happen at Texas Stadium and then what disgusted me the most about this entire debacle, the boos predictably turned to cheers when Tony connected with he who should not be named for 25 yards late in the first period. REALLY?
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The only reason I am a Cowboys fan still is because as I said...
You have to stick with your team through thick and thin
thats not a true indication
The majority of fans that regularly attend games at Texas Stadium aren’t the true diehard fans. The true diehard Cowboys are the ones that live all over the country, like the ones on this site, just not in Texas.
I’ve been to 5 games at Texas Stadium and most fans there are very lame compared to other fans across the country that attend their team’s home games.
In Romo we Trust
Agreed but it was a very sad day
I never want to ever relate Cowboys fans to Philly’s but it was there that day and all over an ESPN report so sad
this whole season was played out by ESPN's rules and story line....
most specifically is the notion of making TO a scapegoat….i ain’t buyin it….
this whole season was played out by ESPN's rules and story line....
most specifically is the notion of making TO a scapegoat….i ain’t buyin it….
look foward to it
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Feb 12, 2009 12:14 AM CST up reply actions
I just hate all this get rid of TO takl and everything else he helps our team out a lot
As i have mentioned before he allows Witten to get the numbers he does because he gets safety help drawn to him. He also is a very good blocker in the run game if you have ever noticed. Whenever T.O. plays he plays with all his heart on game day. Have you seen him sprint down the field just to get a block he loves to give it his all every game, and we continue to buy into this ESPN stuff. I really wish we would just all support him and look forward to him dominating secondaries next year. Plus I will bet most of these bashers probably have a T.O. jersey somewhere hiding in their closet.
I dont think anybody questions his talent or work ethic.
He is a distraction. His on the field production is fading and his distractions are increasing. I think he has hurt Romos growth last year as well as the whole offense. Everybody wants their number one involved greatly in the offense but when fear of a reprisal or outburtst if he doesnt get it distracts from the team its time to cut bait. Our offense look out of sync and forced. It didnt look right.
I dont know if we will be successfull (playoff victories)without him next year but I know we wont be successfull with him next year.
You cant blame ESPN for our problems. Thats a loser mentality. Its the media’s fault. TO made his bed along time ago with his antics. He has no one to blame but himself. Im ready for our bloggers and our players to focus on the game and the team, not the media and personal agendas.
but I know we wont be successfull with him next year.
We have been successful every year he has been here why wouldn’t we be next year?
+1
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Feb 13, 2009 12:48 AM CST up reply actions
Oh have we. Remind me of the playoff wins and SB victories all I can remember is finger pointing.
I hate to say this about another person but the guy is a loser. We wont win it all with him. We just dont have a guy in our locker room he respects enough. In fact I dont think he respects anyone anywhere enough. That guy wont win when it counts the most.
The best offense in the league last year was NO. Besides Colston name me 2 WRs that werent former Cowboys.
Here’s the thing…there is a difference between cheering blindly and making smart decisions. I dislike Terrell Owens as much as I’ve disliked any player in the NFL. I didn’t like him when he disrespected the star years ago and I like him even less now since he has torn apart my favorite team. As a fan/customer who pays money for tickets and merchandise that is my right to boo specific players on the Cowboys who I feel don’t contribute to a winning environment. Do I feel as if Romo and Witten are always in the right? No, but based upon how Owens did the same things to the team chemistry in two other spots, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. The declining on field production does not make up for the locker room problems. It was a mistake to bring him here and the mistake should have been corrected by now.
by Beuerleincouldhavebeenbetterthentroy on Feb 11, 2009 5:58 PM CST reply actions
Your argument seems to be hypocritical
In such a pivotal game why try and hurt your team? Don’t you think it is contradictory to say you boo for someone who is hurting chemistry and then you boo for him hurting the team chemistry by booing for him?
I never want to be associated with unloyal and negative fans
In such a pivotal game why try and hurt your team? Don’t you think it is contradictory to say you boo for someone who is hurting chemistry and then you boo for him hurting the team chemistry by booing for him and cheering for other?
I made the rediculous comment a few years back
Remember that Monday night game against Philly, right after T.O. was suspended by the Eagles for the year? That night, there was speculation that he would be a Cowboy. I told my wife I’d never watch football again. What an absurd statement. From the day T.O. signed, I have defended him. Why? Because he’s a Cowboy. Why? Because believe it or not, Jerry Jones DOES know what’s better for this team than anyone else here. If he cuts T.O. then I will no longer cheer for him.
The bottom line, if you wear the Star I cheer for you.
+1
and I’ve always said if Irvin was on any other team I would despise him. It’s amazing how our opinions change once they wear the star.
It works for all sports
I unfortunately grew up near Pittsburgh. The only team there I like is the Penguins. For all you hockey fans, you know who Darius Kasperitis was. A big rough goon of an enforcer. When he played for the Islanders, he was probably the Penguins fans most hated player in the league. He came to Pittsburgh, and roughed up anyone who breathed on their beloved Lemieux, and he was absolutely adored.
Fans are hypocritical when it comes to this.
you know the ole saying
you love the one your with. I always loathed T.O. before he signed, but I had to root for him even though it’s killed me.
In Romo we Trust
btw Terry
Huff said he grew up in the Pitt area like you. Are there very many Cowboy fans up there? Just curious how you became a fan in Pitt area?
yeah, there are probably more fans up here than you might think
I became a Cowboys fan back in the ’70s when I was a little kid, Roger Staubach was my idol. The game that captured my heart was the Hail Mary game in the ’75 playoffs agains the Vikes, after that run into SB X, I was hooked, as was my hatred for the Steelers.
Since then, the Cowboys have always been the number one passion in my life to this present day. For the record, I was just as big of a Staubach and Aikman fan as I am Romo fan back in those eras, just FYI.
In Romo we Trust
My dad was a HUGE Cowboys fan
I have a picture of me less than a year old (1978) standing in the Cowboys end zone wearing my #12 shirt.
Unfortunately, that’s the only time I got to go to Texas Stadium.
My dad was a huge fan too
and so I watched the Boys every Sunday with him. My Dad is not so much a fan anymore since Jerry did Landry so dirty. I have remained faithful though.
some don't get it Rio....Lack of productivity ? umm...If your O line and QB slips...it's gonna cost you some yards and TD's...
just one more reception per game and he’s among lead leaders in receptions, yards, and TD’s..Blame the damn O Line before you blame any individual…
+1
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Feb 12, 2009 12:14 AM CST up reply actions
-1000
The assumption that those of us against TO are blinded by the media is ridiculous and a fake argument. I don’t watch ESPN and don’t need people in the media to tell me what a loser he is.
The truth is in the posts above that admit they hated him before he was a Cowboy and now root for him just because they have to.
I can see with my own eyes that his production based on Stats (which aren’t everything, esp. in football) is matched by the negative inpact he has on a team’s ‘chemistry.’ Just as it always has, everywhere he’s been.
He is not a football player, but has purposely turned himself into a product of the media. He brought all of this on himself the day he pulled out a Sharpie, or did a “Desp. Housewives” intro to MNF.
He cares much more about his stats than winning, how he looks than his teammates.
by Realist Larry on Feb 16, 2009 1:38 PM CST up reply actions
Just heard Darren Woodson on ESPN
and I like what he said. He said that you don’t always like everyone on your team. Don’t get me wrong, team chemistry is important but you don’t have to like everyone. He basically said that Romo and TO need to work out their differences if there are any. The thing that he said that needs to change is Romo. He needs to step up and be a true leader and not “act so non-chalant”. Woodson saw Romo’s lack of leadership a bigger deal and he compared him to both Aikman and Staubach. Pretty interesting if you ask me.
That is true, Romo's got some growth to go through.
I submit 2 points: That you don’t have to like the other players, but you have to have some level of respect for them, and that Owens is not capable of much of that (I’ll qualify it slightly) as a person;
and, that Romo’s growth as a “Leader” is stunted by having this TO around, and this fiasco go on and on.
by Realist Larry on Feb 16, 2009 6:18 PM CST up reply actions
Dude, just watch the guy, how he carries himself,
the stupid things he says and does.
Nothing has changed for him in the last, what, 6-8 years?
It was right in front of every Cowboy fan’s face when he played for other teams! How was he received in SF and Philly?
Hypocrisy is looking right through all of a guy’s faults cause now he’s on ‘your’ team.
As I’ve said many times, all of the people defending him on this site would be laughing their butts off if Snydr/Washington had signed him, and saying how stupid a decision it was, and how they were glad Jerry didn’t sign the jerk.
by Realist Larry on Feb 16, 2009 6:16 PM CST up reply actions
Not a football Player what kind of a realist are you
I hope you kiss his bust when he has one in Canton and then maybe you will realize he was a pretty good football player
What I mean is that he doesn't have the kiind of mindset,
a focus on the team over individual goals, that an NFL player needs to be truly successful.
That the ‘blue-collar’ players have. He doesn’t focus much and play in the moment-he often seems to be thinking about how he looks or when he’ll get his next TD.
Every now and then he’ll hustle, block for his teammates, thta’s true, but he always comes back to himself as the main focus.
Yeah, he’s a good WR physically, but mentally he’s always been “Me me me.”
by Realist Larry on Feb 16, 2009 6:23 PM CST up reply actions
Not in the middle of a game.
And to defend TO with a comment about the classiest guy to ever be involved in the NFLreveals ignorance or desperation.
Or maybe it was supposed to be funny.
by Realist Larry on Feb 16, 2009 6:19 PM CST up reply actions
One More thing about ESPN
And I know BigHam will be all over my case for this but look forward to hours and hours of Brett Favre footage on ESPN, maybe the TO talk will die down a bit.
I never want to be associated with unloyal and negative fans In such a pivotal game why try and hurt your team? Don’t you think it is contradictory to say you boo for someone who is hurting chemistry and then you boo for him hurting the team chemistry by booing for him and cheering for other?
Not certain if I understand your logic but let me ask you a question. If the Cowboys were to sign Michael Vick would you just accept his presence on our team and cheer for him? Or would you question the wisdom of our owner’s decision?
You see, for the most part choosing a favorite football team isn’t a rational decision. Most of us make it in childhood based upon a certain game, a certain player, having friends or family that like the team, living in the same area, etc. As an adult who pays hard earned money to support the team I think it is my right to voice my opinion when I see things that I interpret as bad decisions.
I don’t question Jerry Jones will to win…and for me that’s important. Because the Mike Browns of the world I’m convinced could care less about putting a winning team on the field. However, based upon the fact that Jerry is not a football guy and has never been willing to admit that he isn’t, I do take issue with a lot of the decisions he makes. Does this make me less of a fan? I can’t see how it does.
by Beuerleincouldhavebeenbetterthentroy on Feb 12, 2009 7:02 PM CST reply actions
Agreed to some extent
I would be concerned about the negative press associated with signing Vick but I am willing to win at any cost. I do not care about the perception of players brought in and their character. Trust me, noone else does either if we won another SB. I am criticized for rooting for the helmet and the jersey but I accept that. I want to win at all costs and morals have no room in that.
There is room to question JJ’s decision if they do not win. That is where we are now. Bringing in the Tank’s and Pacman’s of the world was bad choice only in hindsight. If they had won a SB this year the Cowboy fans wouldn’t care and the haters would sit there seething.
But everything is cyclical it seems. JJ takes criticism for the character of players so he doesn’t draft Randy Moss. He then has a team stacked with talent after hiring Parcells and he goes out and gets questionable character guys to try to get them over the top and it didn’t work.
He’s trying everything and that’s what I want from an owner. But he deserves the criticism he’s getting right now and I believe it’s because he isn;t making decisions that ultimately win a championship. I joined this blog to voice my disdain for Wade and becaue of the lack of focus and direction with this organization he doesn’t even make the front page here. He’s an afterthought because Jerry hired him and remains obstinate keeping him here. But Jerry hired him to do a job which he has failed miserably at and he should receive the criticism for that instead of JJ taking the heat for hiring him.
The fans that booed TO are not real fans and they are an embarrassment to everyone on this site. They provide the Cowboy stereotype used by all haters but I will never be associated with them. Stay strong, voice your opinion but don’t lose sight of the objective, winning at all costs
People who say things like "The fans that booed TO are not real fans and they are an embarrassment to everyone on this site."
are not real fans and are an embarrassment to this site.
by Realist Larry on Feb 16, 2009 1:39 PM CST up reply actions
+1
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Feb 13, 2009 8:59 PM CST up reply actions
As for my explanation..
I feel it is contradictory to boo someone for hurting team chemistry
Doesnt booing your team in your home stadium hurt team chemistry? So how can you throw rocks when they are doing the exact same thing?
Wow you're comparing a convicted criminal, who is sitting in jail right now
To a social pariah who was a social outcast growing up, and now strives for attention to make up for it. Who has never been arrested.
Nice logic.
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