I'm Pro-Choice

by Jim Vance on Apr 17, 2009 5:00 PM CDT in General Comment 23 comments

[Ed. note by Grizz]: This is the last in our series of posts promoting the opening of Tashard Choice's website. It's been a fun adventure, and thanks to you guys it was a success, even Tashard thinks so. Maybe we'll be able to do more of these types of things in the future, and we will do more stuff with Tashard. So one more final time: Go visit Tashard Choice's official website. Also, make sure you read all the way through Jim's post below, I embedded a funny Choice video at the end. [End ed. note]

I travel for business and found myself in the San Diego airport last week trying to get back to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I was wearing a baseball cap with the Cowboys blue star embroidered on front and the team name across the back. I sat in the terminal next to another gentleman who was headed home to Atlanta.

He nodded at my cap and said, "You know, I'm a Falcons fan, but we all love that third-string running back of yours."

"Tashard Choice?" I said. "Yes, I think he's a good kid, I'm looking forward to seeing him play this year."

"Yes, Tashard has a lot of fans back home, we are all rooting for him to have a great career."

He went his way and I mine, but I was proud to hear a stranger say such positive things about a Cowboy player. As Cowboy fans we have taken some hits aimed at our team due to the off field issues of some Cowboy players - and now we have strangers in airports saying they are rooting for our Cowboys. Isn't that refreshing?

Tashard Choice won the Total Person Award at his alma mater, Georgia Tech. The Total Person Awards are presented annually to the male and female senior student-athletes who best exemplify excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and service.

He is sponsoring a charity golf tournament in Farmers Branch Texas and he has a youth football camp in Arlington Texas for kids in first to eighth grades. This guy was a rookie last year and he is already making his name known and serving the community.

I know you've seen the pregame speech on YouTube that Tashard gave before the Clemson game. It's a classic and you don't get the impression that he rehearsed this, it was straight from the heart. That's exactly what the Cowboys have been needing - a solid football player, a great neighbor and a guy with heart.

That's why I'm Pro-Choice.

As promised, Tashard Choice shows his moves in this short video.

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Comments

so, eagles give up a 1st, a 4th and another pick for Peters

i wonder if Aikman will call this the biggest bust in NFL history if it doesn’t work…what a noob.

this is what i do...i guarantee.

by Longhorn on Apr 17, 2009 5:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah Aikman ever since left the organization, is trying to be sooooo much politicly correct

that most of the times his comments come out anti-cowboys, I loved his time with the team, but hate his broadcasting career. He should take a page from Deon.

by dcfanz on Apr 17, 2009 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not jazzed about Deon either right now

I lost respect for old man 21 when he made a statement on live tv last year. On NFL Network speaking with Mooch on GameDay Final after the with over the Browns. Context was Mooch teasing Deon about being on the Boys bandwagon to get in the Cowboys Ring of Honor and he said “trust me, I don’t care about that ring”. A very disrespectful comment to me about a great honor, might as well have wiped his feet on the star. He next quickly said “I care about superbowl rings” but why says something like that, and it just sits with me wrong. I had to rewind to make sure I didn’t misunderstand him.

by StarMaterial on Apr 17, 2009 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Deon does not belong in the ring

I think Deon was probably the best CB to ever play but he shouldn’t be in the Cowboy’s ring of honor.

Ignorance is no excuse, it's the real thing.
- Irene Peter

by CounterEMF on Apr 17, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Love Tashard as much as the next guy.....

but these days it’s like he has two sites devoted to him.

by Colorblind on Apr 17, 2009 5:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, we are stretching for content here when we're mentioning airport discussions

He’s a good player, glad we could help him with his website, but I’m also glad this is the last one. Let’s talk draft.

Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.

by Tim Wilson on Apr 17, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I went to the Jerry Jones School of Marketing

If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it big, go all out. I think Jerry would say it’s always better to over-promote than under-promote. But, yes, it’s time has come to an end. ;-)

by Dave Halprin on Apr 17, 2009 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hear ya

And if it gets us some direct access to more Cowboys players, then it’s a good thing.

However, I would never want BTB to feel it needs to pander or soften its content in order to get access. I feel like that is a major problem with a lot of today’s beat writers— they are afraid of offending the athletes they cover and thereby losing their “exclusive” access. So the result is that we never get any actually interesting or useful info from these guys despite all of their much-ballyhooed “access.” That’s part of the reason I like sites like Football Outsiders and BTB— they are able to have an honest outsider’s perspective because they don’t have to worry about TO refusing to grant them an interview for their next ESPN segment if they write something bad about him.

Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.

by Tim Wilson on Apr 18, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have a little respect for Jim.

The fact that we are involved in Choice’s launch is a positive thing for all of us. I don’t care if we cover him for a week straight.

I was happy to take a little break from beating my head against the draft board. Don’t worry, this is the last week before the draft. I think we might talk about it a bit.

"I see the door, I just get off on running through the wall." - Young Tripp

by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Apr 17, 2009 6:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

tough crowd..

I think everyone is just anxious with the draft around the corner..

All the mock draft swill be blown up by pick 5.

"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z

by Wmillion on Apr 17, 2009 7:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

We spent days and weeks reviewing Pacman and TO and Roy. Isn’t great to have a positive story about a young player who does get it and will use his position to help others. I hope tash is with us for a long time. Jim , it is all good.

by oldboysfan on Apr 18, 2009 7:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

See my above post

I’m not disappointed in Jim, just don’t want us to feel compelled to write nice things about a player and compromise our outsider’s perspective

Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.

by Tim Wilson on Apr 18, 2009 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Keep up the good work JIm

I never get tired of good news. If you’ve have fans of other teams noticing your third stringers that’s impressive.

Ignorance is no excuse, it's the real thing.
- Irene Peter

by CounterEMF on Apr 17, 2009 6:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Draft a QB Every Year...

Time for Tex’s Friday Calvados on another magnificent day in Montecito. One week until the draft, and three weeks until Greece.

If the Cowboys draft a QB in the late rounds to couple with Kitna, Tex will be happy. In fact, make it annual event to take a quarterback with a 4th or 5th round pick in every draft, see Nate Davis.

by Montecito Tex on Apr 17, 2009 6:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Being

that Tashard played for Georgia Tech, I’m not overly surprised that he has lots of fans in Atlanta. The fact that people are again talking positive things is a good thing. He seems to be a good person and we can alway use more of those . Good Story and thanks for sharing it Jim.

by oldboysfan on Apr 17, 2009 6:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Link to TC's website is bad

just an heads up

by sublimezg on Apr 17, 2009 6:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thank you

fixed

by Dave Halprin on Apr 17, 2009 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, Jim

for sharing that fan comment. I’m pro-Choice too.

Our three-headed running game is going to be the story this year.

Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.

by OskieOskie on Apr 17, 2009 8:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone hear Pat Kirwan's mock on Sirius Radio today?

I missed it and was wondering who he had going to DAL at #51.

by BishopWest on Apr 17, 2009 8:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice piece, Jim.

Personally, some of the players on this team the past couple of years have given other teams’ fans ammo to grumble my way when I wear my silver & blue. With guys like Tashard on the team, I know that an integrity still exists on this football team.

Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Say that fast, five times!

by Aaron Novinger on Apr 17, 2009 11:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

There's just something about Choice

That makes me hope that he plays a lot, and is a Cowboy for a long time. Just seems like one of those guys that is going to make draft boards and mocks like we all have right now look as absurd as they are.

by mhuff13 on Apr 18, 2009 10:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

Before the draft, I browse the mocks just to get my sports “fill” … but here is a good stat for you:

Percent correct from top mocks last year, 1st round = 20%

Correct picks after 1st round = 0%

Tar Heels = National Champs in Basketball ... top 5 in Baseball ... Top 10 this year in Football?

by DalaiLuke on Apr 19, 2009 5:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could never get enough of Choice

All the articles I read about TO, and Romo, and Roy Williams, or Marty B’s blog, it’s nice to hear about guys like Scandrick and Choice, guys who just work hard and want to be the best they can be. Great football players and great locker room guys, hopefully this draft brings in more players with that type of attitude.

by LonghornsLegend on Apr 20, 2009 10:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs