I'm 36. Like many my age, I grew up worshiping Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Randy White, Ed "Too-Tall Jones," Drew Pearson, Robert Newhouse, etc. I loved the Cowboys. They were on TV every Sunday even though we only got 4 channels back then (that was a big deal!).
Had my dad ever died, I wanted Tom Landry to adopt me. The man was the paragon of class, dignity and "keeping your cool." He didn't yell at his players or whine to the refs about bad calls. He was likely the most prolific innovator of the game, EVER. He invented the nickel and dime defenses. Then once everyone had copied that scheme, he invented complex offensive schemes (shotgun formation, man-in-motion) to pick them apart.
The Cowboys were a powerhouse through the 70s and early 80s, but years and years of getting low draft picks caught up with them, and they finally had some (gulp!) LOSING seasons.
When Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys, his first order of bidness was to commandeer a helicopter, fly out to a golf course where Landry was playing, and personally fire him on the spot. What a classless way to treat a coaching legend.
After I heard that story, I realized that the Cowboys I grew up with were no more, and I haven't pulled for them since unless I had $$ on them.
Anyone else grow up a Cowboy fan? Anyone else love coach Landry? I'm sure some arch-rival Steeler/Bradshaw fans will chime in!
Had my dad ever died, I wanted Tom Landry to adopt me. The man was the paragon of class, dignity and "keeping your cool." He didn't yell at his players or whine to the refs about bad calls. He was likely the most prolific innovator of the game, EVER. He invented the nickel and dime defenses. Then once everyone had copied that scheme, he invented complex offensive schemes (shotgun formation, man-in-motion) to pick them apart.
The Cowboys were a powerhouse through the 70s and early 80s, but years and years of getting low draft picks caught up with them, and they finally had some (gulp!) LOSING seasons.
When Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys, his first order of bidness was to commandeer a helicopter, fly out to a golf course where Landry was playing, and personally fire him on the spot. What a classless way to treat a coaching legend.
After I heard that story, I realized that the Cowboys I grew up with were no more, and I haven't pulled for them since unless I had $$ on them.
Anyone else grow up a Cowboy fan? Anyone else love coach Landry? I'm sure some arch-rival Steeler/Bradshaw fans will chime in!