Pride returns to Cowboys fans

by Robert Box, sports editor

                                                                

Today is a great day. 

I’ve been waiting for a day like this for close to 10 years now.  I can finally admit something that I’ve been hiding from family and friends.  I am a Dallas Cowboys fan! 

I didn’t come to this conclusion just because of the Cowboys’ recent success.  No one can accuse me of jumping on the bandwagon.  I was still a huge fan even through the 5-11 seasons and the constant ridicule that I received all through junior high and high school.  Regardless of their current record, I would still be a fan.  But for the first time in a long time, there is legitimate hope of America’s team having major success.  I’ve waited a very long time for this too. 

I’ve heard most of the experts talk of how people shouldn’t get too excited about the early success of the ‘Boys, since they started playing poorly at the end of last year.  But I refuse to listen. I have wasted most of my youth and gotten my hopes up so many times, but I continued to be a fan.  So excuse me for being a little too excited about their fast start. 

I can remember all the constant disappointments and close calls that just didn’t seem to go our way in the past few years.  I can remember watching Michael Irvin being tackled head first into the turf at Philadelphia and knowing that the we’re in big trouble. 

I can remember seeing Randy Moss dominate us every time he played us because we didn’t draft him.  I can remember when Quincy Carter was supposed to be the answer for replacing Troy Aikman.  I can remember yelling “NO” as loud as I can as the Cowboys traded away a draft pick that would have been Stephen Jackson and ended up being Julius Jones instead. I can especially remember lying on the floor crying as Tony Romo dropped the hold that would have won the playoff game last year. 

I can remember earlier this semester that I was walking down the hall in the Administrations building and I was wearing my Terrell Owens jersey.   I was just minding my own business when this kid walked by me and said, “Bears.”  I turned and looked at him, caught off guard a little by what he said.  He continued to look at me, smiling, and said, “Bears, that’s all I got to say to you man, Bears.”  I just smiled and walked on to class. 

A few weeks later, the Bears lost to the Cowboys 34-10.  Now I don’t know what that guy’s name was, but I’m in the newsroom in the Communications Building most of the time, so if he could come by and see me, I have a few words to say to him, mostly ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. 

I know that it is early on in the season and no team has earned a playoff spot yet, but now I’m able to watch every game expecting to win.  I haven’t been this excited about Sunday afternoons in my life. 

Regardless of how the rest of the season shapes up, the ‘Boys have given me a great gift.  I no longer have to leave my phone off the hook until Tuesday.