Fan loyalties only skin deep

by Robert Box, sports editor

I was once again enjoying watching my Dallas Cowboys win a game against the Philadelphia Eagles when Terrell Owens once again made waves in the media for his comments after the game.

This was only the second time that Owens would be back in Philadelphia after being kicked off the team in 2005. He said following the 38-17 victory that he still enjoyed coming to Philadelphia and that he still loved the fans. 

"Like I said earlier in the week, there's a lot of love in those boos," Owens said. "As you saw, I didn't get that many boos. The fans love me here."

Owens also went on to say that if he were to be traded back to the Eagles that they would start to love him all over again.  For once in T.O.’s life…I actually agree with him. 

Sports fans change loyalties faster and more often than the girls on “Laguna Beach.” 

I’m a perfect example of this.  For example, in 2002, I hated Bill Parcells.  He was the Hall of Fame coach for the hated New York Giants.  He had won a Super Bowl for them and he has the second most victories against the Cowboys for his career, second only to Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins.

But that all changed in 2003.  After he was hired as the Cowboys head coach and took them back to the playoffs, I had a new hero.  I also love him now for putting together this team that’s having so much success.  

Another good example is T.O. himself.  I can remember hating, and I mean HATING, Owens back when he played for the San Fransisco 49ers.  Then when he got traded to the Eagles, I hated him even more, and I didn’t even think that was possible.

I can remember laughing with glee when Roy Williams broke Owen’s leg.  I can remember cheering when the Eagles suspended him.  But that all changed again on March 18, 2006, when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced that he had signed Owens to a three-year contract.  I’m now a proud owner of a number 81 jersey. 

And don’t act like I’m the only one like this.  You know that Titans fans would welcome Pacman Jones back in a heartbeat if he helped them win.  It’s even worse on Draft Day.  Fans fight over the players they want like starving people fighting over a Christmas turkey. 

It’s not just in football that sports fans act this way too.  It’s in every team sport. Let’s face it, fans would rather have a winning team than a team that is full of guys with good character who lose.