By Ted Buss
Times Record News
Posted July 6, 2012 at midnight
There was a time when, just before or shortly after the major league all-star game, the Texas Rangers did their annual fade and thoughts turned to the Dallas Cowboys. Wow, how times have changed. Many of us can't get enough of the Rangers, and fewer fans could give a flip about the opening of the Cowboys' training camp.
The change shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who follows pro sports in Texas. Nolan Ryan, Jon Daniels, Ron Washington and one of the best organized farm systems in baseball is one factor. The other, of course, is years of weak drafts and lofty expectations but pitiful results, and it all comes right to the door of the Cowboys' master helmsman—Jerry Jones.
What has it been now, 15-16 years without a glimpse of a strong playoff showing? Jerry, the General Manager, didn't win Super Bowls during his reign, Jimmy Johnson did. Barry Switzer simply had one handed to him because the wheels were still intact. Although Jones is one of the NFL's finest owners, he is arguably the league's worst general manager.
Consider what would happen if Jerry were a general manager only under different ownership. How long ago would he have been fired? How many NFL teams would bang on his door and offer him a GM job? What if he owned the Rangers? Would he go down on the field and tell Washington he needed to go easy on Josh and limit Yu's innings? How long would it take before the Rangers imploded?
Jerry is getting long in the tooth, and he knows it. He admits his time is running out, but what about the rest of us, JJ? What about those of us who are also aging? What about those of us who have been Cowboys fans since Eddie LeBaron was a miniature figure running around in the vast Cotton Bowl?
JJ has a warped sense of propriety. He owns the Dallas Cowboys, but huge investments of faithful hearts were there long before he came to town. Is he so selfish that he has deluded himself into thinking he is the only one aging and running out of time? One selfless move on his part to step down as GM is our only hope, but there is not even a glimmer of hope that this will ever happen. JJ is taking us to Davy Jones' Locker with him.
I'm not sure if it would matter now if he did step aside. The Texas Rangers are developing much like America's Team many years ago under Landry, Schramm and Murchison. This team is not only capturing the imagination of baseball fans in Texas, but it is obvious the Rangers are becoming a national favorite. Sometimes there are more Rangers' caps and shirts at opposing fields as there are for the home team.
Nothing any writer or broadcaster large or small can shake Jerry. The loss of a few thousand season ticket holders might briefly get his attention. We all have to rebel in our own way, if for no other reason than to stand in defiance on a small ground of principle.
When I packed to go on a recent cruise to Alaska I'd heard wearing college and professional brand caps and tee shirts was a popular thing to do. It showcased your state pride in front of a captive audience of thousands. I packed tee shirts from TCU, U of Texas, MSU and the Texas Rangers. I had a Cowboys shirt out on the bed. After long consideration, I pitched it back in the closet.
One person declining to wear Cowboys colors is a sad case for mutiny. However, what about thousands of dissenters? This would be upheaval even JJ would be hard pressed to ignore.
Times Record News
Posted July 6, 2012 at midnight
There was a time when, just before or shortly after the major league all-star game, the Texas Rangers did their annual fade and thoughts turned to the Dallas Cowboys. Wow, how times have changed. Many of us can't get enough of the Rangers, and fewer fans could give a flip about the opening of the Cowboys' training camp.
The change shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who follows pro sports in Texas. Nolan Ryan, Jon Daniels, Ron Washington and one of the best organized farm systems in baseball is one factor. The other, of course, is years of weak drafts and lofty expectations but pitiful results, and it all comes right to the door of the Cowboys' master helmsman—Jerry Jones.
What has it been now, 15-16 years without a glimpse of a strong playoff showing? Jerry, the General Manager, didn't win Super Bowls during his reign, Jimmy Johnson did. Barry Switzer simply had one handed to him because the wheels were still intact. Although Jones is one of the NFL's finest owners, he is arguably the league's worst general manager.
Consider what would happen if Jerry were a general manager only under different ownership. How long ago would he have been fired? How many NFL teams would bang on his door and offer him a GM job? What if he owned the Rangers? Would he go down on the field and tell Washington he needed to go easy on Josh and limit Yu's innings? How long would it take before the Rangers imploded?
Jerry is getting long in the tooth, and he knows it. He admits his time is running out, but what about the rest of us, JJ? What about those of us who are also aging? What about those of us who have been Cowboys fans since Eddie LeBaron was a miniature figure running around in the vast Cotton Bowl?
JJ has a warped sense of propriety. He owns the Dallas Cowboys, but huge investments of faithful hearts were there long before he came to town. Is he so selfish that he has deluded himself into thinking he is the only one aging and running out of time? One selfless move on his part to step down as GM is our only hope, but there is not even a glimmer of hope that this will ever happen. JJ is taking us to Davy Jones' Locker with him.
I'm not sure if it would matter now if he did step aside. The Texas Rangers are developing much like America's Team many years ago under Landry, Schramm and Murchison. This team is not only capturing the imagination of baseball fans in Texas, but it is obvious the Rangers are becoming a national favorite. Sometimes there are more Rangers' caps and shirts at opposing fields as there are for the home team.
Nothing any writer or broadcaster large or small can shake Jerry. The loss of a few thousand season ticket holders might briefly get his attention. We all have to rebel in our own way, if for no other reason than to stand in defiance on a small ground of principle.
When I packed to go on a recent cruise to Alaska I'd heard wearing college and professional brand caps and tee shirts was a popular thing to do. It showcased your state pride in front of a captive audience of thousands. I packed tee shirts from TCU, U of Texas, MSU and the Texas Rangers. I had a Cowboys shirt out on the bed. After long consideration, I pitched it back in the closet.
One person declining to wear Cowboys colors is a sad case for mutiny. However, what about thousands of dissenters? This would be upheaval even JJ would be hard pressed to ignore.
