In 1978, Bob Ryan of NFL Films coined the term ‘America’s Team’ in reference to the Dallas Cowboys in their Season Highlight Film. Since that time there have been several other teams that have tried to argue that they are in fact really America’s Team, however with the state of our country today they should cease their arguments and accept the claim of the Cowboys.
The United States of 1978 is much like the United States of 2009, out of control unemployment, an economy rivaling the Great Depression and a spineless foreign policy agenda remind of us a day when we elected a new and exciting leader who gave us promises of a greater day. This is the Dallas Cowboys. Tony Romo and Jerry Jones are the leaders that have received more hype than warranted for their accomplishments. They have a stadium that was estimated to cost $650 Million but actually cost closer to $1.15 Billion, much like the overspending by the average American. Of course the rich in this case were ‘bailed out’ by the local Government raising taxes in Arlington on Hotel stays and car rentals.
How about investments? While Americans watch their 401k’s and other accounts decline in value, the Dallas Cowboys have made one terrible investment after another. Trading a first and third round pick for Roy Williams, and then giving him $26 million in guaranteed money for someone who has not proven himself in this league is akin to hitching your wagon to Enron. Both situations also show their basic lack of understanding of the situation they are in. The Cowboys think they can ride Tony Romo and Marion Barber to victory, failing to notice that neither one has won a playoff game. It’s been so long since either has had a significant victory, one starts to wonder if they ever will again.
This is a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 1996 and much like America, thinks they are on the cusp of greatness with little proof or evidence to support it. Of course this can be turned around, but it will take a fundamental shift in attitude and a lot of hard work plus an acceptance that it is no longer the past and each cannot tout their past accomplishments as guarantees of future success. Time will tell how each situation ends up, let’s just hope a year from now we aren’t calling America’s Team the Detroit Lions.
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