plasticman
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My grandson officially became a Cowboys fan in 2011, Jason Garrett's first season as HC. My grandson was 10 at the time. I don't know how it happened, really. For as long as he could remember at that age, he had witnessed my eventual misery every season. LOL, perhaps it was his way of helping out his poor, sad, grandpa.
His favorite Cowboy of all time is Demarco Murray.
He endured three consecutive seasons of 8-8 so you can understand that, when the Cowboys went 12-4 in 2014, he was ecstatic. The wildcard victory in the playoff against the Lions that postseason was like a SB to him.
Sadly, it still is.
My grandson is 24 now. The day after the Cowboys lost to the Bengals in that horrific fashion, he asked me this question, as if I don't volunteer the information every time we sit down to watch a game together.
Grandpa, what was it like?
What was it like when the Cowboys were fighting for a SB every year? What was it like to expect your team to, not only reach the playoffs, but be one of the last, if not the last, team standing?
What was it like to win a SB?
I knew he wasn't looking for stats or dates, or particular player stories. He already knew them by heart, whether he actually wanted to or not. He was so frustrated with the present circumstances that he just wanted to imagine my experiences at his age.
However, here's the thing....
I never properly respected the accomplishments of those teams during that period of time...,during that era. I took it for granted most of the time.
I mean, I enjoyed them to be sure. I enjoyed watching them, I enjoyed reading about them, I enjoyed bragging about them. I wanted to be one of them.
I had never been on that "other side" of the coin. Ironically, I became a Cowboys fan because I felt sorry for them after they went 5-4 in 1970 and lost to both the Vikings and Cardinals by over a 30 point margin. My luck, they went undefeated after that but lost SB 5. Of course we all know the rest.
I had been a fan for 16 years before I experienced a Cowboys losing season or even a tie season.
During the mid-80's, I felt that it was expected that the Cowboys should have a period of not being a significant team. After all, I certainly got my share of championships and championship games as well as the share of many other fan's teams. It would only be fair for me to endure a period of losing. Big of me, right?
And so I was forced to endure.......5 losing seasons before the Cowboys won 3 of the next 4 Super bowls. Poor me!
Obviously, looking back, I can see that I felt somewhat entitled. Can you really blame me?
During my first 36 seasons as a Dallas Cowboys fan, I experienced 32 postseasons, 45 playoff games, 22 division titles, 14 conference championship games, 8 Super Bowls and 5 NFL championships.
Rather than try to explain what it felt like, I gave him some advice. Enjoy the Now. Appreciate the team, even when they lose. Understand that the more they lose, the more exciting it will be if they build something special.
I can tell you that if the Lions win the Super Bowl, the Motor City party will be on. The parade will be like a Roman triumph. The procession will include Mahomes, Allen or Jackson wheeling by in a wooden cage. Some guy will be sitting on the main float behind Campbell, whispering in his ear, "You are only a man." The city will turn into a giant coliseum.
And if the Cowboys ever become a powerhouse once again? Savor it. Appreciate it. Thoroughly enjoy the moment because that is all it ever is.
His favorite Cowboy of all time is Demarco Murray.
He endured three consecutive seasons of 8-8 so you can understand that, when the Cowboys went 12-4 in 2014, he was ecstatic. The wildcard victory in the playoff against the Lions that postseason was like a SB to him.
Sadly, it still is.
My grandson is 24 now. The day after the Cowboys lost to the Bengals in that horrific fashion, he asked me this question, as if I don't volunteer the information every time we sit down to watch a game together.
Grandpa, what was it like?
What was it like when the Cowboys were fighting for a SB every year? What was it like to expect your team to, not only reach the playoffs, but be one of the last, if not the last, team standing?
What was it like to win a SB?
I knew he wasn't looking for stats or dates, or particular player stories. He already knew them by heart, whether he actually wanted to or not. He was so frustrated with the present circumstances that he just wanted to imagine my experiences at his age.
However, here's the thing....
I never properly respected the accomplishments of those teams during that period of time...,during that era. I took it for granted most of the time.
I mean, I enjoyed them to be sure. I enjoyed watching them, I enjoyed reading about them, I enjoyed bragging about them. I wanted to be one of them.
I had never been on that "other side" of the coin. Ironically, I became a Cowboys fan because I felt sorry for them after they went 5-4 in 1970 and lost to both the Vikings and Cardinals by over a 30 point margin. My luck, they went undefeated after that but lost SB 5. Of course we all know the rest.
I had been a fan for 16 years before I experienced a Cowboys losing season or even a tie season.
During the mid-80's, I felt that it was expected that the Cowboys should have a period of not being a significant team. After all, I certainly got my share of championships and championship games as well as the share of many other fan's teams. It would only be fair for me to endure a period of losing. Big of me, right?
And so I was forced to endure.......5 losing seasons before the Cowboys won 3 of the next 4 Super bowls. Poor me!
Obviously, looking back, I can see that I felt somewhat entitled. Can you really blame me?
During my first 36 seasons as a Dallas Cowboys fan, I experienced 32 postseasons, 45 playoff games, 22 division titles, 14 conference championship games, 8 Super Bowls and 5 NFL championships.
Rather than try to explain what it felt like, I gave him some advice. Enjoy the Now. Appreciate the team, even when they lose. Understand that the more they lose, the more exciting it will be if they build something special.
I can tell you that if the Lions win the Super Bowl, the Motor City party will be on. The parade will be like a Roman triumph. The procession will include Mahomes, Allen or Jackson wheeling by in a wooden cage. Some guy will be sitting on the main float behind Campbell, whispering in his ear, "You are only a man." The city will turn into a giant coliseum.
And if the Cowboys ever become a powerhouse once again? Savor it. Appreciate it. Thoroughly enjoy the moment because that is all it ever is.
