The loss of Coach really puts all of this in perspective for me . I’m not going to be in the mood to discuss Cowboys football for awhile. I need time to mourn his loss.
He loved this site more than I could ever understand . He often said if not for the camaraderie he developed here that his interest for the Cowboys would have already faded.
Meaning his entire existence and fandom for the Cowboys revolved around his interaction and contribution in this forum. That’s powerful stuff. I’ve always downplayed the importance of this site while frequenting here more often than I ever intended
My Cowboys life doesn’t revolve around this forum . It revolves around my friends, family and acquaintances in my life. I spend more time reading watching and listening to the local vibe . This has always been more of an outlet to vent, voice my opinions , hopefully plant a seed or two and find some comfort with fans of similar concerns and sentiments .
I initially back in 2008 joined to urge fans not to buy season tickets in new stadium as an old Texas Stadium long time season ticket holder were looking for means to broadcast. And the official Dallas Cowboys forum seemed like another venue since our owner owned it. That’s how it all started for me. It was only the pushback I received from some fans that spurred me to stay on and argue other issues . I had never really received any pushback from other fans as such and the site appeared like it needed the perspective and insight I provided.
And no one comforted me more than Coach. Not only was he straight forward and took on many of the issues which concerned me but his humor and word skills in writing were as entertaining as many of the professionals I follow daily .
I came to where I couldnt wait to hear his next spin on issues . And while he wasn’t the confrontational arrogant outspoken driven fanatic I am he still hit on issues which we usually aligned . But in a much more polished and less threatening pompous mode which not only appealed to more but didn’t take on the emotions that often sparked a harsher response . Rarely did we ever see him go endlessly with dead-end debates like some of us are so primed to take as we draw our line in the sand.
Not many other fans on this site grasped my intentions here as he did . He had been a season ticket holder as well years earlier. And he gracefully would attempt to not only call them out but also go to bat for me when others totally misconstrued or misread my meaning or intents .
There were some tenuous years on old forum. I took on some huge homers like the Emperor. A great Cowboy fan but just couldn’t handle any criticism . A common thread with some Homers . After he was banned I appeared on one of his radio shows . Once he saw pics of my Sports Cave he realized the enormity of my fandom. He was so used to taking on Trolls who did frequent the official Cowboys forum. He went on to become a Cowboys sports journalist . Awesome Cowboy fan!!
I also took on the Romo homers which ultimately had me banned a few weeks before the forum shut down because I made fun of the letter Resignation from Romo which the new administrator ( a former mod) who was a huge Romo Homer . She eventually was the one who was in charge of banning several before forum eventually shut down totally unannounced .
I had came in the Zone back about same time I originally joined DC.com under my original screen name greggtxsports. I made a few post on the Zone under that screen name . I eventually forgot my password with inactivity and just stayed away until most of us came over as refugees in 2016. I actually tried to persuade Coach and a few others that the Zone would be best place for us to land . That we already had several members there.
I just can’t say enough about the class and character of Michael. I’ve known his name for years now going back to old site and I’d never used it publicly . He didn’t ask me not to I just assumed since he had never broadcast to my knowledge that he didn’t want to. What is said in PM’s stays there.
That’s the kind of trust he had with me . He knew my business and fan background and while he publicly was supported by most who were offended by my attitudes and tactics in my arguments he personally supported me while also trying to suggest making friends.
I’m not sure I would have lasted all of these years without his existence. There has been several others friends over the years . I hope most know who they are. And I’ve made many more friends in the Zone who have followed and agreed mostly with my narratives and positions on issues . I truly appreciate . Too many to mention them all.
And I’m going to root on Coaches spirit which hopefully will be the driving force the Cowboys need to finally get the monkey off our back.
How bout Coach. God bless him!!
