Are the Dallas Cowboys still America's Team?

[morat1959]

The real history of the Cowboys being called “America’s Team” started in the team’s 1978 annual highlight film narrated by the incomparable NFL films voice John Facenda.

In that highlight film’s opening, Facenda’s voice says, “They appear on television so often that their faces are as familiar to the public as presidents and movie stars. They are the Dallas Cowboys, "America's Team".” That’s where it all started.

There are TWO versions of the Cowboys being “America’s Team”:

• VERSION ONE: They were called America’s Team because of their sheer dominance in the 1970s, winning a whopping 14 playoff games, winning 5 NFC championships, and two SBs. They were the most popular team in the NFL. Loved for their for their playoff dominance and hated for the same reason.
• VERSION TWO: (The current version) They are AT because of their TV ratings and interest generated by both those who love the team AND those who hate it. NOT based on playoff performance but based on the interest of watching a once great franchise crash yearly.

Sadly, if we are still America’s Team, it’s VERSION TWO.

Perfectly said!

 

[_sturt_]

If the ratings are an indication of popularity (which could be questioned)

Um. It can??? I suppose I'm just that ignorant. What would you propose that is a better measure than TV ratings, then? This team sells out away-game stadiums across the country... and in some, even attract so much more of a crowd than the home team that it's been an embarrassment at times. Haven't looked at merch sales in awhile, but last I knew, Cowboys gear blows every other team away in that category.

This is such a misguided thread, speaking of embarrassment. How is it up to almost 10 pages now? It feels weird even replying and helping to keep it afloat.

If you want to complain about Jerry and this is just another way to complain about Jerry, I didn't write the dictionary so don't blame me that the definition of "incoherent" applies. Sheesh.

Post a thread that discusses how Jerry may have done damage to the decades-old label. Post a thread that discusses your line of reason for why the label is on the downturn. That's coherent.

But present tense? The topic as described in the subject header is not a valid discussion among intelligent adults. It just isn't.

 

[_sturt_]

There are TWO versions of the Cowboys being “America’s Team”:

• VERSION ONE: They were called America’s Team because of their sheer dominance in the 1970s, winning a whopping 14 playoff games, winning 5 NFC championships, and two SBs. They were the most popular team in the NFL. Loved for their for their playoff dominance and hated for the same reason.
• VERSION TWO: (The current version) They are AT because of their TV ratings and interest generated by both those who love the team AND those who hate it. NOT based on playoff performance but based on the interest of watching a once great franchise crash yearly.

False dichotomy, all due respect.

Check the Landry-era ratings.

Your "version one" also dominated the TV ratings.

There is no distinction in that way.

Maybe look at merch sales. You're claiming that the ratings are skewed by haters wanting to watch "a once great franchise crash yearly" if I'm understanding correctly. But haters by definition don't purchase merch of teams they hate, right? So, wait, even better than that, look at merch sales over a 5 year period keyed to teams' on-field success or lack thereof...(I looked since the last post).

No other team comes close.

I might be able to lock arms with you on some theories about how the Cowboys are on the decline, given how many of us who grew up cheering Staubach as kids are now drawing social security, and that some of our kids and grandkids might be choosing other teams. But that's a different discussion. That's projecting into the future what we should anticipate.

There is no legitimate debate about the current status. America's Team remains very firmly entrenched as America's Team. For now, at least.

 

[Cmac]

Marketing wise......absolutely. Now let's get the contending part to match.

 

[Bobhaze]

False dichotomy, all due respect.

Check the Landry-era ratings.

Your "version one" also dominated the TV ratings.

There is no distinction in that way.

Maybe look at merch sales. You're claiming that the ratings are skewed by haters wanting to watch "a once great franchise crash yearly" if I'm understanding correctly. But haters by definition don't purchase merch of teams they hate, right? So, wait, even better than that, look at merch sales over a 5 year period keyed to teams' on-field success or lack thereof...

No other team comes close.

I might be able to lock arms with you on some theories about how the Cowboys are on the decline, given how many of us who grew up cheering Staubach as kids are now drawing social security, and that some of our kids and grandkids might be choosing other teams. But that's a different discussion. That's projecting into the future what we should anticipate.

There is no legitimate debate about the current status. America's Team remains very firmly entrenched as America's Team. For now, at least.

We can just agree to disagree.

My main point was the reason the Cowboys became America’s Team is completely different than what they are now. They are still “interesting” and relevant as TV ratings show, but for completely different reasons.

Regarding merch sales, it’s not like the Cowboys are far and away outselling everyone else. In fact, in 2024, the single hottest jersey being sold was (surprisingly) CJ Stroud. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/n...elling-nfl-jerseys-midway-through-2024-season

This article shows the Cowboys weren’t that great in 2024 NFL merch sales. https://kicksaddict.com/post/774763527857717248/lids-reveals-top-selling-nfl-team-and-player-gear#:~:text=Patrick Mahomes reigned supreme, with,in national team gear sales.

The Cowboys merchandise sales aren’t what they used to be. The TV ratings are.

 

[Blackrain]

Your problem is you are living in the past. By the way, kids table is the same as the adults in this forum. Aren't you paying attention, or has dementia already taken its toll old man? Whats already happened and over hasn't helped us in the last 30 years has it, LOL.

I saw the legend of America's team be built game by game led by Great Men with a military background.

They represented everything that was good about sports.
No one can ever take it from me or any of the rest of the fans that enjoyed watching it be built as much as I did.

It will always be America's team to us no one can ever change that

 

[ArtClink]

Perfectly stated. Americans are front runners, by and large. You know who has the best fans in any sport - the teams that win. Now, not 50 years ago, lol. How can you be Americas Team still when you haven't won anything in decades and decades, LOL. People clinging to the past glory.

Well said. IMO, it’s been dysfunctional in Dallas for so long, that some fans think Jerry runs this team just like 31 other owners. It’s so broken. I wish the NFL would roll out a nepotism rule.

 

[ArtClink]

The real history of the Cowboys being called “America’s Team” started in the team’s 1978 annual highlight film narrated by the incomparable NFL films voice John Facenda.

In that highlight film’s opening, Facenda’s voice says, “They appear on television so often that their faces are as familiar to the public as presidents and movie stars. They are the Dallas Cowboys, "America's Team".” That’s where it all started.

There are TWO versions of the Cowboys being “America’s Team”:

• VERSION ONE: They were called America’s Team because of their sheer dominance in the 1970s, winning a whopping 14 playoff games, winning 5 NFC championships, and two SBs. They were the most popular team in the NFL. Loved for their for their playoff dominance and hated for the same reason.
• VERSION TWO: (The current version) They are AT because of their TV ratings and interest generated by both those who love the team AND those who hate it. NOT based on playoff performance but based on the interest of watching a once great franchise crash yearly.

Sadly, if we are still America’s Team, it’s VERSION TWO.

Great description of the situation. Why would anyone think this irrelevant team would still be considered Americas team?

 

[ArtClink]

Um. It can??? I suppose I'm just that ignorant. What would you propose that is a better measure than TV ratings, then? This team sells out away-game stadiums across the country... and in some, even attract so much more of a crowd than the home team that it's been an embarrassment at times. Haven't looked at merch sales in awhile, but last I knew, Cowboys gear blows every other team away in that category.

This is such a misguided thread, speaking of embarrassment. How is it up to almost 10 pages now? It feels weird even replying and helping to keep it afloat.

If you want to complain about Jerry and this is just another way to complain about Jerry, I didn't write the dictionary so don't blame me that the definition of "incoherent" applies. Sheesh.

Post a thread that discusses how Jerry may have done damage to the decades-old label. Post a thread that discusses your line of reason for why the label is on the downturn. That's coherent.

But present tense? The topic as described in the subject header is not a valid discussion among intelligent adults. It just isn't.

“May have done damage” - I think it’s an acceptable fact Jerry has done considerable damage to the only facet of the game fans care about: making deep playoff runs.