I never imagined that the Super Bowl in January of 1996 would be the last time in my life that I would see the Cowboys participate in that game.
Everything in the past that they achieved, everything that they were, everything that they stood for and symbolized has been flushed down a drain because one man thought that he had the right to practically victimize millions of loyal fans with his delusional self-adulation.
He may have had the legal right, but considering the social and cultural effect that pro sports teams can have, did he really have the moral right?
Jerry's profile on the official site refers to Jerry owning the team as a "stewardship". Jerry needs to pick up a dictionary....
Stewardship: Careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.
Entrusted.
Careful?
Responsible?
Jerry is a failure in everything he claims to be as the owner of the Dallas Cowboys. All his billions won't change how history records his destructive imprint on the legacy of this once proud team.
We don't know what the future holds for the Cowboys and Jerry Jones' tenure over the team, but one thing is for sure...history will be harsh on him for the 1997-2024 period.
He will be remembered for the "500 coaches" comment after Jimmy left. The Campo years. The Quincy Carter draft. The Roy Williams trade. The girl in the bathroom pics. The payout to the illegitimate daughter. The "Romo friendly" term. The "**********" blurb. The "all in" declaration.
But the real question is will society actually judge him based historical facts? He is already in the Hall of Fame, he has at least three SuperBowls and the accompanying rings. He doesn't have rings for the first two, and he claimed ownership of the trophies when he bought the franchise.
I don't hold out hope that this will actually affect him. In truth society never truly holds leaders to the mistakes they make and the damage they can cause. It seems that in modern society you can make egregious moral errors and get away scot free as long as you do what the masses want - feed them pablum.
I find this painful because this is my only sports hobby - the Cowboys. I raised my kids to like the Cowboys, but now in their late 20's they follow players not teams anymore. With what Jerry has done recently, I don't blame them.