CCBoy
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As the Cowboys accumulate an ever increasing amount of lactic acid in muscle groups. Along with the increasing trips to the sauna and the tons of expended ice accumulate in staggering numbers. Sometimes it brings to the older fans an association with the motivations and emotions felt and that serve as drive to those players.
On this site, there is a rather large group of self designated fans who think more of their ordered world of interdependent statistical relevances. So that the simpler minds can comprehend...ten sacks, twelve pancake blocks, and seven touchdown receptions over a training period using their 'store bought' slide-rulers of achievement.
They are so intent on running around judging value of content by a formalized and 'preppie' year front seat in English 101 at their local Community College tucked away in Orange County. Oh, and if that hightened and sophisticated association from school hasn't yet provided one with a geographical relevance yet, Orange County is just outside Los Angeles. Just take Wihshire Boulevard all the way South and run smack dab into it. Los Angeles is where Southern Cal is located. You know what USC stands for ever since OJ Simpson figured out how to utilize a knife? It stands for University of Scared Caucasions! Just giving a base of comparitive emotions and feelings here for developmental purposes. Oh, Oh, OH...for those articulate gems requiring simplification: He ran his scared little 'bohind' down the street!
Now, take that sensation of fear, agitation, and explosive emotion and you have what boils through, into, and around a training camp environment. That is professional football, girls and boys. It is a world of violence, intimidation, and aggression that is mitigated only by the means of application. I forget there is a large population of 'goodie too shoes' here abouts: He said to try hard.
To show my roots, I'm going to explain what the world of football was like when I was a young man fresh from the service during Viet Nam. I first received a Congressional Appointment from Kika de la Garza. He then was the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee of Congress. At the Air Force Academy we weren't allowed then, to have sporting exemptions on size. Our players had to meet service requirements that did not yet have waivers for fat percentages either. That team ended up playing Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. Yea, we lost by 28 points, but we were outweighed an average of 78 pounds a man. The driving force was motivation...M.O.T.I.V.A.T.I.O.N!
Espre de corp was a live and functional element in the minutest detail of our lives. Format and style? Did someone around here say compliance?
My 'squat-do-jazz' year, I came into Basic Training prior to the start of my first academic year, at a linebacker's weight of about 210 at that period of time. After the onslaught of training, and sitting at attention through each and every meal, receiving continuous harrassment by upperclassmen. Well, I was down to a sleek 169 and had to look forward to trying out for a starting position on the Falcons. I beefed up quickly at a training table prior to the start of tryouts and practice. I fought and hit everything moving, earning a starting position as a middle linebacker. This taught me the role of precedence as well as the low end of totem poles. Rookie initiations? How about the front leaning rest for such extended periods of time that one's arms could NOT stop quivering until you collapsed. A roman chair up against a wall until your legs completely knotted up and you again collapsed onto the floor locked in the same position. Oh, and in the POW training...how about taking a broomstick behind one's knees, and pulling tight the hands to the feet behind one's back. They then left you for several hours. Until there was NO circulation in your legs. They then released the bounds and lifted you up to your feet and let you go. Oh sure. Lightening quick down and smack! (oh, you one liners' just figure that one out) Did someone want to start a discussion on hazzing and carrying someone's shoulder pads?
My eyes degenerated and I now had to utilize glasses, so my Camelot Dreams were shattered. I couldn't become a pilot so I went back to Texas A&I. I walked into the office of Gil Steinke. He had been a secondary player for the New York Giants and was head coach for the Javelinas. Before I walked out of his office, he had given me a full scholarship to be a Javelina. Well, I went through a variety of 'adjustments'...alright, harrassments for a 'rook.' The first rain cancelled practice we had saw us in the gym. Someone brought in a pair of boxing gloves and the excitement started. Of course, I was brought up first to 'learn' my place. I was matched up against a Little All American tight end. But hey, I quickly started to land and take over the 'meeting' and they rushed in to stop at least my match.
We later made it onto the field. At the conclusion of this practice the coaches called us all into a circle. I was a linebacker and there was a weight disadvantage between the running backs/receivers and all of the linemen. So linebackers were thrown in with the special skills personnel. Mr. Lucky here, I was called upfront and paired against a lineman. To say I was out weighed and outsized would be an understatement. But game was the name. The rules of the contest went like this: We were to lineup on all fours with a yardline between us. At the whistle, we were to fire out on each other and the side farthest away from the line when the whistle again blew - that whole group had to run wind sprints afterwards. Well there was some heated supportive chatter in the background from that point forward.
It just so happened that while at the Academy, I was required to take a class on collegiate wrestling. They went for the rounded officer in training. One of our other classes, required of all, was boxing. I got the 'priviledge' of boxing for my Squadron as well. But here, we are knee deep in challenge. So, when the whistle blew I blew my helmet right smack dab into that lineman's crown with all the force I could generate. When he stood up like an angered bear, I was already down in a wrestling move on his knees driving him back upon his back. Ooops, instinct took over and I immediately went into a pinning move. It involves laying my body weight across his his left shoulder and arm with my left arm pinning his helmet to my left side and my shoulders and head between his helmet and right arm. My right arm hooked up his left leg and he became an upturned turtle pinned to the ground. He struggled for almost two minutes to free himself, but each time that he attempted to struggle up or out I would drive him like in a wrestling match farther from the line. That is called working him. When he collapsed motionless and completely worn out in his struggles, the whistle was again blown. The linemen then trotted off to windsprints.
This was part of the development of reaction to challenge, a competitive team spirit, and temperament that nurtured an aggressive nature. But the concept of paying for priviledge didn't stop there. This group came together on the field and we didn't lose a single game that entire year. We were on the NAIA level of collegiate play. We ended up as National Champs that year. Part of a school's proud tradition. Tradition is the key concept here. Our group came along just after Karl Douglas and Eugene Upshaw had gone on into the professional ranks. From this particular team, we put Dwight Harrison, Eldridge Small, Levi Johnson, Ernest Price, and David Hill all into the professional ranks. Four of those particular players were All Pro at some point in their respective careers.
But, paying one's dues in development and tradition was over here. After gaining a letter, we became for entitled in initiation. For the benefit of the entire Student Body. There was a stadium filled event. At center ring was a series of events that was conducted in a boxing ring. This involved all first year lettermen who would agree to participate inclusive of all sports brave enough to try. The first event was a WWF style boxing match filling the entire boxing ring. Each contestant had his eyes taped shut. One hand was tightly secured behind his back and his other hand was fitted with a single boxing glove. When the bell was rung, the last man standing won the event. The only friend he had in that ring was the one backed up to his own back. I was spared this matchup. I hit a main event contest. For my 'priviledged' entertainment, I was paired up against another linebacker. We were both in the 245-250 pound range. They brought us into the boxing ring, center ring. They then took a broom segment about two and a half feet long that had been wrapped solely with trainer's tape only deep enough to know that it wasn't fully brunt. They took each of our right hands and heavily taped them onto the stick on opposite sides. The object was to wrestle that stick away from your opponent at which time you had the right to beat him with it until he was out of the ring. When the bell rang an even higher elevated format of a cage match began with bodies tumbeling, rolling, and very violant and explosive actions going on all over that ring. Luck would have it I ended up with the stick in my hands and my opponent in only a moment's time elapsed was out of the ring with only a single red mark across his back and should area.
One might now ask why I bother to even bring this on site now. That answer is simple. This training camp has a group of entry level players. That involves elements of rookie harrasment as well. Why then even bother to take notice?
There are team standards that change and develop over time. This group of Cowboys are having to confront their own version of incorporating 'rooks' into the mainstream of team activities and responsibilities. It involves various aspects that have to be developed over time.
Some of these are the introduction of these players to more intense violence and demand than theyhave had at any previous point in their lives. They have to experience the full array human feelings that include anger, hatred, aggression, as well as fight or flight instincts at a very basic level. Both positively and negatively.
That is an intense process, but necessary part of each of those player's progression. This itself involves a time element as well. Now, to adapt and shoulder these transitionary elements that are found in the sport, traditions and customs by the players are developed to assist. They aid in these very elements that require players to change and grow.
I doubt seriously, that Dez Bryant even fathoms what he is refusing to participate in. Conceptions of interastion today is marred somewhat by a rebellious attitude of defiance. I have a secret for today's youth, the feeling of defliance and nonconformance isn't new. The old off-street 'lawyer' are just as off target now as they were decades ago in my own youth. That is another storyline....as this is about transition of Cowboy players.
Now taking a further step back, and broading the pallet of approach now.
What I described above was how interaction developed and was actualy experienced in the 1960's and the 1970's. I explained some of the experiences that opens up feelings that were part of the exeperience then. It revealed the survival elements as wells as challenge meeting the functional and playing level of a player. Those are still relevant elements today as well, although.
I have a purpose in this although. That being that transition and change is as much a part of today's athlete as it was when I was coming up the ranks in sport and going off to war. The element that is focused upon here is progression of a combined list of affecting things.
Now I don't further digress into an explanation of direct player experiences in camp, but they are a youthful group. They acquire new skills and add upon others that they have acquired either by instinct or by instruction. They have to practice those football skills and then integrate them aggressively into teamwork and responsibilities. All of these are restricitive elements to basic as well as aggressive actions themselve. Pads, equipment, rules, coaching direction all shape and mold the environment, but all boils down to a basic level at the player.
We are talking football here. More specificly, Dallas Cowboy football.
This group of players are a very homogenous and talented group. They are cosmopolitan by nature of them part of the Dallas Cowboys and its America's Team Tradition. This requires similar adaptation and change on the level of that very player. This additional has a price tag of time and development on the player's own and individual level.
Why am I saying all of this, just to share experiences here. The drama in the sport is every inch as intense as it was when I was the 'pup.' It does take patience to see those fruits although. Not a garnered of preferred statistics or prim and proper presented syntax accompanied by socially motivated arrogance and scorn...the word is respect. The players respect their role inclusive of tradition. A fan support a process that includes tremendous individual sacrifice and heart wrenching success as well as failures.
This is America's chosen sport. It supports our society and it's way of life. The Dallas Cowboys is America's Team with just as many supporters and nay sayers as our great Country. It didn't arrive over night or will go away over night, just as our team, the Cowboys. The players take time to develop as well.
So, when we are on site and attempting to talk football, don't be the horse's petute and take the high ground of trying to enforce a college level 101 class that no one enjoys in school. The talk is about football. FOOTBALL. Share the sport, and not a sense of self centered sophistication whether meeting your own sense of professional expression or not.
On the field, no one says ta ta, you shouldn't use a forearm, but a hand club to the shoulder pads. Yea, that blub fist is a good tool, but there's many ways to get to a quarterback because this is FOOTBALL. Got that, FOOTBALL. Not Miss Mugillicuties English Class. FOOTBALL! And we talk about the sport.
On this site, there is a rather large group of self designated fans who think more of their ordered world of interdependent statistical relevances. So that the simpler minds can comprehend...ten sacks, twelve pancake blocks, and seven touchdown receptions over a training period using their 'store bought' slide-rulers of achievement.
They are so intent on running around judging value of content by a formalized and 'preppie' year front seat in English 101 at their local Community College tucked away in Orange County. Oh, and if that hightened and sophisticated association from school hasn't yet provided one with a geographical relevance yet, Orange County is just outside Los Angeles. Just take Wihshire Boulevard all the way South and run smack dab into it. Los Angeles is where Southern Cal is located. You know what USC stands for ever since OJ Simpson figured out how to utilize a knife? It stands for University of Scared Caucasions! Just giving a base of comparitive emotions and feelings here for developmental purposes. Oh, Oh, OH...for those articulate gems requiring simplification: He ran his scared little 'bohind' down the street!
Now, take that sensation of fear, agitation, and explosive emotion and you have what boils through, into, and around a training camp environment. That is professional football, girls and boys. It is a world of violence, intimidation, and aggression that is mitigated only by the means of application. I forget there is a large population of 'goodie too shoes' here abouts: He said to try hard.
To show my roots, I'm going to explain what the world of football was like when I was a young man fresh from the service during Viet Nam. I first received a Congressional Appointment from Kika de la Garza. He then was the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee of Congress. At the Air Force Academy we weren't allowed then, to have sporting exemptions on size. Our players had to meet service requirements that did not yet have waivers for fat percentages either. That team ended up playing Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. Yea, we lost by 28 points, but we were outweighed an average of 78 pounds a man. The driving force was motivation...M.O.T.I.V.A.T.I.O.N!
Espre de corp was a live and functional element in the minutest detail of our lives. Format and style? Did someone around here say compliance?
My 'squat-do-jazz' year, I came into Basic Training prior to the start of my first academic year, at a linebacker's weight of about 210 at that period of time. After the onslaught of training, and sitting at attention through each and every meal, receiving continuous harrassment by upperclassmen. Well, I was down to a sleek 169 and had to look forward to trying out for a starting position on the Falcons. I beefed up quickly at a training table prior to the start of tryouts and practice. I fought and hit everything moving, earning a starting position as a middle linebacker. This taught me the role of precedence as well as the low end of totem poles. Rookie initiations? How about the front leaning rest for such extended periods of time that one's arms could NOT stop quivering until you collapsed. A roman chair up against a wall until your legs completely knotted up and you again collapsed onto the floor locked in the same position. Oh, and in the POW training...how about taking a broomstick behind one's knees, and pulling tight the hands to the feet behind one's back. They then left you for several hours. Until there was NO circulation in your legs. They then released the bounds and lifted you up to your feet and let you go. Oh sure. Lightening quick down and smack! (oh, you one liners' just figure that one out) Did someone want to start a discussion on hazzing and carrying someone's shoulder pads?
My eyes degenerated and I now had to utilize glasses, so my Camelot Dreams were shattered. I couldn't become a pilot so I went back to Texas A&I. I walked into the office of Gil Steinke. He had been a secondary player for the New York Giants and was head coach for the Javelinas. Before I walked out of his office, he had given me a full scholarship to be a Javelina. Well, I went through a variety of 'adjustments'...alright, harrassments for a 'rook.' The first rain cancelled practice we had saw us in the gym. Someone brought in a pair of boxing gloves and the excitement started. Of course, I was brought up first to 'learn' my place. I was matched up against a Little All American tight end. But hey, I quickly started to land and take over the 'meeting' and they rushed in to stop at least my match.
We later made it onto the field. At the conclusion of this practice the coaches called us all into a circle. I was a linebacker and there was a weight disadvantage between the running backs/receivers and all of the linemen. So linebackers were thrown in with the special skills personnel. Mr. Lucky here, I was called upfront and paired against a lineman. To say I was out weighed and outsized would be an understatement. But game was the name. The rules of the contest went like this: We were to lineup on all fours with a yardline between us. At the whistle, we were to fire out on each other and the side farthest away from the line when the whistle again blew - that whole group had to run wind sprints afterwards. Well there was some heated supportive chatter in the background from that point forward.
It just so happened that while at the Academy, I was required to take a class on collegiate wrestling. They went for the rounded officer in training. One of our other classes, required of all, was boxing. I got the 'priviledge' of boxing for my Squadron as well. But here, we are knee deep in challenge. So, when the whistle blew I blew my helmet right smack dab into that lineman's crown with all the force I could generate. When he stood up like an angered bear, I was already down in a wrestling move on his knees driving him back upon his back. Ooops, instinct took over and I immediately went into a pinning move. It involves laying my body weight across his his left shoulder and arm with my left arm pinning his helmet to my left side and my shoulders and head between his helmet and right arm. My right arm hooked up his left leg and he became an upturned turtle pinned to the ground. He struggled for almost two minutes to free himself, but each time that he attempted to struggle up or out I would drive him like in a wrestling match farther from the line. That is called working him. When he collapsed motionless and completely worn out in his struggles, the whistle was again blown. The linemen then trotted off to windsprints.
This was part of the development of reaction to challenge, a competitive team spirit, and temperament that nurtured an aggressive nature. But the concept of paying for priviledge didn't stop there. This group came together on the field and we didn't lose a single game that entire year. We were on the NAIA level of collegiate play. We ended up as National Champs that year. Part of a school's proud tradition. Tradition is the key concept here. Our group came along just after Karl Douglas and Eugene Upshaw had gone on into the professional ranks. From this particular team, we put Dwight Harrison, Eldridge Small, Levi Johnson, Ernest Price, and David Hill all into the professional ranks. Four of those particular players were All Pro at some point in their respective careers.
But, paying one's dues in development and tradition was over here. After gaining a letter, we became for entitled in initiation. For the benefit of the entire Student Body. There was a stadium filled event. At center ring was a series of events that was conducted in a boxing ring. This involved all first year lettermen who would agree to participate inclusive of all sports brave enough to try. The first event was a WWF style boxing match filling the entire boxing ring. Each contestant had his eyes taped shut. One hand was tightly secured behind his back and his other hand was fitted with a single boxing glove. When the bell was rung, the last man standing won the event. The only friend he had in that ring was the one backed up to his own back. I was spared this matchup. I hit a main event contest. For my 'priviledged' entertainment, I was paired up against another linebacker. We were both in the 245-250 pound range. They brought us into the boxing ring, center ring. They then took a broom segment about two and a half feet long that had been wrapped solely with trainer's tape only deep enough to know that it wasn't fully brunt. They took each of our right hands and heavily taped them onto the stick on opposite sides. The object was to wrestle that stick away from your opponent at which time you had the right to beat him with it until he was out of the ring. When the bell rang an even higher elevated format of a cage match began with bodies tumbeling, rolling, and very violant and explosive actions going on all over that ring. Luck would have it I ended up with the stick in my hands and my opponent in only a moment's time elapsed was out of the ring with only a single red mark across his back and should area.
One might now ask why I bother to even bring this on site now. That answer is simple. This training camp has a group of entry level players. That involves elements of rookie harrasment as well. Why then even bother to take notice?
There are team standards that change and develop over time. This group of Cowboys are having to confront their own version of incorporating 'rooks' into the mainstream of team activities and responsibilities. It involves various aspects that have to be developed over time.
Some of these are the introduction of these players to more intense violence and demand than theyhave had at any previous point in their lives. They have to experience the full array human feelings that include anger, hatred, aggression, as well as fight or flight instincts at a very basic level. Both positively and negatively.
That is an intense process, but necessary part of each of those player's progression. This itself involves a time element as well. Now, to adapt and shoulder these transitionary elements that are found in the sport, traditions and customs by the players are developed to assist. They aid in these very elements that require players to change and grow.
I doubt seriously, that Dez Bryant even fathoms what he is refusing to participate in. Conceptions of interastion today is marred somewhat by a rebellious attitude of defiance. I have a secret for today's youth, the feeling of defliance and nonconformance isn't new. The old off-street 'lawyer' are just as off target now as they were decades ago in my own youth. That is another storyline....as this is about transition of Cowboy players.
Now taking a further step back, and broading the pallet of approach now.
What I described above was how interaction developed and was actualy experienced in the 1960's and the 1970's. I explained some of the experiences that opens up feelings that were part of the exeperience then. It revealed the survival elements as wells as challenge meeting the functional and playing level of a player. Those are still relevant elements today as well, although.
I have a purpose in this although. That being that transition and change is as much a part of today's athlete as it was when I was coming up the ranks in sport and going off to war. The element that is focused upon here is progression of a combined list of affecting things.
Now I don't further digress into an explanation of direct player experiences in camp, but they are a youthful group. They acquire new skills and add upon others that they have acquired either by instinct or by instruction. They have to practice those football skills and then integrate them aggressively into teamwork and responsibilities. All of these are restricitive elements to basic as well as aggressive actions themselve. Pads, equipment, rules, coaching direction all shape and mold the environment, but all boils down to a basic level at the player.
We are talking football here. More specificly, Dallas Cowboy football.
This group of players are a very homogenous and talented group. They are cosmopolitan by nature of them part of the Dallas Cowboys and its America's Team Tradition. This requires similar adaptation and change on the level of that very player. This additional has a price tag of time and development on the player's own and individual level.
Why am I saying all of this, just to share experiences here. The drama in the sport is every inch as intense as it was when I was the 'pup.' It does take patience to see those fruits although. Not a garnered of preferred statistics or prim and proper presented syntax accompanied by socially motivated arrogance and scorn...the word is respect. The players respect their role inclusive of tradition. A fan support a process that includes tremendous individual sacrifice and heart wrenching success as well as failures.
This is America's chosen sport. It supports our society and it's way of life. The Dallas Cowboys is America's Team with just as many supporters and nay sayers as our great Country. It didn't arrive over night or will go away over night, just as our team, the Cowboys. The players take time to develop as well.
So, when we are on site and attempting to talk football, don't be the horse's petute and take the high ground of trying to enforce a college level 101 class that no one enjoys in school. The talk is about football. FOOTBALL. Share the sport, and not a sense of self centered sophistication whether meeting your own sense of professional expression or not.
On the field, no one says ta ta, you shouldn't use a forearm, but a hand club to the shoulder pads. Yea, that blub fist is a good tool, but there's many ways to get to a quarterback because this is FOOTBALL. Got that, FOOTBALL. Not Miss Mugillicuties English Class. FOOTBALL! And we talk about the sport.
