Is there something wrong with us?

[john van brocklin]

Most of us are fans of this team for three reasons:

1. You're local, and pull for the home team.
2. You latched onto this team at a time when they were great and it was a phenomenal fan experience, and you long for those days again.
3. You're like me, and was raised by a fan.

I'm going to take a step back though, enjoy life more, suffer less when a goofy team with a Star on their helmet habitually loses, and laugh at the trainwreck instead of be upset. I'm actually thrilled on the inside that I have my weekends back to get things done and be a better husband.

I am number 2.

 

[Streifenkarl]

Force of habit at this point. I became a Cowboys fan 50 years ago.

Some things are hard to let go, even when you think the owner will unwittingly sabotage his team until the day he dies.

This.

Loyalty to what, ksk? To whom are you loyal to? Or is it the just The Star? The colors? The jerseys?

Kinda. You didn't ask me, but I'll answer that question.

I became a fan in the 92 season. Wrote about it in the "hello" section. There weren't many games on German television at that time, and all the teams they were showing had either injun names or the color red on their helmets. I liked the blue silver uniforms, always played as a Cowboy when we played as kids and I already knew at that young age I wanted to go to Texas one day when everyone else favored California or NY.

Then came the wonder years and it was just awesome to be a Cowboys Fan. Because of their success they had more games in tv, Cowboys articles were featured more often in sports magazines. I just loved the story of a team coming from the worst season ever to being the best within such a short time. There were so many cool guys (seemingly), not just the triplets. I liked Alvin Harper, the Moose, Jay Novacek...

So anyway, as a fan you don't leave a sinking ship like a rat. You go down with it. After this season I will never get my hopes up again until a play off win though.

To all the homers: never give me that crap of "10-4" or "12-5" again until we get a new QB. As far as the Cowboys go, reg season stats and scores don't mean ****. I'll watch the games and enjoy wins but I will always see the reg season games for what they are: a nice prelude circus to entertain us and nothing more. The playoffs will be my start of the season.

F**k 'em and go Cowboys! And yes, that does make sense.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Now that the team has reached a new low for many of us, by complaining about the refs after a playoff loss, when they simply should have been more disciplined (half the penalties were pre-snap). And of course they just needed to play better too, every single one of them (except for maybe the Special Teams which had a good day)... Anyway, now that the Cowboys as an organization is sinking lower in many of our eyes, it's time to ask, why are we still fans???

Many (or, most) of us:

*hate the longtime owner
*don't want the QB (and some downright dislike the QB)
*hate the culture
*don't trust most of the coordinators
*dislike Jerry's World (the stadium)
*don't even like many of the players (thank goodness for Micah, as he's a unanimous favorite, but no one else is)
*AND most of us don't live anywhere near Dallas

....yet, we're still fans of this team??? Why do we bleed blue and grey???? For nostalgia???? Do we just adore The Star but almost nothing else about the present Cowboys?



Honestly, have we lost our minds, to put ourselves through this frustration year after year, for an owner, organization and team we don't even like???

I'm starting to think we're all just mentally ill.

I've always said I understand nobody wins the Super Bowl every year. All I have ever wanted was for the organization to be run like a REAL football operation. We saw a glimmer of that this year. Cutting Jaylon Smith was a REAL football move. But a TERRIBLE football move was the reason he was on the team. Every team makes mistakes in the draft...but the REASONS we held onto Jaylon Smith were for reasons that are a reflection of EVERY thing that is wrong with this team. And it all traces back to Jerry.

Zeke being trotted out there every week on one leg. Again, we waited too long to compliment him. We should have never run him into the ground before getting a back to spell him. Then he asked to be paid because he saw he was being run into the ground. Because we reluctantly paid him...we decided we would run him into the ground. Finally last year we brought someone in to give him a breather. Then Zeke gets hurt...but because of how much money he makes... we insisted that he fight through it. That is not REAL FOOTBALL. That is ego, revenge and money. Now watch...next year...there will be a more complete stable of RBs. BUT....BUT...it will be one year TOO LATE.

Hiring MM (an offensive guy who has been out of football) and telling him the offense and offensive coaches and offensive system is already in place is not REAL FOOTBALL. So what does MM do...hire his buddy to be the DC...whose been out of football...and we promptly have the worst defense in franchise history. So after 1 year...we tell Mike his DC has to go...that is a REAL FOOTBALL move. But a TERRIBLE football move was the reason we were in that situation to begin with!!!

Now we are stuck with a head coach whose only responsibility is getting the team ready to play, managing the clock, instilling discipline, deciding when to throw the challenge flag and go for it on the 4th down. He was TERRIBLE at all of the things he is responsible for. He guaranteed victory against one of the woeful teams in the NFC East. Laughable. The bottom line is we have NOTHING with MM. Will we make a REAL FOOTBALL move and move on from him? No...but I promise a repeat of this year (which is very likely) and we will next year. But again, it will be one year too late. Moving on from him would mean we are admitting it was a mistake...and the Jones boys don't like to do that without a fight...which has been a part of our culture since Jimmy left.

The Jones boys...without the influence of Jimmy Johnson (meaning coaches and players) have averaged less than 1 playoff win every 8 years. Let that sink in. Nick Foles won more playoff games in 1 season than we have in the last 25+ years combined!!!!!!!!!

So yes we are addicted, because we enable the Jones Boys to run a mom and pop store on the backs of our hard earned money!!!!!!!!

 

[Beast_from_East]

Most of us are fans of this team for three reasons:

1. You're local, and pull for the home team.
2. You latched onto this team at a time when they were great and it was a phenomenal fan experience, and you long for those days again.
3. You're like me, and was raised by a fan.

I'm going to take a step back though, enjoy life more, suffer less when a goofy team with a Star on their helmet habitually loses, and laugh at the trainwreck instead of be upset. I'm actually thrilled on the inside that I have my weekends back to get things done and be a better husband.

I am number 2.............I am in my 40s now so I remember watching the Cowboys back in the 90s and it was awesome.

I keep hoping the team will catch lighting in a bottle and I will get to see another SB again, but its been 26 years and counting.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I think we should start asking why, Bleed. Not being sure why you're rooting for an owner and team and organization you genuinely dislike sounds, well, it sounds absolutely crazy, when you really think about it.

We should all start to really think about it.

Blind loyalty to, The Star???? We sound delirious. LOL

It really does sound crazy when you think about, players come and go nowdays with free agency so in essence we are all just cheering for the laundry.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

I think we have to accept these results until we have a real HC; someone capable of accountability

 

[Cmac]

Now that the team has reached a new low for many of us, by complaining about the refs after a playoff loss, when they simply should have been more disciplined (half the penalties were pre-snap). And of course they just needed to play better too, every single one of them (except for maybe the Special Teams which had a good day)... Anyway, now that the Cowboys as an organization is sinking lower in many of our eyes, it's time to ask, why are we still fans???

Many (or, most) of us:

*hate the longtime owner
*don't want the QB (and some downright dislike the QB)
*hate the culture
*don't trust most of the coordinators
*dislike Jerry's World (the stadium)
*don't even like many of the players (thank goodness for Micah, as he's a unanimous favorite, but no one else is)
*AND most of us don't live anywhere near Dallas

....yet, we're still fans of this team??? Why do we bleed blue and grey???? For nostalgia???? Do we just adore The Star but almost nothing else about the present Cowboys?



Honestly, have we lost our minds, to put ourselves through this frustration year after year, for an owner, organization and team we don't even like???

I'm starting to think we're all just mentally ill.

Great post, but left off:
don't want anyone paid beyond the minimum, prefer the underpaid
enamored with inexperienced coordinators
hoist leadership and legendary qualities on players that left us just as heartbroken
want to trade/cut/release players on a game-by-game basis
drink the Kool-Aid every August from the hype of salesmanship by the Snake Oil salesman
place blame on a few, despite many in line that need to be questioned
have a problem with visiting Cabo in the offseason, but not during a bye week

 

[Beast_from_East]

It's your team. It's a childhood thing. Not many people find their team as adults. But every adult has to at some point realize that, "their team," just plays a game. It's exciting to watch and hope your team does well, but it's just a game in the end.

If it's affecting your life more than that, then yeah, I would suggest taking a step back.

Good point and I hope everybody reads your post.

 

[IrishAnto]

We can watch from a distance. I’m a huge football fan. I’m going to watch football every weekend regardless . And Cowboys are my local regional game on Free TV.

But we can stop our financial support. Buying merch and tickets. That’s the only thing that gets his attention. I say this every year and most don’t listen. Lol

You are quite correct about not spending any money on the team, and I myself have extended that to any NFL merchandise.
However if the Lions can still fill a stadium after what I would consider a criminally negligent (considering how the NFL is structured) 64 years of winning nothing, then I can't see a team as popular as our Cowboys not doing at least the same and probably much better.
The sad fact is, we as fans of the Cowboys are likely screwed unless a minor miracle happens

 

[Cmac]

Yes.......we got punk'd, bullied, man-handled, and lunch money taken.

 

[Birch_Wood]

Maybe take a page from some Lion fans I know. They always record the game so they can watch later at their own speed. Have heard more than one say they would not devote 3+ hours of their day to watching the Lions lose....again. Most Lion fans I know spend more time watching college football vs. NFL. It's better for their mental stability. Imagine watching Greenbay beat your team year in and year out. The all time wins for GB is over 100.

 

[remdak]

It really does sound crazy when you think about, players come and go nowdays with free agency so in essence we are all just cheering for the laundry.

 

[KMY_Amber]

The Detroit Lions have lifelong season ticket holders.

Enough said

And if they complain as much as we do about their owner, coaches, players, the culture and the overall organization, they need their heads checked too.

 

[KMY_Amber]

For me I wonder if I subconsciously hate myself and this is how I express that subconscious hatred. I look forward to having someone let me down and have continued this for 26 years. Is it that I subconsciously feel I don't deserve love? Some people cut on themselves, some people drink themselves to death, I watch the Cowboys faithfully. Emotional self abuse probably based on some childhood trauma I have repressed.

Deep, but just may have some threads of truth.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-stockholm-syndrome

Was going to post Stockholm syndrome as well. Was going to include schadenfreude as misery loves company.

 

[KMY_Amber]

My allegiance and loyalty to my great '70s cowboys teams keeps me following this team in spite of what it has turned into.

Great men like Roger staubach and Tom Landry built the legend of the Dallas cowboys.

I was privileged enough to watch one of the greatest teams in sports in its heyday and I will continue to follow this team to the end

So an allegiance to the past? Yes, I think that's what we all feel in some way, Rain, and it's why we stay.

Concerned Friend: “So, why do you stay?”

Battered Woman: “Because I love him.”

CF: “What do you love about him? You’ve been complaining about the abuse for 25+ years now, oftentimes weekly.”

BW: “We’ve had some good times. And when everything is good, it’s amazing.”

CF: “OK, so when was the last amazing time you’ve had with him?”

BW: “1996”

CF: “And so you’re going to endure this abuse for how long before you look for something better?”

BW: “We had something special, and it’s worth waiting for it to return. You just don’t understand, you’ll never understand.”

 

[KMY_Amber]

So anyway, as a fan you don't leave a sinking ship like a rat. You go down with it. After this season I will never get my hopes up again until a play off win though.

F**k 'em and go Cowboys! And yes, that does make sense.

Oh, you are the epitome of a Battered Woman, Streif, and don't worry, we ALL are. LOL

"Why didn't you leave, Streif?"

"Because I said "Til death do us part'. I'm loyal. No matter HOW bad it gets, no matter how many broken ribs and black eyes, I keep coming back because I love him. And I'm holding out hope that one day, we'll recapture the magic, from 25 years ago, when we had our best times."

 

[KMY_Amber]

I think we have to accept these results until we have a real HC; someone capable of accountability

We had Parcells, still didn't work.

So, we wait, impatiently (yet patiently).

 

[KMY_Amber]

Yes.......we got punk'd, bullied, man-handled, and lunch money taken.

And we keep getting punk'd, bullied and manhandled, and we know it, and complain about it weekly, and STILL we remain, after 25+ years (for some of us).

We need collective help. We all need to lay on the couch and "be heard".

 

[maryquality]

Is this thread the "official support group" of the Dallas Cowboys? It seems like we could all benefit from such a thing.