Just Letting Everyone Know About This

[dcfanatic]

As most of you know I host DCFanatic Radio and have recently had two of the Cowboys draft picks on my show. I am always requesting interviews from the players and coaches if I have a chance to talk to them or email them.

Today I feel something occured which will not allow me to ever have an opportunty to have a current player or coach with the Cowboys interviewed on the show.

I emailed Defensive coordinator Brian Stewart about interviewing him sometime today or tomorrow and editing the interview into the scheduled Sunday Night show. Stewart emailed me back and said he would be fine with doing the interview. He gave me the direct number to Rich Dalrymple and said I would have to clear it with him first.

So I called and left Mr. Dalrymple a voicemail thinking he would get a hold of Coach Stewart and give him the go ahead. Boy was I mistaken. Instead I received a call from Mr. Dalrymple telling me that the Cowboys "do not allow'' their players or coaches to do interviews with independent "blogs, fan sites or message boards".

Of course my response was why is that when Coach Stewart had already told me he was fine with doing the interview.

His reasoning was that there are too many 'independents' out there to allow the interviews. Now I am being completely honest here. His voice said it all in how he was speaking. He was fumbling around looking for a way not to say 'you are just some riny dinky show and we only want our players on the major stations like ESPN and The Ticket'. His last excuse was that the only 'website' that they recognized as a valid media source was their own.

So let me get this straight then. They only allow their coaches and players to interview with the media who are paid to talk to them. But when someone like me puts his time and energy into doing an online radio show out of pure love for the team, I in no way make any profit from my fansite or from the radio show, I am told to take a hike when I request an interview from a player or a coach.

So the people who are paid to talk about them get the interviews. The people who also bash them on a regular basis get the interviews. The fans who take their own time and energy into promoting the team while covering them because they love the team are denied interviews.

Does that make any sense in 2007 where the internet has now become the main source for information regarding sports.

I am disgusted right now. Here's why. After Mr. Dalrymple got done telling me I was not relevant to his high and mighty football franchise I was then told I would be contacted soon by someone at the Cowboys about my use of Brad Sham's radio calls which I use in the intro to my show.

Sad huh? Here I am trying to be an uber fan and in return the team I love and follow just about 24/7 turns around and 'kicks me in the gut'.

So I guess all the coaches and players on this team are essentially slaves. They are property. They cannot speak or make appearances unless they are given permission from Mr. Dalrymple. Funny, I thought this country fought a civil war where men 'fought their own brothers' to abolish this type of behavior a long time ago. Maybe someone forgot to tell the Dallas Cowboys that the 'Civil War' is now over and slavery is illegal.

I will continue to do my show every week, but unfortunately I won't be having any guests on from the current Dallas Cowboys coaching staff or current players from the team. Maybe If I start flooding my show with advertising and start bashing the team on a regular basis that will change.

I still hope most of you guys will tune in and listen to the diehard fans on the show talk about the Cowboys.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Hey man get me an email address to send off to and I for one will tell them that you have a large and rabid interest in your show and are no rinky dink halfbacked outfit.

 

[ZeroClub]

I'm sorry to hear this and can certainly understand your frustration.

 

[poke]

man sorry to hear about all this. thats todays world.
do not let the "business" side of this take away any of
your passion for "our" team. if anybody knows how we could
let Mr. Jones know how many of us are out here maybe something
could be changed.

 

[TheSport78]

This is very disheartening news and not only do I feel bad for you DCFanatic, because of all the hard work you put into your show, but for all the Cowboy fans that tune in every week. I just lost a lot of respect for the Dallas Cowboy organization. I will always be a diehard Cowboys fan, but like you said, when you put in work purely for the love of the team, you're told to take a hike. It's ridiculous. Then on top of that Mr. Dinkle Rimple says you'll be "contacted" about your use of Brad Sham's intro music. What a jerk. DCFanatic, keep doin' what you're doin!

 

[CowboyMike]

I do think you have a point and I agree with your assessments. I enjoy your show when I listen to it and think you do an excellent job.

However I don't think coaches and players are "slaves"... because simply the organization pays them millions and they're under contract. They're employees.

Maybe there's something in their contracts about this or something? There's endorsements to worry about and all that jazz, so maybe that's it. It is not rare to see an interview of an athlete happen on ESPN without the athlete endorsing something at the end of the interview. Maybe that's what it is.

Again I'm not disagreeing with you, just trying to find a valid explanation.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

As most of you know I host DCFanatic Radio and have recently had two of the Cowboys draft picks on my show. I am always requesting interviews from the players and coaches if I have a chance to talk to them or email them.

Today I feel something occured which will not allow me to ever have an opportunty to have a current player or coach with the Cowboys interviewed on the show.


<snip>
I will continue to do my show every week, but unfortunately I won't be having any guests on from the current Dallas Cowboys coaching staff or current players from the team. Maybe If I start flooding my show with advertising and start bashing the team on a regular basis that will change.

I still hope most of you guys will tune in and listen to the diehard fans on the show talk about the Cowboys.

My advice... knock on another door and ask the same questions(s).... in other words contact someone else at organization... maybe Jason Garrett or ?

 

[Juke99]

Ya know, we all know it's a business... but I guess in our hearts, we're still kids about it...kids who look up to these guys.

I guess the almighty dollar ultimately ruins everything.

You should know that the REAL fans truly appreciate what you do. SO KEEP DOING IT!

Thanks

 

[Everlastingxxx]

I say don’t take no for an answer. Persistence could be the key. And who knows, someday players will be calling you for interviews.

 

[iceberg]

well think about it from the cowboys point of view - or even the players. they want to be nice to everyone likely - but what if every "fan based site" were granted say 60 minutes with roy williams, tony romo, julius jones - or something like that.

how many blogs/fan based sites are out there? if they let you do it they gotta let 'em all do it. i'm sure he was trying to find "good" ways to say it, cause it's not an easy thing to say w/o being insulting.

looks like he didn't succeed here, did he? : )

i understand what you're after. i take my own renegaderadio.net as an example...it took YEARS of being there and involved in the local scene before i started getting "privlidges" there-of for being a radio station. go to live365.com and hell - *anyone* can be a radio station. is that all it takes to get an hour of romo's time, for example?

it takes time, it takes effort, it takes getting through the setbacks and it takes staying focused on your goals to get there. when you do - THEN - you're more likely to get the interviews your after. but i speak from experience, it takes years of proving yourself before you'll get there.

nature of the beast not someone being an ******.

 

[iceberg]

I say don’t take no for an answer. Persistence could be the key. And who knows, someday players will be calling you for interviews.

there are good ways and bad ways to "not take no for an answer" - think it through and see it from both sides. you know the problem he faces, help him get around that problem, not just get mad it's there.

 

[WoodysGirl]

<snip for space sake>
it takes time, it takes effort, it takes getting through the setbacks and it takes staying focused on your goals to get there. when you do - THEN - you're more likely to get the interviews your after. but i speak from experience, it takes years of proving yourself before you'll get there.

nature of the beast not someone being an ******.

Agreed.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Unfortunately, it's a perfectly sound business decision by the Cowboys or any other professional sports franchise.


The problem is that the interweb gives anyone a soapbox. Imagine the uproar if a player was interviewed on a white supremacist radio site unknowingly? Or a site that promotes jihadism? Or a dog fighting site? Or a site with any other radical agenda?

Where else do you draw the line if not with "official" sites or recognized media outlets?

As far as complaints about the unauthorized use of Sham's voice, I'm pretty sure that you and most everyone else knew that wasn't kosher.

 

[iceberg]

As far as complaints about the unauthorized use of Sham's voice, I'm pretty sure that you and most everyone else knew that wasn't kosher.

i missed that part - most shows say "used by permission" - and this kinda says you want the best of both worlds - to be small enough to get away without having to follow established processes, but you want full rights and privlidges just the same.

like i said - it take a long long long time to be taken seriously. in the time i've built up what i do have (and not saying it's much yet but it's still on it's way) i've seen many many many sites doing the same come and go. putting up a website and calling yourself "legit" - well, it's a start. but only a start.

good points, stanley - and right on.

 

[theogt]

Well, I'm thankful for the effort you've put in anyway.

So thanks.

 

[Crown Royal]

I appreciate your position and passion in your radio show, however, I see no problem with the stance of the Cowboys organization.

 

[goliadmike]

Back in Tex Shramms days he handed out all the players home phone numbers to the media. I think it would be interesting to see how he and the old Cowboy organization would have handled your request Dc fanatic. I bet old Tex would have somebody monitoring fan sites and messageboards and keeping tabs on traffic and responses and a gut feeling you would have gotten your interview or at the very least a thank you for your promotion of the organization.

Good luck with your show

 

[CowboyJeff]

I'm keeping my opinions of Rich to myself

 

[theebs]

Hey man, Keep doing your show.

Just do not violate any copyright infringements. Sham and his calls are copyrighted.

As a guy who records the games and uses the calls myself in highlight videos, I think it sucks, I have as do you the best intentions at heart.

At the end of the day you are a fan doing the show as a fan and I say keep that going.

I completely understand their position about not having coaches or players on though, guys like norm hitzges have made their whole life about conducting interviews and honing that skill, they are paid hosts and have signed contracts with the the station that has a deal with the team. So I get what they are saying.

I am suprised Rich Dalrymple, as it seems to me was being aggressive about it or Rude. I am shocked he said someone would be contacting you about the use of shams calls. I would imagine if someone does call you they will remind you that those are copyright of the nfl and the Dallas Cowboys.

I have been waiting for the worm to turn on all the use of video and audio of the nfl on the net with video and audio highlight. I have a feeling this might be the year.

The cowboys have their own in house production company that handles almost everything. Its called blue star media, they produce just about everything the cowboys do. So if their material is being ripped off I can see their frustration.

Keep doing the show, there is nothing illegal about being a good host of a fan show, and you are that.

 

[CalCBFan]

Back in Tex Shramms days he handed out all the players home phone numbers to the media. I think it would be interesting to see how he and the old Cowboy organization would have handled your request Dc fanatic. I bet old Tex would have somebody monitoring fan sites and messageboards and keeping tabs on traffic and responses and a gut feeling you would have gotten your interview or at the very least a thank you for your promotion of the organization.

Good luck with your show

I couldn't agree more. That's how Tex built the franchise into one worth rescuing from the bankruptcy court: "America's Team". Evidentally, Jones & Co. doesn't understand the value of fan support.

I can remember when I would "forsake all others" to watch the Cowboys. Living in CA, we didn't get very many Cowboys games and they were precious. When the internet came along I was elated to get info on the team and have chat pages to discuss the Cowboys w/ other fans. It kept me loyal to a team on the decline, and (when working) buying all that Cowboy's paraphernaila.

Now there are times I don't even bother to watch inspite of being here in TX where all the games are on. The money angle has so taken over the game, it's being ruined, and I'm getting to the point that I just don't care anymore. There's getting to be a charge for everything, so that fans that are out of the immediate area are being shut out. The games are so interrupted by commercials they are becoming more tedious than enjoyable to watch.

I'm tired of hearing about it being "a business". If this were just a business, I'd have dumped this team long ago, just like a stock that doesn't perform.
Believe me, if we fans ever do start treating the NFL "just like a business" the league will be out of business because it's becoming more mediocre and watered-down every year. It's going to be interesting to see how this new Mark Cuban league is going to fare. I'm actually starting to enjoy Arena football because there are a lot fewer commercials.

I hope DCFanatic will post an address to which we can send complaints about this hostile (no pun intended) treatment of loving fans. They ought to help DC get his site to be the best "amateur" site out there and realize it's free publicity for them. And it's a good way to nurture fans outside the immediate Dallas area, especially in places that have other NFL teams that soak up all the newprint...