lewpac
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What I'm about to say is, I'm sure, a familiar mindset of most "old timers".
I've been a Cowboy fan since I was around four years old in 1964. I can still remember when Dallas bore the label of "the team that couldn't win the big one" due to championship loss's to Green Bay, the Browns and SB V against the Colts. Of course, all heaven broke loose in the ensuing two+ decades, with 16 NFC Championship game appearance, 8 SB appearances, and the 5 rings. It's been a good life being a Cowboy fan.
But there's a dark side to being a "lifer" and having enjoyed all the success. It spoils you. Nothing but a ring will do. So what has happened to me (and like I said, I'll betcha' I'm not alone here), is that I go into every year with the default position of "Yeah, yeah, we'll see. I ain't buying it. I believe it when I see it..........."
On the surface, it sounds to others like "I thought you were a Cowboy fan, and all I hear is doubt". In reality, I'm such a "lifer", that this pre-disposition is like a defense mechanism. I don't want to get let down and left at the alter and disappointed.
This behavior worked just fine for me since the end of the "Triplets" Championship days. All through the Campo and Gailey and Parcells era's, I was just fine, because I didn't buy it and didn't "get on board". Of course I watched every game and rooted and hollered and hoped. But deep inside, it wasn't hard to see that those teams really didn't have what it took.
However, these last two years, foolishly, I got back on board. I really believed. Started wearing the jerseys again and laced my office with the Cowboy stuff again. I decked my truck out with all the stickers and license plate holders, etc......... I really wanted to be a part of what I believed was the "real deal". I bought into it, and really was convinced that our time had once again arrived after a decade of mediocrity.
And now this. Left at the alter again. If I would've just adopted the normal mindset (which would've been perfectly legit after last years debacle of having home field throughout and laying a smelly egg in the playoffs) and said "yeah, yeah, yeah, they're full of crap", then I wouldn't been in this heartbroken position.
This was it folks. The "lastest-bestest" shot we're going to have for a while. In this era of salary cap, free agency, coaching carousels, etc........this was it. This team, with all it's supposed talent,will not be the same team come spring time. Call me defeatist or negative or "not a fan" all you want, but I'm a pragmatist and a realist. If we couldn't, not only make the playoffs, but downright win the SB with this bunch this year, I just don't see it in the coming years. In fact, we've regressed since last year, gotten worse.
Nah, I'm officially, again, going to remain in my "default position" of "not getting on board" of another train wreck.
See ya' in about 2014.........................
I've been a Cowboy fan since I was around four years old in 1964. I can still remember when Dallas bore the label of "the team that couldn't win the big one" due to championship loss's to Green Bay, the Browns and SB V against the Colts. Of course, all heaven broke loose in the ensuing two+ decades, with 16 NFC Championship game appearance, 8 SB appearances, and the 5 rings. It's been a good life being a Cowboy fan.
But there's a dark side to being a "lifer" and having enjoyed all the success. It spoils you. Nothing but a ring will do. So what has happened to me (and like I said, I'll betcha' I'm not alone here), is that I go into every year with the default position of "Yeah, yeah, we'll see. I ain't buying it. I believe it when I see it..........."
On the surface, it sounds to others like "I thought you were a Cowboy fan, and all I hear is doubt". In reality, I'm such a "lifer", that this pre-disposition is like a defense mechanism. I don't want to get let down and left at the alter and disappointed.
This behavior worked just fine for me since the end of the "Triplets" Championship days. All through the Campo and Gailey and Parcells era's, I was just fine, because I didn't buy it and didn't "get on board". Of course I watched every game and rooted and hollered and hoped. But deep inside, it wasn't hard to see that those teams really didn't have what it took.
However, these last two years, foolishly, I got back on board. I really believed. Started wearing the jerseys again and laced my office with the Cowboy stuff again. I decked my truck out with all the stickers and license plate holders, etc......... I really wanted to be a part of what I believed was the "real deal". I bought into it, and really was convinced that our time had once again arrived after a decade of mediocrity.
And now this. Left at the alter again. If I would've just adopted the normal mindset (which would've been perfectly legit after last years debacle of having home field throughout and laying a smelly egg in the playoffs) and said "yeah, yeah, yeah, they're full of crap", then I wouldn't been in this heartbroken position.
This was it folks. The "lastest-bestest" shot we're going to have for a while. In this era of salary cap, free agency, coaching carousels, etc........this was it. This team, with all it's supposed talent,will not be the same team come spring time. Call me defeatist or negative or "not a fan" all you want, but I'm a pragmatist and a realist. If we couldn't, not only make the playoffs, but downright win the SB with this bunch this year, I just don't see it in the coming years. In fact, we've regressed since last year, gotten worse.
Nah, I'm officially, again, going to remain in my "default position" of "not getting on board" of another train wreck.
See ya' in about 2014.........................
