My emotional investment

[phildadon86]

I’ve been a Cowboys fan since I was a kid.

Inherited it from my dad. Growing up in Toronto, they were basically the only team on TV besides Buffalo. I even loved the cheerleaders as a four-year-old boy

I watched that team destroy everyone for what felt like forever. Carried that fire in my belly for years.

Jerry Jones slowly took that from me.
And I will never forgive him for it.

What used to be a proud, dominant franchise has become a laughing stock, largely because of one man’s ego and his complete inability to admit when something isn’t working.

The Green Bay debacle in the playoffs and the total lack of real action afterward sealed it for me.

I’ve been called a hater. Told I’m not a real fan. Told to find a new team.
All because I’m no longer emotionally invested the way I used to be.

I still watch. I still cheer. I still hate losing.
But the fire isn’t there anymore.

And honestly… that’s healthier. At least for me.

Anyone else feel what I am saying?

 

[My3Sons]

I am guessing many here feel you. Jerry is none too popular for Cowboy fans.

 

[DCwarrior]

It’s time to blow it up. Trade some linemen and WRs for picks and look to rebuild when the QB is officially gone. He might as well be gone now but the albatross will be here for a couple years.

 

[fivetwos]

I’ve been a Cowboys fan since I was a kid.

Inherited it from my dad. Growing up in Toronto, they were basically the only team on TV besides Buffalo. I even loved the cheerleaders as a four-year-old boy

I watched that team destroy everyone for what felt like forever. Carried that fire in my belly for years.

Jerry Jones slowly took that from me.
And I will never forgive him for it.

What used to be a proud, dominant franchise has become a laughing stock, largely because of one man’s ego and his complete inability to admit when something isn’t working.

The Green Bay debacle in the playoffs and the total lack of real action afterward sealed it for me.

I’ve been called a hater. Told I’m not a real fan. Told to find a new team.
All because I’m no longer emotionally invested the way I used to be.

I still watch. I still cheer. I still hate losing.
But the fire isn’t there anymore.

And honestly… that’s healthier. At least for me.

Anyone else feel what I am saying?

I’m with ya. Almost exactly.

I came in mostly because of Coach. He was a true football innovator and was a class act in all areas of life.

Now I’ve got Jerry, who is about the exact opposite.

 

[pitt33]

I’ve been a Cowboys fan since I was a kid.

Inherited it from my dad. Growing up in Toronto, they were basically the only team on TV besides Buffalo. I even loved the cheerleaders as a four-year-old boy

I watched that team destroy everyone for what felt like forever. Carried that fire in my belly for years.

Jerry Jones slowly took that from me.
And I will never forgive him for it.

What used to be a proud, dominant franchise has become a laughing stock, largely because of one man’s ego and his complete inability to admit when something isn’t working.

The Green Bay debacle in the playoffs and the total lack of real action afterward sealed it for me.

I’ve been called a hater. Told I’m not a real fan. Told to find a new team.
All because I’m no longer emotionally invested the way I used to be.

I still watch. I still cheer. I still hate losing.
But the fire isn’t there anymore.

And honestly… that’s healthier. At least for me.

Anyone else feel what I am saying?

You’re not a hater.

You’re realistic about the state of the franchise.

I checked out after the GB playoff loss.

This team is rudderless and the ship has run aground.

It’s fine to feel that way.

Anybody who doesn’t is only kidding themselves.

 

[fivetwos]

It’s time to blow it up. Trade some linemen and WRs for picks and look to rebuild when the QB is officially gone. He might as well be gone now but the albatross will be here for a couple years.

No point in blowing anything up if Jerry and his kid are doing the rebuild.

They really don’t know how to build or run a roster, or manage it along the way.

They just collect players. Try to get a lot of really good ones this way the inferior coaching won’t matter. Doesn’t matter if they are a fit or not. Jones football.

 

[Bobhaze]

I’ve been a Cowboys fan since I was a kid.

Inherited it from my dad. Growing up in Toronto, they were basically the only team on TV besides Buffalo. I even loved the cheerleaders as a four-year-old boy

I watched that team destroy everyone for what felt like forever. Carried that fire in my belly for years.

Jerry Jones slowly took that from me.
And I will never forgive him for it.

What used to be a proud, dominant franchise has become a laughing stock, largely because of one man’s ego and his complete inability to admit when something isn’t working.

The Green Bay debacle in the playoffs and the total lack of real action afterward sealed it for me.

I’ve been called a hater. Told I’m not a real fan. Told to find a new team.
All because I’m no longer emotionally invested the way I used to be.

I still watch. I still cheer. I still hate losing.
But the fire isn’t there anymore.

And honestly… that’s healthier. At least for me.

Anyone else feel what I am saying?

You’re a real fan or you wouldn’t feel this way. Trust me I understand.

I’ve been a fan since 1964 when I was six years old. My hope is - and it’s the only reason I stay with this team - I was a fan 25 years before anyone had even heard the name Jerry Jones.

My hope is I live long enough to see him gone. IMO it’s the only hope we have for the future.

 

[DasTex]

Getting there really quickly. First memories were the mid 80s...Danny White. My dad hated him...main reason was he had unfortunate role of following up Roger. Was spoiled during my teenage years with the 90s. Little did I know, that was the peak and it's been a long fall since. Sure, a couple ups in the road which mostly ended in disasters.

However, this team - it just leaves me feeling awful. Not disappointment they lost, just awful that I'm wasting my time watching them play.

 

[DandyDon1722]

I’ve been a Cowboys fan since I was a kid.

Inherited it from my dad. Growing up in Toronto, they were basically the only team on TV besides Buffalo. I even loved the cheerleaders as a four-year-old boy

I watched that team destroy everyone for what felt like forever. Carried that fire in my belly for years.

Jerry Jones slowly took that from me.
And I will never forgive him for it.

What used to be a proud, dominant franchise has become a laughing stock, largely because of one man’s ego and his complete inability to admit when something isn’t working.

The Green Bay debacle in the playoffs and the total lack of real action afterward sealed it for me.

I’ve been called a hater. Told I’m not a real fan. Told to find a new team.
All because I’m no longer emotionally invested the way I used to be.

I still watch. I still cheer. I still hate losing.
But the fire isn’t there anymore.

And honestly… that’s healthier. At least for me.

Anyone else feel what I am saying?

He took the love of my life and turned it into an acquaintance. One thing though - I’ve found the only people who will ever really call you a hater now are younger fans and I get it. Nothing could sway me in my 20’s and 30’s. Not even the ‘89 season.

I know I’m beating a dead horse but the only way I’ll come back is if Charlotte is named his successor. She’s highly respected around the league and doesn’t have the ego.

 

[ClappingCarrot]

Been there for years. It's just not worth agonizing over anymore.

Watching an injured and overweight RB run for 300 yards on us in the 2018 playoffs was the beginning, the Jordan Love debacle was my undoing.

They're just an unserious franchise, and they're completely okay with it.

 

[Redsfan_83]

I’ve been a Cowboys fan since I was a kid.

Inherited it from my dad. Growing up in Toronto, they were basically the only team on TV besides Buffalo. I even loved the cheerleaders as a four-year-old boy

I watched that team destroy everyone for what felt like forever. Carried that fire in my belly for years.

Jerry Jones slowly took that from me.
And I will never forgive him for it.

What used to be a proud, dominant franchise has become a laughing stock, largely because of one man’s ego and his complete inability to admit when something isn’t working.

The Green Bay debacle in the playoffs and the total lack of real action afterward sealed it for me.

I’ve been called a hater. Told I’m not a real fan. Told to find a new team.
All because I’m no longer emotionally invested the way I used to be.

I still watch. I still cheer. I still hate losing.
But the fire isn’t there anymore.

And honestly… that’s healthier. At least for me.

Anyone else feel what I am saying?

100% great post, and the ones on here who call you haters have not been fans of this team as those like you and me have. They are emotionally invested in 1 or 2 players, maybe, but not the team as a whole. Like you, I grew up in Toronto, and we have raised our kids in the Greater Toronto Area. We have the Arogs, lol, and the Bills, which I am not a fan of, but I enjoy watching Bills Mafia and have been to a couple of games.

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

I agree with what most are posting here. I have an open question for you all, if by some miracle the Cowboys did manage to win a super bowl in the near future, would it mean as much to you as the previous ones? I think I am so far removed from how I felt 30 plus years ago that any success would feel totally unrelated to anything I remember from the past with great fondness.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Nothing wrong with feeling that way either. Jerry has fed us full of BS for years.

I’m still a cowboy fan and that won’t change anything but I refuse to buy into false hope. Until they produce a serious football team I’m not getting emotionally invested either.

I’m at a point of welcoming a full year down of the roster. I’d much rather suffer a couple years of losing as we actually try to build towards a better future rather than pretend we have a good team year after year because we overpaid a Quarterback in order to maintain relevance.

 

[jazzcat22]

It’s time to blow it up. Trade some linemen and WRs for picks and look to rebuild when the QB is officially gone. He might as well be gone now but the albatross will be here for a couple years.

Can't blow it up as long as Jerry is in charge.
What do you think will happen?

Same puppet coaches.
Same non participation in FA, other than 1 year contract type of guys.
Over paid players based on potential and one decent to great year,
Drafting injured players based on potential. That they got a steal.
Trading away draft picks to move up and be told we got a bargain and a steal as they were ranked higher. And some of them are coming off an injury as well.

Did I miss anything?

Oh, and Rowdy will still be around.

The only thing consistent with this team besides the FO's ineptitude.
Is the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders always looking great.

 

[Robbieac]

Our stupid fans still cheer Jerry and ask for his autograph.

Instead, when at the games, they should start chanting “sell the team, sell the team!”.

 

[cowboyblue22]

I’ve been a Cowboys fan since I was a kid.

Inherited it from my dad. Growing up in Toronto, they were basically the only team on TV besides Buffalo. I even loved the cheerleaders as a four-year-old boy

I watched that team destroy everyone for what felt like forever. Carried that fire in my belly for years.

Jerry Jones slowly took that from me.
And I will never forgive him for it.

What used to be a proud, dominant franchise has become a laughing stock, largely because of one man’s ego and his complete inability to admit when something isn’t working.

The Green Bay debacle in the playoffs and the total lack of real action afterward sealed it for me.

I’ve been called a hater. Told I’m not a real fan. Told to find a new team.
All because I’m no longer emotionally invested the way I used to be.

I still watch. I still cheer. I still hate losing.
But the fire isn’t there anymore.

And honestly… that’s healthier. At least for me.

Anyone else feel what I am saying?

jerry jones is the worst thing that has ever happend to the dallas cowboys.

 

[stiletto]

Went through this years ago. Can't even remember what game did it. Might've been the playoff game against the Giants in New England:a undefeated year.

 

[yentl911]

Just go into the games knowing we suck and expect to lose. If anything positive happens it’s a bonus!

 

[TexasBacon]

I’ve been a Cowboys fan since I was a kid.

Inherited it from my dad. Growing up in Toronto, they were basically the only team on TV besides Buffalo. I even loved the cheerleaders as a four-year-old boy

I watched that team destroy everyone for what felt like forever. Carried that fire in my belly for years.

Jerry Jones slowly took that from me.
And I will never forgive him for it.

What used to be a proud, dominant franchise has become a laughing stock, largely because of one man’s ego and his complete inability to admit when something isn’t working.

The Green Bay debacle in the playoffs and the total lack of real action afterward sealed it for me.

I’ve been called a hater. Told I’m not a real fan. Told to find a new team.
All because I’m no longer emotionally invested the way I used to be.

I still watch. I still cheer. I still hate losing.
But the fire isn’t there anymore.

And honestly… that’s healthier. At least for me.

Anyone else feel what I am saying?

I may disagree with some of your views on the team but agree with you whole-heartedly on this and feel it too. My entire week used to be planned around games, from the content I consumed to the games I watched and now I just shake my head and go to bed. It sucks. It sucks to care so much and be so excited about games and hope they'll finally turn it around only to be met with the type of crap we keep seeing. I don't really believe in "good" losses, but the Ravens loss was easier to stomach because they at least seemed ready to play. These last two have been about as deflating as it gets. The worst part is in the back of my mind I really thought they were going to show up last night even though I know I'm not "supposed" to think that way after the Bucs game.

We are in a unique position as Cowboys fans because everything is always hyped up to the point we all buy in to some extent and then we just continuously flounder. And to make it worse there is seemingly no light at the end of the tunnel unless we want to be morally questionable and root for Jerry to die. He really may have made a deal with the Devil in 1995. It would be a much more plausible explanation than most.

 

[MarkP88]

I feel pretty much the same way. I used to be totally obsessed (says the guy who still is posting on a message board at age 58); losses would bother me for days...the whole nine yards. Now it's whatever. I expect mediocrity. There's no real hope because the one change that needs to happen never will, and everything flows from that.