Hostile
The Duke
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The date was April 24, 1988. The Dallas Cowboys were on the clock at the NFL Draft. Pete Rozelle stepped to the Microphone and said, "with the 11th pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select, Michael Irvin, WR from the University of Miami."
The date was April 23, 1989. After a 3-13 final season in the legacy of Tom Landry the Dallas Cowboys held the first pick in the 1989 NFL Draft and ushered in the Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones era. The arguments were epic. Take the franchise QB, or the can't miss LT? Pete Rozelle stepped to the microphone and opened the Draft. Then he announced an already signed Troy Aikman. The first time in NFL History that the number 1 overall pick signed before the Draft even happened. "With the 1st pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select, Troy Aikman, QB from UCLA."
The date was April 22, 1990. The woeful 1-15 Dallas Cowboys had spent their 1st round pick in the Supplemental Draft on Steve Walsh. If they had not, might they have taken Blair Thomas, RB from Penn State? I don't believe they would have. I think they would have taken Cortez Kennedy, another Miami connection to Jimmy Johnson. We will never know. The Cowboys also had the 21st pick in the Draft courtesy of a trade with the Minnesota Vikings. Word had it they wanted a LB. In particular his name was James Francis. he went #12 to the Bengals. So Dallas traded up from 21 to 17. New NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue stepped to the microphone and first announced the trade. "With the 17th pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select, Emmitt Smith, RB from Florida."
We called them "The Triplets." They were our hat trick. Three kings completing a full house. A winning hand.
The date was January 31, 1993. The place was the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The event was Super Bowl XXVII. The opponent was the Buffalo Bills. The score was 52-17. The Cowboys were once again, World Champions.
The date was January 30, 1994. The place was the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was Super Bowl XXVIII. The opponent was once again the Buffalo Bills. The score was 30-13. Back to back World Champions.
The date was January 28, 1996. The place was Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The event was Super Bowl XXX. The opponent was the Pittsburgh Steelers. The score was 27-17. Three times in four years the Lombardi Trophy was raised above the heads of men who wore the star.
The date was was October 10, 1999. Michael Irvin caught the last pass of his NFL career and then lay unmoving on the field at Veterans Stadium. After the 1999 season The Playmaker officially hung up his cleats.
The date was December 10, 2000. Troy Aikman threw the last pass of his NFL career. Washington Commanders fans love to brag about Lavar Arrington ending Troy's career. That was more important to them than the score of the game, a 32-13 Dallas victory. That off season Troy Aikman, the leader of a dynasty, would officially announce his retirement.
The date was December 29, 2002. Emmitt Smith carried the football for the last time as a Dallas Cowboy. Though he would play 2 more seasons for the Cardinals, it was the end of an era in Dallas. The last of "The Triplets" was gone from our Sunday games. Two years later he would sign a 1 day contract with the Cowboys and retire as a Dallas Cowboy.
The date was August 6, 2006. The leader of "The Triplets" was introduced by his one time Offensive Coordinator, Norv Turner. Only one time in Troy Aikman's career did he raise a finger into the air to say they were number 1. That was in Super Bowl XXVII where he would reign as the game MVP. He earned that right.
One!
The date was April 23, 1989. After a 3-13 final season in the legacy of Tom Landry the Dallas Cowboys held the first pick in the 1989 NFL Draft and ushered in the Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones era. The arguments were epic. Take the franchise QB, or the can't miss LT? Pete Rozelle stepped to the microphone and opened the Draft. Then he announced an already signed Troy Aikman. The first time in NFL History that the number 1 overall pick signed before the Draft even happened. "With the 1st pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select, Troy Aikman, QB from UCLA."
Two!
The date was April 22, 1990. The woeful 1-15 Dallas Cowboys had spent their 1st round pick in the Supplemental Draft on Steve Walsh. If they had not, might they have taken Blair Thomas, RB from Penn State? I don't believe they would have. I think they would have taken Cortez Kennedy, another Miami connection to Jimmy Johnson. We will never know. The Cowboys also had the 21st pick in the Draft courtesy of a trade with the Minnesota Vikings. Word had it they wanted a LB. In particular his name was James Francis. he went #12 to the Bengals. So Dallas traded up from 21 to 17. New NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue stepped to the microphone and first announced the trade. "With the 17th pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select, Emmitt Smith, RB from Florida."
Three!
We called them "The Triplets." They were our hat trick. Three kings completing a full house. A winning hand.
The date was January 31, 1993. The place was the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The event was Super Bowl XXVII. The opponent was the Buffalo Bills. The score was 52-17. The Cowboys were once again, World Champions.
One!
The date was January 30, 1994. The place was the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was Super Bowl XXVIII. The opponent was once again the Buffalo Bills. The score was 30-13. Back to back World Champions.
Two!
The date was January 28, 1996. The place was Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The event was Super Bowl XXX. The opponent was the Pittsburgh Steelers. The score was 27-17. Three times in four years the Lombardi Trophy was raised above the heads of men who wore the star.
Three!
The date was was October 10, 1999. Michael Irvin caught the last pass of his NFL career and then lay unmoving on the field at Veterans Stadium. After the 1999 season The Playmaker officially hung up his cleats.
One!
The date was December 10, 2000. Troy Aikman threw the last pass of his NFL career. Washington Commanders fans love to brag about Lavar Arrington ending Troy's career. That was more important to them than the score of the game, a 32-13 Dallas victory. That off season Troy Aikman, the leader of a dynasty, would officially announce his retirement.
Two!
The date was December 29, 2002. Emmitt Smith carried the football for the last time as a Dallas Cowboy. Though he would play 2 more seasons for the Cardinals, it was the end of an era in Dallas. The last of "The Triplets" was gone from our Sunday games. Two years later he would sign a 1 day contract with the Cowboys and retire as a Dallas Cowboy.
Three!
The date was September 19, 2005. Reunited at halftime The Triplets were enrolled into the Ring of Honor together. The stood shoulder to shoulder on the field at Texas Stadium one last time and reminded all of us, just how marvelous it was to witness their greatness.
One! Two! Three!
The date was August 6, 2006. The leader of "The Triplets" was introduced by his one time Offensive Coordinator, Norv Turner. Only one time in Troy Aikman's career did he raise a finger into the air to say they were number 1. That was in Super Bowl XXVII where he would reign as the game MVP. He earned that right.
One!
The date was August 5, 2007. The emotional leader of "the Triplets" showed more emotion in his Hall of Fame speech than any of us could have imagined. He tore himself down even as the football world was lifting him up.
Today is August 7, 2010. One by one the Triplets arrived. One by one the Championships followed. One by one they left us. United they joined a pantheon of greats in the Ring of Honor. One by one they are now together in the hallowed halls of Canton. They are forever our Triplets. Finally there is...
Two!
Today is August 7, 2010. One by one the Triplets arrived. One by one the Championships followed. One by one they left us. United they joined a pantheon of greats in the Ring of Honor. One by one they are now together in the hallowed halls of Canton. They are forever our Triplets. Finally there is...
Three!
