Readers Point to Race as Reason for Cowboys Fans in Commanders Land

[jterrell]

Just another reason to hate the Skins, as if I needed any more.

I have a few friends who I will now mock with questions of how their Washington Klansmen are doing. Good times!

:laugh2:

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I have to disagree.

Even though the Dallas Cowboys integrated before the Commanders did, the City of Dallas and if you talk to former players, the Dallas Cowboys Organization itself had Racial Problems.

I remember talking to Mel Renfro at an autograph signing about the time he tried to buy a house in North Dallas and the Realtor wanted nothing to do with him because he was black. At the time, I thought he only had problems with the Realtor, but he told me members of the Dallas Cowboys Organization told him not to go through with lawsuit he eventually filed and when he did, he said "THEY" tried to destroy him for not doing what he was told.

 

[JPM]

We should also quit saying Merry Christmas.

A Festivus for the rest of us !

 

[The Panch]

I have to disagree.

Even though the Dallas Cowboys integrated before the Commanders did, the City of Dallas and if you talk to former players, the Dallas Cowboys Organization itself had Racial Problems.

I remember talking to Mel Renfro at an autograph signing about the time he tried to buy a house in North Dallas and the Realtor wanted nothing to do with him because he was black. At the time, I thought he only had problems with the Realtor, but he told me members of the Dallas Cowboys Organization told him not to go through with lawsuit he eventually filed and when he did, he said "THEY" tried to destroy him for not doing what he was told.

Everywhere in America had racial problems. Especially the South.

 

[arglebargle]

I have to disagree.

Even though the Dallas Cowboys integrated before the Commanders did, the City of Dallas and if you talk to former players, the Dallas Cowboys Organization itself had Racial Problems.

I remember talking to Mel Renfro at an autograph signing about the time he tried to buy a house in North Dallas and the Realtor wanted nothing to do with him because he was black. At the time, I thought he only had problems with the Realtor, but he told me members of the Dallas Cowboys Organization told him not to go through with lawsuit he eventually filed and when he did, he said "THEY" tried to destroy him for not doing what he was told.

Man, if they would redline Mel Renfro, they would redline anyone.....

 

[Future]

Weird, I was thinking about starting a thread about this. In Dave Zirin's newest book (he's the man if anybody reads him) he talks about integration and whatnot. I never new that the Skins were the last team to allow black players on their roster.

In fact, Zirin points out that their team colors used to be "burgundy, gold, and caucasian" :laugh2:

 

[IndianaCowboyFan]

Why is this something we cannot get over? If you were purple and had 2 heads but had 30 sacks a year everyone would love you. I am as white as can be but have never understood this. There are so many a******* in the world, too many to count, so why is skin color a determining factor? I must have missed the memo. Again please feel free to flame away if you think I am wrong.

 

[bigE79]

none of those reasons are why I am a cowboy fan

add me to the list:starspin

 

[gmb85]

Another reason why I don't like the skins, their name. Awful.

 

[bbgun]

Nothing will change, because:

1) Whites care about this issue waaaaay more than Native Americans do, and
2) Those Native Americans who actually do care lack the political and economic clout to turn the screws on Snyder or the NFL.

If a name change does materialize, it'll be out of the goodness of Snyder's heart (ha!) or some sort of unilateral directive from the Commish's office. Not sure if he has that kind of power, though. Doubtful.

 

[IndianaCowboyFan]

God there are days when I cannot belive how racist my "white race" people can be. Commanders... why are so many people clueless?

 

[tyke1doe]

Interesting theory for the popularity of the Commanders in the Upper South. I wonder if the team's name being a blatant ethnic slur might also have something to do with it? In all likliehood the Cowboys' popularity is due to their success in the 70s and 90s, during which they became more than just Dallas's team, but an American cultural landmark. Remember Jackie in That 70s Show saying she dreamed of being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, while deep in Packers land? Seriously, there are plenty of Skins fans of all races and there are many Cowboys fans around the nation and world.

Quick, name me a professional football team in the South at the time of the 1970s?

I think it had less to do with racism and more to do with the fact that the Washington Commanders were the nearest team to the South, and the South didn't have any football teams.

Now, there was a franchise called the Baltimore Colts, but Baltimore is nearest the northern border of the Mason-Dixon line, the line which supposedly separates the North from the South. Possibly, the Colts were considered more a Northern team. Furthermore, Southerners would have more of a connection with Washington, D.C. because of Congress, and Southerners had Congressmen as did other states.

As for this black man who grew up in the Maryland-Washington, D.C. area, I switched from a Commanders to a Cowboys fan when Dallas drafted Tony Dorsett.

And most of my friends (I grew up in an exclusively black neighborhood) were Commanders fans. I doubt the fact the Commanders had a racist owner had any lingering impact on why many Southerners are Commanders fans. That certainly didn't have any impact on why many blacks I know where Commanders fans.

That's my two cents.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Quick, name me a professional football team in the South at the time of the 1970s?

I think it had less to do with racism and more to do with the fact that the Washington Commanders were the nearest team to the South, and the South didn't have any football teams.

Now, there was a franchise called the Baltimore Colts, but Baltimore is nearest the northern border of the Mason-Dixon line, the line which supposedly separates the North from the South. Possibly, the Colts were considered more a Northern team. Furthermore, Southerners would have more of a connection with Washington, D.C. because of Congress, and Southerners had Congressmen as did other states.

As for this black man who grew up in the Maryland-Washington, D.C. area, I switched from a Commanders to a Cowboys fan when Dallas drafted Tony Dorsett.

And most of my friends (I grew up in an exclusively black neighborhood) were Commanders fans. I doubt the fact the Commanders had a racist owner had any lingering impact on why many Southerners are Commanders fans. That certainly didn't have any impact on why many blacks I know where Commanders fans.

That's my two cents.

it's African-American

 

[bbgun]

Quick, name me a professional football team in the South at the time of the 1970s?

Atlanta? Miami? New Orleans? Maybe you meant 1960s.

 

[tyke1doe]

Atlanta? Miami? New Orleans? Maybe you meant 1960s.

Those three would be considered the Deep South not the Upper South. I'm thinking the Upper South would be Virginia, North and South Carolina and a portion of West Virginia - those regions closer to Maryland/Washington, D.C.

The article mentions Upper South. But I should have been clearer in my post.

 

[tyke1doe]

it's African-American

:laugh2:

 

[links18]

Those three would be considered the Deep South not the Upper South. I'm thinking the Upper South would be Virginia, North and South Carolina and a portion of West Virginia - those regions closer to Maryland/Washington, D.C.

The article mentions Upper South. But I should have been clearer in my post.

I think much of the Carolinas was Commanders territory until they established the Panthers. Most West Virginians I know are Steelers fans, except for the Eastern Panhandle where they are Skins fans.

 

[Venger]

Whatever the reason, this Big Southern Cracker sez "Welcome one and all, my brothers from another mother"...more fans the merrier, be you be so pale you can stand out naked in a snowstorm or so dark you leave fingerprints on charcoal...

 

[Nightman]

Washington was really bad in the 50s and 60s, just when Dallas was gaining a national following. A lot of Skins fans, my Dad included loved Sonny Jurgensen and when he was replaced by Billy Kilmer it was the last straw. This was right about the time Staubach, from the USNA in Annapolis, started winning big games. Throw in Randy White from the Univ of Maryland and the Cheerleaders and it was sealed.

I was born in DC in 1970 and started to root for the Boys because of my Dad and the Doomsday Defense. Most of my friends, black and white, were Skins fans, but most of those who weren't picked the Cowboys. The late 70s and 80s were a great time for the rivalry, but I never recall race being an issue. Most of that stuff happened in the 60s.

 

[phillycard]

Sad to see stuff like this. I will say that Skins fans aren't the most racially tolerant on the list. The way they crapped on Jason Campbell was disgusting. Race should never be brought into the equation on if a guy can play or not. Unfortunately you get a lot of ugliness towards McNabb with many of the loser eagle fans here in Philly as well.