WFAA Blog: Some Ex-Cowboys Angry About Texas Stadium Ceremony

[WoodysGirl]

9:47 AM Tue, Dec 23, 2008 | Permalink
David Marcus
E-mail

Some former Dallas Cowboys apparently felt left out in the cold during Saturday night's ceremonies to honor the closing of Texas Stadium.

Former linebacker Eugene Lockhart appeared on our show, Tylock Lasik SportsTalk last night on KFWD, channel 52. He was visibly angry about what he called the disconnect between the way Jerry Jones treats the team's former "stars" such as Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith, and the players from the organization's more distant past.

Much of the anger seems to center around the fact that most of the players who were honored on Saturday night had to sit out in the cold during the game, while those "elite" players like Emmitt joined Jerry Jones in a luxury suite. Lockhart said several of the ex-Cowboys talked about how Jones coddles players like Emmitt, Irvin and Deion Sanders, while turning a cold shoulder to the "lunch pail" former players who helped pave the way for America's team.

The fact that Lockhart was still angry about what he felt was being slighted, a whole two days later, says a lot. It seems Jerry Jones may not be winning any popularity contests with the Cowboys of the past.

That is, unless your names are Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders, and Michael Irvin.

 

[Don Corleone]

I would hope that former Cowboys would be more upset about the LOSS! Geez!

 

[cowboys2233]

Lockhart said several of the ex-Cowboys talked about how Jones coddles players like Emmitt, Irvin and Deion Sanders, while turning a cold shoulder to the "lunch pail" former players who helped pave the way for America's team.

Eugene the Hitting Machine! "Paved the way" for America's Team? No, you did no paving. We won three SBs in the 90's because of the players on THAT team. Eugene, your teams blew most of the time.

Jimmy coddled his star players too. You know, because they were better. Eugene was a fine player, but let's not get carried away.

 

[jumanji]

stars will always be treated better....period. it happens in every walk of life. you're a lunch pail worker...just like you said...now you're mad you had to sit in the cold and not the nice suite?

i also fully expect jones to favor the players that played while he owned the team. it's only natural to show favoritism.

 

[THUMPER]

While I don't necessarily agree with Lockhart's point, it is true that Jerry has pretty much dissed the players who played under Landry.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I think the Cowboys of old have a decent beef.

However, Jerry Jones is only doing what is basic human nature and that is to show more appreciation for those you were directly involved with.

It is a shame that we don't do more for the old guard.

There is no way the Tripplets should be in the Ring of Honor when guys like Harvey Martin, Drew Pearson and Everson Walls, just to name a few are not in.

 

[tyke1doe]

I think the Cowboys of old have a decent beef.

However, Jerry Jones is only doing what is basic human nature and that is to show more appreciation for those you were directly involved with.

It is a shame that we don't do more for the old guard.

There is no way the Tripplets should be in the Ring of Honor when guys like Harvey Martin, Drew Pearson and Everson Walls, just to name a few are not in.

But is that Jerry Jones' fault that The Triplets are in and not the others? Maybe Schramm or whoever on the Cowboys should have put them in before Jones took over.

 

[AdamJT13]

I would hope that former Cowboys would be more upset about the LOSS! Geez!

Apparently, it's not just the current players who are more concerned about themselves than the team.

 

[bbgun]

Jerry and pet player enjoy morgue-like atmosphere.

http://img132.*************/img132/3868/ch81satdec202008095858pmf3.jpg

 

[Don Corleone]

Apparently, it's not just the current players who are more concerned about themselves than the team.

No kidding. There must be something in the water in Dallas.

 

[theebs]

I would bet something like 90% dont like the guy.

and I found it perfect that the only two players who didnt wear a jersey during the ceremony were Emmitt SMith and Michael irvin. the other 100 guys had their jerseys, so these two had to be different!!

 

[THUMPER]

Jerry and pet player enjoy morgue-like atmosphere.

http://img132.*************/img132/3868/ch81satdec202008095858pmf3.jpg

Classic. :bang2: :bang2: :bang2:

 

[Wrangler87]

I would bet something like 90% dont like the guy.

and I found it perfect that the only two players who didnt wear a jersey during the ceremony were Emmitt SMith and Michael irvin. the other 100 guys had their jerseys, so these two had to be different!!

Were they doing tv?

 

[tunahelper]

I met Eugene Lockhart amongst others this year when I went to see a game.
He was by far the biggest prick of player I have ever met. First he was at the tent in front of the pro shop and he charged $10 for picture and acted like it was a bother to talk two seconds with the fans. Everson Walls and Michael Downs were very humble and friendly folks, but the hittin machine is half baked if you ask me.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Maybe it's because he knows them better than the older Cowboys. Of course, I don't think anyone expected Jerry to house all of them in suites. From what I saw in pictures there were quite a few of them out there.

Anyhow, the fans love these guys. Jerry invited them because of that and the fact that they are part of Texas Stadium's history and should be there.

I've been a fan longer than some of them were Cowboys, where the **** was my suite Jerry! :yousuck:

 

[jbz64]

Lockhart is still upset that he got traded to the Patriots a year before they started winning Super Bowls in the 90's.

 

[AdamJT13]

Lockhart is still upset that he got traded to the Patriots a year before they started winning Super Bowls in the 90's.

"It's a cold business — a cold, cold business, And it's even colder in New England."

 

[Rockytop6]

I would hope that former Cowboys would be more upset about the LOSS! Geez!

Why should they be upset when the ones that played in the game weren't upset over it?

Please tell me how much attention JJ has given the players who preceded him. The Cowboys' franchise started in 1960 not just when JJ became the owner.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Eugene Lockhart gets an invite to the last game courtesy of Jerry and the Cowboys and then complains that he isn't treated right? Eugene Lockhart?!

Complains that he had to sit outside?! You gotta be kidding me!

Give me a break. There were about 500 former Cowboys who were better players than Eugene. He should be happy anyone even thought of him.

 

[RainMan]

To be fair, I believe only two players spoke -- Staubach and Emmitt. Now, I do think that Jerry gives (unintentionally?) some preferential treatment to "his" Cowboys, but Staubach had just as prominent a role as any of the 90s Cowboys at that ceremony.

And I'm not sure I entirely understand Lockhart's beef, unless John Gesek, Leon Lett, Bill Bates, Mark Tuinei's wife, etc. all had nice spots in a suite whiel all the non-HOF types from the 70s and 80s were stuck somewhere less pleasant.

I mean, Lockhart doesn't think he should have been the one sitting next to Jerry and speaking in front of the crowd, does he?