What ever happened to optimism in fans?

[peplaw06]

Great post and thread Cobra. This was kind of what I was getting at in my last post in the troll's thread where he picks the Skins to go 10-6 and Cowboys to finish last.

 

[Hoofbite]

And winning only one playoff game make you happy?

You gotta admit, it would be nice.

 

[CoCo]

Telling folks to stop being who they are is a waste of time.


But that doesn't mean I don't try to do so on ocasion. :

 

[sonnyboy]

Not everyone on here is Charlie Brown. After years of no playoffs and seasons like the "13-3"....you start questioning if Lucy will pull the ball away on the next try instead of just blindly running for another try. All we've done since the 95 superbowl is miss the playoffs and whiff in the playoffs. Until this team proves they can do otherwise, alot of people on this board will be cautious and not overrate this team. If we didn't win it all when we went 13-3, I don't see how you can just assume we will win it all this year when we haven't taken a huge step forward. But I do hope we do have the talent and all we needed was experience and a few years to mature. We'll see. The last few years have ripped my heart out so I'm personally cautious on how much I get my hopes up. I'm sure many others on the board are the same way and many of other other posters just rag on them for being negative nancies.

You want a new holder?

Don't think anyone's guaranteed a SB this year. If you want a guarantee, go buy insurance.

The point some are making here is that this team has enough demonstrated ability these past few years to have a very very realistic hope for a SB run.

 

[hutru01]

The Ravens and Eagles took it away.

Hmmm, familiar post here.

As Cowboys fans, we were spoiled in the 90s. But if you go way back to 1989, the year we beat the Commanders and that was the only game we won all year, that should put things into perspective.

Having not been to the playoffs in 13 years can affect a team's fanbase even if we are still "America's Team".
At least the fairweather fans have subsided, hopefully. :laugh2:

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Good post. However . . . . if anyone wants only good cheer, the Dallas Cowboys Weekly has plenty of it. . . .

Give me a fan site that examines warts and all.
Beneath the cynicism and the pessimism is a wealth of concern and continued loyalty for the Cowboys.

But while this playoff drought continues and Jerra hires mutts like Wade, Chan and Campo, we can and should exercise our right to question and second-guess.

 

[Vtwin]

Even more then the pessimism I find the never ending bashing of anyone who dares mention the lack of depth here or the unproven xxxx there, etc, to be tiresome and very disrespectful.

Where is it written that what is your defintion of a fan applies across the board to every other individual who thinks of themselves as a fan?

Some folks like to see what they want to see. Some folks like to look at things in a more critical light. Doesn't make them any less of a "fan" just because they can't help but notice the things others don't want to see, or choose not to discuss for their own reasons.

It just my opinion that REAL fans go in with a level of involvement that has their eyes wide open to both the good and bad of their favorite teams.

And every team on the planet has good and bad to talk about.

Here's to keeping it real.....

 

[Doomsday101]

Good post. However . . . . if anyone wants only good cheer, the Dallas Cowboys Weekly has plenty of it. . . .

Give me a fan site that examines warts and all.
Beneath the cynicism and the pessimism is a wealth of concern and continued loyalty for the Cowboys.

But while this playoff drought continues and Jerra hires mutts like Wade, Chan and Campo, we can and should exercise our right to question and second-guess.

Nothing wrong will looking at positive and negative but if all one sees is negatives how is that any different that those who only see the positive? As a fan I see things that get me excited about this team and I see question marks yet to be answered but I will cheer this team and support this team and if they fail they fail it is the least I can do as a fan is to show support. I don't pretend to be an unbiased sports reporter I'm a fan

 

[EPL0c0]

Im optimistic.

If this team stays healthy we will be dangerous all year.

We have a very tough 2nd half to our schedule so we'll see what happens.




What I don't get is all the Romo hate. It makes me wonder if the people posting this were actually paying any attention the previous 7 years.

If they were here with the Quincy/Hutchers. Or if they stuck through the tooth pulling year with Vinny.

You know where I was? Watching every single game and posting about it here on thecowboys.net/thezone.

We are so fortunate to have that guy.

I'm w/ you. I'm always optimistic at this point of the year.

But we saw what injuries did last year and with the "so-so" quality of the depth and the fact that the 2ndary has been hit by injuries, I think a little worry is justified.

I think looking at Dallas' 2nd half record and the fact that their DEC/JAN schedule isn't a breeze also justifies a little dulled optimism... it's a bit of realiity setting in.

but I still have the "let's wait and see" attitude about it.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

The Ravens and Eagles took it away.

We had 4 or 5 months of offseason to ***** and moan about that. It’s over. Wade is the coach of this season...we had plenty of time to understand and come to grips with it. People are stuck on the 13-3 season. It was a fluke. We are a 9-7 team and have a chance to improve on that record and i think we can and will this season.

The very core of my being is negative, but lets actually play a real game before starting all the piss and moan threads. This preaseason i have been impressed with the starters and very excited about Romo and his progress.

Or maybe some are just TO fans and can’t let it go.

 

[Screw The Hall]

What ever happened to optimism in fans?

There is a never-ending deluge of posts here trying to identify problems with the team, coaches, and players. It really appears that we are looking for things to be critical about.

Now, I don't care for ridiculous homerism. The Commanders fans who think they are going to the Super Bowl every year are absurd.

But optimism seems to me to be a requirement of being a fan. It can be guarded optimism ("this is going to be rough, but I'm sure hoping we are as good as I think we can be"). But there has to be optimism---certainly before the season even starts.

Life is hard. It can be a grind. We are in a constant struggle with stress, competition, obligations, and lack of time. People get worn down unless there are outlets.

Sports are a release. Being a fan is about enjoying cheering for something.

None of us are employed by this team. None of us are invested in this team. Being a fan is purely optional. And if you are not excited about the team or at least hopeful for the best, why would you be a fan? It makes no sense. No rational person cheers for a bad ending or a car wreck. We cheer for the hope of success.

So where is the optimism? What is with the never-ending, pathetic, and obnoxious constant hand-wringing over every single thing about this team?

In a perfect world, I'd change things about this team. But I enjoy watching them and cheering for them. I am hopeful that everything comes together and this is our season to cross that hurdle. I am eager and excited about our potential.

Again, I am not calling for extreme homerism. But there is an enormous difference between extreme homerism and the extreme pessimism we see here daily.

This is a call to stop it. Stop worrying about this team. Focus on the things to be excited about and get excited about this season. We have the potential to be good. So quit running everything into the ground and look at what we have to be thankful for as we enter the season that gives a chance to be the winner.

I agree 100% ... good stuff.

I remember the 1-15 and the 3-13's , and although those were difficult times for the team as a fan I still managed to find a way to enjoy things about those seasons.

Even if it was something as small as getting excited about a rookie that I thought had a lot of promise for the future and just keying on him or an aging Cowboy legend that I knew didn't have much time left so it was good to be able to soak up their last days with an appreciation of everything they had given there has always been something for me to hold onto and cherish about every season.

 

[dougonthebench]

I am very optimistic at the start of every season,all the way until its too late.I never give up on this team,and I never will.
I just ignore all of the negative people,and their posts.I have a BIG ignore list.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Such a tired excuse. If you're spoiled, then throw the moldy bread out and get a fresh loaf. That's what the 'boys have done. This is not the same roster that field the majority of those losing seasons.

This team has a chance to do some good things. At this point, that's all you can ask of Jerry & Co. This isn't like in the past where you're rooting for Quincy et al and knew they had no chance. Each year is different and this team has some very good players on the roster that I think are worthy of having more fan optimism than pessimism.

And winning only one playoff game make you happy?

I have hope that the cowboys will win, but I stay grounded now and say show me. After 13 years of losing, I think I have a right to feel the way I do. I once was a fan that believed in all the hoopla, the jerry jones spin, etc. I even thought the cowboys could win with quincy carter with parcells here. Boy, did i ever learn.

I do think now, that the cowboys might sneak up on teams this year, while flying under the radar so to speak. And get into the playoffs.
1. Kicker Buehler, we lost 7.3 points per game due to kickoffs & spec teams
2. Wade as defensive coordinator; now no more excuses on defense
3. barber, felix & choice
4. igor, sensabaugh, brooking, kitna, octavian, all upgraded
5. special teams play, but will take 8th to 9th game to settle
6. McBrair punter back
7. No more drama-no T O, Tank, Pacman, Greg whiner, Tony Curtis lack of desire to play with intensity
8. Big offensive line, hopefully with Holland & Preston ready to play

This all should be enough to win at least 2 more games than last year, get into playoffs with a 11-5 record, then anything can happen

Finally, I wont be happy till we at least get to the championship game, in the NFC, at least get there so players can see the tempo of the game, get a taste to see what its all about,

then, say we dont go further, but get to the big championship game, with our
1, 2, 3, possibly a 3rd for canty, 4, 4th for burnett, and 5th for Greg Ellis or Keith Davis, those extra picks, granted you can trade compensation picks, but that will allow you to use your own 3rd and 4th picks to move up in the draft next year and get a couple of impact players

also, i think the cowboys have been gearing up for 2010, that they will if the team gets to the playoffs, goes so far, the cowboys will again target top free agents in the nfl like they did with jason fergueson, T O, Kosier, Igor, Brooking, Sensabaugh, etc to really get an impact free agent like they did when they got deion sanders, or traded for charles haley.

 

[hutru01]

Or maybe some are just TO fans and can’t let it go.

TO is an ego-maniac and will NEVER win a super bowl on any team.

Bookmark that.

 

[CoCo]

Frankly I want a site that has both optimists and pessimists.

I just want opposing viewpoints to have an open mind that their opinion may not be 100% correct and that just maybe the insight of an opposing view might be worth considering.

Its the dogmatic, "I will never be convinced nor ever admit I was wrong" people that drive me nuts and that applies to both optimists & pessimists.

 

[skinsscalper]

What ever happened to optimism in fans?

There is a never-ending deluge of posts here trying to identify problems with the team, coaches, and players. It really appears that we are looking for things to be critical about.

Now, I don't care for ridiculous homerism. The Commanders fans who think they are going to the Super Bowl every year are absurd.

But optimism seems to me to be a requirement of being a fan. It can be guarded optimism ("this is going to be rough, but I'm sure hoping we are as good as I think we can be"). But there has to be optimism---certainly before the season even starts.

Life is hard. It can be a grind. We are in a constant struggle with stress, competition, obligations, and lack of time. People get worn down unless there are outlets.

Sports are a release. Being a fan is about enjoying cheering for something.

None of us are employed by this team. None of us are invested in this team. Being a fan is purely optional. And if you are not excited about the team or at least hopeful for the best, why would you be a fan? It makes no sense. No rational person cheers for a bad ending or a car wreck. We cheer for the hope of success.

So where is the optimism? What is with the never-ending, pathetic, and obnoxious constant hand-wringing over every single thing about this team?

In a perfect world, I'd change things about this team. But I enjoy watching them and cheering for them. I am hopeful that everything comes together and this is our season to cross that hurdle. I am eager and excited about our potential.

Again, I am not calling for extreme homerism. But there is an enormous difference between extreme homerism and the extreme pessimism we see here daily.

This is a call to stop it. Stop worrying about this team. Focus on the things to be excited about and get excited about this season. We have the potential to be good. So quit running everything into the ground and look at what we have to be thankful for as we enter the season that gives a chance to be the winner.

The past 3 or 4 seasons have given us a chance to be a winner, yet we've fallen short. All fans want to believe their team has what it takes (especially at this time of the year). Are their things to be positive about this season? Of course! It doesn't erase the memory of shortcomings of the recent past. Just because some fans are in the "show me" state of mind doesn't mean that they aren't excited about their team. You don't have to be a blind homer and champion every move of the team to be a fan or to be excited about the season. The fact that this team has some serious questions to answer this season (and many fans are awaiting those answers) doesn't mean that the support isn't there. To call out people who are skeptical about this team and it's new sense of direction to just "stop it" is absurd and close minded.

Such a tired excuse. If you're spoiled, then throw the moldy bread out and get a fresh loaf. That's what the 'boys have done. This is not the same roster that field the majority of those losing seasons.

This team has a chance to do some good things. At this point, that's all you can ask of Jerry & Co. This isn't like in the past where you're rooting for Quincy et al and knew they had no chance. Each year is different and this team has some very good players on the roster that I think are worthy of having more fan optimism than pessimism.

And winning only one playoff game make you happy?

It would be a damn good start to create this flood of optimism that all Cowboys fans are supposed to be overwhelmed with.

The unlucky ending of the Seattle playoff game.
The loss to the Giants in the playoff game.
The final 65 minutes of game clock from last season.

These were very disappointing events, particularly those last two.

It isn't surprising that the wind has been taken out of some fans' sails.

This is just probably too complex for the average homer to grasp (and no, cobra, I don't classify you or WG as blind homers. Just using your posts as some examples of the overall mentality of many on board, here). Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Fans have been fooled far too often the past few seasons with the Cowboys. To some, it's unfathomable that a fan would be skeptical at this point, regardless of any off-season aquisitions/releases, philosophy changes, or less than stellar drafts. God forbid anyone be realistic and not praise everything Cowboys when there are obvious questions about the ability of this team to truly be a champion.

Am I optimistic about this season? Hell yes! I can't wait to see a full season of Felix and the implementation of the Bennett and Witten attack! I'd love to see RW become that ever important chain mover and to see Austin stretch defenses. I'm excited about the latest diamond in the rough we may have uncovered (Ogletree) and see what he can bring to the table. I love the fact that Romo has looked sharp in the pre-season and seems to be more aware of ball protection in the pocket.

As a matter of fact I'm so damn giddy about those things that I'll completely ignore the fact that this team continues to commit stupid penalties that kill our drives and extend our opponent's. I'll disregard the fact that this team has collapsed EVERY SINGLE TIME it mattered most the past three seasons. I'll forget that the depth on our O-line and defensive secondary is paper thin. That's obviously what you're looking for here, right? Hell, I'm so excited I'm ready to sign a petition, right now, to change the name of this site to the Homer Zone. Because, obviously, doses of reality aren't welcome around these parts. OOHH I can't wait until we look just like ES!!!!!

 

[sonnyboy]

Good post. However . . . . if anyone wants only good cheer, the Dallas Cowboys Weekly has plenty of it. . . .

Give me a fan site that examines warts and all.
Beneath the cynicism and the pessimism is a wealth of concern and continued loyalty for the Cowboys.

But while this playoff drought continues and Jerra hires mutts like Wade, Chan and Campo, we can and should exercise our right to question and second-guess.

Wade's not a mutt. His career HC record including the 0-4 in the post-season is clear evidence to the contrary.

Given the hand Jones was dealt in Feb 2007, the decision to hire Wade was a sensible one.

1) His HOF fame coach decided to retire/resign.
2) No real "Name HC" candidate availible. No Shanahan, no Holmgren. And to the best of my knowledge, Landry and Lombardi weren't returning calls.
3) Jerry had a young coach in Garrett whom he really liked down the road but was not quite ready for primetime.
4) Wade had just the right mix for this assignment. He had the DC coaching expertise to turn around an underperforming yet talented unit. Since defense was his forte, he could work with Garrett.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I think some people are just guarded because it hurts to open yourself up to the possibility of something great and then be crushed when we don't accomplish our goals. So, they nitpick in an attempt to lower their own expectations so that they aren't as hurt.

However, I'm the eternal optimist. I'll just deal with the pain if it comes.

 

[CoCo]

I also don't think that pessimism makes you less of a fan. A pessimist just tends to view the glass as half-empty rather than half-full. You can still hope & wish for good things, even when you don't believe.

Again its not a pessimistic viewpoint that ruins things IMO. Its people who know they have all the answers and aren't the least bit interested as a result in any view point contrary to theirs.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Frankly I want a site that has both optimists and pessimists.

I just want opposing viewpoints to have an open mind that their opinion may not be 100% correct and that just maybe the insight of an opposing view might be worth considering.

Its the dogmatic, "I will never be convinced nor ever admit I was wrong" people that drive me nuts and that applies to both optimists & pessimists.

exactly, thats me too with the first paragraph, open mind, take different views to formulate ideas
at the same time though, i think when you feel strongly about something, you stick to your guns, no matter what, you respect other peoples view points and thoughts, but deep inside, you have to believe in what you believe in as a person, its who you are;

i do that with other writers like JJT, jenn engel, brady tinker, brad sham, mickey spagnola, smoaky, and others, as well as others on this site, like DC, 41gy, Hostile, Theebs, and others, then you come up with your own conclussions;