jday
Well-Known Member
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I'm ride or die no matter how far the 'Boys slide!
Who’s with me?
Need some convincing?
I'm going to let you borrow my eyes:
I recently turned 40. My filter for bull(explicit) is legendary-efficient at this point. Thoughts manufactured in brains other than mine and that of my immediate families do not effect me in anyway. I am the living embodiment of unbothered. And, by the way, that is particularly the case when conversating with people hiding behind their monitors. People will say some pretty crazy thing in the safety and comfort of online anonymity. I accept that and therefore expect that.
My fanship for the last 14 years has been pretty hardcore and dedicated. By that I mean, I sit and read/watch any and everything that has anything to do with our Dallas Cowboys 365 days of the year. There is also the other studying you have to do outside of Cowboys related content if you want to learn more about the game of football itself. And, finally, sometimes I'll just dial up some of the Cowboys past great games on YouTube, cast it to my 73", and turn up the volume (that makes it feel live).
That brings us to the press conferences and player interviews –
Over the years, I may have liked much of what the players accomplished on the field, but the moment they started talking I could not click on the stop button fast enough. That's an element of my aforementioned legendary filter that is extremely important; there is a habit you must form no matter how long it takes you: Turn off the noise, where optional!
Negativity is contagious. So, if you turn it off, it doesn't infect you. The local and national news, depressing/threatening/boasting/other negative lyrics in music, negative cinematic experiences and/or ardent expressions of stupidty/anger/racism (the most misdiagnosed word in the world presently)/hate/guy with a russian accent, as a general rule can actually have a tangible effect on how you view and thus react to your world. Much like you are what you eat, your thoughts are contrived by what you mentally consume. It really is that simple.
Despite my ravenous hunger for all things Cowboys, over the years I have learned to avoid the interviews of certain players. There are opinions I honestly don't need to know and where possible, I absolutely will avoid them. Not so with Cowboys version 2018.
I love these players! I won't say this of all 53 (there are a few knuckleheads), but for the most part I really enjoy watching and listening to what these young men have to say. Granted, I don't know their behind-the-scene lives and therefore it very well could be a case of a players being well-coached by their people (agent/publicist), but I honestly don't think so. I truly do believe many of these young players are genuinely good people.
Dak struggled this past Sunday, to say the least. I mentioned in a recent online conversation that I suspect his biggest issue was paralysis by over-analysis. Admittedly, the offensive line struggled. There may have been some rust given the starting offense's lack of time together in preseason. The Panthers do have a really good defense. Mistakes were made across the roster, but Dak missed several plays that could have been the difference in the game....point blank. No hiding from it.
But he has such outstanding character and a great attitude. His charisma is off the charts. And he clearly has next level self-awareness. Nevermind what he said to rile up the masses further perpetuated and instigated by the media, how he handled himself and was unphased by the backlash is the exact type of personality that the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys has to be...if you have followed the Cowboys for any length of time, you at the very least know that is a prerequisite in this town. Dak has IT!
Say what you will of Zeke...he probably deserves most of it. But you have to admit he has grown up really fast over the last year or so. We as a fanbase probably can thank Dak for being a good example in his life, but Zeke had to take the first step (you can lead a workhorse to water, but you can only make him drink if you are strong enough to hold is head under water for a good minute...).
Demarcus Lawrence is probably the best interview on the team, to say nothing of his production (which is another way of saying something about it). Well-spoken. Clearly intelligent. A good person...you sense it. And he will actually take time to provide in-depth insight into his method for breaking down Right Tackles.
Unlike most defensive lineman who specializes in a few pass rushing techniques, Demarcus Lawrence leaves no variation or counter unturned or unperfected. His game is football poetry. He wants to live in the offensive lineman’s head and he knows just how to subtly manipulate the player into being his puppet. You will learn something often when listening to him.
Kavon Frazier recently purchased my mom some Addidas and a nice sweater for a function with his charity, and took my family along with a few other mothers out to lunch at a nice restaurant. We even got to meet his mother. It was an amazing experience and one my family and I will cherish always. Kavon was extremely generous and gracious to my family. Ahem...to say nothing about the fact that he has really been showing up this year.
I'm not going to break down the entire offensive line, but suffice to say they are birds of a feather, they flock together, and most likely will be best friends forever. They are all very intelligent and hard working. Despite their exceptional talent, they simply have not played together as a unit long enough to be the best version of themselves yet. Continuity can take a lot of time...often times longer than one season.
I really could talk about every player at length, but I suspect much of it would be tales you are all too familiar with, so I'll spare you the slobber-fest.
It is hard to put into words, but there really is something special about this group of young men. And if the Cowboys can keep the nucleus of this team together for the next few years, that special may just manifest itself on the field.
If you follow me, the above missive is just a long-winded way of saying what has been a reoccurring theme with my contributions over the course of this past offseason: Learn to enjoy the journey, no matter the destination. It really is the only way to fly...because every other way ends in massive month-ruining disappointment more often than not. You owe it to yourself and your immediate family/people that live with you to adopt that approach.
Learn to let go of the things we cannot control - it is fine to discuss your opinion, mind you, but if you are allowing the whims of Jerry Jones (the "Last Word" on who coaches/ and plays for his Dallas Cowboys) to ruin your day, you should probably ask yourself, to what end? How does this enrich my life? Nothing I say is going to change it, so why bother and get myself all worked up for a whole lot of nothing?
Really...think about it!
Immediately following losses, I already know what is going to be on the blogosphere menu: an endless stream of emotional invectives and diatribe that no one need be exposed to…the radioactive rendering of pessimism. So, I am very selective about which titles I click on and look for the usual-suspect-buzzwords that tend to be the tip of the Beech&moanberg.
You will then notice as the week progresses, most step away from the ledge, the voice of reasons rise above the fray, and filmed-study equipped explanations will surface detailing why much of the perceived team-wide struggles, were in fact a simple case of one person not doing their job. All it takes is one lack of execution, and the whole thing looks sad and uncreative (wink).
So…with all of the above coloring the lens through which you view this game, I truly do hope you can learn to appreciate the players for who they are, how they collectively represent our Dallas Cowboys and how they work at earning the privilege of wearing the blue and white star.
The alternative is a waste of seconds on this earth you will never get back.
Thoughts?
Who’s with me?
Need some convincing?
I'm going to let you borrow my eyes:
I recently turned 40. My filter for bull(explicit) is legendary-efficient at this point. Thoughts manufactured in brains other than mine and that of my immediate families do not effect me in anyway. I am the living embodiment of unbothered. And, by the way, that is particularly the case when conversating with people hiding behind their monitors. People will say some pretty crazy thing in the safety and comfort of online anonymity. I accept that and therefore expect that.
My fanship for the last 14 years has been pretty hardcore and dedicated. By that I mean, I sit and read/watch any and everything that has anything to do with our Dallas Cowboys 365 days of the year. There is also the other studying you have to do outside of Cowboys related content if you want to learn more about the game of football itself. And, finally, sometimes I'll just dial up some of the Cowboys past great games on YouTube, cast it to my 73", and turn up the volume (that makes it feel live).
That brings us to the press conferences and player interviews –
Over the years, I may have liked much of what the players accomplished on the field, but the moment they started talking I could not click on the stop button fast enough. That's an element of my aforementioned legendary filter that is extremely important; there is a habit you must form no matter how long it takes you: Turn off the noise, where optional!
Negativity is contagious. So, if you turn it off, it doesn't infect you. The local and national news, depressing/threatening/boasting/other negative lyrics in music, negative cinematic experiences and/or ardent expressions of stupidty/anger/racism (the most misdiagnosed word in the world presently)/hate/guy with a russian accent, as a general rule can actually have a tangible effect on how you view and thus react to your world. Much like you are what you eat, your thoughts are contrived by what you mentally consume. It really is that simple.
Despite my ravenous hunger for all things Cowboys, over the years I have learned to avoid the interviews of certain players. There are opinions I honestly don't need to know and where possible, I absolutely will avoid them. Not so with Cowboys version 2018.
I love these players! I won't say this of all 53 (there are a few knuckleheads), but for the most part I really enjoy watching and listening to what these young men have to say. Granted, I don't know their behind-the-scene lives and therefore it very well could be a case of a players being well-coached by their people (agent/publicist), but I honestly don't think so. I truly do believe many of these young players are genuinely good people.
Dak struggled this past Sunday, to say the least. I mentioned in a recent online conversation that I suspect his biggest issue was paralysis by over-analysis. Admittedly, the offensive line struggled. There may have been some rust given the starting offense's lack of time together in preseason. The Panthers do have a really good defense. Mistakes were made across the roster, but Dak missed several plays that could have been the difference in the game....point blank. No hiding from it.
But he has such outstanding character and a great attitude. His charisma is off the charts. And he clearly has next level self-awareness. Nevermind what he said to rile up the masses further perpetuated and instigated by the media, how he handled himself and was unphased by the backlash is the exact type of personality that the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys has to be...if you have followed the Cowboys for any length of time, you at the very least know that is a prerequisite in this town. Dak has IT!
Say what you will of Zeke...he probably deserves most of it. But you have to admit he has grown up really fast over the last year or so. We as a fanbase probably can thank Dak for being a good example in his life, but Zeke had to take the first step (you can lead a workhorse to water, but you can only make him drink if you are strong enough to hold is head under water for a good minute...).
Demarcus Lawrence is probably the best interview on the team, to say nothing of his production (which is another way of saying something about it). Well-spoken. Clearly intelligent. A good person...you sense it. And he will actually take time to provide in-depth insight into his method for breaking down Right Tackles.
Unlike most defensive lineman who specializes in a few pass rushing techniques, Demarcus Lawrence leaves no variation or counter unturned or unperfected. His game is football poetry. He wants to live in the offensive lineman’s head and he knows just how to subtly manipulate the player into being his puppet. You will learn something often when listening to him.
Kavon Frazier recently purchased my mom some Addidas and a nice sweater for a function with his charity, and took my family along with a few other mothers out to lunch at a nice restaurant. We even got to meet his mother. It was an amazing experience and one my family and I will cherish always. Kavon was extremely generous and gracious to my family. Ahem...to say nothing about the fact that he has really been showing up this year.
I'm not going to break down the entire offensive line, but suffice to say they are birds of a feather, they flock together, and most likely will be best friends forever. They are all very intelligent and hard working. Despite their exceptional talent, they simply have not played together as a unit long enough to be the best version of themselves yet. Continuity can take a lot of time...often times longer than one season.
I really could talk about every player at length, but I suspect much of it would be tales you are all too familiar with, so I'll spare you the slobber-fest.
It is hard to put into words, but there really is something special about this group of young men. And if the Cowboys can keep the nucleus of this team together for the next few years, that special may just manifest itself on the field.
If you follow me, the above missive is just a long-winded way of saying what has been a reoccurring theme with my contributions over the course of this past offseason: Learn to enjoy the journey, no matter the destination. It really is the only way to fly...because every other way ends in massive month-ruining disappointment more often than not. You owe it to yourself and your immediate family/people that live with you to adopt that approach.
Learn to let go of the things we cannot control - it is fine to discuss your opinion, mind you, but if you are allowing the whims of Jerry Jones (the "Last Word" on who coaches/ and plays for his Dallas Cowboys) to ruin your day, you should probably ask yourself, to what end? How does this enrich my life? Nothing I say is going to change it, so why bother and get myself all worked up for a whole lot of nothing?
Really...think about it!
Immediately following losses, I already know what is going to be on the blogosphere menu: an endless stream of emotional invectives and diatribe that no one need be exposed to…the radioactive rendering of pessimism. So, I am very selective about which titles I click on and look for the usual-suspect-buzzwords that tend to be the tip of the Beech&moanberg.
You will then notice as the week progresses, most step away from the ledge, the voice of reasons rise above the fray, and filmed-study equipped explanations will surface detailing why much of the perceived team-wide struggles, were in fact a simple case of one person not doing their job. All it takes is one lack of execution, and the whole thing looks sad and uncreative (wink).
So…with all of the above coloring the lens through which you view this game, I truly do hope you can learn to appreciate the players for who they are, how they collectively represent our Dallas Cowboys and how they work at earning the privilege of wearing the blue and white star.
The alternative is a waste of seconds on this earth you will never get back.
Thoughts?
Last edited by a moderator:
