Dal 24, Ari 30 (OT): Not-so-special teams

Gut-wrenching may be too cliche. Disastrous seems little overblown. Heartbreaker is too Pat Benatar. But whatever you want to call the Cowboys overtime loss in Arizona on Sunday, chances are you can find traces of that negative emotion throughout the game.

No one played even remotely near the level at which this team needs to be to advance in January - and that's the name of the game. Every aspect of this game for Dallas was not without its faults.

Offensively, Tony Romo could not protect the ball when he faced pressure, fumbling three times. Marion Barber had a pedestrian day running the ball, and if you take away his big touchdown on the dump-off pass, it was a forgettable afternoon for MB3. As for Fast Felix? Three carries for 22 yards and a strained left hamstring. The offensive line played up to its name. It was offensive to watch as a Cowboys fan.

Defensively, things were better, but not by much. The boys up front kept pressure on the former MVP QB Kurt Warner, and the Cardinals could not run the ball against Dallas. The Cowboys took the ball away three times, winning the turnover battle, 3-1, which is usually good enough to win the football game. But when all else is even, the deciding factor can often come down to that third element of football: special teams.

The Cardinals dominated this aspect of the game from literally the games first play to its last. From the opening kickoff return for a touchdown to the game-ending touchdown off a blocked punt, the Cowboys missed assignments all afternoon. Nick Folk did hit a clutch 52-yard field goal to force overtime, which shows his resiliency after his 37-yard miss earlier. The missed field goal was Folk's first miss of 2008, and rarely does a kicker make 100% of his field goals in a season. I'm not here to call for special teams coach Bruce Read's head - there are plenty of other Cowboys fans doing that today - but I'm inclined to agree with Patrick Crayton's assessment that someone needs there a** chewed out.

game recap: Dallas 24, Arizona 30 (OT)

A few other thoughts:
+ I'm surprised it wasn't brought up more during the game, but I don't think the Adam 'Pacman' Jones hotel fight drama was a factor in this loss. Don't even bring it up. The cornerback did his part to make it a non-issue for Dallas. The Cowboys were in this game, and while their focus was lacking, I don't think that can be pinned on Pacman's off-the-field issues. Once the game kicks off, none of that matters.

+ When Nick Folk lined up for his field goal attempt for send the game into overtime, I along with every other Cowboys fan had a flashback to him drilling two 53-yard field goals to give the Cowboys a win in Buffalo last season. The guy is clutch. For all the years the Cowboys went with the bargain option at kicker, it's nice to see their investment of a draft pick so nicely rewarded.

+ Seeing Mat McBriar's punt blocked to end the game was bad, but seeing him stay down was equally as crushing for the Cowboys. McBriar is a Pro Bowl caliber punter, and in a game where field position is so vital, the Cowboys are far better off with him than without him. Considering how bad the coverage and returning and blocking of special teams was, the only bright spots are the two guys who kick for the Cowboys.

+ I'm sure a lot will be made of T.O.'s sideline scene with Andre Gurode after Romo lost a fumble, and perhaps T.O. could have handled things in a more diplomatic way, but in watching the play live and seeing the replays, what was Gurode paying attention to? The ball was right in front of the Cowboy center, and he flat out did not see it.

+ Speaking of guys not seeing things, how many times did Romo get hit from the blind side today? Usually big Flozell Adams has his back (no pun intended) and keeps pass rushers away. Today, the Cards sped past the Pro Bowl left tackle, and when they weren't stripping the ball or sacking Romo, they were forcing him to move in the pocket and disrupting his rhythm.

+ It's amazing to think that Kurt Warner is in a small group of NFL stars who have won two MVP awards. Those "Greatest Show on Turf" days seem like a while ago, but Warner continued to get up after getting knocked down time and time again. The Cardinals will go as far as Warner will take them in 2008. How far can they go? Well, right now their four wins equals the numbers of combined wins of the three other teams in their division.

+ When Romo had time to throw, he was spreading the ball around well. Barber, Crayton and Miles Austin finished with touchdown receptions in this game. While Owens was again limited in his production, his frustrations better result more from the loss than his role in the offense.

+ Next week's game will provide a true test of the Cowboys character. The Rams won an emotional game on the last play against the Redskins to give them their first victory of 2008. They can either revel in their win and allow Dallas to stomp them next week, or they can use this as motivation to play in front of a crowd in St. Louis that finally has a reason to show signs of life - hey, as long as the team is doing it. Dallas has a great opportunity to announce their presence with authority. Dallas should dominate the "Sacrificial Rams" in the Ed Jones Dome on Oct. 19, but it will take a complete game to do so. If they put that game together, they can put these recent three sloppy games behind them and move on with their season. Another win like the one against the Bengals or a result like Sunday, and the Cowboys will fade fast in the NFC East.

If the Cowboys think they faced a tough week from the media after a win against Cincinnati, it's not going to be any better following a loss to Arizona. Here's what else is being said after a disappointing loss...

Kevin Sherrington wants to know who the new guy is under center...

His right hand packed in ice afterward, Tony Romo hid the famous dimples behind a mask.

Nothing to smile about anyway, right?

Not after you lose a sloppy overtime game to the Cardinals, 30-24, in front of a schizoid crowd of 64,389, half Cards, half Cowboys, polar opposites forced by wayward allegiances to sit side by side, cheek to cheek.

And if that scene wasn't weird enough, you witnessed the Cowboys quarterback's continued retreat into a shell.

The numbers say he completed 61 percent of his passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-24 overtime loss to Arizona.

The body language? This is not the quarterback we thought we knew.

When he's feeling it, Romo wears his heart on his sleeve. He's an infectious presence on a team that has thrived on his enthusiasm. When he's happy, he chest bumps, he arm pumps, he bounces. A few times in his short, intense tenure, he's looked as if he might leap into an official's arms.

Question: Does that description sound anything like the Cowboys quarterback you've seen the last few weeks?

"Sporadic," is how Wade Phillips described Romo's play Sunday.

Jerry Jones said Romo "looks like a guy trying to compete and figure it out.

"The defense is throwing a lot at him."

The Cardinals' plan for the Cowboys sounds simple enough, of course, unless you're standing in the hot breath of it.

Still, for the most part, Arizona rushed four linemen as the rest of the defense dropped into coverage. As Romo bounced on the balls of his feet, looking for someone, anyone, to get open, the Cards' defensive front rapidly encircled him.

Result: They came at him from behind, where he's not feeling the pressure and consequently unable to squirt out of the rush's grasp, normally a strong point. They sacked him three times. Not only that, they blindsided him, forcing three official fumbles and one that didn't count because of a premature whistle.

Romo doesn't do a good job of protecting the ball as it is, and that was before he sprained a pinky in overtime. When he doesn't see the rush coming, he's particularly vulnerable.

And that's what he's looked like lately: a once-confident quarterback suddenly vulnerable.

Maybe he's thinking too much. Maybe he's worried what T.O. thinks.

Maybe he's overcompensating for turnovers. The most overblown stat of the season was his NFL-leading interception streak going into the Arizona game. Well, he didn't throw one Sunday. So much for that stat.

A sports culture primer on Romo: Like Don Meredith, a kindred spirit, he's the type of QB who's going to throw interceptions. He has to compensate by throwing touchdowns. For better or worse, he has to play like his idol, Brett Favre. Cut loose, let it rip, have a little fun.

Otherwise, he plays as if he's lost his confidence. And a QB with no confidence is lost.

For the record, Jerry doesn't believe in body language. He says he used to get critical letters about Troy Aikman's look, and he never paid them any mind.

But Aikman and Romo are two different kinds of quarterbacks. Aikman – stoic, aloof, cold-blooded – ran a highly efficient offense that needed his precision, not his personality.

These Cowboys make too many mistakes on offense to grind the ball down the field. They need big plays. They need big plays from their quarterback.

They need Tony Romo, the happy gunslinger who captured a fandom's hearts. Whoever this new guy is, it's not working out.

Mosley thinks the Cowboys are more lost in the desert than the Jews leaving Egypt...

For a few frantic moments Sunday, the Cowboys made you forget how pedestrian they've become. Marion Barber's mad dash to the end zone and a 52-yard field goal by Nick Folk at the end of regulation temporarily covered up another unimpressive effort.

But with one blocked punt return for a touchdown, the Cardinals delivered a jolt of reality. Arizona won the game 30-24, and any other result would've been a crime after watching the Cardinals dominate the second half.

The Cowboys probably should've turned the ball over four times in the first half, but they only had one. The aerial assault on what had been rumored to be an outmanned Cardinals secondary never materialized, and Tony Romo spent most of the day checking down to Barber.

Romo somehow always ends up with 300 yards and three touchdowns, but don't be fooled by those numbers -- or his 113.3 passer rating. He fumbled the ball three times, and was fortunate to lose only one. The only thing that prevented him from giving up a touchdown in the first half was the tuck rule, which makes less sense every time I see it called.

In fairness to Romo, his Pro Bowl-laden offensive line was dominated by the Cardinals' defensive line. Left tackle Flozell Adams offered little resistance as defensive ends Bertrand Berry and Antonio Smith raced past him. I've documented almost every Romo start since 2006, and I've never seen him take that much punishment. People want to ask where all the enthusiasm and child-like joy has gone. Well, getting hit in the mouth every other play isn't a particularly enjoyable experience.

Romo showed up to his news conference with a heavily bandaged right throwing hand. According to the Cowboys, he sprained his right pinky finger. And considering the punishment he took Sunday, he may have gotten off easy. Romo made an interesting statement when asked about the constant pressure he faced.

"I think there's a couple of things we've got to do to counteract ... one of our formations I think some of the teams are kind of getting a bead on," said Romo. "We'll rectify that this week and hopefully learn from it."

(Surely Romo's not suggesting that teams have figured out what the Cowboys' $3 million offensive coordinator is doing? After all, Jason Garrett was the hottest name in coaching last season.)

For a half, the Cowboys' defense returned the favor, hitting 37-year-old Kurt Warner almost every time he dropped back. The strategy of using press coverage on the Cardinals' dangerous wide receivers paid off, because it forced Warner to hold the ball longer than he wanted. Safety Ken Hamlin became the first defensive back to get an interception this season when Warner was slammed to the ground as he delivered a pass late in the first quarter.

The Cowboys opened the second half exactly as they did against the Redskins two weeks ago. Romo led the team on a 12-play, 77-yard touchdown drive that put the Cowboys up 14-7. But this team barely put the Bengals away the previous Sunday. On a play that a lot of people will forget about because of the wild finish, the Cardinals had a third-and-17 at their 33. Warner completed a short pass to rookie Tim Hightower in the left flat and he bulled his way down the sideline for 17 yards. It was an effort play that breathed life into the Cardinals' offense.

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Todd Haley, who has done a remarkable job playing to Warner's strengths this season, wanted to go after Adam "Pacman" Jones, and that's who Larry Fitzgerald beat on a two-yard touchdown pass to tie the score. Haley was the passing game coordinator in Dallas when Romo replaced Drew Bledsoe in 2006, and he has an intimate knowledge of the Cowboys' personnel.

After the game, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones insisted that Pacman's fistfight with his team-hired bodyguard earlier in the week didn't serve as a distraction. I approached the cornerback as he slipped on some sunglasses (it's always bright in the visiting locker room), but he said, "I ain't saying anything."

My gut's telling me that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will suspend Pacman for at least next Sunday's game against the upstart Rams, but I didn't mention that to Jerry. He was busy justifying Sunday's loss. Asked if this team had met expectations, Jones said, "Yes. Absolutely. I wouldn't have thought we'd be sitting here 6-0."

In fact, Jerry even made the point that some early losses might be the way to go. Perhaps the Cowboys breezed through the 2007 season without enough hardships. Maybe you need an occasional bathroom brawl and a loss to the Cardinals to keep you honest.

"This kind of disappointment might prepare us better for the playoffs," he said. "No one's gonna fall on their sword over this game."

Maybe not. But if they can't clean up this mess against the Rams on Sunday, I'd at least have a sword or two handy. And if the owner comes to Arizona and handles a loss so graciously, maybe it's time to lower our expectations for this team. I know I have. Honestly, it was sort of refreshing to hear wide receiver Patrick Crayton showing a little frustration.

"Maybe we need our a---- chewed out or something," Crayton said. "You never know. Sometimes that jump starts something. We need to step up and play ball."

Crayton went on to say that the team "bops around" during practice and that the Redskins loss should've been a wakeup call.

"We hit the snooze button," he said.

With all due respect to Wade Phillips, the rear-chewers now reside in South Florida. The Cowboys embraced Wade's touchy-feely approach, so it's interesting to hear a player yearn for discipline.

Maybe this team needed a dose of reality. I remember at least two players talking about how they wished they could flash forward to the playoffs. Based on Sunday's performance, that seems like wishful thinking.

Stay tuned as Tuesday will bring my report from the cheap seats at Dodger Stadium and Sunday's NLCS playoff.  I thought Raiders fans or Eagles fans were bad, but when it comes to baseball, the Dodger faithful can get pretty darn ruthless.

Ugly Sanchez: USC 28, ASU 0

No, I wasn't going to title this post what you're probably thinking would be funnier, but after sitting a row in front of an ASU fan who thought he was the first to refer to the USC quarterback as "dirty" roughly six times per minute, I've had enough of that.

The Trojans escaped with a win - and they won by 28. But looking at how the USC offense played, escaped is the right word. Sanchez threw three interceptions (one of them was the receiver's fault, but the other two were under-thrown) and fumbled once, giving ASU opportunities to get on the board. Sanchez was not stepping into his throws all day. In the game's opening drive, you may remember Sanchez hitting Ronald Johnson for a 34-yard completion to help set up the first Trojan touchdown. Sanchez had room to step up and make the throw, but instead he fired the ball of his back foot, and the under-thrown pass caused Johnson to stop his route to make the catch. Had Sanchez put the ball ahead of hi target, it would have been six points then and there.

So what's the big deal? USC (4-1) still took a 7-0 lead after the drive, right? Sure, but think of it this way. Late in the game, Arizona State backup quarterback Danny Sullivan threw a deep ball to a wide open receiver for a sure touchdown to put ASU on the board. Only problem: the throw was lobbed too high and not far enough ahead of the receiver. USC DB Taylor Mays closed on the receiver and broke up the play for an incompletion, a great defensive play that would not have been possible had Sullivan thrown a better ball. It's a play that could have broken up the shut out. If Sanchez is under-throwing these passes, if going to give opposing defensive better chances to make plays against the Trojans. The two INTs that were his fault were under-thrown. I don't recall seeing too many incompletion over-thrown. Hopefully for the Men of Troy, his knee isn't the reason, and he'll be able to correct this problem as USC moves forward.

Enough nit-picking. Onto the good of a 28-0 victory...

+ Yes, it was against ASU (2-4), who hasn't looked good very often this season (their two wins came against Northern Illinois and Stanford). At the same time, USC's defense not only blanked ASU's offense, but the Trojans blocked *two* field goals. Two. What the heck is happening to your offensive line on the field goal unit when you give up two blocked field goals? Well, apparently USC's front men are making a case to be named "Wild Bunch III." Granted, that's still a ways away.

+ Joe McKnight posted a career high 143 yards in his sophomore season. Looking back to Reggie Bush's career at USC, it wasn't until his sophomore season that he really flourished. McKnight has struggled at times this season (7 carries, 10 yds at Oregon State), but his explosiveness gives the SC offense something to keep linebackers on their heels. With so many different rushing options, it really just depends who is "the guy" on a given day. CJ Gable, Staffon Johnson and McKnight need to work together the way Reggie Bush and LenDale White did - that seemed to work out for USC.

+ Back to the defense. Kevin Thomas's 46 yard INT return for a touchdown was sweet. It not only put USC up a comfortable 21-0, but it provided a big defensive play that the Trojan defense hasn't really had a lot of this season. SC almost had another INT returned for six points on the game's final play when T.J. Bryant intercepted Sullivan. How greedy are USC football fans? They were upset he didn't get the score to give USC a 35-0 win. Aw shucks.

+ Okay, so I was a little disappointed Bryant didn't score. Maybe next time.

+ Kudos to Coach Carroll for going for the kill early against ASU. On 4th and 4 from the ASU 9, the Trojans lined up for a field goal. Holder Garrett Green took the snap and ran left, faked a pitch to the kicker, and tried to hit the hole. While the Sun Devils defense stopped the play one yard shy of the first down, fans at the Coliseum applauded Carroll's fake field goal attempt. They don't call him "Big Balls Pete" for nothing.

+ Rudy Carpenter getting knocked out of the game was a big loss for the Sun Devils. They weren't going to be USC with or without him, but Carpenter has played solid during his time at Arizona State. By the way, the best sign I saw the stands:

ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

So broken a Carpenter can't fix it!

+ Really? Two blocked field goals? Damn.

+  Next up for USC, two road games against Washington State and Arizona.  Two games they can win by bigger margins than they did against ASU.  Neither game will provide the type of trap-game potential that Oregon State brought.  USC must use these games to correct the problems in the passing game.  Perhaps Sanchez just needs time to recover from his knee getting banged up in the Oregon game.  If the Trojans want to get back into the title hunt (and thanks to the shake ups in the Top 10 this week, they have a chance), their offense must be crisper than we saw this week.

Pacman: One headline away

Not sure what to think about the Adam "Pacman" Jones situation that's been unfolding all afternoon. After hearing more about the incident, we need to hear more about the incident before jumping to a "suspend him indefinitely" conclusion. Maybe that will be the answer. Maybe it was really some "jiving around" between friends as Jerry Jones made it out to be.

Whatever the case, the fact that it is an issue is upsetting. Jerry Jones took a gamble on Adam Jones, just as he did with Terrell Owens and Terry "Tank" Johnson, and while the Owens and Johnson have both shown tremendous signs of maturation during their tenure as Cowboys, Adam Jones has now put himself within one more headline of completing his NFL Career.

I'm not trying to convict nor acquit the cornerback. I'm simply hoping that NFL Commish Roger Goodell doesn't make a snap-judgment one way or the other. He has launched an investigation into what really happened, but if Jerry Jones is correct in saying that the altercation was witnessed by only Adam Jones, his body guard, his uncle and his significant other, I'm not sure what Goodell expects to find.

Property was damaged at a Dallas hotel in the incident, but more damaging than even Adam "Pacman" Jones's already fragile reputation was the perception of Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips getting beaten up by the media. Phillips is a good coach. I think he's the right for this team right now. The Cowboys are capable of winning a Super Bowl under Phillips. But his performance during his press conference regarding the Adam Jones situation embarrassed me as a Cowboys fan.

Wade came into his press conference wanting to not talk about the situation, but rather than setting the tone of "I'm not taking questions about this," he tried to stiff arm the media by playing dumb. He made the point that Jerry Jones would be on later to talk about things, but then he kept trying to deflect questions. Mickey Spagnola told Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket's Hardline that Phillips really wants to coach football and wants to allow Jerry Jones to handle these types of situations. But by not setting that tone immediately, he allowed the media to run him over. Spagnola says Phillips is too nice in that he won't tell the media he's not talking about a topic, so in trying to not answer questions, he seemed weak.

For the Cowboys, they now can only hope 1. Commissioner Goodell doesn't find a reason within this to end Adam Jones's career, 2. they can refocus for Sunday's game and the rest of the season, and 3. Adam Jones's avoids any other potential problem situations. If he ends up in the middle of another situation, this current predicament has burned up any room for error he had. One more incident, one more headline, and his playing days are done.

++++++++++++++++++++

UPDATE:
The police report had the time of the incident wrong. That does put the rest of the report's credibility in doubt - just like Adam Jones's future in the NFL.

911 phone call

Police Report

Postpone Cowboys judgement til January

The NFL is not - thank the lord - the BCS.  Regardless of a teams performance in any singular week, every team has an opportunity to play for the Lombardi Trophy the first Sunday in February.  So despite the Dallas Cowboys' 31-22 win over the Cincinnati Bengals raising more questions than it answered, if Wade Phillips' crew wants to bring Dallas a sixth Super Bowl win, they should focus on themselves and quit reacting to every fire fanned by reporters, talk shows and fanatics.

Things are much better for the NFL when the Cowboys are good (ask the NBA if they enjoyed a Lakers-Celtics Finals), and with that comes more intense scrutiny on the organization.  There are calls that the team needs a reality check or a visible coaching blow up to somehow whip this team into shape.

Instead, the Cowboys need to come together inside their own locker room and not worry about the external distractions. They will be probed at by the local and national media because they will forever play in the shadow of the "America's Team" heroes of the past. Names like Landry, Lilly, Staubach, Wright, Renfro, Dorsett, Johnson, Aikman, Emmitt, Irvin and Sanders cast long shadows over the current crop of Cowboys. And while the 2008 Cowboys aren't looking for the BCS-required style points in their victories, the rest of the nation is.

There will be no vote on who goes to the Super Bowl in February. Had that been the case, Dallas would have faced New England last year. They were clear-cut favorites who extended a franchise-worst playoff drought. Now they must take on an us-against-the-world mentality. In recent memory, the most blatant example of a team responding to criticism to perceived mediocrity can be traced to the 2000 New York Giants and Jim Fassel's guarantee. While that team did not have the expectations nor the potential of the Cowboys - not to mention a 4-1 record - they did rally together to win seventh straight games and advance to the Super Bowl thanks to a 41-0 thumping of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game.

"This is a poker game. I'm shoving my chips to the middle of the table. I'm raising the ante.''

Then Fassel made the boldest guarantee of his tenure with the Giants: ''This team is going to the playoffs. This team's going to the playoffs. I'm going to define where we're going. I'm not afraid to say one thing: we're going to the playoffs.''

The fairy tale ended for the Giants with a loss in Super Bowl XXXV.

Is it possible for the Cowboys to make a similar stand? And if so, would Wade Phillips be the coach to push all the chips in?

As Cowboys fans would love to see Dallas make such a stand, they aren't in the position to do so. In 2007, the team went 13-3 before losing the franchise's sixth straight playoff game. The Giants missed the playoffs the year before their Super Bowl run. Dallas is a preseason favorite to go to the Super Bowl in the NFC. In 2000, the Rams and the "Greatest Show on Turf" ranked ahead of the Giants. So while the situation is not the exact same, the ideals and more importantly the results must be considered.

Dallas is a team with a coach under tremendous pressure and a quarterback who many still doubt. Furthermore, this team's track record in the final month of the regular season over the past five seasons dating back to the team's first playoff appearance under Bill Parcells.

Record in games played after Thanksgiving (including playoffs)
2007: 3-3*
2006: 2-4*
2005: 2-3
2004: 2-3
2003: 2-3*
*includes playoff loss

When you consider that the Cowboys have suffered late-season toe-stubs under a dictator coach like Parcells as well as the "Stay Puft" Phillips, perhaps a irrational coaching change is not the solution. Perhaps second-guessing touches is not the solution. Perhaps the Cowboys should be judged not after a Week 5 win - albeit messy - but instead they should be judged based on their performance in December and January.

Whether they go 13-3 again or 12-4 or 11-5 or even 15-1, none of it will matter if they don't win a playoff game. The Giants once again proved last year that you can be a 10-6 wild card team and win three road games before winning the Super Bowl (see 2005 Steelers). So regardless of Dallas wins the NFC East (which they should) or wins in December (which they need to), their entire 2008 body of work will be judged solely based on their results in January.

Trojans Troubles? Sanchez start in doubt for ASU game

LOS ANGELES -- Danny Sullivan vs. Mitch Mustain? That might be the quarterback matchup Saturday when Arizona State faces Southern California at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Backups Sullivan and Mustain have thrown a combined total of only 17 passes for their respective teams this season, but injuries to starters Rudy Carpenter and Mark Sanchez have put their status in doubt. (more)

Did I upset Los Angeles?

It seems fans in Los Angeles both agree and disagree with my position that LA is a fair-weather sports city.  I guess that in keeping with my theory that LA sports fans really only care about the "hot topic," in making them the "hot topic," they are all coming out of the woodwork.  Good.  It's good to see them at least defend their name.

I'm not saying that Los Angeles is a bad sports city.  On the contrary, I think that this market is tremendous because of just how many teams call the LA-area home.  I'm excited at the prospect of getting the chance to see the Mavericks and Stars multiple times this season because of just how many trips they will be making to Southern California (10 total).

Los Angeles is a great sports town, but don't be afraid to stand your ground and say, "No! The other team here is not my team."  With two baseball, hockey and basketball teams, I recognize the argument that it's easy to drift back and forth which is why I bring up the fact that this doesn't seem to be the case in other markets with the same dilemma.

Kudos to the LA sports fans for speaking up.

dancingchef: ... While ESPN was conducting its Titletown competition, and the candidacy of Los Angeles was being discussed, the fair-weatherness of the fan base arose as the number one reason why LA, despite its rich sports history, should NOT be Titletown. A local talk show took up the issue and had an interesting theory.

When you live in an area that has multiple sports, recreational, and cultural offerings, it is easy to move from being interested in one place or activity to being interested in another. The same goes for sports teams. There are so many in LA that it's easy to jump from one to the other, and if ALL of them are bad, you can simply go to the beach.

Consequently, fans in most other locales don't have such options at their disposal, so reveling in the euphoria of winning as well as sulking in the devastation of defeat comes much easier to fans in Chicago, New York, Boston, and the like.

So can you blame Los Angeles sports fans for being such blatant front runners? By this argument, maybe not. They can't help that they were born into a landscape with so many outlets for their time, sports or otherwise.

But you can say they don't know what it means to be a true sports fan.

Could not agree with you more.  Multiple options means less energy and emotions devoted to each.

jessica: ... You must have been born here, raised here, and cultured here to fully understand why people in L.A. act the way they do. It seems that you haven't been out here in L.A. long enough to justify your comment on how "sports fans follow in the footsteps of entertainment junkies". That's not how the way things works out here. How would you know what Major League Baseball fans are like? The only thing you have out there are the Triple-A Rangers out in Arlington. ...

While it's true the pro baseball team I follow closest is the Rangers, the one thing I admired about the Angels was the passion that their fans have for their team. Sadly, as soon as they lose, there seems to be an overwhelming "it's okay" attitude because "we can now all go root for the Dodgers." 

I'm well aware of the Rangers shortcomings (again), but for Angels fans to so blatantly abandon their team to hope on the Dodgers bandwagon disturbs me the most. I only wish I could support a team that would disappoint me in the way Angels fans feel disappointed.

mannybeingmanny: Most people in LA are DODGER fans. The angels are a nice bonus. ... I'm a fan of both teams but if given the choice I would take a Dodger World Series title any day of the week. Angel fans suck anyway. They are OC people who watch a game to chill and not to root on the team. Dodger fans are loud and obnoxious, just like fans should be.

You want to talk Bandwagon look no farther than your precious Dallas Cowboys. Sure right now there are Jerseys and hats and everyone drinkin the Cowboy kool-aid. But where were the Quincy Carter jerseys? Where is the loyalty? Cowboy fans and Patriot fans should hang out because they only announce they are a fan of their team when they are winning. You go to Denver when the Broncos are good, the town supports them, when they suck, the town supports them, when our QB gets diabetes, the town supports them. Cowboy fans are bandwagon wannabes who talk big now. But wait until Romo and Jessica Simpson get married, TO has a blowup, and Pac-man shoots someone else. Then the jersey's will go away and the support will be gone until Jerry Jones decides to try and buy another Super Bowl.

I guess it's my turn to get defensive.

The Dallas Cowboys, as the most prominent and arguably successful franchise in the NFL, naturally attract greater attention than other teams. They are to the NFL what the Yankees are to baseball, the Celtics are to basketball, and the Red Wings are to hockey. As a result, they are not only put under a greater spotlight but also attract more fans. For those same reasons, they also have many detractors - think New York Yankees as the "bad guys" playing the Red Sox in the 2003 and 2004 ALCS.

But to suggest that the city of Dallas has been any less focused on the Cowboys is ridiculous. Feel free to accuse the city of Dallas of being apathetic to the Mavericks, Stars or Rangers (guilty on all counts), but to suggest the Cowboys aren't the focal point of the Dallas sports scene is to suggest that people subscribe to Hustler for the articles.

Just how wide-ranging is Dallas Cowboys fandom? It's scared the Cardinals so bad that I'm having a hard time finding a ticket to this weekend's game in Glendale.

Finally, I'd love to know when exactly did Jerry Jones buy a Super Bowl title? The Cowboys won three titles thanks to astute drafting and savvy trading (just ask Minnesota). Jones has not shied away from the big free agent signing (T.O., Tank Johnson, Adam Jones, Deion Sanders, Leonard Davis), but he knows the value of good drafting when it comes to winning a Super Bowl. Just look at last year's champion New York Giants. Seemingly every 2007 Giants draft pick made significant contributions en route to the championship.

A few of the comments from my facebook page:

FA: all i care is for local success. i'm not defending myself, but just explaining myself. again, l.a. folks being l.a. folks.

DF: For the record, I've been saying this since I started going to school at SC. Just watch, as soon as UCLA gets good half the SC bandwagon is going to defect...that's just the sports culture in LA.

EH: I am not one of these people...NEVER had a rally monkey, and never will. Always been a Dodger fan...and I am happy to have the Angel fans on board with us now!!!

LA: Case in point...if Kobe ever left the Lakers, all their fans would defect and become Clipper fans...cause then the Clippers would be better...everyone knows it...but no one will admit it... The only worse fans might be Boston...they're annoying, but atleast they're loyal...no real loyalty in LA...it's like Hollywood, they love who's good at the time...

Something I saw on Dodgers Thoughts and also stumbled across this season working with the Long Beach Armada...  Great video.  And if you wanna catch Steve Yeager these days, he's managing the Long Beach Armada Professional Baseball Team.

Dodgers - We Are The Champions
by meechone

Lose the Halo and Think Blue

Summer has faded into fall in Los Angeles. The leaves are changing color. The days are shorter. The temperature is cooler outside.

When people talk about how the weather in Southern California is always perfect, it strikes an uncanny similarity to the fair-weathered nature of Los Angeles sports fans. And after the Red Sox eliminated the 100-win Angels in Game 4 of the ALDS, the stormy weather hovering over Anaheim was ignored as the clouds parted and sun shined down on Chavez Ravine.

**Now arriving on track 3, the Dodgers bandwagon**

The transition would stun fans in New York or Chicago, markets that serve as homes for multiple teams. Fans who had erupted for Torii Hunter's game-tying 2-RBI single and cursed a failed squeeze play were seen immediately brushing off the loss with a "Think Blue" attitude. Men at the bar tried to justify their flip flop like a politician in an election year.

"Let the record show, I've always really been a Dodgers fan."

"I was for them before I was against them!"

"As long as one of them is moving on, that's all that matters."

That's all that matters? Prior to the Rays knocking the White Sox from the playoffs, I wonder if Cubs fans coping with their latest playoff debacle with the oh so comforting idea of "at least the White Sox are still alive." Doubtful. When the New York Yankees met the New York Mets in the 2000 World Series, the city divided. Thoughts of "at least one of the New York teams will win it all" were outlawed by the state's supreme court.

But not in Los Angeles. On the West Coast, sports fans follow in the footsteps of entertainment junkies. It's more about who is "in" at the moment. Which star is on the cover of the most recent tabloids? Which celebrity is currently attracting the flashbulbs? Instead of Southern Californians thinking "who is my favorite star?" they rely on the buzz of the entertainment world to tell them "This is the hottest star." If Lindsay Lohan is going into rehab, Britney shaving her head is passe. That same mindset translates into how the locals follow sports.

As the Angels piled up wins en route to the best record in baseball in 2008, the Dodgers limped along with fewer wins and less attention. The Dodgers won 84 games in Joe Torre's first season as manager, but it wasn't until the Angels had all but clinched the AL West and Manny was traded to the Dodgers that the spotlight in LA shifted.

In this town, that spotlight represents the focus and attention of all the fans. But just as twisting glowing beams of light twirl above the latest movie premier in Hollywood, so too do the loyalties of Los Angeles sports fans twist and twirl to focus on whichever team currently headlines Entertainment Ton- I mean, Sportscenter. Right now, it's the Dodgers.

Just as the Dodgers now prepare for the Phillies, plenty of Angelinos scramble to hide their rally monkeys and dig out their blue shirts. In a two-team market, there will be no dwelling on the Angels elimination. The attention of the fans, the media, everyone will shift north up I-5. Better use the carpool lane - they'll be a lot of Angels fans also getting on the freeway.

VOW: Irvin's HOF speech

The man that used to light a fire under fellow Cowboys players gave one of the most impassioned speeches when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Look up, get up, and don't ever give up.



Past VOW

Woody Dantzler's TD return

Stars '08 Playoff Run

Romo "singing" at Wrigley

1999 Stars Playoff Run

Mavericks Memories

Cowboys/Bills MNF

Dal 31, Cin 22: Fast Felix

Week 1: Felix Jones, in his first professional football game, takes his first career carry into the end zone.
Week 2: Felix Jones takes a kick-return 98 yards for a touchdown.
Week 3: Felix Jones bounces left outside the tackle, jukes a DB, and sprints 60 yards for a Cowboys score.

After the week 4 loss in which the Cowboys defense surrendered 26 points to Washington, the focus was on the offense (which did score 24) and the distribution of the ball. Is TO nuts for wanting more touches? Why didn't Marion Barber get the ball more? Why didn't Felix Jones get the ball at all?

That third question should be the focal point. Case & point: Sunday's 33-yard TD run by Felix Jones on his first carry of the game.

One week after dark clouds hovered over Valley Ranch, all is once again right with the Cowboys. A 31-22 triumph over the winless Bengals highlighted once again a rookie who is proving his owner, GM and fellow-Razorback to be a prophet. Jerry Jones wanted Felix Jones with a star on his helmet. Some wondered if the Cowboys should have gone with Rashard Mendenhall, a starter at Illinois, instead of Jones, who backed up Darren McFadden at Arkansas.

If there were any doubters of Felix Jones after the first three weeks, there can't be many more of them after Week 5. Now the Cowboys have a bigger question to answer.

What is the most effective way to utilize the two dynamic running backs in Dallas?


Last season, Marion Barber received all the praise and glory of being the "closer," the bruising back who came in for the second and fourth quarters to wear down opposing defenses. Was it because Barber was just better than last year's regular season starting RB Julius Jones, or was it the system?

I'd argue that while Barber is arguably the most punishing back in the NFL today, the two-back system, specifically the way it was organized, allowed Barber to flourish in 2007 (975 yards, 10 TD). When Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett and the Cowboys inserted Barber into the starting lineup for the playoff game against the Giants back in January, not only did Julius Jones become a mere footnote - 3 carries, 8 yards - but Barber's effectiveness decreased drastically as the game continued.

NYG @ DAL - Jan 13, 2008
NFC Divisional Playoff Round
Marion Barber
27 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD
Second Half
11 carries, 28 yards
Fourth Quarter
4 carries, 4 yards

Barber not only became less effective, but he became easier to tackle. When the game ended, the Pro Bowl back seemed overworked and overexposed.

Fast forward to today, 2008. In keeping up with the Jones, Jerry let Julius go to make room for Felix. And Felix has been making room for himself to run ever since, putting Cowboys coaches in the dilemma they find themselves in now. Again:

What is the most effective way to utilize the two dynamic running backs in Dallas?


The solution is to mimmic the 2007 system but alter it slightly. Last year, Julius Jones started, but everyone knew his carries were nothing more than warm-up runs for the O-line and the running game. He was a necessary part of the game in order to properly set the table for the different style of running Barber would exhibit. Barber would be the one to close out games, using his punishing style in the fourth quarter to secure leads for Dallas.

Rather than making Barber the running back, the Cowboys should allow the pendulum to shift back toward the two-back system it used in 2006 and 2007. Don't be fooled into thinking they are there just yet. In the Cowboys game versus the Bengals, Jones' 9 carries pale in comparison to Barber's 23.

With Felix Jones continuing to prove himself, and continuing to master the playbook - which is a big part of it for rookies - Garrett is making sure to get him the ball. Maybe Sunday's play-calling for Jones was compensation for his 0 carries, 0 receptions last week. Maybe it's because the offensive coaches now feel comfortable utilizing the rookie runner more. Whatever the reason, the end result will be great. Jones finished with 9 carries, 96 yards (10.7 yards per carry) and a touchdown.

So as the Cowboys continue a 2008 campaign to break a playoff drought that dates back to 1996, the running game needs to continue to shift the workload to more equally distribute the ball between Barber and Jones. Barber should start the games. He's not only earned that with two Pro Bowl seasons, but his running attitude of "I'd rather run over you than around you" makes for a very aggressive way for the Cowboys offense to introduce itself to opposing defenders, and it nicely compliments the finesse passing game of Romo-to-Owens. Barber can handle the majority of the work in the first quarter before making way for Jones to change things up with his blazing speed. Jones can get the bulk of the carries in the middle of the game, with Barber to be used sparingly (blocking on passing downs). When the fourth quarter rolls around, Barber can resume the "closer" role he so brilliantly filled in 2006 and 2007.

If the Cowboys don't change the way they operate the running game, it won't be catastrophic, but it will leave potential unfulfilled, which has been a sad theme of this franchise the past few seasons. It'd be a shame to set that standard before the playoffs arrive.

Sanchez shouldn't have been pulled

Things started slow at the Coliseum for USC, but as a friend of mine so eloquently posted on his facebook account:

quack quack quack *gunshots* *silence*

After a quiet 20 minutes to open the Trojans first game since losing to Oregon State last Thursday, USC sprang to life. The running game never really hit full stride, and the Trojans relied on the arm of Mark Sanchez for a 44-10 Duck Demolition. However, it was the arm of Sanchez that concerns the Trojan faithful this morning.

It's his leg.

With under four minutes to play in the 3rd quarter, USC leading 34-10, Sanchez got yanked down from behind - not quite a horsecollar as some 'SC fans were shouting at the Coliseum, but a dangerous hit on a quarterback nevertheless - apparently hyper-extending his knee and briefly knocking him out of the game. While the USC starting QB only missed on series (in which his backup Mitch Mustain threw an interception), fans around me in the Coliseum began grumbling about Pete Carroll leaving Sanchez in the game during a blowout.

For all those Monday Morning Quarterbacks out there who want to second-guess Carroll's decision to have Sanchez in the game at the point he got injured, let's look at the facts.

+ The Trojans lead by 24 points (minimum three scores) with more than 18 minutes to play in the game.

+ The Trojans been up on teams before by three scores during the Pete Carroll era and have allowed teams to come back late, thus creating a need to keep the pressure on the opponent. (video)

+ Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and John David Booty seemingly always finished the third quarter and would routinely play into the fourth quarter before being lifted for the backup.

While it's easy to get upset about seeing a QB with so much talent go down in a heap, it's even easier to let that anger take you to a place of sports-irrationality. Taking Sanchez out anytime before that point would have been the wrong decision.

USC is in a position where they need what can only be described as style points. They have to win and win big after dropping a game to Oregon State. The Top 10 becomes easy to reach as the season moves along, however the top two spots are the ones that take something extra. The Trojans must win by large margins as they have in all three Ws this season to impress voters, writers, coaches all across the country. That is the biggest outside factor on their season. The only way to control how people vote is to give them a reason - a 44-10 victory over a ranked team reason - to bump the Trojans up.

While Sanchez sat out a series before returning to lead USC on one more drive, that swan song was really more for the Trojans to show the world - if not at least themselves - that Sanchez was indeed okay (however, his limping after handing the ball off suggests otherwise).

He'll have the week to recover and should be fine next week versus the Sun Devils. But don't fault Carroll or the Trojans coaches for leaving him in when it's still the third quarter. After all, it's the 2008 season that the Trojans must look out for.

Rodgers must play

Regardless of how Aaron Rodgers truly feels about following Brett Favre as the starting quarterback in Green Bay, it must resonate in the back of his mind that he is not "allowed" to miss a game. Favre, who started 253 straight games for the Packers and is now continuing his streak with the Jets, is still casting a shadow over the quarterback position of that franchise. Very rarely does someone fill in for a legend and immediately succeed. Steve Young is one example, taking over for Joe Montana after he'd won four Super Bowls.

Rodgers will reportedly start today, making his fifth straight start, despite a sprained shoulder.

Rodgers, who said on Friday he was determined to play, also has said he doesn't face any extra pressure to push himself because of the ironman consecutive-starts streak put together by his predecessor, Brett Favre.

"Listen, I want to play every game," Rodgers said Friday. "I don't need that, 'Oh, you've got to play because Brett played 250 in a row.' I don't need that. I have pride in myself. I've played with some serious injuries before, so that's personal pride. I don't need any extra fuel to play."

Armageddon?

It's amazing how quickly a sky-is-falling mentality can set in when following sports. This is especially true in football, when a team's merits are judged one week at a time. Baseball, basketball, hockey can all look at a loss as one game out of an 82 or 162 game schedule. What is one game? (Thus when baseball comes down to having to play a 163 game to break a tie, it's truly a feat worth enjoying) But football, one game is 6% of your season as opposed to basketball/hockey (1.2%) or especially baseball (0.6%). If an NFL team loses one game, it's the equivalent of an MLB team dropping 10.

So after an unsettling week of football (Redskins d. Cowboys), it's amazing to see the city of Dallas is not in ruins. That's the impression I've gotten. Watching the national media, browsing the local papers, etc - it's almost as if panic has set in at Valley Ranch. The only ones who aren't all up in a frenzy are probably the Cowboys themselves. No, it's never good to lose at home to your rival, however it's not something that is going to derail a championship-caliber team. I think it's far more significant to see how a team reacts the game following a loss as opposed to judging the loss itself.

And with that, the Cowboys get there chance for redemption as the 0-4 Bengals make a trip to Texas Stadium. Look for the Cowboys to bounce back despite what has turned into a week of second-guessing, overblown-complaining, and simple overreaction. Now if Dallas loses to Cinci, that's another story.

As for another team that is in a similar situation following a game they should have won...

It's time for USC to prove that last Thursday's debacle in Corvallis, Oregon, was simply an annual hiccup as opposed to the fall of Troy. It was the "Upset of the Year" so far in college football. The Beavers had a chance to prove they are once again a legit team a la 2006, but the Beavers loss to Utah now makes the Trojans loss somewhat hollow. Had Oregon State beaten the No. 15 Utes, they could have possibly cracked the Top 25. Instead, the Trojans lost to a team that remains unranked.  

A win against the Oregon Ducks - who are much tougher to play at the that crammed duck pond of a stadium - would provide the Trojans with nothing more than the expected pat-on-the-back from the national media and sports pundits who all project the Trojans to win their record-extending seventh straight Pacific-10 title. USC lost to at Oregon last season, so this match up will be looked at as a revenge game.

USC and Dallas must both block out all of the "end of the world" talk surround each team. For the Cowboys, they've given up ground in a tightly-contested NFC East, currently ranking third (technically, they're tied for 2nd with the 'Skins, but Washington now has a win in the head-to-head). The Trojans started off conference play with a loss for the first time in who knows how long. Shouldn't be an issue. Last season, they allowed a few loses to cost them the inside track to the Pac-10 title. Loses by Cal and Oregon here and there ended up putting the Trojans right back atop the conference and back into a BCS bowl.

So whichever team you are following this season, don't get too caught up in the Armageddon-talk you might be hearing. Give it a few weeks, and then we can send out the space ship in a last-ditch attempt.

I want what the Angels have

If the brain trust that runs the Texas Rangers - Tom Hicks, Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels - wants to learn what the goal of their efforts should be, they should look no further than Anaheim, Calif.

I've been to a few Angels games - mostly when they play Texas - late this season, and I couldn't help but think "I want that!" I want what the Angels have. A successful team, a packed stadium, a fan base that cares and has a reason to care.

Last night I decided to head down to Angels Stadium to see if I could get a ticket to Game 1 against Boston (much thanks to the scalper who got me a ticket for a good price). I'd never been to an MLB playoff game before (didn't make it out to any of those Rangers-Yankees series in the late 90s, and the Rangers didn't last long enough to really give me much of a chance). The experience of cramming into seats surrounded by a sellout crowd of baseball fans (not fans waiting for football season) who knew all about the team, who cared all about the team, was not only refreshing, but it was near-foreign.

The scoreboard sign would light up with the monosyllabic command, "NOISE!" and fans would start screaming. It didn't matter the situation or lack there of. When "NOISE!" displayed, the stadium came alive. You don't see that at Rangers games. The response in Arlington would most likely resemble Oh look honey, it says "NOISE" on the scoreboard. That's nice.

By the way, the videos of the Rally Monkey showing up in random movies: amazing! If you haven't seen these spoofs (Jaws, Poltergeist) , they are on par with some of the videos on the screen at Mavs games (Avery Bunch, Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be Spurs fans, cavemen dispute). Last night, the Rally Monkey appeared in the movie Shrek when the sundown caused the princess to transform from a beautiful woman into the Rally Monkey (instead of an ogre). He also showed up in Ferris Buller's Day Off.

I asked some of the Angels fans around me what they generally thought of the Rangers, and there answer was an overwhelming: we don't.

I don't even know what to think of the Rangers. It's nice to hear that Hicks realized the Danks trade was terrible, but I don't doubt something similar will happen again. Cowlishaw summed things up with a great column about how the Rangers fans had suffered. The future looks promising with the Rangers with guys like Hamilton, Young and Blalock to support a younger cast of characters like Chris Davis and company. But hasn't that been the case with this franchise for years? The future was bright when Young, Blalock and Teixeira were all here back in 2004, and I couldn't help but think how this would soon be a playoff team.

Whether Ron Washington is the man for the job or not, I don't know. But I do know the Rangers have meandered through the past nine seasons with each offseason leading us to believe that it'll only be a couple of years before things get turned around. And each year, it doesn't happen.

As a result, the team continues to struggle. Once again as the Rangers enter this offseason, I find myself rationalizing in my mind how this second place finish is a sign of things to come - and I hope there's merit to that. Yet until this team turns around on the field, Rangers Ballpark will struggle to reach capacity, and fans will struggle to care.

But hey, at least I know I can get a cheap ticket to see playoff baseball just down the road. Too bad I don't really care for either team.

As Major League Baseball continues into October, once again the Rangers season is over. A few other thoughts I had on the 2008 Rangers season...

Terrell Owens: offensive MVP

In reading a friend's sports blog, I saw a post about the immaturity of Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens.  It's been reported that T.O. was unhappy with his involvement in the offense this week during Dallas' 26-24 loss to Washington.  If there is a positive to this, it's perhaps that the focus is not on the Cowboys actual weakness - the defense - which is the cause for the loss, not the over-targeting of the prolific wideout.  Anyway, here's what he wrote followed by my response:

Over the past couple seasons, Terrell Owens has been surprisingly well-behaved in Dallas...aside from the whole "that's my quarterback" ordeal, and that suicide thing.

...

OK, he has been MODERATELY well-behaved, for T.O. standards at least.

But just like in Philly, as soon as the going got tough Owens started bitching. This is his quote after Dallas' 26-24 loss to the Skins:

"Everybody recognized that I wasn't really getting the ball in the first half," Owens said. "I'm pretty sure everybody watching the game recognized it, people in the stands recognized it, I think my team recognized it. I didn't quit. I kept fighting and trying to running my routes and trying to get open."

What's interesting is the fact that according to Brian Davis, Owens was targeted in 18 out of the Cowboys 58 offensive plays. Hell, he even got two carries on a couple end-arounds, which was just six fewer than the Cowboys running back Marion Barber.

This is just a classic case of Owens' true colors coming to light: he is a selfish child who is all about one thing: T.O. That's part of what made his tear-soaked defense of Tony Romo so hilarious, because HE MEANT NONE OF IT!

The truth is, Owens is no more valuable to the Cowboy offense than Marion Barber.

The Cowboys went 13-3 last season: in all three losses, Barber had fewer than 10 carries. The only exception to this would be the Cowboy's playoff game against the Giants, where Barber ran well in a losing effort. I'm more willing to write that off as an aberration though given Tony Romo had a very bad game.

While Barber didn't get the ball in all three losses, there were also three wins where he had fewer than 10 carries. The difference in those games however was the fact that Barber was a threat through the air (18 catches).

The point I'm trying to make here is the Cowboy offense is ten times better when they consistently run the football, or at the very least utilize Marion Barber in the passing attack. So far in 2008 Barber has 16, 18, and 28 carries in three wins, and 8 carries in one loss.

T.O. may be an outstanding receiver in terms of talent, but if he really cared about his team he would shut the hell up and be happy with those 18 targets, because the more Dallas tries to force the ball into his hands and ignore Marion Barber, the more they are hurting their chances of winning the game.

Where to begin?

Amazing to see everyone - not just you, Foley, but the media in general - jumping all over Terrell Owens for his post-game comments after the Cowboys first loss of 2008 to the rival Redskins. Yes, TO said he was upset about how the ball was distributed, however what the national media didn't report, but what was reported on the KTCK 1310-AM, the Cowboys flagship radio station, by Mickey Spagnola of DallasCowboys.com is that reporters asked Owens "six or seven times" about how much he had been getting the ball trying to bait him into saying something along these lines.

They got what they wanted along with a new "Is TO unhappy?" plot to run with.

But not only that, it seems everyone is misinterpreting Owens' quotation. As you noted, Foley, TO said: "Everybody recognized that I wasn't really getting the ball in the first half," Owens said. "I'm pretty sure everybody watching the game recognized it, people in the stands recognized it, I think my team recognized it. I didn't quit. I kept fighting and trying to running my routes and trying to get open."

He was talking about the first half where he had 1 rec, 7 yards. The Cowboys then came out in the second half and began targeting, and in my opinion over-targeting, Owens; the result was TO targeted in 18 of 58 offensive plays.

And while the Cowboys running game MUST set the tone for the passing game to open up (a la Emmitt Smith establishing a solid ground game that opened up passing lanes for the super-accurate Troy Aikman to hit playmaker Michael Irvin), there is something to be said for getting the ball in the hands of your best players. Owens is one of the Cowboys best players and (I'd argue) the MOST important offensive player.

I know what you're thinking: Romo or Barber or Witten are more important, but you'd be wrong. Case and point:

True Marion Barber needs his carries, but the running game in general needed carries. Felix Jones, who has already proven to have what it takes to contribute in the NFL (see Week 2 kick-return TD or Week 3 60-yd TD run), did not register an offensive touch in the loss to Washington. Regardless of if Barber or Jones gets the ball, SOMEONE other than T.O. on an end-around needs to run the ball. Whoever is getting the carries doesn't matter. It didn't matter last year when Barber split time with Julian Jones, and it won't matter this season.

Also, to your point that Barber's lack of production the playoff game as an aberration, I'd challenge that statement not because of the results of his running but because of how he was used. Julius Jones started all 16 games in the regular season, and Barber was used to pound the ball late and churn the clock down while punishing defenders. The Cowboys coaching staff - in a move that still puzzles sports pundits in DFW - decided to start Barber in the playoff game. I submit that Barber ran well initially in the playoff game, however he succumbed to arm-tackles late in the game, something that Cowboys fans did not see happen throughout the 13-3 regular season.

Back to the point of who is the Cowboys most important offensive player...

It's either Terrell Owens or Jason Witten, and if I'm not torn between the two, I'm leaning toward Owens. He is constantly drawing double- (and even on occasion a triple-) team from opposing defenses, opening up the rest of the field for other Cowboys receivers (Witten over the middle, Crayton in the slot, Austin to the post).

Marion Barber and/or Felix Jones could be productive as the starting back. While Cowboys fans can only hope to keep both starting tailbacks healthy throughout the season (Pittsburgh is down the their fourth-stringer after only four weeks), neither are paramount to the Cowboys' success.

Tony Romo is the player I'd assume sports pundits would view as the Cowboys most important offensive player. Consider, however, that the #2 QB in Dallas is Super Bowl champion Brad Johnson who, behind an O-line like the Cowboys have - would be more than functional. Actually, on that note, I want to rewrite my entire theory.

It's the Cowboys offensive line as a unit that is the most important part of the offense. The most important individual? Leonard Davis? Big Flozell Adams? Center Andre Gurode? There's a solid case for each of them. But if we assume the line is more of a unit than standout individuals (and all the best lines through history have been), then Terrell Owens stands alone as the best player on the Cowboys offense.

I think it's clear Owens cares about this team. Watching him being interviewed this season, I've seen time and time again media members grill him just trying to get something controversial out of his mouth (see the post-game sit-down he did with the ESPN Monday Night crew after the Cowboys/Eagles game in which Chris Berman, Steve Young and Emmitt Smith prodded him until he gave the answer they wanted).

As we've seen in the NFL and in all sports, winning cures all. The Cowboys did not win this week, thus it's TIME TO PANIC in Dallas. With games coming up against the Bengals, Caridinals and Rams, looks like a cure is on the way.

Another Ranger season squandered

I'm watching the White Sox and Twins battle for the AL Central title, and it's stirring up some bittersweet feelings - more bitter than sweet - that another Rangers season has come and gone...

I spent Saturday evening at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., enjoying the Rangers final win of 2008. I witnessed back-to-back Rangers home runs, leaping out of my chair hollering, and I felt entirely alone. The 40,000+ in Angels Stadium sat quietly, apathetic to the blasts and really the outcome. The Angels were preparing for the playoffs. The Rangers were getting a few final reps in.

By the latter innings, eight of the nine starting position players for the Angels had been lifted from the game, getting backups some playing time and starters some rest. As for the Rangers, Michael Young still occupied shortstop. Josh Hamilton remained in centerfield. Hank Blalock held his spot on first base. They were finishing out their second-to-last game of the season, a season that once again would not extend into October.

The Rangers won the game, 8-4, and I even caught a ball flung into the stands by Milton Bradley (he spotted me wearing my blue Rangers jersey among a sea of red, and launched it to me 20 rows above the Rangers dugout) and got it autographed by Ron Washington.

Simply put: I want to be a Rangers fan. I support the team. I guess you could call me a fan. But what is there to be fanatical about in Arlington (at least until the Cowboys move there next year)? Each year, I'll go to a Rangers game or two. The past two or three years when I've been in the LA-area, I've made trips to Angels Stadium to see the Rangers play on the road.

But I can only really support this team if they provide something to support. The progress that some of the farm system players made this season - Chris Davis, Taylor Teagarden, etc - is extremely encouraging. Then again, I'm watching former Rangers prospect John Danks pitch for the White Sox in their 1-game playoff for the Division title, and he's shut out Minnesota through 7 innings.

The hitting has always been there in Texas. Pitching, ah, not so much. And once again, Rangers fans are being told to expect next season to be another "building" type of season. Not a rebuilding season, because you have to have been built before being rebuilt.

Cowlishaw described the suffering the Rangers fans and supporters must endure each season.

One hundred years is sort of a long time to wait between titles. Here's hoping that Chicago Cubs fans – most of whom I assume do not recall their team's last championship – finally get what they have been waiting for.

I was there in 1984 when the Cubs made the playoffs for the first time in 39 years. And after watching them dismantle the San Diego Padres in the first two games, you could feel that entire city just ready to go crazy for a World Series date with the Detroit Tigers.

By the way, Wrigley didn't install lights until 1988, so those three games at Wrigley would have been afternoon World Series games. You can't beat that.

Of course, it didn't happen. The Cubs crashed and burned three times in San Diego and Cubs fans were devastated and we got one lousy Detroit-San Diego World Series.

Since then, the Cubs have reached the playoffs four more times but never the World Series. Still haven't been since 1945. Still haven't won one since 1908.

One reason I want the Cubs to win is because Wrigley Field is simply the best place to spend an afternoon. I'm talking about any sport any time.

Another is that former Rangers Mark DeRosa and Alfonso Soriano are good guys.

But the main reason is so I never have to see the phrase "long-suffering" attached to Cubs fans ever again.

Cubs fans may have waited a long time. They don't know suffering.

Rangers fans know suffering.

Cubs fans, regardless of anything else, get to call Wrigley Field their own.

Rangers fans have a nice ballpark, but it's stuck halfway between two cities and is now dwarfed by the Cowboys' goliath of a stadium.

After a loss, Cubs fans can drown their sorrows in about 25 different bars, all walking distance from Wrigley Field.

After a loss, Rangers fans can, well, just go drown at Hurricane Harbor.

The Cubs used to have Harry Caray.

The Rangers have Jim Knox.

If the Cubs fail to win it all this year, they can look to 2009 with high hopes founded on a very good lineup and strong pitching.

The Rangers did fail to win it all this year, and Rangers fans are left to speculate how long they must wait for their highly touted Class A and Double-A pitchers to arrive in Arlington and deal with pitching in the Texas summer.

Or as general manager Jon Daniels put it Tuesday, "We're not going to say 2009 or bust."

The Cubs play to standing-room only crowds every day at home.

The Rangers played to two million empty seats this year at home.

The Cubs crossed the plate more times than any NL team this season. And they gave up fewer runs than any NL team other than the Dodgers.

The Rangers crossed the plate more times than any team in the majors this season. And they gave up 967 runs. That's 83 more than No. 2 Pittsburgh. And 296 more than the Cubs.

The Cubs' collapse in the summer of '69 has been immortalized to the point that their fans will tell you where they were when the Mets won it.

The Rangers' collapse is an annual event that takes place in obscurity because the local sports kingdom has suspended interest in anything that's not the Cowboys.

I saw an off-Broadway play in New York in the '70s called Bleacher Bums, written about the Cubs' fans who sit in the best seats in baseball day after day.

If there is a play about Rangers fans, I am going to guess it is off-off-off Broadway.

Cubs fans know that management will go to the wall for them. Only the Mets had a higher payroll in the National League this year.

The Rangers were 21st in payroll this season, and fans heard Daniels say Tuesday, "I've talked with ownership, and our payroll next year will be similar to what it was this year."

Cubs fans get the royal treatment from Sports Illustrated this week, honored with a cover story and the glowing words of our nation's finest sportswriter, Gary Smith.

Rangers fans get, among others, me.

That, my friends, is what suffering is all about.

A look at some of my other thoughts on the Rangers during the 2008 season (mostly written while I wasn't swamped with Long Beach Armada duties).

Mariners May Melee: Stupid Sexson

Rangers on the rise: Objects in Mirror

Fundamental flaws: Errors of their ways

Comeback: Rangers top Twins from 0-5 hole

Dominated: Tex 6, Detroit 19

I wish I had the energy to focus more on the Rangers - frankly working for a baseball team makes even following MLB results difficult. Then again, I wish the Rangers could just give me a reason to focus more on them. Perhaps in 2009.

Scalped: Was 26, Dal 24

As my father reminded me several times this weekend, unpredictability is the norm when the Cowboys and Redskins play.  When the Cowboys went 1-15 in 1989, their lone win came against rival Washington.  Each time has several amazing comebacks against the other.  The Cowboys and Longley on Thanksgiving.  The Redskins in the Monday Night comeback.  So today when the last-place Redskins (and by last-place, I mean 2-1 with the only loss coming against the defending champion Giants) visited undefeated Dallas for today's game, I shouldn't have been shocked in the outcome.

Washington 26. Dallas 24.

But the Redskins and blossoming quarterback Jason Campbell used the national stage to let the country know that all the talk about "the big bad NFC East" isn't just talk.  Not only did Campbell display great maturity and poise compared to years past (think Eli Manning from '05 to '06), but he's showing an understanding of Jim Zorn's offense that now puts the 'Skins on par with the rest of the division.

Some thoughts from a game that brought back the reality of just how difficult the regular season is -- especially for a team in the NFC East...

Campbell (20/31 for 231, 2 TD, 0 INT) is four weeks into the season and has yet to throw an interception.  Last season, he'd already throw three through two games.  The former first round pick in 2005 is off to a great start.  With Santana Moss out wide and Cooley underneath along with Clinton Portis in the backfield, Campbell - like Romo - has solid weapons around him to succeed greatly in the NFL.

It helps that Campbell played against a defense that is averse to taking the ball away.  In 2008, the Cowboys are so far into the red in the turnover margin, it's not shocking that they lost on Sunday.  It's shocking it was only their first loss on Sunday.  Dallas is one of four teams that has yet to intercept a ball in 2008 (the others are Seattle, St. Louis and Detroit - a combined 1-9).  The Cowboys have also forced only two fumbles this season, ranking the bottom third in the league.  If Dallas doesn't start taking the ball away - not even frequently, just ever - then this season could once again end is disappointment.

The front seven once again terrorized an offensive line and quarterback.  Campbell's day wasn't a complete Sunday stroll.  One sack each for DeMarcus Ware and Chris Canty.  Plenty of pressure early in the game, but it seemed like the pressure faded as the game went along.

Jason Garrett and the offense did a great job of finding a way to get the ball into TO's hands.  After the Redskins were able to limit Owens to a fourth-stringers role in the first half (1 catch, 7 yards), Tony Romo used the third quarter to reconnect with the standout receiver.  Owens finished the game with seven catches for 71 yards and a TD, his fourth on the season.

Patrick Crayton reemerged on the scene after a quiet start to the season.  Seven receptions for 87 yards.  Good to see him back in the fold.  If the Cowboys offense is going to continue to be the driving force behind this team's success, it will be guys like Crayton and Miles Austin (3 rec, 45 yards, 1 TD on Sunday) who make the difference.  Role players.  Owens, Jason Witten, Marion Barber are expected to make things happen for Dallas.  Crayton and Austin will provide the extra spark.

After the Eagles' loss to the Bears, they sit at the bottom of the NFC East at 2-2.  The Cowboys and Redskins are now each 3-1, a half-game behind the idle Giants at 3-0.  Philly's loss against Chicago was the first loss by an NFC East team to a team outside the division.  The NFC South is the only other division without a team with a losing record so far this season.

College Football: What a weak

The chaos began Thursday night in Corvalis, Ore., when unranked Oregon State upset No. 1 USC in a game that made me physically sick.  Forget the fact that Pac-10 officials can't properly determine a horse collar tackle (trust me, I have seen Roy Williams' entire Dallas Cowboy career, so I'm practically an expert), and ignore the fact that USC Offensive Coordinate Steve Sarkisian was trying to do his best Houston Nutt impression.  Oregon State flat out came prepared to face the nation's near-consensus top team.

The Trojans (now 2-1) now have a painstakingly difficult road to the national championship - let alone a BCS Bowl.  Of course, winning the conference title earns an automatic BCS berth, however the Trojans - participants in six straight BCS Bowls - would rather play in the big game.

But the Trojans left Reser stadium with not only a loss of their stranglehold on the top spot and inside track to the title game, but also without all-universe linebacker Rey Maualuga.  And now, with today's slate of Saturday games unwinding, the Trojans could find themselves slipping even further thanks to a schedule full of teams that have about as much consistency as jello.

Here's a quick look at the teams on USC's schedule and how they are doing today and this season:

Virginia (W 52-7) ... Record 1-3
Lost to Duke - yes, that Duke - almost as badly as they lost to the Trojans.  The Blue Devils demolished Virginia, 31-3, dropping the Cavaliers to 1-3 on the season.

(5) Ohio State (W 35-3) ...  Record 4-1
Thank goodness for The Ohio State University.  After the Trojans rolled the Beanie-less Buckeyes, OSU has put together consecutive double-digit wins (albeit over Troy and Big Ten bottom-feeder Minnesota) to improve to 4-1.  Next week, the Buckeyes travel to conference foe and (as of now) No. 9 Wisconsin.  If both USC and Ohio State finish the season with one-loss each, the Trojans will get the nod before the Buckeyes to go to the BCS title game.  It would be a much simpler process if it weren't for...

Oregon State (L 27-21) ... Record 2-2
...dam Beavers.  They played a great game Thursday, giving USC its standard "how did this happen?" loss of the season (see Cal '03, UCLA '06, Stanford '07).  The Beavers (2-2) will no doubt launch into the Top 25 this week, right before next week's date with ranked Utah in Utah.  Time for the Beavers to help USC's cause by proving the Pac-10's collective strength over a ranked team.

As for the teams USC has to look forward to...

Oregon (10/4) ... Record 3-1
Last week's loss at home to Boise State doesn't help the already image-conscious Pacific-10.  The Ducks finished non-conference play 2-1.  Currently leading the Cougars in Pullman, Wash.

Arizona State (10/11) ... Record 2-2
The Sun Devils are taking the week off after hosting preseason No. 1 Georgia.  ASU lost to the Bulldogs, 27-10, but give them credit for taking on a top team.  Their 2-1 non-conference record should gives the conference a boost, which is good considering the likes of...

Washington State (10/18) ... Record 1-3
...conference doormat Washington State.  Non-conference schedule includes blowouts to Big XII embarrassments Oklahoma State and Baylor.  If not for the Cougars 48-9 thrashing of Portland State (Portland is a state?), Wazzu would be winless in 2008.  With one more non-conference game to go (Nov 29 at Hawaii), don't expect anything Wazzu does to benefit the Pac-10's image.

Arizona (10/25) ... Record 3-1
Non-conference record of 2-1 includes a 70-0 win over Idaho (geez, USC didn't even beat them that badly last season) and  a 41-16 win against Toledo.  Zona did fall at New Mexico.  The Wildcats have been a tricky team the past few seasons, but 2008 will depend on they handle the teams they should beat - the same teams they've had trouble with in past years.

Washington (11/1) ... Record 0-3
Yes, they haven't won yet in 2008.  Two non-conference losses to then-No. 15 BYU and then-No. 3 Oklahoma didn't make things easy for the Huskies.  It's realistic for UW to pick up a non-conference win when Notre Dame comes calling on Oct. 25.  Decent chance to get a win tonight hosting Stanford, but definitely not a sure thing.

California (11/8) ... Record 2-1
Currently winning at home over Colorado State.  Traditionally a strong team nationally, but a loss to Maryland while being ranked No. 23 pushed them back outside the Top 25.  Eh?

Stanford (11/15) ... Record 2-2
Two wins at home.  Two losses on the road.  Surprisingly, the Cardinal opened the season with a win over this week's stunning Oregon State Beavers.  Look for the Cardinal to win again tonight at Washington.

Notre Dame (11/29) ... Record 3-1
Today's win over Purdue actually made the Fighting Irish seem like a football team.  The Irish play three Pac-10 teams this season including USC.  But if ND finishes the year ranked - yeah, I'm in shock that it's possible too - don't be too surprised.  Other than USC, the Fighting Irish may not play another ranked team in 2008.

UCLA (12/6) ... Record 1-3
As if the Washington schools weren't doing enough to hurt the image of the Pacific-10 conference!  Another loss today, this time to No. 25 Fresno State at home in the Rose Bowl.  After a brilliant overtime win over then-No. 18 Tennessee to open the season, the Bruins fell hard in a 59-0 groin-kicking loss at then-No. 18 BYU.  In all fairness, UCLA has had the most consistently tough schedule of any Pac-10 team to start the season (three ranked opponents in their first four games).  That sparkling win over Tennessee is ever-more appearing as a glaring aberration than the standard in Westwood.  My good friend Ed Hart summed it up best: Tough week to be a Trojan. Tough year to be a Bruin.

As for the rest of college football, USC is getting help across the nation as other top teams are struggling.  Here's a look at notable games already in the books today...

(4) Florida lost to unranked Ole Miss, 31-30 in the swamp

Michigan dropped No. 9 Wisconsin, 27-25, at the Big House

Navy (goes without saying they are unranked) wins at No. 16 Wake Forest, 24-17

No. 15 Auburn barely held on to win, 14-12, at home vs. Tennessee

Houston killed No. 23 East Carolina (it goes without saying a directional-Carolina not starting with "North" or "South" should never be ranked)

Speaking of: North Carolina defeated Miami (not Miami of Ohio, but the good Miami - err, once-good Miami), 28-24.  While neither team is ranked, it begs the question: what the hecks going on out there??

Maryland went to No. 20 Clemson and used 14 second-half points for a 20-17 win.

Lion down on the job

Things in the city of Detroit have been bleak for quite some time. The economy is down. The auto industry is down. The Lions are down. But for the first time in years, there's good news in Detroit (of course, this doesn't take into account a recent Stanley Cup win by the Red Wings) as the Lions have fired President GM Matt Millen.



Millen, a great sideline reporter but far from stellar team exec, led the Lions to a 31-84 record over his tenure, the worst record in the NFL over that time.  Now Lions fans might rejoice at this, however they can't expect things to turn around immediately as a result.

Certain winless teams try to add a spark by switching quarterbacks (Vikings, Rams), and that can usually do the trick.  Reason being is because the guys in the locker room view it as a spark, a quick fix switch that they can see.  It's a tangible change from a player's point of view.  Sometimes switching coaches can have a similar effect.  Changing front office execs don't work that way.

Nothing will really change in the locker room, and don't de surprised it the already downtrodden Lions see this as the ultimate waiving of the white flag for the 2008 season.  A new GM will come in and rebuild by putting his stamp on this team.  A new exec brings in his own coaches and players, tossing virtually everyone's role with the Lions up in the air.

So while perhaps even the most optimistic Lions fan (if there is such a thing) might see this as a reason the 0-3 NFC North cellar-dwellers can turn 2008 around, don't bank on it.  The Lions will limp along to the end of the season, at which time a new football guy will discharge large quantities of TNT into this franchise.  

It will take a great deal of time to undo all that Millen has created.  But, hey, the Lions are used to hearing how they aren't trying to win now (think Texas Rangers of the NFL).  So when the new GM comes in talking about rebuilding, Lions fans won't expect things to get better ASAP.

At least it can't get much worse.

VOW: Woody Dantzler

Before Felix Jones took a kickoff return to the house this season, the Cowboys hadn't had a kickoff returned for a TD since 2002. I remember being at this Cowboys game, and I still couldn't believe Dantzler was able to stay inbounds...





Past VOW

Stars '08 Playoff Run

Romo "singing" at Wrigley

1999 Stars Playoff Run

Mavericks Memories

Cowboys/Bills MNF

Cotton Bowl renovated now?

I didn't want to see the Cotton Bowl go, but in an age where stadiums full of history and tradition are closing down in favor of new super-venues, we must all realize that the wheels of progress stop for no one.

That's why I had to double-take when looking at pictures of the Cotton Bowl's new upper deck end zone seats.  This place is HUGE!  Heck, move the Cowboys back to Fair Park.

Well, we all know that's going going to happen.  The City of Dallas had its chance to land the Cowboys and return the team to its named city for the first time since 1970.  Instead, those that ran Dallas couldn't get things together, decided that there were more important issues, and they balked.  Jerry took America's Team to Arlington, and the new Cowboys stadium opens next year.  So then why did the City of Dallas decide NOW - with the Cotton Bowl (the game, not the stadium) moving after one more classic in Fair Park to Arlington - to renovate the 73-year-old stadium?

I remember my Dad telling me how they added the upper decks along the sidelines when SMU Football was the hottest ticket in Texas, and the Cowboys called the Cotton Bowl home for their first 10 seasons, but now with all that history moving away from Fair Park, what is the logic of the city sinking $50 million into the venue?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset that they did this.  I'm upset that they did not NOW and not seven, eight, nine, 10 years ago when the stadium could have been potentially saved.  I have to agree with Richie Whitt of the Dallas Observer as he notes that the new capacity is unnecessary and overblown (click for article)...

And don’t tell me the fifty mill is a wise investment. From my viewpoint here atop Mount Commonfriggin’sense, Dallas has built a bigger stadium to accommodate smaller games. Genius. Texas-OU is here through 2015, but the other games on the Cotton Bowl docket: Prairie View-Grambling, East Central State-Texas A&M Commerce, and Texas Southern-Pine Bluff. Combine those three crowds and you won’t touch 92,000.