Don’t Risk It!

A playoff win is much more important than win number 14. My advice to Coach Phillips, play your starters for the first half to keep them from getting rusty, but pull them for second half. It is simply not worth having a star player go down with an injury during a game that means nothing.

Cowboy fans everywhere are eager for a playoff victory. A Super Bowl will be remembered, a 14 game season is nothing more than an interesting stat. If the Cowboys don’t make the Superbowl the 14 games will live in infamy as, “The year they won 14, but couldn’t go all the way.”

Big Papa Makes a Prediction

The born and raised New Yorker makes a declaration, “I am a Cowboys Fan, and they CAN win the Superbowl!” Phil Vanderoef’s Connecticut home is midway between New York and New England. It gives him an interesting perspective. He hears, and reads, the dribble of those who argue over sports dominance on a daily basis. It’s always, “New York this… Boston that!” Yet somehow he bucked Bean Town and blasted the Big Apple. Vanderoef grew up a Cowboy fan, and over the Christmas holiday he declared, “THIS is the Cowboys year!”

Sports fans should take notice, his past predictions have those on his bowling team calling him the “Guru of Grid Iron.” This weekend the Guru is picking Dallas over Washington 34-21.

As for the Superbowl, he is calling for the Cowboys to beat the Pats. Stay tuned for a score prediction.

Note to reader: All this is coming from a man who asked me, “What do you call a fog over Naples?” With me stumped, he answered his own question, “A bigamist!” (Big-A-Mist)

And one more note, he’s not just the newest “King of the One Liners,” He’s also my father in law.

How Can I Ever Fly Coach Again?

When it comes to air travel I am now a spoiled little brat! For 38 years of my life I have waited in lines, crammed into small seats only to ice my knees down later because the seat in front of me was embedded into my knee caps. But the worst part about flying coach was the looks of disdain from those fat cats in first class. I can now say, I got to play the role of Fat Cat this year and I loved it.

I dread going home for the holidays. A trip from DFW to New New York’s Laguardia Airport over Christmas week can be worse then trying to get in out of a European soccer stadium. People will trample you trying to get to the ticket counter and the security line can get even worse. It’s often as long as the try out line for American Idol. Only instead of people who think they can sing, the line is filled with grumpy, inexperienced travelers who think they are too good wait.

This year everything changed when I upgraded the tickets for my wife and I to First Class. When we walked through the terminal sliding doors into a sea of weary fliers, I stood up on my toes and spotted the “First Class Only” sign. From there my wife and I just strolled up to the first class ticket counter. No one was in that line! Then we had a separate line that got us through security! Yes we walked right by all those poor schleps forced to wait behind all those people who apparently never heard that you can’t take liquids on board, that you need to take off your shoes and that your belt buckle WILL set the alarm off. No, there was no waiting for us. No stress either. I actually looked at the 300 yard long security line and smiled. At that moment I became an egotistcal, self centered, undeserving Fat Cat and loved it.

After being first to board the flight, the flight attendant offered us a glass of champagne. It was the perfect drink to watch all those people parade on by into the cheap seats. I felt the urge to shout, “Keep it movin, Keep it movin!” Then the flight attendant asked if she could hang our coats up for us. This time I would not get off the plane with a wrinkled jacket that spent four hours stuffed in the overhead bin. And at the very moment the crew announced over the cabin speaker that snack boxes where availible for the low price of 49.99. We got steak and eggs, for free!

The only problem with all this, as I realize now, is I used what could be 20 years of reward miles to upgrade our seats. Yes, my account is wiped out. That means if I want to travel again, it will be in the back of the plane. I can’t go back there. Not now. Please don’t make me go!!!!!

The Stars are Aligned, At Least for Now

Over and over I have said great teams find ways to win. Now I can say great teams find ways to win even with injuries. Now T.O. is out with an ankle sprain leaving the Cowboys looking like a very different team. Different meaning worse!

The second half proved Terrell Owens has a far greater impact on the game then just his touchdown catches. He draws double teams that open the field for the rest of the receivers. Without T.O. the Cowboys offense can be stale.

With all that, someone is on the Cowboys side. Green Bay’s loss allows the Boys to relax against the Redskins this week. They can rest all those players with injuries and they still have a bye week. That gives the Cowboys players nearly three weeks to recover. Just when things start to look bleak, everything appears to work out. That’s how the season has gone and that is when you know, just maybe, this could be the Cowboy’s year.

The Simpson Saga Continues

Question: Is that Romo gazing up at Jessica Simpson just before Sundays now infamous Cowboys game and subsequent loss to the Eagles?

Answer: No, It’s T.O. up at the Popcorn stand calling for Romo to throw him the ball.

T.O. Says I’m Sorry

Two days ago Terrell Owens told reporters Jessica Simpson is not a “fan favorite.” Not in, “Texas Stadium and not in this locker room.” T.O. added, “A lot of people feel like she’s taken his (Romo’s) focus away.”

Now to quote the great comedian Eddie Murphy, T.O. is clarifying his comments basically saying, “Baby, those are just jokes.” Eddie Murphy’s girlfriend didn’t buy it, I don’t think Jessica will either.

But who really cares? I don’t think T.O. meant any harm by his comments. I do think they got blown out of proportion. The first touchdown pass Romo throws to T.O. all will be forgiven.

Simpson or a Bum Thumb? Maybe Both!

Tony Romo is still a Cowboy hero and he’s still the best quarterback a team could ask for, he just played like a love struck high-schooler. Who can blame him. With Jessica Simpson in the stands even Brett Favre or Patton Manning would wilt under the beauty’s gaze.

Word at Valley Ranch is that it was more Romo’s thumb that caused his inaccuracy, than his rock star crush. But my sources tell me Simpson is responsible for Tony’s God awful performance because she’s the one who caused the thumb injury!

Though I’m getting different stories from different sources. Here is what Cowboy insiders had to say:

While playing catch with Tony in her Dad’s back yard, Jessica zipped one in there way to hard for Romo to handle, snapping his thumb backwards.

I also heard Mick from Rocky told Tony to “stay away from the girls before a big game.” Romo tried to use his fancy footwork to escape the lovely Simpson’s grasp and took off running. Simpson, in Roy Williams fashion, then horse collared her quarterback causing him to fall backwards landing on his thumb.

A Valley Ranch Trainer told me Romo had “Guitar thumb” after losing to Carmen Electra earlier this season in a video game battle of Guitar Hero, he thought he could beat Jessica (Does she even play guitar?). The two stayed up all night playing Guitar Hero leaving Tony with the sore thumb that plagued him throughout Sunday’s game.

Those in the Simpson camp tell me a very different story, they blame Terrell Owens. “If the media can always blame Terrell, why can’t we,” said one handler very close to Simpson. She says T.O. was upset about only having 3 catches for 21 yards against the Lions. In a locker room rage he threw a bar of Irish Spring at his QB. The soap missed, but Romo was so traumatized by the event he just couldn’t get himself together by game time.

There is one other theory. But I’m not sure it holds much weight. The Cowboys played with no passion or confidence. The entire offense stunk and the team took for granted an Eagles team that always loves to beat the Cowboys into the ground. They did.

(Though I would be nervous too if Jessica Simpson was here watching me write this blog.)

T.O. to the Rescue!

One day after writing how boring it was to cover Terrell Owens this year, he comes to the rescue and once again makes things interesting. T.O. never liked Bill Parcells or Keyshawn Johnson which is why he reveled in the opportunity to fire back at Johnsons comments that the Cowboys success this year was due in large part to Bill Parcells.

The truth is, Big Bill did put this team together and he did nurture Tony Romo into the superstar he is now. Parcells deserves some credit, so does Wade, so does Jason Garrett, Romo, Ownes and the whole gang.

I found T.O.s comments amusing, not mean spirited, when he called Johnson to come out of retirement and try to make the Cowboys roster. T.O. was actually funny. In retrospect I made the mistake of saying his tirade was “Old School” T.O. during Wednesday’s sports cast. Looking back at the comments I now think Owens was actually just trying to be a comedian not a rabblerouser.

Plus he provided us with a good two days of material!

Not The Sportscaster, He’s the Sportsmaster!

He’s the offensive lineman of the NBC5 sports department… All work and no credit. With Newy at the helm Sam Hale is not the physically strongest man in the sports department but he is the tallest. Towering over all of us who dare fill in on sports duties when Newy or Derek are on assignment (aka vacation).

He is also the creative mind behind what makes it into our sports cast. Sam Hale is “Forward-thinking” and “Compassionate.” How do I know? Because the sign above his head says so! and THAT is good enough for me.

Sam once quoted the great Peter Griffin, saying “You know what really Grinds My Gears?, News guys who think they know more then me about sports!” He couldn’t be talking about me. Could he?

Note to viewer: The only reason this post made my blog is because I wanted to add an extra Cowboys story tonight, Sam lobbied for Ladies figure skating. I thought some kind words may sway him.

For the Media Covering T.O. is a Drag

What’s up with Terrel Owens? He’s no fun to cover any more, he never was for a defensive back, but he used to be for a reporter.

The reality is, the outbursts, controversies, crazy antics, even an accidental not that big a deal overdose was terrific fodder for media outlets everywhere.

But what is no fun for us, is great news for the Cowboys! Some people say T.O. has matured, grown up, even realized his antics can be counter productive. I don’t think that’s the case. I just think he’s happy catching touchdown passes and being the star again. I know I’m more fun to be around when things are going well in my life.

In T.O.’s case, he’s finally back in a system that recognizes his status as a play maker. For him, there is NOTHING to complain about this season. After all he’s catching touchdown passes at a record setting pace.

And contrary to what other reporters (on the radio) may think… I actually believe T.O. is a nice guy who’s probably pretty fun to be around. Any time I have been in the Cowboys locker room he’s always been polite. But then again, I only started covering the Cowboys on a regular basis this season, when they’re winning!

Cowboys are Division Champs… Don’t Freak Out!

Everybody loves to freak! News Flash: Great teams don’t always play great but they do find ways to win. That’s what the Cowboys did against Detriot on Sunday eeking out a 28-27 victory.

Should the Cowboys offense have blown Detroit out of the water? YES!
Should the Cowboys Defense have done a better job stopping the Run? Of Course!
Did they get lucky when the Lions missed a 35 yard field goal attempt? Absolutly!

Make no mistake, good things happen to good teams. The Boys will not always play like division champs becasue it’s nearly impossible to do so during a long and hard season. With the Cowboys finding ways to win, even when they are not playing well, that’s the sign of a team with superbowl possibilities.

So don’t worry about the defense just yet. If it falters against the 5-8 Eagles this Sunday, then it’s cause for concern. Maybe even a little “freaking out” as well.

My prediction: Cowboys 35 Eagles 17