THE SPORTS LISPERER #6

It can’t be easy being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. I mean, it can be the greatest thing in the world. Middle School’s in Texas are named after you, you always have the option of running for Mayor, Congress or Governor, women swoon and men want to be you. Unless they don’t. You are as recognizable an athlete as there is in the world. No matter your feelings or what you think of the Cowboys, it’s the most valued sports franchise in North America and in the discussion for most valued in the world. True, the ‘America’s Team’ tag is a joke, but… there is a reason they play on prime time, historically, more than any other team, even when they suck. And they have sucked for more than a generation.

The Cowboys are the team of the ‘Star’, Tom Landry and middle America but also of Michael Irvin, the ‘White House’ and hedonism. It’s all there. But nothing embodies the ‘It’ factor of the Dallas Cowboys like its quarterback.

Roger Staubach was ‘Captain America’. A Heisman trophy winner who did his commitment to the Naval Academy before he became the Cowboys QB who led Dallas to their first two Super Bowl wins. The ‘Hail Mary’ comes from Staubach and the brand of the Cowboys wouldn’t be what it is today without football’s ‘Steve Rogers’.

Now, like Gene Bartow who replaced John Wooden, Danny White replaced Roger and had the deck stacked against him. Under White’s leadership, the Cowboys lost three straight NFC Championship games, a feat the Cowboy’s would absolutely kill for now. The second of those losses was the famous ‘The Catch’ which ushered in the era of Joe Montana and the Forty-Niners. Danny was steady, if not spectacular, and had the poor luck of QBing the Cowboys at the diminishing end of that era. After Danny was Gary Hogeboom, Steve Pelleur, Babe Laufenberg and a cast of castaways. Those lean years led to Troy Aikman.

Troy fit the roll of Cowboy QB so well, he redefined the roll. A player formed as perfectly made for football, Troy threw the perfect ball, knew the game and had the decorum of a professional that was perfect for his role and position. He led three great teams to Super Bowl titles and helped bring in the era of the Championship Cowboys.

But now, those days are long gone.

In between Troy and the next challenger to the throne, was Quincy Carter, Drew Henson, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe. And then, from the undrafted market of the college ranks emerged Tony Romo, a kid from Eastern Illinois. A great rag to riches story, he had the swagger and the ability but something… always lacked. A dropped FG attempt. A trip to Mexico on a bye before a playoff game. A catch that wasn’t a catch but shoulda been a catch and is now a catch. Tony is the record holder of every Dallas quarterback record except for one category, Super Bowls won. I loved ya, Tony, but you didn’t get a chance to hold the trophy. And then, there’s Dak.

It’s nearly impossible to carry the torch of Roger and Troy and easy to fall into the in-between of Danny and Tony. Dak is in THAT category until he isn’t. The Niners had Montana and Young but Brodie, Jimmy G and Jeff Garcia are the in-between. Steelers have Terry and Big Ben. Raiders have Stabler and Plunkett and nobody will be Saint Tommy in New England until they win the big one and are consecrated. Dak has a chance, today, against the Niners and more than likely, 3-5 more years. But it gets late early in football, ask the Marino’s of the world.

So, come on Dak! Join the fraternity. I’d love to see you do it, but I just don’t have the faith.