The Sooner, The Better?

The Oklahoma Sooners, who have lost the last two Red River Shootouts to the Texas Longhorns, are winning the Dallas area recruiting battle hands-down, according to Dallas Morning News reporter, Todd Wills...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/100507dnspoourecruiting.2aedea2.html

Of course, the jaded sports fan might assume the Okies are just paying better than the Texans these days. But you can't prove that, can you?

Mack's Truck

While Longhorns fans were devastated by the 41-21 trouncing their boys in burnt orange received at the hands of the K-State Wildcats, Coach Mack Brown has his own reasons to feel run over, according to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/100507dnspoutarrests.3829d60.html

Tony Romo Scramble vs Rams

Oh! Here's that Romorific play vs. the Rams. Shades of Favre, my ass! This is shades of Staubach.

Is Greg Ellis Sorry?

Most have no trouble spotting sorriness when they see it in, say, Terrell Owens or Randy Moss. The flamboyant athlete in a team sport, the one who seems to exude the me-first mentality is an easy mark. So, when T.O. had his little was-it-a-suicide-attempt-or-not thing last year, or when he missed most of training camp and hammed it up on his stationary bike while the rest of the team beat the dog out of each other, sports pundits had no problem saying, "Heeere we go again!"

But then there are the "good guys," the "team players." You know, the guys who are always courteous to the media and go about their business quietly and toe the company line. Guys like, oh, I don't know, Greg Ellis. Greg Ellis, a team captain. Greg Ellis, an upstanding guy. Greg Ellis, a hard worker.

Greg Ellis, a bum? Maybe! Consider that the Cowboys' trainers have said, since way back in training camp, that Ellis was fine to play as far as they could tell. Consider that he missed all of training camp, all of the preseason, and three regular season games. Consider that as soon as Jerry Jones stepped up and said that if Greg would play, he would purchase an additional $2 million dollar insurance policy for the player out of his own pocket to get him on the field, Ellis felt well enough to play the very next game. Jerry essentially agreed to work out a new deal for a player who was under contract, a player who had signed a deal, and a nice one, of his own volition, and then decided it wasn't good enough and he didn't want to be a Cowboy anymore.

Ellis has basically held Jones and the Cowboys hostage for two years. He has pissed and moaned to the media over and over. He has insisted that he wasn't sure he was healthy enough to play...until...he got what he wanted. Then, voila, he is miraculously cured, plays against the Rams, and records a sack and gets credit for half of another.

So, this "team" player abandoned his teammates, deserted his post, contemplated retirement (yeah right), and rode the pine until Jones ponied up. Credit Jerry for putting the team's interests ahead of his own sense of propriety and accommodating Ellis. But be wary, Cowboys' fans, of the fallout. What will happen the next time a player is unhappy with his contract? Will he remember Ellis and suddenly develop a phantom injury?

I know, I know! Ellis' injury was serious, the kind that can be difficult to come back from, the kind that can end a career. But it didn't; he healed. He got better. And he did not retire. He just refused to play until he got what he wanted.

Sometimes that whole team player or team cancer thing is murkier water than anyone cares to admit. But, hey, the Cowboys are 4-0 and riding high.

So, who cares, right?

Romomantic, Ain't It?

If you didn't see that bit of magic Tony Romo pulled off Sunday against the Rams, well, you gotta see it! Third down and four and the ball is snapped a mile over his head. He gives chase, running full out toward his own goalline, boots the ball trying to pick it up, keeps chasing, finally secures it, and begins his 180 degree turn...all of this with the entire Rams' defensive line in hot pursuit. Headed up the left sideline, Romo breaks one tackle, head fakes another would-be tackler out of his jock strap, fakes a pass to avoid another, and scampers for a first down. All told, he ran about seventy yards to pick up the first down. Ultimately, that drive would end in a touchdown...and the game would be inexorably turned in the favor of the 'Boys.

Still, on a local Sunday night sports report, one Dallas sportswriter said, given the choice, he would still take Drew Brees over Tony Romo. Some people are slow learners; others are just plain retarded. Betting on Romo to be a stud for a long time to come right now is tantamount to insider trading. Comparatively speaking, guys like Brees look more ordinary every day. While Brees and the Saints falter, Romo and his Cowboys continue to flourish.

Moreover, Tony Romo may be the fastest rising stock in America. While Jerry Jones and Romo's agent haggle, the kid keeps doing magical things that raise the price of doing business. We could be looking at a nine-figure contract with 20 - 25 million in guaranteed money!

No wonder there is a movement in the gay community to bag this guy. I have read that some are showing up for games wearing shirts that say things like "Homos for Romo," and "I'm a Romosexual." In the 90's, it was Aikman and Steve Young the gay community kept trying to claim. I guess that is some sort of sign you have arrived.

Well, I am no Romosexual, myself. But, I am definitely a Romo Sapien.

Go Cowboys!