For Dallas Cowboys Fans, Surprising Losses Bring Quick Funk...

"If it's the ultimate game, how come they're playing it again next year?" - Duane Thomas, on the Super Bowl, 1972

By MELITON BROWN
Sports Editor

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - So, the Dallas Cowboys are 0-2 as they head into this weekend's game with powerful Houston? Yeah, that could be a problem for die-hard Cowboys fans, many of whom live & die with their fortunes here in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Houston just beat the Washington Redskins, a team that had beaten the Cowboys in the season opener. A week earlier, the Houston Texans had cold-cocked the mighty Indianapolis Colts in Houston. It'll be a bear - and we don't mean Chicago - for the Pokes to beat the emerging Texans on their home field.

But, you know, it really doesn't mean much.

We agree with former Cowboys running back Duane Thomas (shown in photo above), who said winning or losing the Super Bowl is no big deal. There's another one next year, was his point. The 1972 game Thomas speaks about in the above quote featured the Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins. Dallas won Super Bowl VI by a score of 24-3 in New Orleans that day, although there were a few interesting side gags ahead of the game.

According to Dolphins head Coach Don Shula, then-President Richard M. Nixon called him to suggest a play the president thought would work against America's Team. It involved a pass to all-pro Dolphins wide receiver Paul Warfield. Shula called the play late in the first quarter, but it was broken-up by stellar Dallas defensive back Mel Renfro. It also was the year Miami's defense got its name for that particular era. Some sportswriter asked Cowboys Coach Tom Landry about the Dolphins' defensive team and Landry told them he could not recall any of the players' names, but added that they were a tough bunch without a superstar. Sportswriters then tagged Miami's unknowns as the "No-Name Defense".

For Americans, football is more than just a game. The stories behind the stories are colorful threads in the social fabric of this country. Who can forget Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian's crazy pass against the Redskins. Lynn Swann's graceful catches against the Cowboys for the Steelers were memorable for their beauty, nevermind the touchdowns. Humongous lineman Refrigerator Perry lining up at fullback and scoring for the Bears ranks way up there in the Fans' pleasure ledger. Cowboys defensive end Ed "Too Tall" Jones rushing like a manmountain must have been beyond scary (see photo of Jones charging QB Terry Bradshaw of the Pittsburgh Steelers)above). It goes on and on.

So, worry not about the Cowboys. There are still 14 games left to play this year. And if they blow it and don't make it to this particular season's Super Bowl, well, there'll be another one next year...

- 30 -