You’ll find that no other sports nickname seems to be thought of as debatable. You’ll also find that no other nickname seems to insult people. I’ve never heard anyone talk about how repulsive cannibalism is when discussing the Purple People Eaters. I’ve never heard anyone discuss how calling the Chicago Bears the Monsters of the Midway scares children who hear the word monsters. I do think one time I remember someone asking if Green Bay, Wisconsin is still Titletown, or if that belongs to Boston given the success of the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, and Boston Bruins. However, that was an isolated incident, and the immediate conclusion seemed to be that the Green Bay Packers could still lay claim to being Titletown.

May 10, 2013; Irving, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Gavin Escobar (89) and linebacker Brandon Magee (46) participate in drills during the rookie minicamp at Dallas Cowboys Headquarters in Irving, TX. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

So why is it the nickname America’s Team causes such discussion? Quite frankly it is the fact that the Dallas Cowboys are right in the center of the NFL map, the center of attention, and if things are really bigger in Texas then the spotlight certainly shines brighter in Dallas than anywhere else on the NFL map. Putting it in plain language the nickname fits, and it does not fit any other team. Over the years I have heard that the nickname doesn’t work because no one voted on it. The late Bert Sugar even wrote a book about that very topic called, “I Hate the Dallas Cowboys, and Who Elected Them America’s Team Anyway?” My immediate question to Bert and others of that mindset is, “Who voted the Denver Broncos the Orange Crush?” How come no one asks that? Or why the Atlanta Falcons were the Grits Blitz? Where are the recounts demanded on these elections?

They don’t exist. The reason is simple, there was no election to anoint the Cowboys as America’s Team. Let’s set the record straight. The nickname was penned by Bob Ryan of NFL Films as the title of their retrospective of the 1978 Dallas Cowboys. He coined the name due to noticing that no matter what city the Cowboys played in they drew large contingents of fans. He also noted for the Dallas Cowboys Weekly back in 1979 that he had even seen fans in Europe wearing Cowboys apparel.No one elected them to that nickname. They didn’t even politic for it. He bestowed it upon them for a highlight film and it stuck.

Aug 25, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Katy Marie performs during a timeout from the game against the St Louis Rams at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s the rest of the Cowboy’s schedule:

NFL/HALL OF FAME GAME – AUGUST 4

Dallas vs. Miami (NBC, 8/4)

WEEK 1 – AUGUST 8-11

Dallas at Oakland

WEEK 2 – AUGUST 15-19

Dallas at Arizona

WEEK 3 – AUGUST 22-25

Cincinnati at Dallas

WEEK 4 – AUGUST 29-30

Houston at Dallas

Here’s the entire NFL Preseason schedule:

WEEK 1 – AUGUST 8-11

Cincinnati at Atlanta (ESPN, 8/8)
Arizona at Green Bay
Baltimore at Tampa Bay
Buffalo at Indianapolis
Chicago at Carolina
Denver at San Francisco
Houston at Minnesota
Kansas City at New Orleans
Miami at Jacksonville
New England at Philadelphia
NY Giants at Pittsburgh
NY Jets at Detroit
St. Louis at Cleveland
Seattle at San Diego
Washington at Tennessee

WEEK 2 – AUGUST 15-19

San Diego at Chicago (ESPN, 8/15)
Tampa Bay at New England (FOX, 8/16)
Indianapolis at NY Giants (FOX, 8/18)
Pittsburgh at Washington (ESPN, 8/19)
Atlanta at Baltimore
Carolina at Philadelphia
Denver at Seattle
Detroit at Cleveland
Green Bay at St. Louis
Jacksonville at NY Jets
Miami at Houston
Minnesota at Buffalo
Oakland at New Orleans
San Francisco at Kansas City
Tennessee at Cincinnati

WEEK 3 – AUGUST 22-25

Carolina at Baltimore (ESPN, 8/22)
Seattle at Green Bay (CBS, 8/23)
St. Louis at Denver (CBS, 8/24)
New Orleans at Houston (FOX, 8/25)
Minnesota at San Francisco (NBC, 8/25)
Atlanta at Tennessee
Buffalo at Washington
Chicago at Oakland
Cleveland at Indianapolis
Kansas City at Pittsburgh
New England at Detroit
NY Jets at NY Giants
Philadelphia at Jacksonville
San Diego at Arizona
Tampa Bay at Miami

WEEK 4 – AUGUST 29-30

Arizona at Denver
Baltimore at St. Louis
Cleveland at Chicago
Detroit at Buffalo
Green Bay at Kansas City
Indianapolis at Cincinnati
Jacksonville at Atlanta
New Orleans at Miami
NY Giants at New England
Oakland at Seattle
Philadelphia at NY Jets
Pittsburgh at Carolina
San Francisco at San Diego
Tennessee at Minnesota
Washington at Tampa Bay