There is even a common slogan most Cowboys haters’ follow known as the “A.B.C. Method.” This of course stands for “Anybody BUT the Cowboys.” Just as we Cowboys fans grew up soaking up the ‘Boys and all their glory and falling in love, others were trained “You root for our team AND WHOEVER Dallas is playing.” So it would then seem most Dallas haters’ have indeed TWO favorite teams.

As we find out last week, it should come as no surprise that there is an entire nation of fans and haters’ out there when it comes to our ‘Boys. Before we continue the countdown, let’s take a look at the list so far…

10. “The Dallas Cowboys wear white at home”

9. “All the players have a ‘better than you’ attitude”

8. “We ALWAYS ‘have to watch’ them on Thanksgiving”

7. “EVERYONE is ALWAYS talking about them on TV and they are ALWAYS playing on national TV”

6. “They Just Suck” (One of the most common I might add)

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Feb 5, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Steve Sabol at the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame announcement show at the Super Bowl XLV media center at the International Conference and Exposition Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Blair Motion Picture started in 1962 as former World War II veteran Ed Sabol bid $3,000 to get the rights to film the NFL Championship game between the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers.  The Packers won that game, 16-7 but that wasn’t the only history making moment.  After filming the game, Ed Sabol started working on filming more games and re-named his motion picture company to a little more appropriate and now worldwide name, NFL Films in 1964.

Ed brought along his son, Steve to help film the games.  During the early years in the 1960’s and 1970’s, Steve served as a cameraman while helping his father got NFL Films started and on its way.  The ESPN Network started up in the late 70’s and NFL Films was hired to be its production company.  Steve went from being behind the camera to in front of it as a TV personality, hosting the show “NFL Films Presents”.

NFL Films received over 100 Emmy’s while Steve garnered 35 Emmy awards as well.  He earned them for writing, cinematography, editing, directing, and producing.

In 1978, NFL Films did a documentary on the Dallas Cowboys and Bob Ryan, the voice behind the film coined the phrase, “America’s Team”.  The name has stuck despite the fact that former head coach Tom Landry objected to the team being called that.  Landry felt like it would give the opposing teams more reason to play harder against the Cowboys.

Since then, there have been many films dedicated to the Cowboys including the production of both seasons (2002 and 2008) of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” Training camp reality show.  NFL Films is also responsible for several DVD productions for the Cowboys including “The Dallas Cowboys: The Complete History”

And behind every one of those films, Steve Sabol had a hand it somehow or the other.  Sabol was also instrumental in the formation of the NFL Network.  NFL Films also produces several different shows from various networks including HBO, Showtime, Velocity, ESPN, NBC Sports, and the NFL Network.

Chances are that if you ever watched anything on the TV that had something to do with the NFL, nine chances out of ten, Steve Sabol and NFL Films had something to do with it.  Sabol may have passed, but his legacy will live on in the films he did himself and the production company that gave you…”America’s Team”.

Our condolences go to his family and friends, but they should always take heart that Steve Sabol along with his father, Ed, left leaving the greatest of accomplishments.  It is this writer’s opinion that if it weren’t for Steve Sabol and NFL Films, the NFL wouldn’t be where they are today.

It seems every year someone mentions how the Dallas Cowboys should no longer be referred to as America’s Team. Heck, there are even people who think that the Cowboys aren’t even Texas’ team (see that laughable argument here). Wherever you stand on this patriotic moniker (as even Cowboys fans disagree on the title), it’s important to note the silliness of this argument. I say this, not as a member of a particular side, but as a football fan trying to take a step back and look at the whole picture. (more…)