Top 10 Reasons Why WE LOVE Our Dallas Cowboys (6-10)

Not a single team in the National Football League evokes such an emotional response at the mere mention of their name more than our Dallas Cowboys. Our ‘Boys are just that special breed of sports team (much like the Yankees and Lakers) in that they garner just as much nationwide hatred as they do nationwide love.

A little about my fandom…

I’m that Cowboys fan that loves to breathe Dallas Cowboys football 365 days a year. I’m that Dallas fan that “needs help” for his “Cowboys issues.” I’m that Cowboys fan that admits I have an addiction (and stars permanently marked on my chest). I’m that Cowboys fan that can teach a college graduate course on the Dallas Cowboys History; and I would grade VERY hard! I’m that “lifer” that takes it WAY too serious!

 So, whether you love to hate the Dallas Cowboys or even hate to love the Dallas Cowboys, I have a Top 10 list for you! Unlike my last Top 10 list, “Top 10 Reasons Why People HATE Our Dallas Cowboys,” this Top 10 list if for MY people, MY family, MY brothers and sisters, MY fellow…Cowboys Nation!

Nov 6, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys ring of honoree Drew Pearson (right) hugs former quarterback Roger Staubach during a halftime ceremony against the Seattle Seahawks at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

And don’t be surprised if a few reasons show up on BOTH lists. After all, there is a thin line between LOVE and HATE.

 Without further ado, here are the Top 10 Reasons Why WE LOVE Our Dallas Cowboys…

10. The Larger Than Life Players

No matter the decade, the Dallas Cowboys have had their share of star-studded, larger than life personalities. In the 1960’s it was “Dandy” Don Meredith, the “faster than a bullet” Bobby Hayes, the noble giant Bob Lilly (“Mr. Cowboy”) and even the “real-life Cowboy” Walt Garrison. In the 1970’s it was the All-American golden boy Roger Staubach a.k.a. “Captain America,” the towering Ed “Too Tall” Jones, the always flamboyant Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson and the “mean” but ever so “beautiful” Harvey Martin.

The Heisman Trophy backfield of Tony Dorsett and Herschel Walker, “Thurman’s Thieves,” alongside the “Manster,” Randy White proved to be enough star power in the 1980’s. The 1990’s brought young bright stars such as Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman collectively known as “The Triplets,” Deion “Primetime” Sanders and the always unpredictable Charles Haley to town. And more recently, we have been radiated toward players including; Tony Romo (unknown player thrust into eventual stardom), the always over the top Terrell Owens (“The Player”) and even the young dynamic Dez Bryant.

Like movie stars on the silver screen, we as fans are instantly drawn to these gridiron stars. From our inception in 1960 to today, we have been captivated by these charismatic stars that always tend to put us at the edge of our seats on Sundays.

9. We Are ALWAYS Relevant

 One could call this one a blessing or a curse. As we ALL know, with our Cowboys, it doesn’t matter if we are coming off of a 5-11 season or a 12-4 season, expectations and national hype constantly surround us. Every year it seems it’s another “Super Bowl or bust-type” season.

Maybe it’s because we are just expected to be great every year. Maybe it’s because of our iconic history and past success. Maybe it’s because we are a money making machine. Maybe it has something to do with Jerry Jones and his “always in the spotlight” method of running the Cowboys. Or maybe it’s just that beautiful star that sends a beacon of hope to the Dallas faithful across the globe.

Whatever it is, everyone on the planet it seems has an opinion when it comes to our favorite football team and because of that simple detail, we are always on someone’s radar. Love us or hate us, we’re ALWAYS relevant. One of the perks of being the Dallas Cowboys I suppose.

8. We Are Easy To Follow As We Are ALWAYS Highly Visible

Now you might recognize this one from my Top 10 list counting down the hatred of our ‘Boys. Does “EVERYONE is ALWAYS talking about them on TV and they are ALWAYS playing on national TV” sound familiar? This was reason number seven on that list. Haters don’t like to see us on TV constantly, but Cowboys fans across the country need a way to follow and keep up with their team, and therefore can’t possibly get enough of the Cowboys.

Now I keep up with my ‘Boys from visiting DallasCowboys.com three to five times a day, (I know, I have issues) reading up on The Landry Hat of course and keeping up on all of my updates from Twitter, Facebook and the 5-10 Dallas Cowboys apps I have on my Android smart phone (God bless technology right?). And of course I watch every snap of every game during the season on NFL Sunday Ticket, though, where I am at (south of Houston) only 2-4 games a season are blacked out here due to regional broadcasts of the Houston Texans’ games (God bless Direct TV right?)

But many fans across the country may not have the internet, or a smart phone, or NFL Sunday Ticket from Direct TV. But they do have the tube, and if they don’t have the tube or cable for that matter, the nearest sports bar does! Fans that live out of market (Texas and/or Dallas/Fort Worth area) oftentimes rely on the tube to keep up with the daily news and happenings of the Dallas Cowboys.

If something happens that is even the slightest bit newsworthy regarding our ‘Boys, it WILL BE plastered on SportsCenter and across the ESPN networks. If Tony Romo suffers from the tragic bad hair day and you live in Idaho or Utah or Maine, chances are, you will hear about it if you catch even five minutes of ESPN. Because we are always highly visible on TV, little Johnny, from the thickest part of Giants country in the heart of New York, can stay close to “America’s Team” (God bless little Johnny right?)