The Dallas Cowboys

I clearly remember having procured a large piece of grey paper.  It was actually the unfolded folder from a Mead three ring binder.  But it was grey which was close to silver and that was going to have to do for this little art project.  I was drawing a Dallas Cowboys helmet to hang on my wall.  I had never tried to draw a helmet before and because I had chosen to draw the finest helmet in the world of football, no one at my house was eager to help me.  Had I been working on a Bears or Packers helmet, there would have been many available hands, but I stood alone as a Cowboy.
So, how does a young girl like myself become a fan of America's team?  It had to of happened prior to the 1978 season because I remember Roger Staubach quarterbacking.  I remember Terry Bradshaw being my arch nemesis. I remember thinking Fran wasn't a very football player type of name, but neither was Rosey and look at him!
I remember Tom Landry and his suit.  And today I look at the likes of Bill Belichick and am embarrassed for him and his flashdance styled sweatshirt.  And his long haired hippie QB.  (oh, that's another story!)
I suppose it was the cheerleaders that I first noticed.  What girl didn't want to be a cheerleader?  And to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, Holy Cow.  And I had already been a rhinestone cowgirl (thank you, Glen Campbell) for Tot Lot.  So I am sure that that was the initial draw to the Cowboys. 
In 1985-86, I jumped onto the Chicago Bears bandwagon and learned the Super Bowl shuffle.  The Bears were always my second favorite team so this wasn't a big leap at all.  I remember watching Walter Payton play and my dad would point out to me how he always pushed the ball forward when he was hit.  Walter Payton will always be my definition of a class act. 
In 1988, I fell in love with another Cowboy, Danny White.  The fan, not the former QB.  Though Danny was named after him.  Beginning in 1991, we have successfully raised three additional Dallas Cowboy fans.  Ashlyn, Hayley and Jacob.  There was a period in 1994 that Hayley wanted to be a Vikings fan because she thought they were the Lion Kings.  Once she understood that there was no greater team than Dallas, she came back into the fold.
It is never easy to be a Cowboys fan.  If we are having a great year, we are hated.  If we are having a bad year, we are ridiculed.  But I continue to wear the Blue and Silver.   I continue to yell at the TV, swear at Tony Romo and curse Jerry Jones for picking up Terrell Owens and letting Marion Barber go.  (Good thing the Bears are my #2).
And today, we put another hash mark in the win column.  Had it gone the other way, well, I would have been disappointed, but I would still love the 'boys, wear the blue and silver, be a fan of America's Team!