I have learned a tough lesson these seven weeks of football season: don’t set your hopes too high. I’m not going to rag on the Dallas Cowboys or attempt to dissect what is wrong with this team right now, but I am going to jot down some thoughts about how disappointing the past few weeks have been watching my favorite team’s Super Bowl-caliber talent spiraling downward.
Prior to the preseason and during training camp I followed the latest news about Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Marion Barber, DeMarcus Ware and other studs. The most common-heard prediction regarding this team led by a coach and a quarterback who have never won a playoff game between the two of them was the regular season was simply a formality that the Boys would have to sit through while they waited to find out who their competition would be from the AFC in the big game. Watching America’s Team on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” only helped build up my anticipation for what glory was to come for this group. I overlooked every mistake during the preseason, chalking it up to rustiness and told myself – like many fans are still saying – that it didn’t matter what happened at the beginning of the season, only how a team is performing at the end. And then reality started to creep in, with signs like Owens supposed complaining of not getting the ball enough, Romo’s misguided passes falling short of their target and stupid penalty after stupid penalty costing the team costly yardage. These things created a wave of anxiety growing higher and higher until the disappointing loss in Arizona, numerous injuries to key players and the Pacman suspension entirely crushed any dreams I had of Romo and Head Coach Wade Phillips proving this team was the ultimate powerhouse in the NFL.
I think it was highly unfair for everyone in the media and my close circle of friends to convince me that this team was going to have a cakewalk to Tampa Bay, which is where the Super Bowl is being held for those who don’t know or care.
I’ve made a personal decision that I think is for the best. It may sound misguided and lazy, but I think it is for the best. What I’ve decided to do is no longer set any expectations for any of my teams. The Cowboys no longer will be penciled in my mind for the Super Bowl. The Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars are going to have to prove throughout the season and the playoffs that they are worthy of my hopes for a championship season. And when it comes to the Texas Rangers, my confidence in a win is going to be based on a game-by-game basis.
I think a lot more people should take this route. I’m not promoting the idea to have no goals. In fact, if you have more than just a vested interest in something as menial as a sports team’s performance then please, by all means, set goals for yourself. Have some ambition.
However, rooting for a losing team shouldn’t send you into such a frenzy that your anger is taken out on your family (or the television set) or you end up not being able to perform properly at work the next day.
So summing this up: goals good, high hopes bad. That concludes today’s lesson in how the Dallas Cowboys are ruining my week. Good day.
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