Alright, before everyone gets rubbed the wrong way here...this is NOT a topic for Cowboy-bashing or for those who wear star-rimmed glasses...

Honestly, what gave them this distinction?

While the Cowboys put together some good teams under Landry, they tended to be bested by the Steelers. They had this distinction before the run in the early '90s. And now they would probably be considered among the bottom third of the NFL.

It only makes sense to me that a team called the "Patriots" is more deserving. I'm a Browns fan and I think Cleveland is more representative of the American spirit than Dallas...but maybe that's just me.

Seriously, if someone can point out the origin, I'd really appreciate it. Someone can argue the merits somewhere else...

That's a really good question and a legitamate one. I know the Steelers were better during their four superbowl runs. But the Cowboys have been consistently competetive in almost every decade. Dallas is liked all over the states that's a fact. Look at merchandise rankings. I'm a so-cal guy and most everyone hates the boyz and I love it. BTW, the boyz will be in the upper half of the league here with in 2 years easy. I guess my answer is just pure winning in almost every decade. I mean in the 70's they went to the superbowl 5 times I believe and won 2. That's a lot of winning wouldn't you say?

[ August 23, 2002, 10:38 PM: Message edited by: carney8 ]

If my feabile mind still serves me...

Way back when the AFL was part of the 'other' league Tex Stram (sp) was part owner and GM of the then Dallas Texans..when the leagues merged..the ALF teams needed a marketing 'gimic' 'theme' etc and Tex was a Master at PR...and with that...Tex came up with the idea of 'Americas Team' for the Texans..and named the team the Cowboys...it also didn't hurt to have a young Navy Officer as the leader and QB for the next decade or so...

There may be more but this is how I remember the story...

That's an excellent take Scoot. I'd agree.

The Cheerleaders.

I don't think that's quite right, Scooter. The Dallas Texans moved to KC and became the Chiefs. The Cowboys were just an expansion team in 1960, the same year the AFL started up. In fact both the Dallas Texans and the Dallas Cowboys played for 2 or 3 seasons in Dallas before merger and before the Texans moved to KC.

However, my guess is that it probably was some kind of marketing thing, similar to how the Atlanta Braves became "America's team". WTBS started spouting that, but it just never took off as well as the Cowboys did. I would agree that having Staubach as the QB probably helped perpetuate the nickname.

Any NFL owner that gets plastic surgery done and wasn't in a horrific fire, should be banned for life. What a CowGirl, he sure is purdy!!

Since 1963 the top three teams as far as winning percentage in Football.

Raiders
Miami
Minnesota

If anyone has dibs on "the real" America's Team
it's one of these three. Actually it's ONE

The Raiders as "America's Team"? Yea right, it'd be implying we were a nation of the thugs, by the thugs, and for the thugs.

Good one TenX. Acctually we are a nation of the rich, by the rich, for the rich. So I guess that would mean that "America's Team" should be either Dallas, or S.F. I would think.

I would think the Skins top all with a 800 mil price tag and 100 mil payroll two years ago...

Raiders
Miami
Minnesota

Tell you what, I'll let you combine the 3 teams and their super bowls and we'll see who's the best. It's either SF or Dallas. And I say Dallas who's been competetive in more decades, but I have the utmost (sp?) respect for the niners, (as much as I hate them).

Raiders, Miami and Minnesota are a joke when we're talking about winning the Big one. So have you figured out who has the most SB's with all 3 combined?

Case Closed!!!!

[ August 26, 2002, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: carney8 ]

Wow!

Why does everynody call the Raiders thugs? When there was some trouble with Darrell Russell, they dropped him. I may be forgetting something but Miami is famous for Duper and Clayton the coacaine connection, right? Al Davis still gets no respect, he runs his company the way he wants to and everybody gives him grief for not cowering to the league. Oh yeah, isn't he in the Hall of Fame? We can't shake the bad boy image and that's fine but honestly, I would have no problem taking my 3 year old to a game and I have been a season ticket holder since they came back to Oakland. If there is thuggery at the game or on the field, I haven't seen it since they came back in '95. Just a thought or two. I Guess we must define America's Team.

Uh oh, Ten X, may have a point there. Looks like the Redbutts may be able to lay claim to the title.

You're painting too nice of a picture for your Raiders behavior at the games. They are drunk before they enter the stadium and then they drink more when they get in. You can take your 3 year old and subject them to that behavior, it's your right as a parent but I will not. I'm sure you've heard the same stories I have when an opposing teams fan gets the crap beat out of them if they so much as raise a hand in celebration. Raiders are a successful organization and so is Alice Davis but don't sit here and tell us that the fans at the game are anything but out of control drunks. Your team has that label and they deserve it. Dallas in the 90's were labeled as convicts and we deserved it, even though we were also the team of the 90's (had to throw that in there).

You dropped Darrell Russell? I maybe wrong but didnt he get suspended? I don't think you guys had a choice. You can correct me if I'm wrong.

Carney, if it is all about winning the big one, then my vote would have to go to the 9ers. I am pretty sure their winning percentage in the superbowl blows the Boys away

When I called them thugs I was indeed referring to the fans of the Raiders, not so much the Raiders themselves. The fans are as much a part of a franchise as the players, in my opinion.

I don't want America's team to be represented by stupidity, another words I don't want the owner of America's team to be some guy who will take a kicker in the first round, even the lamest owners in my football leagues know not to do that.

First off, Any CowGirl claiming that the Raiders are hooligans better get their facts straight. More CowGirls have been arrested in the last 5 years than everyone else in the NFL. Saint Michael Irvin, Nate (I don't sell it I use it) Newton, Erik Williams, etc., etc.,.

Secondly, Raiders fans are the butch Gays from San Francisco that like a little more "meat" with their potatoes. After every play the entire section I sat in said Yesss(lisp). They are however the prettiest fans around. All that makeup and costumes. It's like the Village People circa 2002.

Glassman, I can't argue against you with that comment. It's your opinion and with both teams holding 5 super bowl wins then you can make a case with the team with the best winning percentage, and I don't know who has the best. But as far as Americas team is concerned the Boyz by far outweigh the niners in wide spread fans across the US. You can admit that right?