Boys Will Be Boys (40 page)

Chapter 1: Scissors to the Neck

When Gene Upshaw visited Dallas minicamp
Randy Galloway, “Personality of Irvin Has a Catch,”
Dallas Morning News
, May 29, 1993.

When Morquisha reached three
Jamie Aron, “A Memory Drives a Cowboys’ Lineman,” Associated Press, September 20, 1999.

“He’s an example of how if you have skill”
Ibid.

“I just lost it,” said Irvin. “I mean, my head, I lost it.”
Julie Lyons, “Think Mike,”
Dallas Observer
, September 5, 2002.

The tip of the scissors ripped into McIver’s skin
Kevin O’Keeffe, “Smooth move, Jerry: Make Irvin pay up,”
San Antonio Express-News
, August 10, 1998.

Chapter 2: Save Your Gas

“As far back as I can remember,”
Kent Demaret, “Tom Landry is a Believer: In Himself, His Printouts, His Cowboys and His Lord,”
People
magazine, December 18, 1977.

He crashed but once, following a bombing run over Czecho
slovakia.
Edwin Shrake, “QB or Not QB: That Is the Question,”
Sports Illustrated
, December 10, 1973.

Clint Williams Murchinson, Jr., was willing to take the risk
William Oscar Johnson, “There Are No Holes at the Top,”
Sports Illustrated
, September 1, 1982.

“People want to know what makes Tom tick
Shrake, “QB or Not QB: That Is the Question.”

Schramm offered Landry a five-year contract paying $35,000
Johnson, “There Are No Holes at the Top.”

“LeBaron used to raise his hand for a fair catch
David Moore, “Building America’s Team,” www.dallasnews.com, no date.

The Cowboys practiced in Burnett Field
Tom Landry with Greg Lewis,
Tom Landry: An Autobiography
, p. 135

“The America’s Team concept had swept the country,” said Henderson
Skip Bayless,
God’s Coach
, p. 148.

Bright had first met Landry in 1957
Peter Golenbock,
Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes
, p. 693.

Fast forward to 1988, when Bright’s holdings
Ibid., p. 710.

“Bum would like to see the Cowboys
Paul Duke, Jr., “Like Many Other Texas Institutions, the Cowboys Haven’t Found a Buyer,”
Wall Street Journal
, September 8, 1988.

An obscure Arkansas oil driller with a cache
Ibid.

“Jonesie had this unique way of verbalizing
Jim Dent,
King of the Cowboys
, p. 54.

“Nobody,”
Sports Illustrated
’s Ed Hinton once wrote,
Ed Hinton, “Deep into His Job,”
Sports Illustrated,
September 7, 1992.

Hence, in 1988 Jones managed to spend
Ron Borges, “Dallas Maverick,”
Boston Globe
, January 31, 1993.

Located on Lemmon Avenue in Dallas’s Uptown area
Joe Simnacher, “Rites Are Wednesday for Mia’s Co-Founder,”
Dallas Morning News
, January 9, 2001.

People literally drove across the state to indulge
Patricia Sharpe, John Morthland, June Naylor, William Albright, and Eric Gerber, “The Greatest Tacos Ever Sold,”
Texas Monthly
, December 2006.

On the morning of February 25, 1989
Bernie Miklasz, “Cowboys Sale Near; Landry Likely Out,”
Dallas Morning News
, February 25, 1989.

Bright later presented Jones with a quarter
Matt Mosley, “Jones:
‘I Just Remember It Being Overwhelming,’”
Dallas Web
, February 25, 2004.

As if the big news of the day were a 4H bake sale
Jim Dent,
King of the Cowboys
, pp. 96–99.

Normally cool under pressure
Ibid., p 98.

This will be our last…meeting
Golenbock, p. 716.

Chapter 3: The Right Man

“We haven’t done half a dozen things
Ed Hinton, “Deep into His Job,”
Sports Illustrated,
September 7, 1992.

“Jimmy never thought there was any difference
Ibid.

With rare exception, Johnson was
Ibid.

He was nicknamed “Scar Head” by a childhood buddy
Steve Hubbard,
Shark Among Dolphins
, p. 67.

As a senior against Nebraska.
Jimmy Johnson,
Turning the Thing Around,
pp. 70–76.

As an assistant coach at Picayune
Ibid., p. 78.

Lacking gear for so many “players,”
Ibid., p. 99.

Midway through a convention of college coaches
Ed Hinton, “Deep into His Job.”

Several weeks later Jankovich offered Johnson the job
Johnson, pp. 104–9.

When safety Bennie Blades intercepted
Bruce Feldman,
’Cane Mutiny
, pp. 60–61.

From his seat in the CBS booth, broadcaster Ara
Johnson, pp. 124–25.

Switzer’s Sooners were led by linebacker Brian Bosworth
Feldman, pp. 76–83.

Chapter 4: The Asthma Field

Early in camp kicker Shaun Burdick
Ron Borges, “Jones and Johnson Are Riding Herd on Cowboys,”
Boston Globe
, September 19, 1989.

Fifth-round draft choice Keith Jennings
“Draftee Jennings Walks Out,”
Dallas Cowboys Official Weekly
, August 5, 1989.

“Ray,” Johnson coolly informed the media
Ron Borges, “Jones and Johnson Are Riding Herd on Cowboys.”

Though Johnson was open to the idea of bringing Pelluer back
David Barron, “Cowboys QB White Retires,” United Press International, July 12, 1989.

“This is not a formality,” he told Sports Illustrated.
Austin Murphy, “A Duel in the Sun,”
Sports Illustrated,
August 21, 1989.

Chapter 5: Henryetta Troy

Troy Aikman officially joined the Dallas Cowboys
Gene Wojciechowski, “A Very Good Year—To Forget,”
Los Angeles Times
, June 22, 1990.

“It takes a while for someone to gain my trust,” he said
. Pat Jordan, “Troy’s Triumph; Troy Aikman, Quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys,”
Playboy
, October 1993.

Raised in the Southern California town of Cerritos
Troy Aikman,
Things Change
, pp. 2–4.

Though he overcame the condition to become one of the town’s best
Pat Jordan, “Troy’s Triumph; Troy Aikman, Quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.”

“We ended up seven miles out of town
John Ed Bradley, “Troy Aikman,”
Sports Illustrated Presents: Troy Aikman: A Salute to an NFL Legend
, July 26, 2006.

Like countless boys growing up outside of Los Angeles
Aikman, pp. 2–4.

“He was a tough old country boy who loved football,”
Pat Jordan, “Troy’s Triumph; Troy Aikman, Quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.”

Hence, Troy Aikman began his junior high gridiron
Aikman, p. 10.

Years later, Troy still recalls
Jill Lieber, “True Grit at Quarterback,”
USA Today
, January 5, 1996.

One could throw five hundred jobs into a hat
Jeff Weinstock, “Troy Aikman Interview,”
Sport Magazine
, July 1993.

“None of us matured as soon as Troy did,”
Alison Colburn, “Ex-Teammates Say Aikman Era Exciting,”
Tulsa World
, January 29, 1996.

“Barry wanted to run the wishbone.
Barry Tramel, “Decision to Leave OU Set Aikman’s Career in Motion,”
Daily Oklahoman
, August 30, 1992.

Chapter 6: Would the Mother Who Left Her 11 Kids at Texas Stadium Please Come and Get Them!

“Our rivalry is certainly as big as it ever was,”
Mike Rabun, “Cowboys, Redskins Both 0–2 Entering Sunday Showdown,” United Press International, September 23, 1989.

To kick off the afternoon, Jones escorted actress Elizabeth Taylor
Tom Friend, “Redskins Envelop Underdeveloped Cowboys, 30–7,”
Washington Post
, September 25, 1989.

Receiver Art Monk, a Redskin since 1980
Mike Rabun, “Redskins 30, Cowboys 7,” United Press International, September 24, 1989.

While most boys were busy chasing girls
Jeff Prugh,
The Herschel Walker Story
, p. 45.

“Herschel Walker!” wrote Jim Minter
Ibid.

Walker studied dance in college
Howard G. Chua-Eoan, “People,”
Time
, April 18, 1988.

“My problem is I have never let people
Jill Lieber,
Sports Illustrated
, “Please, Let Me Run,” June 29, 1992.

When the back complained
Robert Kirley, “A Packed Stadium Will Greet Walker,”
Times
(London), September 15, 1989.

“We might have an interest,” Lynn said, playing coy.
Bob Ackles with Ian Mulgrew,
The Water Boy: From the Sidelines to the Owner’s Box
, p. 155.

Wrote Mike Rabun of United Press International: “Let’s go over this one more time
Mike Rabun, “Why Did the Cowboys Trade Herschel Walker?” United Press International, October 16, 1989.

The Cowboys had paid him a $1.25 million “exit bonus”
Ron St. Angelo and Norm Hitzges,
Greatest Team Ever
, p. 26.

In his debut with the Vikings, Walker
Peter King, “Sudden Impact,”
Sports Illustrated
, October 18, 1989.

Wrote Michael Wilbon of the
Washington Post
:
Michael Wilbon, “Walker’s 148 Yards Make Vikings Look Super,”
Washington Post
, October 15, 1989.

A hot T-shirt in town read THE H-BOMB HAS LANDED ON MINNESOTA.
Jill Lieber, “Please, Let Me Run.”

“When we brought him here, there went our Super Bowl hopes,” said Vikings safety Joey Browner.
ESPN; interview with Joey Browner, “The Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Blame the
Minnesota Vikings for Trading Herschel Walker on October of 1989.”

Months after the deal was completed, Jones and Lynn met in a conference room
Jim Dent,
King of the Cowboys
, p. 120.

“We are making progress,” Johnson said afterward.
Tim Cowlishaw, “Alone at the Bottom,”
Dallas Morning News
, October 16, 1989.

By now, life at Valley Ranch was unbearable
Eugene Signorini, “Fans in Dallas Losing Interest in 0–8 Cowboys,”
Oregonian
, October 31, 1989.

Ed Werder of the
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
summed up the bleakness
Ed Werder, “Report Card Won’t Make Cowboys Proud,”
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
, November 2, 1989.

The Eagles not only won, 27–0, but left the Cowboys looking foolish.
“Johnson Claims Bounty Was Set,”
Washington Post
, November 14, 1989.

“Sunday’s futile finish for the Cowboys was an appropriate
Randy Galloway, “Not Everyone Thought Cowbows Franchise Would Revive,”
Orange County Register
, January 1, 1993.

Some fifteen hundred miles away Tom Landry
Dave Anderson, “America’s Ex-Coach Assesses the Cowboys,”
New York Times
, December 17, 1989.

Chapter 7: Welcome to the Emmitt Zone

As he walked toward the podium in a Valley Ranch
Emmitt Smith,
The Emmitt Zone
, p. 106.

His first two cravings, USC linebacker Junior Seau and
Ron St. Angelo and Norm Hitzges,
Greatest Team Ever
, p. 31.

When Howell dismissed the offer as insulting
Ken Brazzel, “Holdout Jones Agrees to Cowboys’ Terms,”
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
, August 4, 1990.

In Gainesville, Smith was strolling to and from classes
John Romano, “Emmitt’s in Motion: He Makes the Catch,”
St. Petersburg Times
, August 28, 1990.

Not only was Timmy Smith heading the depth chart
“Cowboys Trade for Alonzo Highsmith,” United Press International, September 3, 1990.

Afterward, a distraught Henning took exaggerated pulls
Don
Patterson, “Chargers Fake Themselves Out of It,”
Los Angeles Times
, September 10, 1990.

“In two years Aikman will be the best quarterback in the NFL,”
Jeff Hardie, “Foe’s Are Counting on Aikman’s Arrival,”
Washington Times
, September 18, 1990.

The following year Shula was enrolled in the University of Baltimore Law School when Wally English
Gerald Eskenazi, “Shula Son Works His Own Way,”
New York Times
, January 14, 1985.

Any hope of a Shula-Smith bond died in the aftermath
Smith, p. 118.

Finally, after the Week 10 loss to San Francisco dropped
Ibid., p. 120.

During the game, many in the press box noticed a striking sight
Mike Rabun, “Cowboys Coach and Quarterback Try Talking,” United Press International, November 19, 1990.

“Everybody in this league knows the road to toughness runs right
John Hawkins, “Eagles KO Aikman, Cowboys,”
Washington Times
, December 24, 1990.

In the locker room after the game, Johnson was in a foul mood.
Rick Gosselin, “Losing Cowboys Are Left in Limbo,”
Dallas Morning News
, December 31, 1990.

Chapter 8: Making a Run at This Thing

While attending Primitive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale
Julie Lyons, “Back in Bounds,”
Dallas Observer
, September 5, 2001.