FRISCO - Jerry Jones has received - and has deserved - his fair share of criticism during his roller-coaster'y 37-year reign. But the Hall-of-Fame owner has also performed a business-related miracle.
He's kept the Dallas Cowboys wildly popular and profitable ... without the actual football team being productive enough on the field.
A Super Bowl-less drought in its 30th year hasn't curbed the Cowboys from remaining one of the most attractive - and polarizing - teams in the NFL.
And Jerry wouldn't have it any other way.
On this national holiday weekend, it seems appropriate to again recognize the Cowboys as, still, "America's Team." ... while also getting a chuckle over some of the attachments that come with that.
The Cowboys haven't played in a NFC Championship Game since Troy Aikman was the quarterback. Don't look now, but he's been a TV analyst for 24 years. Nonetheless, the team remains one of the most powerful brands in the league, if not the world.
Jones bought the Cowboys and Texas Stadium in 1989 for $140 million. They have been the world's most valuable franchise for nine consecutive years and is now estimated to be worth more than $10 billion. ... or, given the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers just sold for $10 billion, we'd better up the Cowboys to, let's sa, $15 million.
Last year they endured a disappointing 7-10 season, yet were still No. 2 in merchandise sales (behind only the San Francisco 49ers) and Micah Parsons had the fourth best-selling jersey (behind Christian McCaffrey, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts).
As for attendance, the Cowboys led the NFL in both total (more than 1.4 million witnessed their 17 games) and home games (with 130,000 more than the second-place New York Giants).
And now comes this year's TV schedule, where the networks are still fighting each other for the right to broadcast the Cowboys in prime time.
So the Cowboys are No. 1 in many, many justifiable ways.
And ... now they're also ranked as "The Most 'American' Uniform in Sports''?
Great. But ... why?
"The Cowboys are America's Team after all,'' writes TheSpun, trying to justify the pick. "Dallas hasn't changed its uniforms in decades and for good reason - they're among the best in sports. The iconic blue, silver and white stand out on Sundays. The Cowboys became one of the first teams to rock white at home, too. And for that reason, they are truly iconic.''
Great. But ... what does any of that have to do with being "Most American''?
cowboys helmet stripes -courtesy noah bullard nbc5
More "American'' than the star-laden Washington Capitals' red, white and blue sweaters? More "American'' than the New England Patriots' gear? More "American'' than the WNBA's New York Liberty, with a logo featuring the famous flame?
NFL Films officially dubbed the Cowboys "America's Team" in its 1978 highlight reel. But the moniker is as true today than ever.
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Through the years, several NFL teams have made a run at "America's Team." During their six-championship dynasty the New England Patriots tried to yank the prestigious moniker away from the Cowboys. The Kansas City Chiefs and even the Philadelphia Eagles have also attempted to give themselves the prestigious label.
Despite a disastrous 2024, the Cowboys will play eight "spotlight" games in 2025. Among those - meaning they will be the only game at the time - six will come in primetime. The first of those comes in the NFL's Kickoff Game against the Eagles on Sept. 4.
And part of the fun will be the country's admiration for Dallas' uniforms. Crisp. Sharp. Iconic.
But not really any more "American'' than anybody else's.