After Stealing "Titletown" From Green Bay, ESPN Looking To Reassign "America's Team" As Well
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
There are certain monikers that stick with a team/player, and every time you hear some one utter the phrase, it makes you think of them and them alone. One of the more famous ones, "America's Team" has been associated with the Dallas Cowboys since 1979, and one that's unmistakable. Well that is until ESPN gets their hands on it. The "Leader" posted an article yesterday titled "The Great Debate: 'America's Team'", and is trying to make cases for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots (!), as the heirs to the title. Seriously....
It's time to rescind the Cowboys' honor and turn it over to the Patriots. The Cowboys are known for wanton spending and attention-mongering with zero results. The Patriots are widely regarded as the NFL's most efficiently run organization. Their owner, Robert Kraft, was a season-ticket holder who aspired to buy the team one day -- and did. The American dream and capitalism all in one.The thing that's so dumb about this isn't just that they've had the term since the 70s, but rather that they're just using Football teams. Shouldn't you consider the Yankees (perhaps more fans out there), the Red Wings (the American working man's team), and/or the Celtics?
What's more, the Patriots were formed in Boston, a.k.a. "The Cradle of Liberty" and crucible for the American Revolution.
They were an original member of the American Football League, which is celebrating its golden anniversary this year.
They changed their name to New England to reflect their meaning to a region where Pilgrims landed. Some teams, such as Minnesota and Arizona, claim a state. The Patriots claim six.
The Patriots wear red, white and blue. When they score, Minutemen line up behind the end zone and fire their muskets into the air.
They're loved. They're despised. They give a nation of sports fans plenty to talk about. They win.
They're called the Patriots, for crying out loud.
What's more American than all of that?
As much as I hate the Cowboys, that nickname is theirs and theirs alone.
The Great Debate: 'America's Team' (ESPN)
26 Comments:
If you can't win a playoff game in almost twenty years, you should lose your label.
Some politician in Taxachusetts is providing good service to the Worldwide Leader.
Giants fan here, but I'm okay with the Cowboys keeping their moniker. It just gives us something to shoot for each year! Okay, maybe as a Yankees fan, I might relish "America's Team" when times are good. Hmm....
Coming to ESPN for the Summer of 2010: Which Sports Venue deserves the name "The Big House"?
* New Yankee Stadium
* TB Banknorth Garden
* Michigan Stadium
* LA Coliseum
* Joe Robbie/Dolphin/Pro Player/Land Shark Stadium
* Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, PA
* ESPNZone in Chicago
"It's time to rescind the Cowboys' honor and turn it over to the Patriots. The Cowboys are known for wanton spending and attention-mongering with zero results. The Patriots are widely regarded as the NFL's most efficiently run organization."
which of those two business models sounds more like America?
plus 1 for James...tremendous...
Speaking for myself, I actually believe that the Steelers are today's "America's Team." I'm a Redskins fan and don't particlarly care for the Steelers, but what other team draws as many fans to away games as the Steelers do? I was at the Redskins-Steelers game this past season and Terrible Towels outnumbered Skins fans. Referring to the Cowboys as America's Team is so 20-30 years ago. They are no longer America's team. Besides, why do you think the Cowboys were labeled as our country's favorite team in the 70's? Because they won the most games. Of course fans are going to root for the team who wins the most.
I started hating Dallas with a passion when whoever it was bestowed the America's Team label on them. Everyone has a favorite, usually regional team, who voted on this America's Team thing? Awfully presumptuous and arrogant to me. Made me hate them for it.
In response to james, wanton spending and attention mongering with 0 results sounds more like modern America, so the cowboys and yankees would be good fits...
The real thing to take out of this is that EsPN is RETARDED! Go away and stop trying to control EVERYTHING sports related. Oh an Berman, STOP with the annoying nicknames. They sound so forced and idiotic now. Not everyone needs one.
Bob Ryan of NFL Films give the title to us. Due to the large following we had no matter the venue. Dallas, like the Yankees isn't regional. They are the team everyone has an opinion on...you either hate us or love us. No ESPN poll will change that.
Green Bay is 'Titletown' and Dallas will ALWAYS be 'AMERICA'S TEAM'...no matter what ESPN says.
Something tells me if the label "America's Team" belonged to an East Coast team, ESPN wouldn't be having this conversation. It's just a name, people. It doesn't mean the Cowboys are always the best or the most popular. Hell, the Cowboys didn't even come up with the name. They just ran with it.
I don't remember anyone trying to take away Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" label during the 25 years between their Super Bowl wins.
I am in the U.S. Army and obviously travel alot. There are Green Bay Packer fans every where. I hate to be the one to brake it to ya this way but Green Bay has been America's team for quite a while now. The real question is, "can they remain America's team now that their "good old country boy" gun slinger" is no longer there?"
Thats because there wasn't anyone that could take the title of "Steel Curtain"
My point is you don't lose your label just because you haven't won the Super Bowl in awhile. No doubt teams like the Packers and Steelers have great followings, but the Cowboys following is just as great if not better. Cowboys merchandise is always among the best sellers. They're always on national TV, even in lean years.
Green Bay ain't ever been anything to anyone but folks in Green Bay.
I'm in the USAF and trust me the 2 biggest fanbases you find all over the world are Yankee's and Cowboys, it's not even close and what comes with that, are the worst kind of fans...bandwagon types but the point is still that no two sports teams carry that kind of weight outside of it's respected demographic. Pittsburg comes close but you find very few bandwagon Steelers fans.
Lakers too... I'd say those are the big 3 in overall out of area fanbase in their respective sports
Green Bay as title town for winning a couple of NFL championships? Nothing else. Title town and GB should not be used in the same sentence (Damn, I did it.)
it wasnt a couple of nfl championships, it was like 14 nfl championships....the SB trophy is named after their great coach...get with the program dennis
Titletown AND America's Team are both in Green Bay, Wisconsin! PERIOD.
There is no such thing as "America's Team!" The term implies that the whole country roots for them, well I'm a Saints fan and I don't root for the Cowboys, Patriots, Steelers, or Packers. While I do recognize these teams' impact on the American sports landscape, non of them can claim to be "America's team." Why does there HAVE to be a No. 1 anyway?
UHM, Luke: what other team can stake a claim to the title of America's Team you ask?
Well the Steeler's have won more Superbowls in recent years, but in terms of fan base, road draw, putting a competitive team out on the field year after year, and even sporting patriotic colors . . . well, I'd be speaking, of course, of America's Team:
THE NEW YORK *FOOTBALL* GIANTS!
And I might add . . . including the old pre-merger/Superbowl "NFL Championship" - no NFL team has won more Championships than:
THE NEW YORK *FOOTBALL* GIANTS!
BIG BLUE - no expansion team or AFL history in this franchise! An NFL Original! An American Original!
Read 'em weep poseurs . . .
**League Championships (7)
NFL Championships (4)
1927, 1934, 1938, 1956
Super Bowl Championships (3)
1986 (XXI), 1990 (XXV), 2007 (XLII)
**Conference Championships (10)
NFL Eastern:
1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963
NFC:
1986, 1990, 2000, 2007
**Division Championships (15)
NFL East:
1933, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1944, 1946
NFC East:
1986, 1989, 1990, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2008
**Playoff appearances (30)
NFL:
1933, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1950, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
First of all, the Cowboys are America`s Team. They are the most popular team in the America. They have the most playoff wins, Superbowl Appearences, and on and on. And, to all you Giants fans out there, think about this. First, the Cowboys have done all of this and been around about 30 years less than the Giants. Hey Giants fans, win the next 18 games in a row against the Cowboys, then you`ll have tied us in our little series. Win more than one SB every 20 years, then come talk to me.
As far as Patriot fans goes, I hope you all understand that you`re time is done. It`s over, probably to never return. Ever. Think if the Red Sox, ok. Think about it, the NFL is so boring right now that all ESPN can talk about is....that`s right....A 3-2 AMERICA`S TEAM.
I despise the Cowboys so I'm gladly open to this actually honestly