Boys Will Be Boys (41 page)

Growing up in a modest three-bedroom
Sally Jenkins, “The Mouth That Roars,”
Sports Illustrated
, October 25, 1991.

From Monday through Saturday Walter woke up at 4:30
A.M
.
Ian Thomsen, “Irvin: It’s Not Child’s Play,”
Boston Globe
, December 30, 1987.

As a young teenager Irvin spent his summer days alongside his father
Sally Jenkins, “The Mouth That Roars.”

“Toward the end I’d take my father to the doctor for visits,” Irvin said.
Richard Rosenblatt,
Michael Irvin
, p. 19.

On a fall afternoon during his senior year
Sally Jenkins, “The Mouth That Roars.”

To many, what stood out most was his brashness.
Rosenblatt, pp. 30–31.

On the day of the 1988 draft,
Peter King, “A Mouthful,”
Sports Illustrated
, November 18, 1991.

In one of his first training camp scrimmages, Irvin wrestled
Bernie Miklasz, “Dallas Gets Wake-Up Call,”
Sporting News
, September 26, 1988.

To visiting scouts, he would halfheartedly brag
Randy Galloway, “Proving His Critics Wrong,”
Boston Globe
, December 27, 1991.

“Even I was scared,” said Irvin.
Gary Shelton, “Irvin’s Ego a Motivating Source for Cowboys,”
Ottawa Citizen
, December 27, 1991.

His entire system was based on speed
Harry Lister, “Turner Brings Offense of ’90s to Cowboys,”
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
, April 27, 1991.

Dallas, in the words of
Morning News
writer Rick Gosselin
Rick Gosselin, “Cowboys Rock Around Clock, 26–14,”
Dallas Morning News
, September 2, 1991.

“Mismatch alert!” warned the
Washington Times.
Dave the Predictor, “Redskins Look Like a Lock,”
Washington Times
, September 6, 1991.

“I’m disappointed,” said Johnson.
Mike Rabun, “Johnson Likes Cowboys, if Not Results,” United Press International, September 10, 1991.

In their first twenty games together, Aikman and Irvin
Richie Whitt, “Aikman and Irvin Ignite Cowboys,”
Washington Times
, November 21, 1991.

“We’re like Paula Abdul’s song
‘Opposites Attract,’”
said Irvin.
Peter King, “A Mouthful.”

Oh, how the mighty have fallen
Steve Wulf, “A Poem About the Cowboys Brings Down the House,”
Sports Illustrated
, December 9, 1991.

“I’ll live to avenge that game,” said Bears quarterback Jim Harbaugh.
Fred Mitchell, “Bears Lick Wounds—and Vow Revenge,”
Chicago Tribune
, December 24, 1991.

Two days earlier Smith had donned a Santa Claus
Bob Oates, “Get Call of Wild,”
Los Angeles Times
, December 26, 1991.

Afterward, Johnson gave what many consider to be the best post-game speech of his career.
Bob Ackles with Ian Mulgrew,
The Water Boy: From the Sidelines to the Owner’s Box
, p. 166.

Chapter 9: The Last Naked Warrior

Twice, his racial barbs resulted in fights with former 49er teammate Jim Burt,
Skip Bayless,
The Boys
, p. 91.

“We were,” said Harris, “two roosters in a henhouse.”
Brian Hewitt, “Haley’s Move to Dallas Delights 49ers’ Harris,”
Chicago Sun-Times
, October 4, 1992.

“We can’t speak for the 49ers as to why he’s available
“Haley Shores Up Cowboys’ Defense,”
Houston Chronicle
, August 27, 1992.

“I guess the drive back was for about 40 minutes,” Jones said.
Thomas George, “Cowboy with Angry Score to Settle,”
New York Times
, January 13, 1993.

Chapter 10: Return to Greatness

“There was a lot of I, I, I, me, me, me,” Sandy said.
Julie Lyons, “Back in Bounds,”
Dallas Observer
, September 5, 2002.

That confidence soared on Thursday, September 3
“Irvin, Cowboys Agree on 3-Year Deal,”
Houston Chronicle
; September 4, 1992.

Having been burned repeatedly in his last matchup against Irvin
Denne H. Freeman, Associated Press, September 7, 1992.

When Bob Oates of the
Los Angeles Times
wrote
Bob Oates, “Hands-on Success Story,”
Los Angeles Times
, December 21, 1991.

Instead, Jones had treated the most recent draft
Skip Bayless,
The Boys
, pp. 26–27.

Afterward, Tony Wise, the offensive line coach, put the afternoon in perspective
Ibid., p. 115.

Throughout history there have been millions of sightings
Gina Boubion, “Ghost Lets Playful Side Show in Pranks at Haunted Toy Store,”
Houston Chronicle
, April 23, 1993.

“He’s a con artist,” one NFC personnel director told
Sports Illustrated
.
Jill Lieber, “Please, Let Me Run,”
Sports Illustrated
, June 29, 1992.

In anticipation of the Cowboy game
Paul Zimmerman, “The Eagles Looked Super,”
Sports Illustrated
, October 12, 1992.

The Cowboys defense sacked McGwire four times
Ed Werder, “Cowboys Defense Picks Up Pace, Puts Down Seahawks, McGwire,”
Dallas Morning News
, October 12, 1992.

On a wall in Wannstedt’s office hung a chart featuring the record of the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers
Paul Zimmerman, “No Names for Now,”
Sports Illustrated
, November 16, 1992.

Chapter 11: Turbulence

Bennie Jones was a man with violence running through his veins.
Jason Cole, “Sins of the Father,”
Sun-Sentinel
, November 23, 1998.

“We were like movie stars,” said Erik Williams, the offensive tackle.
“One for the Boys,”
Maxim
, December 2006.

After drafting Jones, Bob Slowik
Denne H. Freeman, Associated Press, April 26, 1992.

“I’m going after the arm,” Michael Irvin responded
Richard Justice, “Cowboy Says He’ll Target Redskin’s Arm,”
Washington Post
, December 11, 1992.

After controlling the first three quarters of the game
Leonard Shapiro, “Even After Loss, Players Believe They Did Well Enough to Win,”
Washington Post
, December 14, 1992.

“That,” said Richie Petitbon, the Washington defensive coordinator, “was the biggest play of the game.”
Leonard Shapiro, “Even After Loss, Players Believe they Did Well Enough to Win.”

Shortly after the game, CPC/Environment
Kim Durk, “CPC/Environment to Mint Commemorative Medallion Honoring Cowboys NFC Eastern Division Championship,”
Business Wire
, December 22, 1992.

Growing up in the Trinidadian town of Laventille Village
Tom Leo, “Richards Discovers Running,”
Syracuse Post-Standard
, December 1, 1988.

“He’s a great, great tailback,” said Syracuse coach Dick MacPherson.
Ibid.

“This is crazy,” Tony Wise, the offensive line coach, said.
Skip Bayless,
The Boys
, p. 232.

After addressing (and undressing) the team
, Ibid., p. 233.

Chapter 12: How ’Bout Them Cowboys!

During offseasons he lived in a brick cabin on 3,500
Bill Plaschke, “Genuine Article,”
Los Angeles Times
, January 30, 1993.

He wore a hat that read, simply, REDNECK
“Novacek Proud to Be Redneck,”
Omaha World Herald
, November 13, 1994.

As if this point needed to be reinforced, Philadelphia safety Andre Waters
Ed Werder, “Waters Puts Smith No. 1 on Hit List,”
Dallas Morning News
, January 5, 1993.

Instead of shuddering, the Cowboys clipped the safety’s words and added them to a locker room bulletin board.
George Willis, “Eagles Giving Cowboys an Earful,”
Newsday
, January 9, 1993.

“There was a lot of talking before this game,”
Thomas George, “A Dominant Dallas Rings Philadelphia’s Bell,”
New York Times
, January 11, 1993.

“[The field] was abominable,” wrote Brian Hewitt
Brian Hewitt, “NFL Asks an Expert: Mend Field,”
Chicago Sun-Times
, January 12, 1993.

He and twenty-six coworkers replaced the grass in the middle of the field
Ron St. Angelo and Norm Hitzges,
Greatest Team Ever
, p. 67.

Wrote Paul Zimmerman in
Sports Illustrated
: “The momentum had switched, all right,
Paul Zimmerman, “Hot Wheels,”
Sports Illustrated
, January 25, 1993.

On first down from the Cowboys’ 21-yard line, Turner called for Ace Right 896 F Flat
Ron St. Angelo and Norm Hitzges,
Greatest Team Ever
, p. 73.

Chapter 13: Super Bowl XXVII

Before allowing his troops to hit L.A. for a Sunday night of all-out debauchery
Mike Fisher,
Stars & Strife
, p. 302.

Headquartered in the luxurious Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.
Skip Bayless,
The Boys
, p. 275.

Such potential conquests were why, in the days after the San Francisco triumph
Fisher, p. 303.

In what may well be an NFL record, Michael Irvin escorted
Ibid., pp. 250–80.

A few days before the game, he drove along
Mike Fisher and Richie Whitt,
The Boys Are Back
, p. 147.

“I know that your thoughts are that you’d like to do this for certain individuals,”
Jimmy Johnson,
Turning the Thing Around
, p. 253.

One evening Johnson and his coaches would be gorging on nachos
Fisher, p. 313.

As they prepared for Buffalo, coaches speculated
Bayless, p. 266.

Had the game been tight, Lett surely would have found himself
Austin Murphy, “Together Again,”
Sports Illustrated
, May 17, 1993.

Chapter 14: Nut-Huggers

Tom Vanderveer, mayor of Troy, Texas
Doris Quan, “Aikman Fans Cast Vote in Troy,
Dallas Morning News,
August 4, 1993.

In what surely goes down as one of the most questionable decisions
“Cowboys Become Just the Boys and Sing,”
Oregonian
, July 7, 1993.

In 1988, a basketball-loving rookie named Michael Irvin led a Hoopsters revolt
Richie Whitt, “Busted; Off-field Indiscretions Be Damned, Michael Irvin Deserves Football Immortality,”
Dallas Observer
, January 18, 2007.

On May 10, 1993, the Hoopsters were scheduled
Ed Werder, “Cowboys Hoopsters Pull Plug on Game,”
Dallas Morning News
, May 12, 1993.

That’s why, in a May 1991 game against the staff of a Dallas radio station
Associated Press, June 25, 1991.

On March 27, 1993, Ed Werder of the
Dallas Morning News
Ed Werder, “Smith May Meet with Dolphins,”
Dallas Morning News
, March 27, 1993.

The difference between the offer and what Smith desired
Peter Golenbock,
Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes
, p. 779.

Did Jones really want to get in a battle over greed?
Paul Domowitch, “Owners Derail Jones’ Attempt to Pull Fast One,”
Daily Oklahoman
, April 10, 1993.

In a game against Florida as a senior
Tim Cowlishaw, “Things Falling into Place for Lassic,”
Dallas Morning News,
May 3, 1993.

At Alabama, Lassic was on the fast track to a noteworthy collegiate career
Austin Murphy, “The End of the Run,”
Sports Illustrated
, January 11, 1993.

“I had never lost anyone close to me,” said Lassic
Paul Newberry, Associated Press, January 2, 1993.

Certainly not after the
Washington Times
set up a Cowboys
“hateline”
John Hawkins, “The Object of Our Wrath,”
Washington Times
, September 6, 1993.

“The problem was that I fell into the same trap
Tim Cowlishaw, “Second Time Around Special in Many Ways,”
Dallas Morning News
, February 6, 1994.

A bawling Haley proceeded to approach Jones
Ed Werder, “Charles Haley Tests Limits, Fills Holes,”
Dallas Morning News
, October 17, 1993.

“The fans showed no class,” he said of the merciless booing.
Paul Zimmerman, “A Few Feet Short,”
Sports Illustrated
, September 20, 1993.

The day after the Bills debacle, the PLO
Golenbock, p. 780.

Chapter 15: Good Time? Let’s Meet @ 12

“I heard what he said,” responded Ken Norton, Jr.
, Ed Werder, “Cowboys Update,”
Dallas Morning News
, October 16, 1993.

While most professional sports franchises recognize
Sam Blair, “Ex-Coach Landry Takes His Place in Cowboys’ Ring of Honor Today,”
Dallas Morning News
, November 7, 1993.

“We’re treating it with ice,” Robert
“Aikman Is Injured as Cowboys Win,”
Los Angeles Times
, November 8, 1993.

“They talk around here about how they don’t have the money,” snapped an agitated Emmitt Smith
Will McDonough, “Bernie a Burning Issue,”
Boston Globe
, November 14, 1993.