Sunday, November 22, 1998

Owner Jerry Jones could salvage Cowboys' golden moment

By Mike Fisher

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Imagine it: Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith, both 12,000-yard rushers, on the field, together, at the same time!

The ultimate in Cowboys Fantasy Football? Sure. And it could be the ultimate in reality, too.

Two weeks ago, the Cowboys whiffed on an opportunity to pair the two best running backs in their history when Smith surpassed Dorsett as the franchise's all-time leading rusher. It would have been a golden moment, a snapshot of a lifetime, had owner Jerry Jones thought to have Dorsett as his guest at Texas Stadium that day against the Giants, poised to pass the torch to his successor.

"I have no idea why I wasn't invited," Dorsett said. "Normally, that's kind of standard in sports. Billy Sims was there when Barry Sanders broke his records in Detroit. It's kind of a snub."

Now, Jones and some members of the previous generations of Cowboys are back to where they were almost a decade ago, when he was perceived by old-timers as an egomaniac with no understanding or respect for the rich history of the Cowboys. The ghosts of Jones vs. Tom Landry and Jones vs. Tex Schramm are being resurrected by Jones vs. Dorsett, which has evolved into a game of "Did Not, Did So."

Why didn't Jones invite Dorsett? Jones says, "I thought it would be a distraction."

Counters Dorsett: "He's had movie stars and princes and lots of friends on the sideline. I don't see how I would've been more -1/4Rof a distraction-1/4S than them."

Says Jones: "We didn't have Drew Pearson there for Michael Irvin breaking records and we didn't specifically invite Roger -1/4RStaubach-1/4S when Troy (Aikman) broke passing records. It just hasn't been our policy."

Counters Dorsett: "We've got two guys with 12,000 yards. That may be as significant a record as the Cowboys will have."

Says Jones: "If I had it to do over again, I would've invited Tony."

Counters Dorsett: "Oh, sure. I'm supposed to trust the man who's made other promises to me and not kept them? With all the things that have happened, I have a hard time trusting the man."

Dorsett was a business partner in Cowboys Sports Cafe, the Valley Ranch restaurant that Jones once declared off-limits because the NFL expressed "bad element" concerns about some of the restaurant's patrons. Dorsett says the ban came only one week after he'd been assured by Jones that there would be no such measure taken.

"Basically, Jerry Jones put me out of business," Dorsett says.

Personal problems aside, Jones had lots of reasons to avoid inviting Dorsett to the game, led by his long-held concern for the perception that he relies on the coattails of the old Cowboys to hide present-day Cowboys warts.

Personal problems aside, Dorsett had lots of reasons to be at Texas Stadium on his own. He is, after all, a season-ticket holder. Staubach was at the game, by his own volition. So were dozens of other ex-Cowboys who don't need gold-engraved invitations to attend.

Still, any chasm between old and new is sad, and which side is more wrong ("Tony's a baby"/"Jerry's a jerk") is debatable, if not immaterial. It's understandable that Dorsett wants to be coddled; that's what professional athletes are accustomed to. And, it's unfair to accuse Jones of disrespecting the past; of the 10 men in the Ring of Honor, all are old-generation and four were inducted by Jones.

Can this marriage be saved? Yes. Here's my plan:

The Cowboys, who could use any edge available for the Thanksgiving Day game against the talented Vikings, finally extend the invitation to Dorsett -- and Don Perkins, Calvin Hill, Duane Thomas and Herschel Walker. And in a nationally televised pregame ceremony, the six greatest running backs in Cowboys history (not to mention NFL history) share a joyous and noteworthy spotlight, with Smith and Dorsett as the centerpieces.

The country receives a heck of a show. The Cowboys receive an emotional boost. Smith receives his "torch." Dorsett receives his due. And so do the rest of the fellas. Just outside of camera range, Jones basks in the feel-good glow. And decadelong wounds are healed.

Jerry, you have a lot to be thankful for, including Tony Dorsett and the generations of Cowboys that came before him. So thank him. Thank them all.

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(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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