Wade's world

I stopped rooting for the Dallas Cowboys in March of 1994. That would be when owner Jerry Jones fired coach Jimmy Johnson.

I knew that Jerry had a big ego, but getting rid of a coach who had just one back-to-back Super Bowls and who might be able to pull off an unprecedented “three-peat”? And to replace him with a yo-yo like Barry Switzer?

It was absurdity squared. Plus it was happening to one of Port Arthur’s most famous sons. Not only did I stop cheering for America’s Team, I reveled in its subsequent slide.

However, nothing lasts forever. Now JJ has hired another local boy made good — Wade Phillips, son of Bum Phillips. It’s time to declare a truce and hope for the best for Wade, a truly nice guy in a business without a lot of them.

After the Cowboys’ first mini-camp this week, however, the early signs are not good. Several players are saying how glad they are that coach Bill Parcells is gone.

I was no fan of the Tuna’s, but he did know how to win. He also was a gruff disciplinarian, and that clearly rankled several Cowboys.

Running back Julius Jones complained that he had been forced to run “like a robot.” The infamous Terrell Owens praised the looser “atmosphere in the locker room. I don’t think I just have to really spell it out for you, but I think it’s very evident.”

Cowboy Nation, be concerned. When players start saying that the new coach has made practice fun again, that could be the first sign of a losing season.

Practice, especially in a brutal sport like football, is not supposed to be fun. It is supposed to hard and challenging and overall rather unpleasant. It’s also what good teams do to survive and prevail over a long, grueling season.

We shall see how it all unfolds. I just hope that after Wade welcomes all the players back with smiles and backslaps … he makes ’em sweat and cuss a little.