Happy Fourth of July: 247 Reasons to Love Cowboys, America's Sports

From Dak Prescott to Kyrie Irving to Marcus Semien to Jason Robertson, there's still plenty of reasons to celebrate DFW, the Cowboys and American sports.

Happy Birthday, America’s Sports! From guns to gay rights to GOATs and even golf, America finds itself fiercely divided.

Thankfully we have sports to keep us united, or at least from completely unraveling at the seams. Even apart, thanks to sports, we stand together.

We may not love the same teams, but we do cherish the games, leagues, players and moments that provide respite from the larger issues threatening to crowbar us as a country. Without sports, this Fourth of July would be all red, white and boo. It’s as though the victory cigars light the fireworks.

That said, we’re in a slump. America once dominated around the globe. Don’t look now, but the world has closed the gap. In some cases, foreigners are even hogging hardware.

Basketball's biggest slam-dunk superstar since LeBron James? French 19-year-old, Victor Wembanyama. The most dynamic player in baseball? Japan’s Shohei Ohtani, by a mile. And, once portrayed as a heinous villain, Saudi Arabia-back LIV Golf is now merging - and controlling? - the once-proud PGA.

The MVPs of our last major team championship series? World Series - Jeremy Pena (Dominican Republic), Stanley Cup - Jonathan Marchessault (Canada), NBA Finals - Nikola Jokic (Serbia). Thank God for the Super Bowl - Patrick Mahomes (U S of A!).

What once was Mike Tyson is now Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois (boxing), Lance Armstrong is now Jonas Vingegaard (cycling), Pete Sampras now Novak Djokovic (tennis) and Tiger Woods (golf) is now Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy. The last American to capture the U.S. Open men’s tennis title was Andy Roddick 20 years ago; two of the last three U.S. Open golf tournaments were won by non-Americans.

Not long ago we set our American watches by the championship appearances of LeBron and Serena Williams. LeBron’s Lakers haven’t sniffed a title in three years. Serena won her last major in 2017.

The NBA’s last five MVPs are from Cameroon (Joel Embiid), Serbia (Jokic) and Greece (Giannis Antetokounmpo). In the last 13 Ryder Cups we’re 4-9. The U.S. hasn’t won the Davis Cup since 2007. We won’t win the Tour de France. We’ve only won one World Baseball Classic, losing to Japan in the title game earlier this year. We never advance past the Round of 16 in the men’s World Cup. We’re not even a lock any longer to win sailing’s America’s Cup.

Thankfully, all is not lost. The NFL – America’s real pastime – has never had an MVP born outside our borders. And if we really wanna go jingoistic, thanks to our most dominant “athlete” – Joey Chestnut – America has won 15 of the last 16 July 4th Hot Dog Eating championships.

We may need to squint a little harder to see them, but there are still countless reasons to be proud of American sports on the country’s 247th birthday. On this Fourth of July – between the burgers and bikinis – take time to admire and appreciate each unique flame on this homemade, sports-centric cake: 247 candles, 247 reminders why we love our games and the people who play them.

Here’s hoping it reminds you how fortunate we are to have a variety of sports, and the freedom to choose which ones we love and/or loathe.

Happy Birthday, America’s sports!

Consume this list in one barbecued bite. Or nibble all during the holiday. Whatever.

It is, after all, a free country.

247. Dak Prescott, especially off the field.

246. “Dallas” – i.e. Arlington – hosting the World Cup 2026.

245. Face masks on sports helmets, not COVID victims.

244. Brittney Griner, back "home" and hoopin'.

243. Brett Hull’s “no goal” goal in the wee early morning hours in Buffalo.

242. Aaron Hernandez, Josh Brent, Tim Donaghy, Lance Armstrong, Terdema Ussery, Robert Kraft, Dan Snyder and Deshaun Watson, each held accountable.

241. Cris Collinsworth’s insight and Tony Romo’s intuition.
240. Zion Williamson’s hops and hope.
239. Dirk Nowitzki (I know, I know. But he feels like one of us, yes?)
238. TCU in college football's championship game, even if they get drubbed.
237. Johnny Football, fleeting as it was.
236. Wiffle Ball in the back yard.
235. Labor peace in baseball.

234. Cowboys’ supposed Canton bias, kicked to the curb.

233. The Colonial in Fort Worth, same as it ever was.
232. Cowboys’ Super Bowl expectations. Every single year.
231. Charles Barkley's brutal honesty.

230. The Byron Nelson, whether in Irving or Trinity Forest or Craig Ranch.

229. High school football championship week at AT&T Stadium.
228. The Triplets, inducted into the Ring of Honor on the same night.
227. CeeDee Lamb, trying to nudge into the Cowboys' "Great 88" debate with Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin.

226. The star on the helmet.

225. Yankees pinstripes.
224. The 18th at Pebble Beach.
223. Dollar Dog Night.

222. Cotton Bowl, still immune to corporate sponsorship after all these years.

221. “Hail Mary” and Touchdown Jesus.

220. The Ice Bowl, the Rose Bowl and the Beer ’n Bowl.
219. Aaron Judge, hitting historic No. 62 into the seats in Arlington.

218. Cameron Crazies and Reunion Rowdies

217. Semien and Seager, worth every penny (and all 500 million dollars)?
216. Zack Martin, silently spectacular.
215. PGA Headquarters relocating to Frisco.

214. Boston’s Green Monster and Augusta’s green jacket.

213. The 12th Man.
212. Brian’s Song.
211. Sammy Baugh, Doak Walker, Davey O’Brien and Kyler Murray, soaring over their size.

210. “H-O-R-S-E,” “Hot Box” and “Tackle the Man with the Football.”
209. Happy Valley and March Madness.
208. Vince Young in, around and through USC’s defense.
207. The 7th-inning stretch and “Down the stretch they come!”
206. Army-Navy.
205. The Southwest Conference, and what's soon to be left of the Big XII.
204. Caddyshack.
203. “Gentlemen, start your engines!”
202. Rougned Odor’s fist and Nolan Ryan’s headlock. But most of all, George Teague protecting the star ... and carrying our flag.
201. Vince Lombardi.
200. Donnie Nelson, for discovering and delivering our favorite imports (Dirk and Luka Doncic).

199. Kobe Bryant's competitive streak.

198. Arch in Austin: Continuing the Manning family legacy?
197. The Three J’s, The Four Horsemen and The Fab Five.
196. “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”
195. Hawg hats, Fort Worth Cats and Minnesota Fats.
194. Mark Holtz’ “Hello, Win Column!” Yes, still.
193. A two-putt birdie.
192. Wide Right and Student Body Left.
191. Josh Hamilton’s power electrifying Yankee Stadium in the Home Run Derby.
190. The smell of fresh-cut grass on Opening Day.
189. SMU’s Pony Express ’82 and Dallas Carter ’88, our best teams to not lift the trophy.

188. Boban Marjanovic’s size and disposition.
187. Pizza delivered exactly five minutes before kickoff.
186. The hole in the roof so God can watch his favorite team.
185. “The Immaculate Reception.”
184. Jinxing a no-hitter.
183. Jimmy Connors at Flushing Meadows. At night.
182. Alligator arms, swim moves and The Shark. Kenny Gant, not Greg Norman.
181. Tom Dempsey’s long kick with a short foot.
180. The Silver Boot, the Iron Skillet and plain ol’ braggin’ rights.
179. Underdogs.
178. Norm Hitzges, retired after an unprecedented 48-year radio run.

177. Fans who refuse to do “The Wave.”

176. Hat tricks via bicycle kicks.
175. Stars' forward Jason Robertson, just 23.

174. NFL Films.

173. God’s gifts to Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders and Bob Hayes.
172. Bobby Knight’s sweaters. And trifecta bettors.
171. Sean Lee’s tenacity, transferred to Leighton Vander Esch.
170. Michael Young’s character.
169. Red Zone Channel.
168. Two points, three-peats and four-baggers through the five hole.
167. Dunbar High School hoops legend, Robert Hughes.
166. Slap Shot.
165. Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston and Michael Irvin on the other side of the camera.
164. John Wooden’s program, Jerry Tarkanian’s towel and Red Auerbach’s cigar.
163. Booing Roger Goodell. Admiring Adam Silver.
162. Taking your glove to the game.
161. Tatu. And tattoos.
160. “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”
159. Amen corner. And Death Valley.
158. Nike vs. Reebok vs. Adidas vs. Under Armor.
157. No. 16 over No. 1.
156. “Boomer Sooner”, “Rocky Top” and “wake up the echoes.”
155. Kindred spirits who also hate Joe Buck.
154. Phil Jackson’s Triangle and Dean Smith’s four corners.
153. The zany, wonderful legacy of Mike Leach.

152. The Great One and The Greatest and all the GOATs.
151. Instant replay.
150. Monday Night Football’s original theme music.
149. “Havlicek stole the ball!”
148. A-Roid.
147. The Ring of Honor.
146. Between the hedges.
145. Shutting up Spike Lee.

144. The Von Erich’s at the old Sportatorium.
143. The chills + a hangover + the day off = the Cotton Bowl.
142. Two minutes for roughing.
141. 30 for 30.

140. The Cubs’ “Friendly Confines” vs. the Raiders’ “Black Hole.”
139. The Zamboni.
138. Yankees-Red Sox, Duke-North Carolina and Michigan-Ohio State.
137. ”He could … go … all .. the … way … !!!”
136. Jimmy Johnson, Hall of Famer. Soon in the Ring of Honor?

135. Tailgating, tickets or not.
134. Heisman hype.
133. A blue parking pass.
132. Eyeballs vs. analytics.
131. Hansen, Hitzges and Galloway. Throw in The Old Grey Wolf.

130. Tim Duncan’s bank shot.

129. Rick Barry’s underhand free throw.
128. Goal-line stands and the Stanford band.
127. “Can I have your autograph?”
126. Aaron Rodgers in the pocket and Patrick Mahomes out of it.
125. DeMarcus around the edge, both Ware and Lawrence.
124. Brad Sham, Eric Nadel and Chuck Cooperstein. Yes, we are blessed.
123. Lambeau Field, January.
122. Sports talk radio wars.
121. Then: Defense wins championships; Now: First one to 50.
120. “Steeeerriiiike Three!,” “Let’s play two!” and “We’re No. 1!”
119. Roger Staubach down 13 with 2:19 remaining.
118. Dropping the gloves. And catching big air.
117. Kareem’s “Sky Hook” and Errol Spence Jr.’s right hook.
116. “Coooold beeeeeer!!”
115. Robert Horry, Adam Vinatieri and Mariano Rivera, when it really matters.
114. Bobblehead night.
113. The fair pole.
112. Mazi Smith being different - better - than Taco Charlton.

111. Doomsday Defense.

110. Your baseball cap in the dishwasher; shoestring around your glove.
109. Office pools.
108. “Pistol Pete”, Sampras and/or Maravich.
107. Day games. Especially when it's the first-place Rangers at Fenway on the Fourth of July.

106. Regrettably, “The Catch.”

105. Longhorns vs. Aggies, renewed SEC-style. 

104. “Hey, ump, you’re missing a great game!”

103. North Dallas Forty.
102. Soccer moms.
101. Michael Johnson’s golden shoes.
100. Bevo.
99. Shirts and skins.
98. “The Iceman.”
97. 17-0 in ’72.
96. Winners and losers. Not participation plaques.
95. Yellow cards, yellow flags and the yellow first-down line.
94. Cowboys’ No. 73 (Tyler Smith) being half as good as their old one (Larry Allen).

93. 56-game hitting streak.
92. “Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk!”
91. Mulligans.
90. “You Cannot Be Serious!” and “Practice? We talkin’ ’bout practice?!”
89. College NILs spawning Nick Saban vs. Jimbo Fisher.

88. Skip Bayless, permanently muted.
87. The two-minute warning.
86. Emmitt Smith out the other end of the pile.
85. The Laker Girls and the Cowboys Cheerleaders.
84. Ryder Cup vs. Davis Cup vs. Stanley Cup.
83. “GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!”
82. Seeing your breath on a small-town Friday night in December, population
314.
81. Steph’s Warriors dynasty vs. Jordan’s Bulls dynasty.

80. Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore with something left in the tank.

79. “Phi Slamma Jamma.”

78. 6-4-3.
77. Rangers’ star Adolis Garcia, channeling Ruben Sierra.

76. Montana to Rice. Stockton to Malone. Meredith to Cosell.

75. Kyrie and Luka in the same backcourt.

74. “You are looking live … !”

73. Nathan Eovaldi, making up for Jacob deGrom.
72. “Sweetness.”
71. Phyllis George, much more than Erin Andrews.
70. “And one!”
69. Bull Durham.
68. “Pig-soooooiiiieee!”
67. Charlie Hustle. And Uncle Charlie.
66. The Aggie War Hymn vs. Texas Fight.
65. Cold dreary Sunday. Warm comfy couch. Big screen TV.
64. Seeing Globe Life Park out the windows of Globe Life Field.

63. Christian Laettner’s turnaround.
62. High-fiving a complete stranger.

61. Chuck Morgan’s “It’s baseball time in Texas!”

60. “The Curse of the Bambino.”
59. The Swamp, The Pit and The Big House.
58. Cal Ripken Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Sr.
57. Evel Knievel.
56. Wilt’s 100 points vs. Russell’s 11 rings.
55. High-school hurling phenoms: Clayton Kershaw (Highland Park), Kerry Wood (Grand Prairie) and Todd Van Poppel (Arlington Martin).

54. Eight seconds. And Title IX.
53. Sudden death.
52. Churchill Downs, first Saturday in May.
51. Madison Square Garden.
50. Mixed doubles, stand-up doubles and triple-doubles.
49. $1 billion stadiums. $12-an-hour chain gangs.
48. Mike Modano speeding with his flowing shirttail.

47. Bear Bryant.
46. Mississippi State’s cowbells, Atlanta’s Tomahawk Chop.
and Pittsburgh’s Terrible Towels.
45. Rocky, Rudy and Prefontaine.
44. “Larry Legend” and "Dr. J."
43. Byron Nelson’s legacy, on and off the course.
42. Jackie Robinson. Forever.

41. Bruce Bochy's tangible experience.

40. Mark Cuban’s passion. And wallet.
39. Cowboys-49ers. Circa 1990s, not 2020s.

38. Strike zone, matchup zone and zone blitz.

37. Luka, s-l-o-w motion superstar.

36. Wrigley’s ivy.
35. “Showtime.”
34. Sha-sheff-ski, spelled K-r-z-y-z-e-w-s-k-i.
33. The Babes. Ruth and Didrikson Zaharias. Sorry, Laufenberg.
32. U.S. soccer, women’s version.
31. 73*.
30. The Fat Lady. And the skinny post.
29. Winning Game 6 in Salt Lake City, then Game 7 in Phoenix.

28. MFFL trusting that Dereck Lively II will become Tyson Chandler.

27. Larry Brown, from 12th-round afterthought to Super Bowl MVP.

26. Duncanville High School Pantherettes, 13 state championships.

25. Nacho cheese on your chin. Smile on your lips.
24. Fresh batteries in the remote control.
23. Dallas-bred Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1-ranked golfer.

22. Keith Jackson’s “Whoa, Nellie!” and Dick Enberg’s “Oh, my!”

21. The 7-10 split.
20. Crazy Ray, Zonk and inflatable Mavs Man.
19. Neftali Feliz striking out A-Rod looking. Hello, World Series!
18. LeBron James, indeed “The Chosen One.”
17. ESPN’s SportsCenter. TNT’s Inside The NBA and HBO’s Real Sports.
16. Failed phenom David Clyde forgiving the organization that rushed and ruined him.

15. Magic.
14. The checkered flag.
13. Pat Summerall, Chick Hearn and Vin Scully.
12. The bell, the buzzer, the horn, the gun and, especially, the organ.
11. Mavs over Heat, 2011.
10. Tom Landry’s fedora.
9. Texas-OU Weekend.

8. Hoosiers.

7. Rangers in first place on July 4, and with four starters in the All-Star Game.

6. Jerry Jones, all of him. The good, the bad and the ugly.

5. Game. Seven.
4. “Do you believe in miracles? YES!!”
3. Three Super Bowls in four years.
2. Our national anthem, before every single game. Kneeling or not.
1. The freedom to love "America’s Team,'' and to always hate the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Washington Commanders.

---

Follow Richie Whitt on Twitter

COWBOYS FISH REPORT … now a podcast! Join us inside The Star, ANY TIME!

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Cowboys?

Follow FishSports on Twitter

Follow Cowboys / Fish on Facebook

Subscribe to the Cowboys Fish Report on YouTube for constant daily Cowboys live reports!