Tit for Tat, Galloway and T.O.

Our main columnist Randy Galloway called me out a bit in an column Thursday where he demanded an apology from Terrell Owens for calling ESPN reporter Ed Werder a liar.

 Galloway inferred that I was the only local reporter standing up for Owens because I said in an online column/mailbag on Wednesday that it was ridiculous to think that Owens was jealous of anyone, namely tight end Jason Witten, as Werder suggested based on his conversations with unnamed sources. The column is here.

http://www.star-telegram.com/332/story/1097985.html

 Now maybe we are playing the semantics game. But I think in the column I supported reasons why Owens might be bothered by the idea that Witten is the team's leading receiver. But jealous has a different connotation. You can have a problem with someone and I suppose be bothered by their success. But that doesn't mean you are jealous.

 He also suggested that because I didn't attack Werder's information that I totally agreed with it. Well, if truth be told no other writer on the beat wrote articles supporting Werder's information either. Usually, when a story breaks, news organizations will try to get sources to get their own story on the issue. Now we were the first one's to report that Owens and receivers Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams had meetings with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett about their belief that quarterback Tony Romo was throwing too much to Witten and not looking for the open receiver.

But no one from the Star-Telegram or the DMN followed Werder's "jealous" and "team divided" angle. The only story we followed was the controversy the initial story caused and the team angle that it was overblown. So should we draw any conclusion from that?

Of course, Galloway is an avid reader and watcher of television and internet news reports. And I'm sure that he read that one of the players' supposedly fingered as a source for Werder's story was none other than Witten himself. That was the foundation of the verbal altercation the two engaged in last Friday. Heated words were exchanged.

And if true it puts a different spin on the Werder story.

Again the point of my online column was not to be a supporter of Owens but to say that there more was at work here than him reverting to his selfish and divisive ways of his past in Philadelphia and San Francisco. It also was not meant to shoot down Werder's story. I respect Werder and the work he does.

But more than one coach and player told me Owens got a bad rap last week. And I would suggest Galloway talk to Bradie James before assuming that he is comfortable with how he was portrayed. 

 Even Werder reported that Owens has support from the majority of players on defense. And if you add the receivers, and running back Marion Barber, Owen's neighbor and the disc jockey during the source call out session last week, then it's safe to assume that the majority of the players support Owens.

That doesn't mean Owens is infallible or that he's handled everything right. It doesn't mean that his attitude and outbursts don't cause problems. And yes, he still drops too many passes.

But it also doesn't mean that the players are against Witten.

Again as I wrote in my on online column/mailbag, he did nothing last week to cause a problem for the team or put the season in jeapordy.  

Personally, I like Witten and Romo. They weren't given anything _ Witten was a fourth round pick and Romo was a free agent _  and they made themselves into great players.

But nobody is perfect and they too make mistakes.

Could one of them have made a mistake last week?

Bottom line is that it's a bunch of "he said, he said" mess that was overblown in the first place. Everybody doesn't have to get along to win. That has been proven time and time again.

 And despite the heavy play that it got from ESPN, the Cowboys are indeed winning and playing their best football of the season.

They have won four of their five last games and if they make the playoffs the Cowboys would go in as one of the league's hottest teams. And if they don't make the playoffs, you can look to the unforgiveable losses to the Rams and Cardinals and/or the self destruction in Pittsburgh when Romo tossed the game deciding interception on a pass intended for Witten as reasons why they didn't get in  _ certainly more so than anything Owens did or said to divide the team. 

I'm sure that is something even Galloway can agree with.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Comments

[Derrick Edens]

I listen to GAC(Galloway & Company)every single weekday and this guy (Randy Galloway) has had it in for T.O. since day one. Fair and bias is his theme on the show so anything that comes out his mouth shouldn't be taken seriously. As far Ed Warder goes I don't know about this guy. What I do know is that T.O. has a bad rep as being a (Team Obliberator) and surely that's a reputation that will follow him for the rest of his career. In my opinion Jerry needs to let either or both (Wade Phillips and T.O.) go in the off season. Wade is too soft to co exist with a personality as strong as T.O.'s. These problems comes from the team not having enough vocal leaders in the locker room outside of T.O... Anyway Go Cowboys!

[NJ22]

Witten was a 3rd round pick

[Big Rick]

Galloway is a blow-hard that likes to listen to himself talk and Werder has reduced himself to the level of a tabloid reporter (too bad, because he used to be really good). I will not read, listen, or watch either of them for a long time to come. I am going to stick with Rick, Mac, and Clarence for my Cowboys news; they stick to the facts that matter.

[scott]

I highly recommend folks read this analysis of Galloway's reaction to the whole story:

http://yakuzarich.blogspot.com/2008/12/randy-galloway-you-ignorant-slut.html

[Patrick]

This is the best article I have read all year.

[scrubs]

way to clear the air chill, the whole issue was blown out of porportion and should be a moot point as the cowboys are now in position to be playing in the playoffs and possible superbowl run. could the cowboys be this years version of the 05 steelers, 06 colts and last years giants, teams that had high expectations coming into those seasons only to deal with adversity, injuries, questionable coaching schemes, off the field on the field issues; turn it around by making the playoffs and winning the superbowl at the end.

[Steve R]

Finally an objective viewpoint from the Dallas media. Way to go Clarence! I took Galloway to task yesterday via email along with Jennifer Engel as I'm sick of the T.O. bashing. He's become a lackey of the national "tabloid" sports media instead of an objective sports reporter.
After years of reading the Star Telegram's sports sections, I've just about reached the point turning the dial so to speak. You've restored my faith in objective journalism. Good job!

[Abe K.]

Mr. Hill,

I applaud you for writing something that doesn't have the smell of personal bias. Overblown opinions and personal agendas frustrate those of us who just want to read the real news about our teams.

[quest]

Great article chill

[Mike]

F**K GALLOWAY. The old fart sounds incoherent and drunk most of the time on the air. All he does is bash TO any chance he gets. Seriously, he needs to give up his radio gig as soon as possible, I swear the old grandpa urine is starting to get Alzheimer's. Maybe that's why he can never get off the subject of TO?

[Eternal in NYC but a Cowboy in my heart!]

The simple fact of the matter is too many of these journalists are becoming what they criticize players for being: ATTENTION & HEADLINE GRABBING DIVAS! Ed Werder should thank T.O. for giving him so much free publicity! I bet some kid in the Congo knows Werder's name by now!

The real and serious issue is ESPN's engagement in and perpetuation of TABLOID JOURNALISM. Ed Werder was a perfect example of this. Before you go NATIONAL and report your story, how about you go to Terrell Owens and simply ask the man to corroborate or deny these allegations which everyone at ESPN knew would be a ratings grabber! How dare they engage in sensible journalism that seeks truth instead of sensationalism.

ESPN is LOUDLY proclaiming their place, not as America's Sports Leader but as the National Enquirer of sports reporting with national media right in tow.

Sadly, some Dallas reporters are on the same bandwagon of wanting the spotlight and thus are engaging in the same modus operandi. I am glad that Marshall Faulk raised his concerns about the unfair treatment of T.O. vs Romo's play & Garrett's questionable play-calling against Pittsburgh. And I will not even get started on the locker room snitch!

Clarence, I'm glad you have been one of the most balanced reporters I've read coming out of Dallas.

Keep it up, you may not be sitting on PTI or "Round the Horn like some other media starved (writers or the evening should I say)reporters, but at least you will be credible with your readers and at least we can believe what you report!

[IceBowlWitness]

This is an excellent and balanced article. I understand that it has become the "fashion" among reporters and sports reporters to become the story instead of reporting the stories. If you don't have anything worthwhile, just get a minor incident and distort it using anonymous sources until you can make it sensational.

I admit that I enjoy articles (like this one) that are written by good reporters (even ones I don't always agree with) instead of guys and gals who think they are "personalities". We all know that T.O. is a prima donna. He is also one of two players chasing Jerry Rice's all time TD record. He's entitled.

When T.O. goes off on a tangent, and he does at times, then lambast him. But stop making crap up just to create a "story" where there is none.

And let's be honest. A lot of the flak that T.O. gets from the talking heads on Sunday is justified, and a lot of it is jealousy. They don't even pretend to be journalists. A reporter on the Dallas beat should do better by the Dallas fans.

[Jerry R]

It is good to see something positive and in defense of or,about TO or anything about the Cowboys and their coaches instead of all the negavive and critical, no matter how petty, that we always get from Galloway and his Little Buddy that just knows how to keep stiring the barnyard pile or kicking the top off of it.

[Dave in AZ]

"Again the point of my online column was not to be a supporter of Owens but to say that there more was at work here than him reverting to his selfish and divisive ways of his past in Philadelphia and San Francisco."

A sign of a small mind is the inability to grasp nuance and distinction. People like Galloway and Skip Bayless will only see the past repeating itself when it comes to Owens. It is these guys who have failed to mature (or grow up if you prefer) over the years, not Owens.

But whatever, that's all the ink one can spill on such small minds.

Please note my fellow Cowboys fans: Keep complaining about the media. There has actually been some substantive reporting from DMN and the Star Telegram the last few days. I know its shocking, but its as if these guys and gals woke up on Monday and realized they were covering a playoff contender.

[cowboyfan4life]

This is the first article that I have read in a long time that made sense. Could it be that things happen, people get mad and there are differences? That in the end you deal with it and move on. Good reporting.

[Frank]

ESPN recognized as the best of all time for sports coverage...so please tell me why they (ESPN) have turned into the “fair and balance sports network.” Chris Berman is a legend on the network there is no questioning that! The best announcer on ESPN now is Stuart Scott hands down. Okay, enough of talking about what made this network the best at one time. Now why not talk about the death of this network or the attitudes that is now choking it out! The idiots with the pervasive attitude as seen on the NFL show with Berman as the host. This is the show with host Chris Berman, Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, and Chris Mortensen. I refer to the crew who supports Berman as the “Murdoch Boys.” The fair and balance boys who beat the life out the athletes that they love to hate. Of course there are others there who fighting to be a part of the “Murdoch Boys.” The network fell to an all time low when that hired one time experiment Rush Limbaugh…that was the begin of the end for me! Okay, back to the “Murdoch Boys!” Mr. Tom Jackson Boomer ass-wipe and hater number one! Mike Ditka “my Super Bowl victory really belongs to Buddies Boys” but I cannot admit that! We all have seen why he is now in the booth as a so-called commentator! Then there is perhaps the worst of the bunch Keyshawn “throw me the damn ball” Johnson who at the time he made this statement was not the best receiver on his team! Now he spends his days sucking Parcel’s ass in search of greatness! Chris Mortensen potentially a good report but spends too much time with the negative stuff. Lastly, there is the legend of which I respect to the highest Cris Carter but after all the trouble this brother went through please tell me why he can no show Terrell Owens any love. All great athletes want to win but to have some questions T.O.’s desire to win has grown old. Why not go back and look at some past great athletes and their desires to win? Magic Johnson, Mike Jordan, Larry Bird, Joe Montana, etc…it is well documented these people desire to win. Therefore, stop-questioning T.O. desires to win unless you know the brother. You all have had shortcomings as he too has had but please allow this brother to recover…enough is enough! On yes…get rid of all of the Murdoch Boys except Mr. Tom Jackson, “Boomer's ass-wipe and hater number one” he is needed to continue his job!

Dallas Cowboy fan for life!

[jj]

Great rebuttal to Galloway's constant attacks (BS) on T.O., and again really no proof there was any kind of dissension in the 'Boys lockerroom