This Day in D/FW Sports History - Jones buys Cowboys, fires Landry

[El Supremo]

The day I lost interest in the NFL

Rozelle: 'This is like Lombardi's death'

Feb. 25, 1989

By GARY MYERS / The Dallas Morning News

Editors' note: The following appeared in the final Feb. 26, 1989 edition of The Dallas Morning News.



Tex Schramm's eyes filled with tears. Then his voice cracked and he cried. It was almost too much to comprehend: Tom Landry is no longer the only coach the Cowboys have ever had. Landry was fired Saturday by the Cowboys' new owner, Jerry Jones, who named University of Miami coach Jimmy Johnson to succeed him.

Schramm and Jones flew from Dallas to Landry's vacation home near Austin on Saturday afternoon and Jones broke the news to Landry that he was out. Then, at a news conference at Valley Ranch team headquarters that began shortly after 8 p.m., Schramm broke down.

"It was a very difficult meeting," Schramm said. "It's very, very sad. It's tough when you break a relationship you've had for 29 years. That's an awful long time."

Landry was not available for comment. "For Tom, he was emotional," said Schramm, who stood red-eyed and solemnly to the side during most of the news conference.

Jones said he told Landry, "I'm here and so is Jimmy." He said their meeting was "very awkward, and I was basically just trying to say something you just can't say."

Those were the two words that Landry thought he would never hear: You're fired. It is the most dramatic and emotional story in the history of Dallas sports....

http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spt/misc/history/stories/february/022589cow.html

[joeybee12]

1. Interesting, I googled "dickwad" and I'm linked to the photo you posted n/t

[trumad]

2. You lost interest in the NFL

because Landry got fired?

You're kidding right... Landry was done as a coach-- and needed to go.

[El Supremo]

3. The WAY Landry was fired.

And the two Arkie Pricks who took over.

[trumad]

4. Yeah---well the two Pricks led them to world championships

3 years after they took over.

[madinmaryland]

6. How can you even call yourself a fan! Disgraceful.

[madinmaryland]

5. I was shocked at first, but after the seasons they had from the mid to late

80's I knew it was time for Landry to go. The play calling was stale and the personnel choices had dropped precipitously.

As much as Jerry Jones is hated by everyone, he has put the money on the table, and produced winners.