Living on the Road is Getting Pretty Old

In what will almost certainly lead to the premature downfall of America's Team, here's an attempt to articulate my hopes for the remainder of the NFL campaign. I've written before about my belief, along with that of millions of other sports fans, regarding my ability to affect the outcome of sporting events.

Slightly delusional? Likely.

Uncommon? Hardly.

With that said, despite the vitriol and outright hatred that has been directed at the New England Patriots over the course of this season, I wish them well until February 3, 2008. In much the same way as that 2006 Rose Bowl victory by the 'Horns was much more satisfying because it involved such a dominant U.S.C. squad, a possible (dodging lightning bolts) Cowboys victory in Super Bowl XLII over an 18-0 Patriots team would be incredibly satisfying.

Sure, the Pats have had their share of close calls recently, but much like a college football team that eventually wins the national title (see 1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers), they have escaped those encounters unscathed and have the faint appearance of a team of destiny. I'm sure that by committing my internal hopes to the unchangeable medium of the internet, I have somehow insured that in the next few weeks T.O.'s knee will explode in a grisly scene that only Joe Theismann could respect or that America's Team will fall in the NFC playoffs to a team in Minnesota led by one Tarvaris Jackson, and if that is the case, I'll go into the witness protection program with Steve Bartman and become, in the words of the immortal Emmitt Smith, an "escape goat."

If the knee of Mr. Owens remains intact for a run towards a possible meeting with the Patriots, and the 'Boys actually conquered Belichick's undefeated minions, wouldn't that have to rank right up there with the best Super Bowl storylines of all-time?

• Would Bill Belichick's head explode on national television?
• Would Troy Aikman begin openly rooting for his former team during the Fox Broadcast?
• Would Joe Buck constantly bring up Randy Moss's former "mooning" of Packers' fans in an opportunity to remind America that he decried that celebration as a "disgusting act"?

The possibilities are endless my friends.

I realize that by writing all of this, I have fallen victim to the current culture of generating hype regarding something that may never come to pass, but if it does happen, you already know of one Cowboys fan that would not complain at all.