Dale Hansen is the hero football deserves. The Dallas sportscaster first got our attention last year with his treatment of the Michael Sam story, and again in February with a real-life Remember The Titans speech on racism. Last night, Hansen once again stood up for the little guy with this takedown of the Cowboys and Dallas football culture after the team signed defensive end Greg Hardy.
Dallas sportscaster shames Cowboys owner, coach and fans after Greg Hardy signing
“Just when I begin to think the Cowboys can’t possibly sink any lower, they can’t fall from grace any more than they have, they find another shovel and dig a few feet deeper.”
Hardy was convicted of assault after his girlfriend, Nicole Holder, testified that Hardy made death threats and strangled her. His case was dismissed when Holder didn’t appear at the appeal.
Hansen pulls no punches in his analysis of the situation, and doesn’t sugarcoat the fans’ responsibility in the incident:
Just when I begin to think the Cowboys can’t possibly sink any lower, they can’t fall from grace any more than they have, they find another shovel and dig a few feet deeper. Hardy’s only available because Carolina didn’t want him anymore, and only two or three other NFL teams did. Funny how so many teams would pass on such a great talent only because he beat up his former girlfriend. But your Cowboys didn’t! And so many of you are so happy.
I don’t care how good he is, I don’t care if the Cowboys made a great deal, and I absolutely don’t care about the argument so many of you make that what he does off the field just doesn’t matter if he can help you win on the field. Is there no line you won’t cross? Is there no crime you won’t accept? Is there no behavior you will not tolerate?
Hansen goes on to rip Cowboys VP and NFL Conduct Policy Committee member Charlotte Jones Anderson and coach Jason Garrett for being either a hypocrite or impotent.
Dale Hansen loves football. But he wastes no time paying reverence to an institution that has been plagued with reprehensible behavior and has made excuses for villains. If football fans want to represent an institution they can be proud of, they need to start standing up as vehemently as Hansen. Trying to fix the NFL is how you show you actually care about it.
Oh, and Dale? I don’t envy the firestorm of Facebook comments you’re about to get.
(via WFAA)
