What we all can learn from the Dallas Cowboys...

After what can only be called an inspiring performance by the Dallas Cowboys last night, I was reflecting on some lessons learned by watching this game. Here is what I think we can all learn from the Dallas Cowboys:

1. Never, never give up. Even when you are down in the last 4 seconds of the game and your only hope is making a field goal, the game is never over until it's over.

2. A positive attitude does make a difference. Last night Tomy Romo threw a number of passes that resulted in interceptions by the other team...4 in the first half alone. But on the sidelines, all you could see were his teammates talking to him, trying to keep him in good spirits. He knew he was doing a bad job, but he kept a positive attitude to the end.

3. We all need a great team. One of the things that bothers me about professional football is that it seems to be more focused on individuals than the actual team. Yes, we hear about the Cowboys, but it is usually about Romo or T.O. When do you hear an advertisement extolling the virtues of that long, braided hair catching guy...not often. However, it is really always up to the team to win, not just the QB or star receiver. Romo recognized this in post game chat when he said we have a great bunch of guys and they pulled me out of the hole. He knew he needed his team.

4. Don't let the other team "ice" you. In my brief football watching career, I have noticed a number of instances where a time out is called right before a final field goal is kicked to intimidate the kicker. However, they call it so late that the kicker has already got the momentum and kicks the ball. So he has to do it all over again! Personal note: I think this is a horrible rule. It is mean spirited and underhanded. I think it should be overturned. But these kickers do not let it faze them. He went right back up there and kicked it again for the final points needed to win the game. Though you may be working with mean spirited people, do not let it faze you. Keep going with what you know is right.

5. Roll with the punches. For those of you on the same learning curve of football as me, you will want to know that "spiking" the ball after a play is not allowed. Even if you have made a spectacular catch and are so excited that it is bubbling up inside you, you must lay the ball down on the field, rather than throwing it down as you jump up and down. Apparently, T.O. made this mistake last night when he caught a great pass. He got a penalty for delaying the game by his excitement. However, on replay, it did not look like a spike at all. It was not as gentle as a lay down could be, but it was not a spike. He was wronged! But instead of making a big deal, he took the penalty and kept playing. I guess in his mind, 5 yards was minimal in comparison to the rest of the game. How many times should we major on the majors and minor on the minors? Like T.O. sometimes we must roll with the punches.I hope you each have had the same takeaways from the game last night.

Remember: it's not necessarily who wins or loses, but how you play the game that counts!