This story has been written before. Google “Harvey Martin” and the question will be asked, “Is Harvey Martin the next Dallas Cowboy to enter the Ring Of Honor?”
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Ironically, when DeMarcus Ware passed Martin on Sunday to become the Cowboys’ all-time sacks leader with his 115th, he said after the game how great it was to be “etched in stone” with other Cowboy greats. That’s the problem Mr. Ware, Martin’s name is not etched in stone.
Besides Monument Park at Yankee Stadium, the Cowboys Ring Of Honor is probably the most widely known and most famous spot for retired jerseys and honored former players. The Ring Of Honor was established in the old Cowboys stadium in 1975 and Bob Lilly was its first inductee.
Ware also mentioned Ed “Too Tall” Jones when discussing his new record, and Jones is also not in the Ring Of Honor. But, back to Harvey Martin.
How does a team’s all-time sack leader for all those years (11 seasons), a former All-Pro, Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP not make it to a list of retired jersey numbers or into the Ring Of Honor?
It can be argued that although Martin’s contribution was impressive and stands out, it’s hard to retire numbers in football because of how many players are on each team.
But, certainly it matters if the team was a winner most seasons the player played. Martin has that on his side, Ware doesn’t.
Ware’s not worried about retired numbers now, he’s more worried about helping his team become a winner.
Harvey Martin, “Too Tall” Jones and Randy White are the defensive names people remember from those old-time Cowboy glory years. The Cowboys were perennial contenders in the 1970s and early ’80s. And, it can be argued that those Cowboys teams were a big part in the building up of the NFL. Some of the success the NFL has had for many years is owed to those Cowboys teams and their impact on the game.
Head coach Tom Landry led a section of the country in those days with his style that infused Christianity and football. It became a routine to go to church and then watch the Cowboys. Those teams are what earned the franchise the label “America’s team.” They were winners on the field and in the homes of millions on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings.
Harvey Martin was a big part of “America’s team.” It’s nice to see him get a richly deserved shout-out now for dropping to second place on the Cowboys’ all-time sacks list.
Howard Alperin is Managing Editor of AmericanizeSoccer.com
The post Why isn’t Harvey Martin in the Dallas Cowboys Ring Of Honor? appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.
