Tuna Up Close and Personal.

F Scott Fitzgerald once stated,'Give me a hero and I'll show you a tragedy'. Not sure if this is meant with regards to the backlash that occurs once a perception is created based on performance, reputation, word of mouth, or even Madison Avenue. Maybe a better word to use might be 'champ' or even 'proven winner'. I'll let the reader decide.

I am lucky, even blessed to say that in my industry, there are always familiar faces that grace where I happen to work. What's truly amazing about athletes who play in North Texas is how low key they tend to be. If this were New York or California, you would constantly deal with the 'do you know who I am?' phenomenon. Anyone who has to use that phrase has a real issue with self esteem and attention.

I watched him on the TV screen for the first time 23 years ago, enduring a 3-12-1 season as a Giant coach. A team that was riddled with drug issues and prima donnas. He vowed to clean up the team and the image. LT aside, he did just that. What you may not know is that in being a rookie coach he was also dealing with private tragedy. Losing his Mom and Dad in the space of a year. If you asked, he wouldn't discuss it. There was a job to do and he did it...with a vengeance!

Three Super Bowl appearances and two championships later, about to embark on what many feel might be a playoff run in 2006, Cowboy coach Bill Parcells dined in Las Colinas earlier today. Half of my staff, myself included, watched this man from a distance. I have known forever that he likes to just be left alone, does not want to be hounded for an autograph, and would be just as content to watch film of football.

A fellow New Jerseyan, successful at turning programs around. He did so with the Giants, Patriots, Jets, and is about to do so with the Cowboys. My fondest memory of coach Parcells was 1/20/91 at San Francisco...The NFC Championship game...The 49ers were trying to make a three peat attempt. For 59 minutes and 56 seconds it looked like the team by the bay was going to Tampa Bay, until kicker Matt Bahr knifed his 5th field goal of the game through the uprights for a 15-13 win. That hit that Leonard Marshall put on Joe Montana late in the game, breaking his thumb...

The next week, we witnessed a Giant squad that controlled the ball on offense for over 40 minutes and a 20-19 win over the Buffalo Bills and Scott Norwood going wide right! Keeping it simple, yet getting it done. That might very well be what his epitaph should say. It wasn't always pretty, but the Big Tuna always found a way to get his team to win.

Granted, we have seen nothing from Coach Parcells in the winning department since 1996 when he left the Patriots, yet I remind you that a young man who was his coordinator for a long time now reaps a huge amount of success from his tutelage, Bill Bellichik.

There will be one more run for this old codger with the proven track record. You may not like his manner or approach but know this: Old School or not, Bill Parcells is all about the X's and the O's...and really couldn't care less about what the 'smashmouth journalist' wannabes wish to pontificate about. They don't know what he's all about. In Texas speculation about the Cowboys runs as rampant as conspiracy theory freaks who think they can break the JFK assassination code...Funny, at times...

If his demeanor reminds you of anyone when he is on the podium (and yes the answer is Bobby Knight) don't be surprised. At one point the two coached together at West Point.

All of this went running through my mind as he was eating, and preparing to leave. I then remembered how he began 2003 with a 7-1 record with Quincy at the helm, only to go .500 the rest of his tenure here in Dallas. I also recalled how he began his rookie year here having to play the Jets, Patriots, Giants, and Buccaneers (the team he dissed) on the road that inaugural season.

With the commencement of training camp next week his fun is about to begin with TO and his players, with the media, with the soapbox of Cowboy silver and blue, for the masses who eat and sleep football in the south. Knowing how the media can be in New York and L.A. Big Tuna has it relatively easy here. Careful what you ask for, you just might get it. Parcells definitely has his eyes on the prize...

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will