Miss Americana has helped dethrone the heartbreak princes.
So claims longtime sports commentator Bob Costas, who expounded upon the theory that the Kansas City Chiefs have usurped the Dallas Cowboys as "America's Team" to basketball legend Charles Barkley and CBS News anchor Gayle King on their shared CNN program "King Charles." While Kansas City's continued dominance has proven polarizing beyond the Midwest, Costas believes the national gridiron conversation can't be had without invoking the Chiefs' name.
“I think the Chiefs, now it can safely be said, are America’s Team,” Costas crooned. “The Dallas Cowboys have had that moniker for a long time, and there’s still a glamour franchise, but they haven’t been at the Super Bowl since the mid-90s."
"But now the Chiefs have been to four of the last five Super Bowls. They have the best quarterback in the game, even though others are really good. He’s exciting. He improvises. He’s charismatic.”
Costas, of course, refers to Patrick Mahomes, who has reversed the fortunes of the star-crossed Chiefs franchise. Kansas City will get a chance to play for its third championship in the past five seasons after picking up only one over the first half-century-plus when it faces San Francisco in Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11.
Dallas failed to grow further distance between itself and the Chiefs despite a four Super Bowl head start: those even remotely connected to the Pokes hardly need another reminder of their postseason futility, as the upcoming Big Game in Las Vegas will mark the 28th consecutive finale without the team's participation.
While it has generated another varied response for the rest of the country, count Costas among those taken in by tight end Travis Kelce's whirlwind romance with accoladed pop star Taylor Swift. Corporate sponsorships and lasting continuity in the head coach's spot have also played a role, as Costas notes that commercials break provide no relief from the Chiefs' takeover.
“Andy Reid’s been around a long time and went to the Super Bowl with Philadelphia and now with the Chiefs,” Costas said. “They’ve got Travis Kelce and his romance with Taylor Swift, and it’s a big deal to begin with and now it blows up bigger, plus, the State Farm commercials."
"You don’t have to know a screen pass from a field goal to know something about the Kansas City Chiefs. So they’re America’s Team.”
Our Mike Fisher has explained often why this concept is so off. In short: It's non-transferable. It's THE COWBOYS NICKNAME - just as Pittsburgh has "The Steel Curtain'' and just as Missouri is "The Show-Me State'' and just as Ali is "The Greatest.''
Fish's point: Nicknames don't change on whims. Nicknames aren't based on newly-crowned Super Bowl winners. Nicknames belong to their owners. Period.
But as to actual football?
It's bad enough that the Cowboys have endured some brutal winter losses that have led to their elimination. Dealing with losses post-elimination, however, could provide new embarrassment entirely and could well justify Jerry Jones' claims of being "all in" come the fall of 2024.
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