Sweet Victory On A Big Stage

In what was a wish come true for me, the Dallas Cowboys dealt a black eye to the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants 24-17 at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey last night before a nationwide television audience.  The Cowboys made a little history in this game also, being the first visiting team in the 9 year history of the NFL Kickoff Special format to beat the defending champions on their home turf.  Defensive end DeMarcus Ware became the second fastest to achieve 100 sacks behind the legendary Reggie White, ending the night with two sacks of Giant Quarterback Eli Manning giving him a total of 101.5 sacks for his career.  Wide receiver Kevin Ogletree removed all doubt about the seemingly controversial choice to make him the #3 receiver with a breakout performance scoring 2 touchdowns and racking up 114 receiving yards.  Early on, both teams struggled and neither could catch a break or gain any ground in the running game.  That is until Dallas Quarterback Tony Romo was pressured into an ill fated throw resulting in an interception being returned to the Dallas 2 yard line in the second quarter of the game.  However the new look Dallas defense threw the Giants for three straight losses to force a field goal and a 3-0 New York lead.  Then late in the second quarter, the Cowboys caught fire and marched down the field towards the end zone.  Tony Romo scrambled to his right and found a wide open Kevin Ogletree in the middle of the end zone with 1:01 remaining for a 7-3 half time lead for the Cowboys.  That was the spark that started the forest fire as the Cowboys never trailed again.  The Cowboys took the second half kickoff and marched immediately down the field almost unhindered when Kevin Ogletree got behind the Giant corner back and raced into the end zone for a 40 yard touchdown to put Dallas up 14-3.  The Giants responded with a touchdown themselves to draw it closer at 14-10.   Dallas drove to a field goal on their next possession to go up 17-10 then held the Giants and getting the ball back.  The Cowboys then marched down to the New York 14 yard line before two straight penalties gave them a first and thirty at the 34 yard line.  Tony Romo called an audible at the line and found receiver Miles Austin who split two defenders and raced into the end zone for a 34 yard touchdown putting the Cowboys up 24-10.  Eli Manning and the Giants attempted to come back drawing closer with a touchdown to make 24-17 midway through the fourth quarter.  Dallas again marched down the field only to find themselves in a bind when tight end Jason Witten was called for holding turning a first down run play into a 3rd and 12.  This brought back the specter of last season when the Cowboys lost 3 games by giving up 4th quarter leads.  But last minutes heroics by New York Quarterback Eli Manning were denied him when Kevin Ogletree once more stepped up to the plate, catching a pass for thirteen yards for a first down which allowed Tony Romo to take a knee three straight times to run out the clock and seal the victory.  The game was not perfect (13 penalties for 86 yards, the one interception) however it was a total team victory over the Super Bowl Champions on the road with Tony Romo, the receivers and that awesome new look high dollar defense working together to insure the win on opening night.  I could not be more pleased as right now, for at least the next 4 days, The Cowboys have the best record in football and lead the NFC East division over all rivals at 1-0.  Not a bad way to start the season, 'How 'bout them Cowboys?!!'.

For your aural appreciation today I have a classic recording of 5 Piano Concerti by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart recorded in two sittings,  in 1958 and 1961 with the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra featuring legendary Pianist Arthur Rubinstein.  The Concerti are Numbers 17 in C Major, K453; 20 in D Minor, K 466; 21 in C Major, K467; 23 in A Major, K488; and finally Number 24 in C Minor, K491 from the two CD  RCA Red Seal set.  Run time is 2 and a half hours which should fill your morning (or afternoon or evening) with Mozart's musical majesty and Rubinstein's masterful artistry.  After the video is a delicious set of macho, muscly men clad in their denim dynamite in this week's edition of Men In Jeans.  Thanks for the visit, see you again tomorrow.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!