Cindy Smoak watching the opening press conference with TMF Fan Promotion Winner Dwayne Garner.

TMF Fan Promotion Finalist Shannon Stouffer taking more notes than humanly possible during the 45-minute press conference.

KTBB’s Jamie Lent keep track of possible audio for Sports Talk.

A row of camera’s at the Cowboys press conference.

On stage from left to right, Stephen Jones, Jerry Jones, and Wade Phillips.

Well it’s day 2 of our 17 day work/vacation in California and nothing real exciting to mention yet. The bumpy landing in Burbank was kind of fun, watching David and Jennifer eat octopus last night was a bit interesting, but my stomach is still not sitting right with that, and my morning jog on the beach was great, although it was nice and cool this morning.

But on to the stuff that we are actually here for…the Cowboys. Yea, America’s Team will be here later today so we can actually get to watching, talking about, and pretty much analyzing everything “Jessica’s boy” and his teammates do.

Today’s only action is the opening Press Conference with HC Wade Phillips, Owner/G.M. Jerry Jones and Steven Jones. I apologize for being honest, but I can’t think of anything much that is more boring than these press conferences. Wade is not too bad, but Jerry and Steven can talk and talk forever and they love the limelight. It’s o.k. at first but after 45 minutes I start daydreaming and wishing I was back in Whitehouse mowing my lawn.

So anyway bringing up the topic of boring press conferences, here is my rating of Cowboys coaches since I have been covering the boys and who bored me the least or most. (I have been covering the Cowboys since
1998)

4)Worst–Chan Gailey–He just hated the media and tried to answer every question as short as he could. He did however have the line I still use today…”that’s an ender”. Gailey would say that every time someone would ask a question he didn’t like and would just stand up and leave when he would say that.

3)Parcells–Ya know, about every 4th day he would be funny, but the rest of the time he was just a grumpy old football coach. He was obviously hardened by his time dealing with the New York media.

2)Phillips–Seems like he wants to be a good guy, and has some good stories to tell, but overall just doesn’t appear to want to open up at all to the media.

1)Best-Dave Campo–maybe he was not such a great Head Coach, but he is such a great guy. Very open to the media and treats anyone like a longtime friend. I am definitely glad he is back with the team, even though he is now just a secondary coach.

I’ll have more tomorrow when the practices really start. You know i’ll be on the lookout to see how Zach Thomas and Danny Amendola are doing.

We’re excited about seeing the team when they arrive later today, and hearing how the press conference goes this afternoon.

And we worked very hard for Smoaky and staff on Wednesday evening, but that’s what we knew going in.

The trip to Neptune’s Net down Highway 1 was amazing, and I somehow was able to stay up with Smoaky’s SUV, and believe me that wasn’t easy.

Shannon Stouffer

After breakfast, one of the Cowboys duffel-bags was in our room, and that was an interesting surprise.

Apparently, the front office put us in a room where it will be heavily-restricted with players and team personnel.

Had I known Jason Witten or some of the other players would be our room, we would’ve offered to sleep in the bathroom.

Seriously, it’s been a nice start and last night’s drive down Highway 1 to Neptune’s Net was fantastic.

This has been great, and the best part is yet to come.

Dwayne Garner

Both are 30-minutes late, and might lose their first day of credentials.

Smoaky

Jamie Lent, Craig Smoak, Mike Laroux, and I just picked-up our credentials.

We have a loaded show today, including the press conference.

Latest news on the personnel front, 2nd-round pick Martellus Bennett from A&M is close to a deal, and the Cowboys have offered their two 1st-round picks, Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins, 5-year contracts.

Cowboys definitely want to have all the draft picks on that charter flight to Oxnard this afternoon.

Meanwhile, I’m receiving conflicting reports on whether Terry Glenn will come to an agreement and be on the flight.

That might be the biggest story for today, along with the draft picks being signed, sealed, and delivered.

More to come…

Smoaky

Podcast (Listen Now):
Wade Wilson 7/23/08

We might hold the Lovie Smith or Manuel Johnson interviews based on what else becomes available and the timing of the Jerry/Wade Press Conference.

Smoaky

Shannon Stouffer took the Garner’s (Dwayne and Hazel) in his Mustang convertible while Craig (Smoak), Jennifer (Smoak), Jamie Lent, and I led the way.

It’s truly a beautiful ride looking out towards the ocean, and with the mountains to the left.

I enjoy watching the big waves crash against the rocks, and for some on this trip, it was their first chance to see this view.

I think everyone is glad the first day is winding down, Jennifer left Lubbock at 6:00am to meet us at DFW, and everyone, including Dwayne and Hazel who were on standby got on our scheduled flight at 8:50am.

The most startling part of our drive up the 101 towards Oxnard was how dry everything is…I didn’t see any signs of the fires that have haunted this area, but I noticed the mountains were an almost creamy brown, and the grass reminded me of what we’d see being bailed at the farms and around the country in East Texas.

Engineer Mike Laroux did a great job brining the Hayes RV Luxury Suite from East Texas, and of couse, the smoker as well.

And, the happiest people to see us, besides the media contingent that’s been slowly arriving, were the Cowboys equipment staff, trainers, and doctors—among many others.

The first question I was asked was, “when are you going to cook?”

So much for our value covering camp.

But seriously, it’s all in one, covering practice, gathering post-practice interviews, recording player and coach interviews, and hanging with everyone afterwards.

I’d like to thank our owner, Paul Gleiser for allowing us to make this trip, which has always been a staple of what we do.

Our sponsors are truly amazing, loyal and without them we couldn’t do this.

And special thanks to contributing sponsors:

Local restaurants, Jalapeno Tree, Sonic, and Rudy’s for supplying us with so many of the essentials for the cookouts, including plates, bowls, tin pans, serving utensils, and forks, knives, and spoons.

Thanks to Larry Priest and AA Restaurant Supply for upgrading the equipment we have available while cooking….

As I mentioned earlier, we’re winding down the first day, Jennifer is passed out after her early start, and Craig and I are watching a movie.

Jamie is tucked away, and Shannon, and the Garner’s are probably wondering what’s up for tomorrow.

The circus comes to town, Cowboys arrive as a team at Naval Station at Point Mugu…and the Jerry Jones-Wade Phillips Press Conference will begin “APPROXIMATELY” 4:00pm Pacific time (6pm central time)—and I capitalize APPROXIMATELY because we also know “Jerry-Time.”

Well, I’ll start adding some of the transactions and draft pick signings throughout the night and on Thursday.

Let me know if you have any questions for me to ask for Jerry and Wade.

Smoaky

I started by asking the audience if they’d take the over or under on taking 12 1/2 wins for the regular season win total.

It seemed split down the middle.

Our guests today included:

Wade Wilson, Cowboys QB’s Coach
Jacque Taylor, Dallas Morning News-Columnist
Mickey Spagnola, dallascowboys.com
Josh McCuistion, soonerscoop.com, OU’s rivals.com site

Dwayne Garner, our TMF Cowboys Training Camp Fan Promotion winner was on again, as was finalist Shannon Stouffer.

We put them both to work, helping unload the RV, and a few other “rookie” errands, but they survived.

If we can just keep Homer-Shannon from using “we”, and “our”, and whatever else attaching himself to the Cowboys, we’ll be fine.

Cowboys arrive tomorrow, and we’ll broadcast the Jerry Jones/Wade Phillips Press Conference live in our third hour (6pm-7pm).

We also have Todd Archer (Dallas Morning News) scheduled, along with Bears head coach Lovie Smith, OU wide receiver Manuel Johnson (Gilmer High School), and Texas A&M beat-writer Jeff Tarpley from AggieYell.com (part of the rivals.com network).

David Smoak