Ten-Gallon War : The NFL's Cowboys, the AFL's Texans, and the Feud for Dallas's Pro Football Future

**"It's every bit as fascinating to read about the battles between the Cowboys and the Texans as it is to follow today's never-ending NFL dramas." —Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk** In the 1960s, on the heels of the "Greatest Game Ever Played," professional football began to flourish across the country—except in Texas, where college football was still the only game in town. But in an unlikely series of events, two young oil tycoons started their own professional football franchises in Dallas the very same year: the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and, as part of a new upstart league designed to thwart the NFL's hold on the game, the Dallas Texans of the AFL. Almost overnight, a bitter feud was born. The team owners, Lamar Hunt and Clint Murchison, became Mad Men of the gridiron, locked in a battle for the hearts and minds of the Texas pigskin faithful. Their teams took each other to court, fought over players, undermined each other's promotions, and rooted like hell for the other guys to fail. A true visionary, Hunt of the Texans focused on the fans, putting together a team of local legends and hiring attractive women to drive around town in red convertibles selling tickets. Meanwhile, Murchison and his Cowboys focused on the game, hiring a young star, Tom Landry, in what would be his first-ever year as a head coach, and concentrating on holding their own against the more established teams in the NFL. Ultimately, both teams won the battle, but only one got to stay in Dallas and go on to become one of sports' most quintessential franchises—"America's Team." In this highly entertaining narrative, rich in colorful characters and unforgettable stunts, Eisenberg recounts the story of the birth of pro-football in Dallas—back when the game began to be part of this country's DNA. By 1960 Pro Football Was Flourishing Across The Country - Except In Texas, Where College Football Still Ruled. When Two Young Oil Tycoons Started Their Own Pro Football Franchises In Dallas That Very Same Year - The Nfl's Dallas Cowboys And The Dallas Texans Of The Newly Formed Afl - A Bitter Feud Was Born. Like Gunslingers In The Old West, These Conniving Mad Men Of The Gridiron Knew Their Hometown Wasn't Big Enough For The Both Of Them. The Cowboys And Texans Filed Lawsuits Against Each Other, Fought Over Players, Undermined Each Other's Promotional Ventures, And Rooted Like Hell For The Other Guys To Fail. The Texans' Visionary Owner, Lamar Hunt, Focused On The Fans, Putting Together A Team Of Local Legends And Hiring Attractive Women To Drive Around Town In Red Convertibles Selling Tickets. Meanwhile The Cowboys, Led By A Young Tom Landry In His First Year As Head Coach, Focused On Winning Games And Holding Their Own In The Nfl. Ultimately, Both Teams Won The Battle, But Only One Got To Stay In Dallas And Become America's Team. In This Highly Entertaining Narrative, Rich In Colorful Characters And Unforgettable Stunts, John Eisenberg Recounts The Story Of The Birth Of Pro Football In Dallas And Throughout Texas - And The Early Moments When The Game Began To Be Part Of This Country's Dna. What You Be Interested In Starting Up A New League? -- Those Texas Millionaires -- You're Going To Break Us All -- Son, That League Isn't Going To Make It -- Is Big D Big Enough...for Two Teams? -- I Trained On Biscuits And Gravy -- Someone Is Going To Get Hurt Here -- This Is Not A Harassment Situation -- It's Going To Take Time For This Thing To Grow -- They Thought The Texans Were A Lot More Fun -- We've Scared Off Every Fan We Have -- They Should Play Each Other -- Did You Wear Mouse Ears Or A Helmet? -- They Shouldn't Be Able To Do This To Us? -- Let's Beat Their Asses -- We Are Staying -- We Will Kick To The Clock -- It's Nice To Be Wanted -- There's Something I Want To Visit With You About -- Did Vince Really Say That? John Eisenberg. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In the 1960s, on the heels of the "Greatest Game Ever Played," professional football began to flourish across the country-except in Texas, where college football was still the only game in town. But in an unlikely series of events, two young oil tycoons started their own professional football franchises in Dallas the very same year: the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and, as part of a new upstart league designed to thwart the NFL's hold on the game, the Dallas Texans of the AFL. Almost overnight, a bitter feud was born. The team owners, Lamar Hunt and Clint Murchison, became Mad Men of the gridiron, locked in a battle for the hearts and minds of the Texas pigskin faithful. Their teams took each other to court, fought over players, undermined each other's promotions, and rooted like hell for the other guys to fail. A true visionary, Hunt of the Texans focused on the fans, putting together a team of local legends and hiring attractive women to drive around town in red convertibles selling tickets. Meanwhile, Murchison and his Cowboys focused on the game, hiring a young star, Tom Landry, in what would be his first-ever year as a head coach, and concentrating on holding their own against the more established teams in the NFL. Ultimately, both teams won the battle, but only one got to stay in Dallas and go on to become one of sports' most quintessential franchises-"America's Team."In this highly entertaining narrative, rich in colorful characters and unforgettable stunts, Eisenberg recounts the story of the birth of pro football in Dallas-back when the game began to be part of this country's DNA In the 1960s, on the heels of the Greatest Game Ever Played, professional football began to flourish across the countryexcept in Texas, where college football was still the only game in town. But in an unlikely series of events, two young oil tycoons started their own professional football franchises in Dallas the very same the NFLs Dallas Cowboys, and, as part of a new upstart league designed to thwart the NFLs hold on the game, the Dallas Texans of the AFL. Almost overnight, a bitter feud was born. The team owners, Lamar Hunt and Clint Murchison, became Mad Men of the gridiron, locked in a battle for the hearts and minds of the Texas pigskin faithful. Their teams took each other to court, fought over players, undermined each others promotions, and rooted like hell for the other guys to fail. A true visionary, Hunt of the Texans focused on the fans, putting together a team of local legends and hiring attractive women to drive around town in red convertibles selling tickets. Meanwhile, Murchison and his Cowboys focused on the game, hiring a young star, Tom Landry, in what would be his first-ever year as a head coach, and concentrating on holding their own against the more established teams in the NFL. Ultimately, both teams won the battle, but only one got to stay in Dallas and go on to become one of sports most quintessential franchisesAmerica's Team. In this highly entertaining narrative, rich in colorful characters and unforgettable stunts, Eisenberg recounts the story of the birth of pro football in Dallasback when the game began to be part of this countrys DNA.