"The natural order is upset in Dallas," according to ESPN's
Bob Ley introducing its "Cover Story" on the effect the Rangers
successful season and the Cowboys poor start is having on fans in
the Dallas Metroplex area. ESPN's Jeremy Schaap: "Clearly the
natives are restless. ... In Dallas the joke usually has been on
the Rangers but this fall [they are] being directed elsewhere."
Schaap noted that while TV ratings "suggest the Cowboys are still
kings ... some once unswerving Cowboys fans have swerved from
Irving to Arlington." At sporting goods stores, Rangers
memorabilia is "suddenly hot." Academy Sporting Goods Manager
Rich Henkhaus: "Rangers stuff is doubling or maybe tripling
Cowboys stuff right now." WBAP Sports Talk Host Randy Galloway:
"I believe people are looking for something else in this town
that goes beyond the Cowboys. In a stroke of luck or great
timing, the Rangers actually gave that to them this year."
Despite the Rangers new-found status, however, Schaap adds: "Of
course, if the Rangers blow the division and the Cowboys win
Monday night in Philadelphia, guess who would be No. 1 again?"
("SportsCenter," ESPN, 9/25).