Cowboys’ loss and cheerleader costumes draw fan criticism
Dallas let a 30–13 fourth-quarter lead slip away against Arizona on Sunday, giving up 20 points in the final quarter before losing 33–30 in overtime. The defeat dropped the Cowboys to 3–5, and owner Jerry Jones was visibly furious, slamming a table in his suite and swearing as the game ended.
Jones later called the loss a failure across the organization. Dallas had been expected to make the most of a stretch with four home games at AT&T Stadium, especially with Philadelphia struggling and set to visit on Thanksgiving. Instead, Jones said, the team had a chance to win and failed to finish the job.
The Cowboys’ cheerleader costumes also drew a wave of criticism from fans. Some objected to the dark, “Stampede”-inspired look, while others said the outfits seemed uncomfortable or unflattering. One fan wondered why the team’s leadership approved them; another said the styling came uncomfortably close to stripper attire and seemed at odds with the conservative image often associated with the organization.
A few other thoughts
For people in battleground states, the election season has been exhausting. One Ohio resident said they received eight campaign texts on Monday, along with two video messages from former football player Archie Griffin. Another voting reminder arrived while they were writing about the first batch. At this point, they said, they were ready for Christmas commercials.
A man who spent 28 years walking around the world is being celebrated for the journey, but the writer questioned the personal cost. The man left two children in the UK and reportedly believed that returning home would violate the rules he had set for himself. He sometimes met his son and parents in other countries, but his mother had not seen him for a decade when they spoke again. The writer also questioned whether he really swam across the English Channel and why a video call with his mother would have been impossible.
One reader was frustrated with Ohio State’s play-calling, saying the team kept running the ball while trailing by two scores. The columnist agreed that the offense lacked urgency, and criticized the decisions around quarterback positioning and the use of receiver Jeremiah Smith near the goal line.
Another reader noticed children dressing as Michael Jackson for Halloween and suggested a recent hit film had renewed interest in the singer among younger people. The columnist wasn’t convinced that children were watching a documentary, guessing they may have encountered Jackson’s music through games or social media instead.
A Houston reader said grocery curbside pickup had become more trouble than it was worth. He prefers shopping late at night or early in the morning to avoid crowds, and expects to eat out more once his youngest child leaves for college.
He also wondered whether college football fans are losing interest. A poor season may explain lower attendance at an Oklahoma game, and stadiums often look sparse before kickoff. Still, he said the transfer market and players moving between schools for better deals can make it harder to feel attached to a team. Even well-funded programs continue to have familiar problems, while smaller schools risk losing their best players as soon as they emerge.
Another reader rarely shops in person, but enjoys the experience: browsing new products, running into people he knows and choosing his own groceries. He also admitted that, on a few occasions, he had slipped a small treat into a stranger’s online grocery order while the employee shopping for it wasn’t looking.
One parent offered a few stocking-stuffer ideas, arguing that children are unlikely to appreciate generic impulse buys. Suggestions included a small multi-tool, a fountain pen, a good mechanical pencil, older trading cards and vintage Happy Meal toys.
In northwest Ohio, the forecast called for sunny skies and temperatures around 76 degrees. A welcome change for early November, the writer said, and a good day to vote, watch sports, grill or simply get outside.
