It's a Cowboys roast: Jerry Jones, Babe Laufenberg, Barry Switzer make jokes at luncheon
The Cowboys annual kickoff luncheon, for the benefit of Happy Hill Farm Academy, took on the air of a roast on Wednesday.
It started with former coach Barry Switzer recounting what he claimed were conversations with former defensive lineman Charles Haley in adavance of presenting him with the Tom Landry Memorial Legend Award.
According to Switzer, he repeatedly asked Haley if he were taking medication to treat a bipolar disorder. Haley, weary of the questions, finally responded with ``Coach, why do you keep asking me about that?
Said Switzer: ``I'm coming down there and want to be sure you're okay because I'm going to be a smart (guy)..''
Responded Haley: ``Why don't you come down here and get your gun?''
Haley was alluding to the infamous 1997 incident in which Switzer was arrested at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport for having a loaded .38 caliber revolver in his baggage.
The main event featured radio analyst and former quarterback Babe Laufenberg and owner-general manager Jerry Jones.
Laufenberg made two caustic comments.
In response to Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach's request to play a pickup game at Cowboys Stadium, Laufenberg said that would happen only if Staubach did not game-plan. Cowboys coach Wade Phillips does not use game-plans for exhibiton games and has said that has contributed to the offense's inconsistent performance.
In presenting receiver MIles Austin with the team offensive most valuable player award, Laufenberg asked what the coaching staff was thinking in keeping him on the bench for more than three years before last season's break-out performance.
Jones opened his remarks with an endorsement of what the club did in training camp and took Laufenberg to task.
Jones described WFAA sportscaster Dale Hansen as ``condescending and sarcastic.'' Jones followed by asking why Laufenberg had chosen Hansen as a role model.
It was all in fun. We think.
