Finish Strong

I can still remember the game that made me a Dallas Cowboys fan for life. I was eleven years old and living in Houston. At that time Texas had the semi-pro Texas baseball league; but there were no major league teams in any professional sports.

It was 1960 and the NFL announced the formation of the Dallas franchise. The original Cowboys were selected from "unprotected" players on other teams. They were also the unlucky 13th team in the league.

Frustration was the reward for following the Cowboys that first season. They could lead for 3 quarters but NEVER win, including giving up 17 points in the last 6 minutes of their first encounter with San Francisco.

After 10 consecutive losses we were thankful the season had only 12 regular games. Game 11 was against the New York Giants, where our Head Coach Tom Landry had been an assistant coach the previous year.

Even with a slow start, the Cowboys managed to stay in this game, catching up to the Giants but never able to stay there. The 4th quarter began with another Cowboy's come back to tie the game 24 - 24. The reigning conference champion Giants didn't let that last. Soon they had the game back with a 31 - 24 lead. With 2+ minutes left, the Cowboys took advantage of a New York fumble and scored. It was 31 - 30 in the final moments of the game with Fred Cone lining up to attempt the extra point. None of us listening to the game dared to even think about what might happen. The ball was snapped, placed, and kicked through the uprights. We had tied, 31 - 31! It was the first major league professional game Texas had not lost. We had a right to be there; and I was now a Cowboy's fan for life, even though I wouldn't live in the Dallas area for another 30 years.

Everyone knows we should finish strong. That gets confused with winning and it's not the same. Every transaction can end with increased value, even if the result is not what we had in mind. An Active Investor is alert to any value that can be gained; no opportunity need be wasted. If nothing else, can a final result create an increase in trust between us? There is always an audience; will our finish create fans?

No, the Cowboys didn't win that game (or any 1960 game, the season was 0 - 11 - 1) but they had what it takes to finish strong. That won them their original lifetime fans. No, the Texans didn't win at the Alamo; but they won many hearts and we will always remember. They finished strong and that spirit was later at San Jacinto where a vastly out-numbered Sam Houston defeated Santa Anna with courage more than military strength.

We can't count on always wining. We can always intend to finish strong.

Image Credit: sidurkin

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