Romo's ruining everything

My dislike of the Dallas Cowboys goes back a long way — at least to the Hollywood Henderson era, and has been boosted in recent years by Jerry Jones and his acquisitions of Terrell Owens and Pacman (Call me Adam) Jones.

I enjoy disliking the Cowboys; it’s been very rewarding — and very easy.

Which is why I’m increasingly disturbed by the actions of Tony Romo.

First, the Cowboys quarterback stops on the freeway and helps a couple change a flat tire. Then — this reported Wednesday in the Dallas Morning News — he sees a homeless man outside a movie theater and treats him to a film. And no — he didn’t just buy him a ticket; he went in and watched the flick with him.

When the man told Romo he hadn’t showed in days, Romo replied, “Don't worry about that. I'm used to locker rooms."

"For me, it was a blessing," the man, whose name is Doc, said. "It came at just the right time. It gave me some encouragement and faith in mankind. I just wanted to say thank you."

And I want to say, “Tony, KNOCK IT OFF.”

Now, I’m confident that with Jerry Jones running the show, Pacman Jones running his posse and Terrell Owens running his mouth, I’ll continue to be able detest the team with the star. With a little effort.

But I’d rather not have to work at it at all.

Insert cleat, shoe, high heel ...

Why, oh why, do they do this? Open their mouths, I mean?

Take Ohio State receiver Roy Small.

Days before his Buckeyes go on the road to take on the University of Southern California — the top-ranked football team in the country — Small rips the Trojans program, describing disdainfully his recruiting visit to Los Angeles, during his senior year of high school.

He ends his rant with, “(It's) a class thing. Here at Ohio State, they teach you to be a better man. There, it's just all about football."

Well, it certainly WILL be all about football Saturday. Most analysts already think USC has the advantage, without the added edge in motivation.

Of course, Small, though he should have known better, is just a player. How does one explain Charlie Weis?

Why did the coach of Notre Dame, which hosts Michigan on Saturday, feel the need to pop off about the Wolverines, a team that embarrassed the not-so-Fighting Irish 38-0 last year?

"I've always been one never to make excuses and blow hot air," Weis claimed before the season started, adding, “… We'll listen to Michigan have all their excuses as they come running in, saying how they have a new coaching staff and there's changes.

"The hell with Michigan."

Weis later tried to backpedal, claiming the “the hell with Michigan” was a kind of tribute to former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, who once said, “To hell with Notre Dame.” He didn’t explain what the talk about Michigan making excuses was a tribute to.

Last and certainly least, we have Jessica Simpson, paramour of Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo, who told Philadelphia Eagles fans, “We’re going to kick your butt — whoo-hoo!”

It’s bad enough when players mouth off and give an opponent bulletin-board material. It’s worse when coaches mouth off. But when girlfriends get into the act ...

Who knows? Maybe Romo likes that. But if I were he, I’d be telling Jessica not to write any checks that someone else — namely, me — has to cash.