It appears that a long standing feud between Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson is still alive and burning.
Jones, the Dallas Cowboys owner, was on ESPN's Outside the Lines on Sunday and was asked if Johnson, who coached the Cowboys to two Super Bowl titles in the 1990s, would ever be inducted into the team's "Ring of Honor."
Short answer: Not likely.
"I don't have any plans for Jimmy to be in the Ring of Honor," Jones told the network. "The criteria that I'm interested in have more to the guys that were on the field making the plays."
Of the 20 men in the Ring of Honor, Tom Landy is the only coach, while former General Manager Tex Schramm has also been honored. Landry led the Cowboys to two Super Bowls while coaching in 1960-1988, before being fired by Jones, allowing him to hire Johnson.
"To have that kind of recognition for a coach, I know that's there," Jones said. "On the other hand, I get to make that decision."
Johnson, an Arkansas teammate of Jones' in the 1960s, told a Texas newspaper in the spring that he has been assured of a place in the Ring of Honor. Maybe not, though.
A Texas newspaper reporter, Bob West of the Port Arthur News asked Johnson about his thoughts on Jones over the weekend.
West wanted to know how Johnson thought Jones came across in an article that appeared on ESPN.com.
"About like I expected," Johnson said in an e-mail. "Jerry comes across as a rich a**hole."
Tough lesson
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Mitch McGary is trying to start anew in the NBA after missing last season at Michigan with a back injury.
McGary had planned to return for his junior season at Michigan, but he opted for the NBA Draft after learning he would be suspended for the 2014-2015 season for failing a drug test that was administered when he was out with the back injury.
McGary was taken by the Thunder in the first round.
He spoke last week to VICE Sports, telling the website it was a "learning moment."
His biggest lesson learned from the suspension: "Don't get caught."
"It's something I did, and I learned from it," McGary said. "... I don't think the penalty fit the crime, but that's just the way it goes. ... Like I said, it happens, and hopefully some kids can learn from it, but just don't get caught."
Tough start
Eastern Michigan's new coach Chris Creighton said he wants to send the message that his team will "play in a parking lot on glass."
That's why the Eagles played on all-gray field turf at Rynearson Stadium Saturday, which had a parking-lot feel.
Just think Central Arkansas' Estes Stadium without the purple swaths.
To further advance the message, Creighton had his team first bust down a makeshift wall of cinder blocks with sledgehammers before running onto the field.
It took three players -- all linemen -- about 20 seconds to knock the wall down, and it didn't tumble until offensive lineman Lincoln Hansen gave the wall a kick and a shove.
The Eagles ended up winning, just barely, 31-28 over Morgan State, but the wall stunt might not have relayed the message Creighton wanted to send.
Sports quiz
Q. What was the Dallas Cowboys' record the year before Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989?
A. The Cowboys were 3-13 in 1988, Tom Landry's last season as coach.
Sports on 09/01/2014