Cowboys' Jerry Jones Offers 'Piggyback' Ride to Magic Johnson?
ARLINGTON, Texas - To fully understand Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' answer to the racial discrimination suit filed by a former NFL media reporter against the league, one has to be able to speak "Jerry'ese." ... especially when he mentions Washington Commanders part owner Magic Johnson and the idea of giving the NBA legend a "piggyback" ride.
According to the lawsuit filed last week by journalist Jim Trotter, Jones told him that if Black people want more representation in decision-making positions in the NFL, they should become the owners of teams, at which point they could hire who they wish.
“Some of the representation is not accurate,” Jones said on Sunday after the Cowboys' 30-10 win over the New York Jets. “It’s just not accurate."
Magic Johnson and Jerry Jones
Jones also defended his record as a supporters of diversity in power positions, adding, "I do, and I want to, and I have worked very hard to get minority ownership in the NFL. I've spent a lot of time on it. And I’m all for that, of course.”
And then Jones mentioned Magic Johnson, the NBA legend who is part of the new Washington Commanders ownership group led by Josh Harris (off to a 2-0 start this season). ... and Jones utilized a seemingly odd visual to make his point - though the odd visual is a familiar one to those who speak "Jerry'ese."
“Magic is a great ambassador," Jones said, "and I'd carry (him) piggyback to get him in the NFL."
What does that mean? It's goofy, but simple. No, it doesn't mean that Jones, who turns 81 in October, is literally going to toss the 6-9 heavyweight over his shoulder. It means the same thing it meant years ago, when billionaire Jeff Bezos was involved in a rumored Seattle Seahawks bid, and Jones' enthusiasm for Bezos was such that Jerry said, "I'd carry him piggyback to get him into the NFL."
Jones' country-fried meaning? He wants guys like Jeff Bezos and Magic Johnson as partners involved in the NFL so badly that Jerry would, if necessarily, figuratively lift them up and carry them "into the league."
Jones took another stab with another easier-to-understand example, saying, “I love the National Football League and I love football, and if we can improve it by having people that aren’t in ownership today in ownership, I’ll walk across Texas to do it.”
