All-Star Micah Parsons vs. Terrell Owens: Dallas Cowboys' Best-Ever Basketball Players
Micah Parsons had already proven himself to be an elite NFL player, but this weekend, he proved he's one of the greatest overall athletes to have ever suited up the Dallas Cowboys. ... and maybe "America's Team's'' best-ever hoopster?
Playing for Team Shannon Sharpe against notorious Cowboys (fake-)hater Stephen A. Smith in the NBA's Celebrity All-Star Game, Parsons not only helped his team win the game, but he won the MVP Trophy, becoming the first member of America's Team to do so since former Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens.
Micah Parsons joined Terell Owens as the only two Dallas Cowboys to have ever won MVP in the NBA's Celebrity All-Star Game.
Owens, like Parsons, had tremendous success on the gridiron during his time as a Cowboys superstar. Still, when it comes to the greatest athletes ever, it's about showing just how versatile your athleticism is, and Owens did just that by winning consecutive Celebrity All-Star Game MVPs back in 2008 and 2009.
Both of Dallas' 6-3 All-Pro players proved that they were world-class athletes regardless of the sport by dominating in both the NFL and showcasing basketball skills, but who's the Cowboys' best hooper of all time?
Parsons won his lone MVP by scoring 37 points, collecting 16 rebounds, and swiping four steals. On the other hand, Owens played basketball at the University of Chattanooga and has been credited with three of the greatest dunks in the contest's history.
So who is on the list of the Cowboys' best basketball players? It's worth noting that the late scouting guru Gil Brandt essentially invented the idea of the basketball player crossing over to the NFL. And indeed, Dallas' 1975 Super Bowl team featured three former college basketball players in running back Preston Pearson (Illinois), wide receiver Percy Howard (Austin Peay) and tight end Ron Howard (Seattle University).
Before that? Cornell Green was a Utah State basketball star who became a 6-3, 205-pound cornerback and a five-time Pro Bowler for Dallas. Pete Gent, who was a basketball star at Michigan State who became a receiver for Dallas - even though he didn't play college football. (Gent's claim to fame is of course his best-seller "North Dallas Forty.") And Pat Riley was drafted by Dallas in 1967 despite not having played college football at Kentucky - though he was good enough as a high-schooler to have been recruited for football by Bear Bryant at Alabama.
And in more modern times? Rico Gathers (6-8, 280) was a tight end who didn't quite make it here, but he was an All-American forward at Baylor who once had a 25-point, 28-rebound game. Additionally, Martellus Bennett played basketball at Texas A&M.
Oh, and if you ask Michael Irvin and Dez Bryant and many others? They deserve to be on this list, too! ... and maybe Jay Saldi, Sean Lee and Tony Romo are among those who can make a case, as they were all-conference honorees in high school. (Romo can even claim to have "played'' for the NBA's Dallas Mavs. Kinda.)
But T.O. might get the top billing here. And we say ... For as good as Parsons was, he still has a long way to go until he catches up to Owens as the best basketball player to have ever suited up for Dallas.
T.O. was an All-Star Weekend highlight reel and scored 18 points in one quarter to help win him his first MVP, and the reason he doesn't have three is because actor Michael Rapaport received one for slowing him down.
Maybe next year, Parsons will compete again and tie Owens for the second-most MVPs in the game's history, giving more validity to his case as the Cowboys' GOAT hooper.
