About Us/Mission

• Jonathan Bales, Founder

[caption id="attachment_1733" align="alignright" width="108" caption=" "][/caption] As a self-proclaimed "numbers guy," I have always been fascinated by the way mathematics and statistics, if used properly, can thoroughly explain seemingly complex phenomena. Like the motion of the planets or the path of an ant, I truly believe football can be perfectly represented by numbers (the difficult part is determining which numbers are significant and why). I received my B.A. in Philosophy and Psychological Statistics from Muhlenberg College.   After repeatedly hearing my mother ask "Jonathan, what are you going to do with a degree in philosophy?", I finally have an answer: build the most in-depth database of Cowboys information, of course. Isn't that why philosophy was created? Aristotle would be proud. During college, I found myself exploring how one might usefully transfuse football with statistics instead of, you know, actually doing homework. As a stat dork, I frequently crunched numbers in an effort to determine whether long-held football "truisms" were actually valid. I found that football coaches are far too timid in their decision-making, it is never "too early" to go for a two-point conversion, and kickers are far more important to a team than anyone imagined. I implemented the same sort of approach to playing (and winning) fantasy football. Fantasy football is nothing more than risk analysis; like playing the stock market, a sound use of game theory can work wonders for your team. I parlayed this unique technique to the game into several writing positions as a fantasy football "expert" (including with FantasyFootball.com and Top Fantasy Sports). But it wasn't enough. My true passion in football has always lied with the Dallas Cowboys, so I decided to create a portfolio of stats-based articles--all similar to the way Sabermetrics is used in baseball, and all related to the Cowboys. As my portfolio grew (and my time spent studying did the opposite), I realized I also had a lot to say about other aspects of America's Team. Thus, Dallas Cowboys Times was born. Selfishly, this site is just as much for myself as it is for you--it is a collection of everything I find interesting about the Cowboys and, sometimes, football in general. My hope is that the content you discover here is innovative and captivating enough that you gain the same sort of enthusiasm and insights toward the Cowboys that I acquire when writing it. [caption id="attachment_1734" align="alignleft" width="135" caption=" "][/caption]

• Justin Shoemaker, Draft/Salary Cap Expert

As an avid Cowboys fan, Jonathan asked me to join Dallas Cowboys Times as a guest contributor. I have a love for the NFL Draft and a lot of my articles are centered around it. With so much of the site's content dedicated to statistics and film study, I feel my opinion-based pieces give Dallas Cowboys Times a nice balance. This diverse array of techniques we use to cover the Cowboys is what makes the site so unique--it truly is your one-stop destination for everything Cowboys. I graduated from Elizabethtown College with a degree in Finance and Economics.  I also plan to obtain my MBA in the near future.  Consequently, I often look at the NFL as a business and consider myself the site's "guru" concerning contracts, the salary cap, and everything in between. I currently work as a sports financial adviser.

• Amber Leigh Hartman, "The Blonde Side" Blogger

I am originally from Durango, Colorado.  I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State University, and a MBA specializing in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management from North Texas University. My experience in the sports and entertainment industry includes promotions, journalism, player relations, marketing, general media, radio, broadcasting, and non-profit work. My blog “The Blonde Side” (HIS sports through HER eyes) is a rather new component of Dallas Cowboys Times.  It is a blog featuring general athlete/sports gossip as well as opinion-based material. My writing is a feminine perspective on the sports industry, provided in a very light, non-controversial tone and implementing my sassy personality. I also write "First Down" (a top ten list) for the site each week, sharing a humorous list of various sports-related topics.  I have a wide array of followers which is growing rapidly with every appearance/event I attend. I have an extensive knowledge of the sports industry with an uncanny interest in Major League Baseball (I'm a Texas Rangers season ticket holder) and the Dallas Cowboys, as well as a general knowledge of soccer, basketball, and hockey. Don’t let my looks fool you–I can throw a spiral in five-inch heels and give you season predictions while shopping.  I'm a “girly girl” who loves sports. . .taking on the industry one blonde moment at a time. You can follow Amber Leigh on Twitter (@TheBlondeSide) or find “The Blonde Side” on Facebook.