Cowboys set to touch down in Ventura County

Acorn File Photo GET YOUR POPCORN READY- Terrell Owens and the Dallas Cowboys are scheduled to arrive at Naval Base Ventura County this afternoon. When the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy released its greatest hit in 1976, "The Boys Are Back in Town," it had no references to the Dallas Cowboys or Ventura County.

Thirtytwo years later, however, the song very much resonates at a local level as the 'Boys, in fact, are back in town- or at least back in Oxnard.

Having left the county following training camp in 2006, after a three-year stint at the River Ridge Complex in Oxnard and, before that, a brief twoweek stay in Oxnard in 2001 in addition to a 27year run at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks from 1963 through 1989, the starstudded Dallas Cowboys open this season's training camp on Friday in familiar territory- back at River Ridge.

The team, which signed a fiveyear contract to hold its training camp in San Antonio, Texas, beginning last year, returned to the county because of scheduling conflicts at the Alamodome, where they were supposed to practice.

So, seeing how this may be the last time the Cowboys train locally for quite some time, if not forever, there are many reasons to make the trek northbound to watch some professional pigskin action. Here are our top five:

Texas-sized star power

Everything is bigger in Texas- we get it already. Former Dallas head coach Bill Parcells (aka the Big Tuna) has set sail for Miami to rebuild the Dolphins, but the Cowboys can still go toeto-toe with any NFL franchise when it comes to putting big names on the field.

How's this for a role call: Tony Romo at quarterback, Terrell Owens catching passes, Jason Witten manning tight end and Marion Barber toting the rock.

On defense, newcomers Zach Thomas and Adam Jones provide playmaking ability- Jones can apparently make it rain, too- while stalwarts DeMarcus Ware, Roy Williams and Marcus Spears come ready to lay the lumber on any given weekend.

Oh, yeah, the team's owner is some rich guy named Jerry Jones. He's pretty famous as well.

Sure, there's also Romo's relationship with Jessica Simpson, Adam Jones' trouble with the law, Owens' ability to cry on demand and head coach Wade Phillips' good-ole-boy demeanor.

It's a circus, no doubt, and having the film crew for HBO's "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys" on location won't make things any better.

But the bottom line is that these Cowboys are very talented and extremely dangerous on the field. Amid the celebrity gossip and police blotter, let's not lose sight of that fact.

Scout for your fantasy football team

Are you tired of finishing in ninth place in your 10team fantasy football league? Do you need that extra edge that can't be provided by hundreds, maybe thousands, of fantasy sites online? To win that coveted league title, and the unreported income that comes with it, sometimes you've got to put in a little extra effort.

By attending practices- they are free aside from the $10 parking fee for cars and $20 charge for oversized automobiles- you can gain firsthand knowledge of the Cowboys' inner workings. That third-string wide receiver who often goes undrafted could be yours if you like what you see.

Of course, don't tell anyone what you're actually doing out there. Admitting that you're a fantasy football scout will cause people to point their fingers and laugh at you. In the end, though, it's you who will be laughing- all the way to the bank.

Cheerleaders

Let's be honest, this should probably be No. 1 on the list.

Seriously, would you rather watch large, sweaty men chase down a ball or the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders doing their thing? Depends on your perspective, I guess.

On Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon, America's most famous dance team will conduct a free cheer camp for youths 4 to 17 at Oxnard High. An autograph session will follow. Call (805) 3857995 for further information.

And, please, don't ask for the ladies' phone numbers. That sort of thing is typically greeted with a fake smile and laugh, but nothing more. We must keep things in perspective, folks.

Punt, Pass & Kick

This should be a pretty cool event. On Sat., Aug. 9, the Cowboys will host a free youth Punt, Pass & Kick competition at the River Ridge Playing Field at 2101 W. Vineyard Ave. Youngsters 8 to 15 years old are eligible to participate.

The top three finishers will be awarded a trophy, get to have lunch with the Cowboys and will advance to a sectional competition in October. Call the phone number listed earlier for further details.

Go out in style

As mentioned before, this should be the Cowboys' last camp in SoCal for a long time, and they've got a great shot to make it to the Super Bowl.

Throw into the mix cheap entertainment for the kids, the chance to get a few autographs from some big-name stars and the fact that the closest professional football franchise is located in San Diego- save it, L.A. Avenger fans- and you've got a great recipe for summertime fun.