Cowboys.com goes Gay

[RaiderGirl]

I posted about this on DNF in the DomainGang thread but the owner felt it necessary to have the last word and close the thread as he's done countless times in the past...

From that thread it came to my attention the owners/investors of Cowboys.com have developed it into a Gay dating site, and that some domainers may think it was a brilliant idea as a way of influencing the Dallas Cowboys organization into buying it, needless to say I do NOT share that same thought..

But I'm wondering how many of you do?

I think it goes to ethics, Yes it was unethical for the Dallas Cowboys to back out of the deal, but it is also unethical for it's new owners to use degradation of a famous brand as a means of persuading the owner of that corporation into buying it...

The owners will of course say this was not their intent, but when you look at the history behind this purchase, and consider the Dallas Cowboys have the most interest in the name as well as very deep pockets, and considering that 5 years has passed and no sale, I think the intent is clear.

Your thoughts

 

[alien51]

Even outside the Domaining "industry", these kind of tactics are very normal.

For example, Microsoft attempted to kill Netscape by embedding Internet Explorer in Windows. A lot of people cried foul.

Google controls the Android mobile operating system used by many smartphone manufacturers. And then suddenly, Google buys Motorola. A lot of people cried foul.

The Naked Cowboy tried to sue The Naked Cowgirl, claiming the chick was trashing his image and brand.

There are a lot of intimidation going on in business. Cowboys.com going GAY, seems upsetting. But i think it's a clever ploy, if his intention was to intimidate. As some had mentioned here already, he is gambling on the brand being tarnished "un-sellable" goods by going GAY. So it is more interesting than upsetting, to see how this kind of tactic will pan out.

 

[Keith]

yea but how do you make a thread title out of that? also not sure there are many examples of this unique story along with the high price paid.. its kind of like the new gTLD situation.. sometimes people talk generally about all of them together but the closer we get to em actually being released there will be 100 million threads about specific examples... i say bring it on, the domain forums are dead compared to their former glory days anyway.



it doesnt have the same story behind it..

Domains are sold for $xx,xxx on a weekly basis and end up parked. I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to find 6 figure sales that end up parked as well or offer minimal content.

The real reason for this thread is the attachment to the football team and the attempt by some to paint the domain owner in a bad light...

 

[mjnels]

Domains are sold for $xx,xxx on a weekly basis and end up parked. I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to find 6 figure sales that end up parked as well or offer minimal content.

okay, but this one was not only $xx,xxx but $370,000 and there is a funny story behind it so it kinda stands out.

The real reason for this thread is the attachment to the football team and the attempt by some to paint the domain owner in a bad light...

probably - and i'd say its just as probable the ENTIRE reason for buying this domain was to antagonize the dallas cowboys into buying it later and make them "realize their mistake" then publish some blog post with the theme of "dont mess with domainers, you only get one chance for a unique property blah blah blah"

would i do this if i owned the name? i dont know. its easy to stand from the sidelines and judge. if the motivation behind this is to antagonize the dallas cowboys that does seem sort of sleezy but oh well - so does backing out of a sale and claiming you thought it was only $275 for Cowboys.com... although possible seems very unlikely and seriously if you are that stupid you may deserve some of whats coming at you.

 

[Keith]

i'd say its just as probable the ENTIRE reason for buying this domain was to antagonize the dallas cowboys into buying it later and make them "realize their mistake"

That's a huge stretch.

Almost all pro teams call themselves a generic term. We have lions, tigers, bears, ravens, cubs, and on and on. To acquire any of the above "generic" names would certainly be 6 figures and cowboys is no different. I don't see how an outsider jumps to the "bad faith" conclusion when these type of domains cost big bucks, football related or otherwise.

 

[mjnels]

That's a huge stretch.

Almost all pro teams call themselves a generic term. We have lions, tigers, bears, ravens, cubs, and on and on. To acquire any of the above "generic" names would certainly be 6 figures and cowboys is no different. I don't see how an outsider jumps to the "bad faith" conclusion when these type of domains cost big bucks, football related or otherwise.

whaaaaaaat? no no.. im not going on the term alone that would be silly. its the story that leads up to the purchase...

the dallas cowboys bid $275,000 for the domain at auction... then backed out saying they thought it was only a $275. then, a couple days when the domain is re-auctioned it goes for $370,000 and they make a blog post talking about how the "dallas cowboys fumbled" and a team of 6 people swooped in to buy a great generic domain.

they were the ones that mentioned the dallas cowboys after they bought the domain and even make a blog post about it with everyone wearing cowboy gear! why is it such a stretch to say the intent of buying the domain is to eventually sell it to the last end user who expressed interest? that seems completely logical to me and the most likely explanation.

 

[Keith]

whaaaaaaat? no no.. im not going on the term alone that would be silly.

the dallas cowboys bid $275,000 for the domain at auction... then backed out saying they thought it was only a $275. then, a couple days when the domain is re-auctioned it goes for $370,000 and they make a blog post talking about how the "dallas cowboys fumbled" and a team of 6 people swooped in to buy a great generic domain.

they were the ones that mentioned the dallas cowboys after they bought the domain and even make a blog post about it with everyone wearing cowboy gear! why is it such a stretch to say the intent of buying the domain is to eventually sell it to the last end user who expressed interest? that seems completely logical to me and the most likely explanation.

Oh, lol I see now!

Yeah the Dallas cowboys were gullible thinking it was $275. The buyer made a mistake if that is truly what happened with the blog post. I wonder why no case was brought against the buyer for obvious bad faith?

 

[mjnels]

Oh, lol I see now!

Yeah the Dallas cowboys were gullible thinking it was $275. The buyer made a mistake if that is truly what happened with the blog post. I wonder why no case was brought against the buyer for obvious bad faith?

whoops.. by cowboy gear i mean like western cowboy gear, not football stuff. they had a picture with the team of domain buyers wearing cowboy hats n stuff. i'd imagine its to distance themselves from the actual sports team but even mentioning them at all seemed risky to me - but im not a lawyer. also im not entirely sure if bad faith is just buying a domain with the intent to sell it for more later - to a specific buyer (if the term is generic)..

i should mention im not rooting for them to lose the domain or anything... its simply a case of making a gamble and calling someones bluff. maybe the dallas cowboys really did think it was $275. tough call to make since they are not domainers - with all the talk the big domainers say about major businesses "not getting it" wouldnt it be plausible that they really thought the price was $275 dollar bills and not $275,000... i mean you cant have it both ways with major companies "not understanding the value of a domain" and at the same time understanding ahahahaa

 

[npro3]

the group of people that bought this apparently paid 370k - ouch! Looking back that sounds like bubble prices to me and i'd say their best (possibly only) chance to break even is hope their strategy of harnessing homophobia actually works - it could, we'll see.

exactly!

 

[ggn]

Um. I never heard of "Dallas Cowboys" until today. Just had a look at the Cowboys.com site. Great. I'm not a cowboy, but the idea to create a website where gay cowboys can date each other is just brilliant. Great the "Dallas Cowboys" didn't take that domain. And yes, when I think at cowboys I think at the Brokeback Mountain movie. Brillant too

 

[DreamZ55]

Just wow

 

[VisionEdger]

we own CowboysS.com

thought it would be of some use to a domainer / developer wanting to make a go of it in straight world

for sale btw!

 

[gemstar]

''

 

[RaiderGirl]

Jerry Jones strikes me as the kind of guy who doesn't like to be played, and no matter how much the owners try to deny it, they are doing just that..

Jerry is probably saying to himself; Let the cybersquatters have it, I'm quite content with DallasCowboys.com

 

[ggn]

Who is Jerry Jones ?

 

[mjnels]

well alex, ill take "What is Google" for $0

sidenote, found this:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30O-JJnuYIg"]Rick Schwartz Interview - YouTube[/ame]

 

[RaiderGirl]

probably - and i'd say its just as probable the ENTIRE reason for buying this domain was to antagonize the dallas cowboys into buying it later and make them "realize their mistake" then publish some blog post with the theme of "dont mess with domainers, you only get one chance for a unique property blah blah blah"

would i do this if i owned the name? i dont know. its easy to stand from the sidelines and judge. if the motivation behind this is to antagonize the dallas cowboys that does seem sort of sleezy but oh well - so does backing out of a sale and claiming you thought it was only $275 for Cowboys.com... although possible seems very unlikely and seriously if you are that stupid you may deserve some of whats coming at you.

Agree

And did Rick say 20 investors?, For so many investors, could the reason be to minimize the financial risk, knowing it could backfire? I think so.

Question; If the Dallas Cobwboys did not exist, would Cowboys.com sell for that high a price? I think the main reason it sold for what it did is the reason you clearly point out, they thought they could antagonize the Dallas Cowboys into buying it later.. But were beyond "Later, were at "Late" and investors are desperate..

As for adult oriented content degrading a domains value, for a generic name like this, I would agree, I think investors are overplaying their hand on this one, and time is not on their side.

And thanks for the vid!.. I like Rick, but he's a empty suit in that video.