Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones credited late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner with creating a new type of professional sports owner after his death at the age of 80 on Monday.

Jones, entering his 21st year as the Cowboys owner, followed in Steinbrenner's path as a high-profile owner involved in the day-to-day operations of his team. And like the Yankees under Steinbrenner, the Cowboys won championships and experienced an explosion in popularity and value.

Said Jones in a statement mourning Steinbrenner:

"George redefined professional sports ownership with his vision, his ability to build a champion and a passionate approach that lifted the visibility and popularity of his franchise and his sport. From an interest level, baseball was always better when the profile and the performance of the New York Yankees was at a high level, and George always made sure that was the case.

"I admired his willingness to promote and support all sports at all levels. I appreciated his understanding of the invaluable asset of involving his family in the management of the Yankees. I took pride in calling him a friend, an advisor, an inspiration and later, a business partner.

"We have lost a true leader in sports - someone who not only saw the big picture but helped create the scene on the canvas."