Cockfighting In Texas

Inside Corner's Home Run Happy Hour

2009-05-11T21:24:00.003-05:00

Know that I am loathe to cross-post between blogs, but this satisfied the criteria to make it worthwhile. So here's my experience at "Home Run Happy Hour" which will be followed tomorrow by something about the Mavs....whom are probably going to be done by then.

Just click here.

The Rangers: One Month In

2009-05-04T20:54:00.002-05:00

First off, a little housecleaning. In case you were wondering where I've been, you can read about it here. Let me assure you, the long absences are a thing of the past, even with the potentially boring sports summer upon us. I realize that I should probably start with something about The Mavs, or about the Cowboys draft, or even the collapse of the Cowboys practice facility....and I will write about it eventually, but todays topic is Rangers baseball. I can already hear the yawns.

I realize that its technically been a few days since the end of the "first month" of the season, but yesterday marked the end of the first four weeks of the season. This is the first time in the still young season that we have the necessary sample size to actually make some judgements on this season. We've been through the rotation a few times, we've seen the bullpen at work, and we've given hitters time to either get out of early season slumps or slow up being on fire-this is the first point in the season where you can actually look at the results and make some judgements, atleast in my opinion. So where are the Rangers at?

Ah, now that's such a loaded question. They went 12-12, first off....which considering the past few seasons' terrible Aprils, is a sign of marked improvement. So in that regard, things have improved. The pitcher's have pitched more innings (and more quality innings at that) which is also a sign of improvement, Millwood (2-2 in 5 games, 2.13 ERA, with 38 IP and 1 CG) and Francisco (1-0, 7/7 in save situations, 0.00 ERA) lead the pack but on the whole the rotation looks to be-thus far-one of the best the Rangers have thrown out there in a few years. McCarthy (3-0, 4.67 ERA) has been healthy and solid and after a rough start to the season, Harrison has looked sterling in his past two starts (2-2, 6.41 ERA). For a team that has struggled with pitching for, I don't know, ever (and that seems like an understatement) there are certainly signs of progress. Phenom prospect Derek Holland has made his way to the majors and is in the bullpen, making the appearance that "Everyday" Eddie Guardado might just finally be done and the injury to Kris Benson that much more palatable.

On the offensive side of things though, its a mixed bag in my opinion. as usual the Rangers lead baseball in homeruns (with 44, 9 more than runner up Toronto and 33 more than last place Oakland) and are a very respectable 6th in runs overall (140, 19 less than Toronto but almost 60 more than last place Houston)-so that's good. But if you simple watch the games, you also see a team thats full of all or nothing hitters, a team that relies on the longball or power to score and easily folds against a high end pitcher. Now granted there aren't that many top tier pitchers in the league, but there are enough that if you rely on bad pitching (and you're not playing against Texas....) to survive, you're going to have issues. It's a great crew offensively, but their play with RISP has me concerned.

And finally on defense, you've got some improvement. Kinsler whom averaged an error every 7 games last season has 1 through 24 this year. The team on a whole sits at 15 errors through 24 games, putting them at 16th which is about as average as you can get. But hey, I'll take average over god-awful.

You combine the improvements in pitchign and defense with a consistent offfense, and that explains the better start. Now the question just becomes, can they keep it? I have my doubts, especially the way they struggle hitting with RISP and with a very hollow belief that the pitching can hold up. But as they say maybe, just maybe.....

Rangers Season Preview

2009-04-06T07:58:00.002-05:00

First off, on the subject of mis-leading and patently false titles to an article, the DMN gives us this gem, that Texas Rangers' Hicks Shows He's Serious About Winning. The thesis being that because Hicks ate the $6m necessary to cut Frank Catalanatto (the first time I can remember him ever eating any money.....), he's suddenly committed to winning. Please, this is nothing but a business to Hicks and the best thing that could ever happen to this franchise would be Hicks selling it. But I digress, we've got just a few days until opening day, and I thought it appropriate to do a little Rangers season preview.

Yes, I know they will probably be lousy. Yes, they usually are. That said, hope springs eternal as they say, and for the first time in many years there are atleast a few reasons to be hopeful as a Rangers fan. Last week I detailed why it is I keep coming back, today I write about why I do have hope for this season, nevermind the fact that at this stage of every season I have (false) hope. That's the past, and this is now. First off, the roster changes: Milton Bradley is gone despite a quite productive season (when healthy), Kris Benson (and his hot wife) is in, as is Andruw Jones. "Everyday" Eddie Guardado is back as well. As far as "big names" that's it, the rest of the changes relate to seasoning of players and maturation of prospects.

The opening day rotation for your Texas Rangers is Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Kris Benson, Brandon McCarthy, and Matt Harrison. Now is that going to knock your socks off? Hell no. But you've got Millwood and Padilla in contract years (historically they perform there), Benson trying to improve his stock after a couple injury plagued seasons, McCarthy apparently healthy, and Harrison (who came over in the Texeira trade) as the best of the young starters. After the Rangers went through 17 starting pitchers last year it's a given that health is priority number one, that said if they can maintain some semblance of health out of this rotation I think it can serve as an average rotation. Sure the ERAs will be high, but they should have good offensive production to fall back on and if they can just eat some innings so as not to overwork the bullpen and stay healthy enough not to force management's hand on bringing up prospects too early, it should be serviceable.

Player to watch: Vicente Padilla. Yes, he's a nut case....we've seen him throw at hitters and get himself ejected before the end of the first inning, and we've heard the stories of how he grates on teammates, but in his last contract year he was 15-10 with a 4.50 ERA in 33 games (200 IP) and that was in Arlington on a lousy club. If he projects out anywhere near that this year, you should be more than satisfied with him as no. 2. It's also worth noting that in his last contract year, Kevin Millwood won the AL ERA.

The Rangers bullpen will consist of Scott Feldman, Warner Madrigal, Eddie Guardado, Jason (not Greg) Jennings, C.J. Wilson, Josh Rupe, and Frankie Francisco (with Willie Eyre and Dustin Nippert starting the season on the DL). And while the picture isn't completely clear, Francisco has been tabbed the closer and Feldman/Jennings as the long relievers. Wilson and Guardado should serve as the set-up guys with Madrigal and Rupe as the extra arms. Reports out of camp have been that Francisco has thrived in the closer role, though whether he can suitably fill the role that's been effectively vacant since Francisco Cordero (I don't count Eric Gagne since he was a rent-a-player) is anyone's guess-though if he stumbles one could assume that Guardado or Wilson could fill in as a stop-gap. Feldman and Jennings are former starters, and Rupe led the AL last season in innings pitched. Again, this staff won't win any beauty pageants....but if the players stay healthy and live up to their billing....it should be serviceable.

Player to watch: Frank Francisco is best know for the chair-throwing incident in 2005, but lost in that notoriety was his efficacy as a reliever before injuries set him back. The Rangers brass has tapped him as the new closer, and if he can fill that role then the rest of the pieces in the bullpen fall into place. His success will be the most important factor in determining how good the Rangers bullpen is.

And finally, this leads us to the Rangers lineup. Courtesy of Inside Corner we know that the Rangers opening day lineup will consist of 2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Michael Young, CF Josh Hamilton (L), RF Nelson Cruz, DH Hank Blalock (L), LF Marlon Byrd, 1B Chris Davis, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Elvis Andrus.

Kinsler and Hamilton were studs last year, and despite the position change one would expect Young to be himself and hit ~.300. The wildcards here are Cruz who tore it up at the end of last season and throughout the spring, Blalock who hasn't looked himself in a few years, and Salty who gets the nod over Taylor Teagarden due to a nice offensive spring but about whom questions remain. Byrd is expected to platoon with David Murphy and Andruw Jones, Chris Davis showed promise last season but questions exist about whether he can thrive at this level, and Andrus is expected to struggle to adjust at the plate.

That said, like every other season I can remember of Rangers baseball, the production should be there. It's a pretty damn good lineup, especially at the front end....the question is just whether or not the pitching staff can make the runs holdup.

Player to watch: Nelson Cruz has been a career 4A guy, one of those players that was too good for AAA baseball, but couldn't adjust to the big leagues. In a late season call up last season he was very good though, and he followd up that success this spring with more success. He's out of options, so this is his last chance to sink of swim. If Cruz has finally come around as his recent performance suggests-he's a hell of a power hitter-then the blow of losing Milton Bradley to free agency will be considerably softened and the Rangers lineup will be downright nasty-few teams look forward to facing a lineup with Kinsler, Young, Hamilton, and a good Cruz anchoring it.

In the end, this is considered to be the last "building year" before the fruit of a highly rated minor league system begins to bear fruit. Highly touted pitchers Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland are expected to mature to the big league club by the end of this season, as is 1B Justin Smoak as Andrus and Chris Davis mature further. We've heard the "rebuilding" song and dance out of Arlington for a while now, but it seems the plan is finally nearing fruition. Last I'd checked Vegas put the over/under for Rangers wins at 74.5 and I think the over bet there is a good one, expecting them to finish somewhere between 80-87 wins. Will that be enough to make the playoffs? I doubt it. But it should serve to atleast provide us, the Rangers fans, with atleast a little hope that better days are nearing.

Work Stoppages? They're A Comin'

2009-03-23T18:35:00.004-05:00

While articles have steadily trickled out over the past few months that sports hasn't been immune to the current economic "crisis," such as with a lot of NFL clubs cutting back on front office staff, I don't think the true brevity of the situation hit home for me until I real this article Bill Simmons did for espn.com. Bill Simmons can be very hit or miss, but I thought this to be a very good read for two reasons. The first being the state of NBA Clubs' finances at the trade dead-line, and the second being the spectre of a 2010 lockout.

On the first count, it was Simmons claim that the most valuable trading chip for NBA franchises at the trade deadline wasn't a player, or a draft pick, but instead the expiring contract of Raef LaFrentz. As Simmons writes;

You know who was mentioned in more "Where do you think he's going?" scenarios
than anyone besides Amare Stoudemire? Raef LaFrentz's Expiring Contract. That thing got mentioned so
many times it could have hired a PR staff and an agent. Here's the kicker: Raef
can't play. He's a basketball invalid. He has been injured since something like
1973. Portland's insurance company repays the Blazers 80 percent of his salary,
making him a cap figure and little else. In the No Benjamins Association, that
makes him a freaking commodity. Teams wanted to dump clearly superior players on
Portland at the deadline just to get Raef's insurance money. Phoenix would have
traded Shaq for Raef and Channing Frye's expiring contract in a heartbeat. Jersey
supposedly offered Vince Carter and two protected No. 1's for Raef's contract, and
Milwaukee supposedly would have given up Richard Jefferson and either Joe Alexander or a future No. 1 for it. Incredibly, the Blazers
turned everyone down. And this is a team bankrolled by Paul Allen.

But before we go there, lets backtrack a little bit. If you recall, everyone finally became aware of this economic mess right around September/October of last year-that's when the proverbial shit hit the fan and everyone realized what a mess we were in. What's striking about that timeline is, that's after people/corporations had paid for their season tickets/ticket packages for both the NBA and the NHL. In other words those leagues got their big money up front, but are fully aware that while the economic hammer hasn't hit them yet, it's coming. The decline in walk-up tickets sales and game spending paints a particularly nasty picture of what's coming next season, when those season tickets are most likely cancelled and revenues slashed accordingly. And that's in addition to many NBA franchises already struggling. As agent David Falk put it in a recent New York Times article;

....the N.B.A. and its players are heading for a profound labor battle.The
nation’s economy is buckling. Too many teams are losing money. League revenue is
flat, and the salary cap is about to shrink for only the second time in its
history.

And that's an agent admitting that. As to what he thinks the NBA is going to seek to do?

Falk said he believed Stern, the commissioner, would push for a hard salary
cap, shorter contracts, a higher age limit on incoming players, elimination of
the midlevel cap exception and an overall reduction in the players’ percentage
of revenue. And, Falk said, Stern will probably get what he wants.

“The owners have the economic wherewithal to shut the thing down for
two years, whatever it takes, to get a system that will work long term,” he said
in an extensive interview to discuss his new book. “The players do not have the
economic wherewithal to sit out one year.”

And that, my friends, is a recipe for a lockout of the highest order. The NBA has experience an unprecedented level of growth and popularity over the last 20 years as players like Magic, Bird, Jordan, Kobe, Shaq and untold others have entered the public conciousness. The problem is, the economics have caught up with them. Huge guaranteed contracts to underperforming players have bloated payrolls while a lot of smaller market teams are playing in aging arenas, and when those smaller market teams get bad the fans stop coming. You want to know the cause of the problems? Look no further than the aforementioned contract of Raef LaFrentz, who as a spare part recieved a 7yr $70m back in 2002 (from Dallas). The NBA is littered with contracts like that, bloated contracts for marginal players, and now that the growth is slowing and incomes contracting, there are a lot of clubs in trouble. If you'd prefer a more concrete example of how dire things are becoming, the NBA just borrowed $175m as a fun to assist financially strapped clubs.

Regardless, it is expected that within the next few years somewhere between 3-8 NBA franchises will move to new cities, be purchased by new owners, or-if it gets really bad-beg the NBA for a bailout. As Simmons put it;

Franchise Hot Potato hinges on five factors in all, although only three
need to be in play. You need a team with a dwindling fan base and/or bailing
sponsors and suite/courtside customers. (I count 11: Indiana, Memphis,
Milwaukee, Sacramento, New Jersey, New Orleans, Miami, Orlando, Minnesota,
Charlotte and Philly.) You need a team trapped in an aging stadium that can't
drum up local money for a new one. (I count three: Sacramento, Jersey and
Milwaukee.) You need an owner who purchased his team because he was worth a ton of money ON PAPER … only now, he's worth significantly less and might even be
worth $10 for all we know. (Consensus candidates for this list: Phoenix, Hijack
City, Jersey, Memphis, Indiana, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Charlotte … and,
surprisingly, Sacramento and Cleveland.) You need cities with NBA-ready, modern
arenas either finished or about to be finished that would love nothing more than
stealing a team. (Definitely Kansas City, Anaheim, San Jose, Louisville, Tulsa
and Pittsburgh; possibly Columbus, St. Louis; and just for fun, let's throw in
Montreal and London.) And you need a struggling team that can actually extricate
itself from its lease.

The last "need" is easier said than done, as the Grizzlies would tell
you -- owner Michael Heisley would leave treadmarks fleeing Memphis if he
weren't tied to FedEx Forum through 2015. Then again, Hijack City owners McClendon and Clay Bennett showed us a nice blueprint for weaseling out of a lease in Seattle last year, a strategy best described as, "make up selfish reasons to leave, make your move, leave a trail of broken hearts, bastardize the integrity of the league, then make everything OK by just paying everyone off because the city will be
greedy enough to accept a cash settlement right away over fighting you in court
for the next six years." Thank you, fellas. You guys will be remembered as the
Lewis and Clark of Scumbag NBA Owners.

It's going to be an interesting next couple of years, and I'm not sure there's anyway around a work stoppage. Too many teams are hemorrhaging money, and too many players are doing too well for themselves to give it up. But that's not the end of it.

You see, the mighty NFL-while proving far more resilient than any entity outside of US Treasury Bills and rotgut booze-is also feeling the pinch. First the league office began to cut staff, and now most NFL clubs are cutting staff as well. On top of that, you've got brand new mega-stadiums opening this upcoming season in New York and Dallas and rumors abounding that the clubs are having trouble selling them out, or atleast selling them out at the price they want. And that's just for the first year, what happens in years 2-5? 5-10?

And as though it were planned, all this is occuring as the NFL nears the end of it's collective bargaining agreement. After the 2009 season, the 2010 season is an un-cappead year, meaning there will be no more salary cap. And 2011? Well if we get there without a new CBA, its just question of strike or lockout. Before his death the notoriously soft negotiator and NFLPA President Gene Upshaw swore that if the NFL ever went un-capped again, it would never go back. And now with DeMaurice Smith, an attorney (and an outsider, with no NFL ties) in charge, the NFLPA has announced that it's serious about that.

Now all of this economic mess could somehow blow over in the next year, but I wouldn't count on it. Instead, I'd suggest getting your fill in now....as we may face an excruciating year or two with out the NBA, NFL, or god forbid-both.

T.O.

2009-03-06T17:51:00.002-06:00

And thus, it ends. Terrell Owens is now a former Dallas Cowboy, or put another way-he is not a Buffalo Bill (and that just sounds weird). Bills fans (all eight of them) are now getting their popcorn ready.

It's really not terribly shocking, I think the day TO signed in Dallas most folks knew how this story was going to play out, and for the most part (overdose aside) it played out according to the script written in both Philadelphia and San Francisco before. A productive and fairly quiet season, followed by a productive season with a few headlines, and the last act being a productive season in which his paranoia gets the best of him and he wears out his welcome and he is released and moves on to the next city and does it all over again. On top of that, I think most folks expected it to last about three years, which it did. And now he takes his circus to Buffalo for a season or two.

I don't hate the guy the way a lot of people do. In fact, I rather enjoy watching him-he is one hell of a football player, and entertaining to boot. Furthermore, I think people are under-estimating what a loss for the Cowboys-as far as on the field play goes-this will be for Dallas. In 2008 he caught 69 for 1052 and 10 TD. Compare that to his best statistical season in Dallas, 2007, where he caught 81 for 1355 and 15 TD and factor in the three game abortion that was the Brad Johnson experiment, and the numbers work out fairly similarly. This is a man that might be beginning the eventual decline in production that all players experience, but to say that he is washed up is dishonest and reaks of a personal agenda.

Does he drop too many passes? He sure does. Is he who you want to go to in the clutch as opposed to say, Jason Witten? Nope. But is he a top 5 or top 10 NFL WR? Damn right he is. For all his antics off the field (and on the sideline), he is an extremely talented WR and a weapon most teams would kill to have. The problem is that the "other stuff" eventually mounts up to the point that the team just can't take it anymore. In the case of Dallas, most of the "other stuff" related to locker room chemistry, as TO's paranoia got the best of him and led him to fracture the locker room by publicly calling out not only his coaches, but also his QB and the best TE in the NFL.

It's a shame really, if the man wasn't so paranoid and neurotic he could've ended his career in Dallas, and I believe there would've been a few more productive years here before he retired and waited for the call from Canton. But in the end, a man is what he is, and because of that TO is now a Bill.

Where does that leave the Cowboys? With some questions, for sure, but overall I think they can absorb fairly well the talent loss. Their passing game will suffer, as I'm really not sure Roy Williams is ever going to achieve the productivity his talent hints to and ever be a true #1 NFL reciever, but he may surprise us all and prove me wrong-in which case the passing game will be fine. Miles Austin makes a suitable deep threat (even if he looks like A-Rod) and Crayton is a decent #2 (though a much better #3 and slot reciever). Regardless of WRs, the passing focus goes back to Witten and I would think you'll see a lot more Martellus Bennett next season as the Cowboys use the TE position to make the transition from the TO-centric offense.

The biggest difference though, is I believe you'll see Dallas transfer from an aerial attack team to a ball control running team. In the wake of the TO release, you immediately hear murmurs of moving Marion Barber back to his original role as a part-time RB/closer with Felix Jones transitioning into Julius Jones' old role (hopefully better though) and Tashard Choice peppered into the game plan where needed. This would be very similar to the "Earth/Wind/Fire" approach used by the Giants last season with much success (until they lost Burress, allowing teams to crowd the line). The prayer for Cowboys fans is that Roy Williams can occupy in Dallas the role Burress did in New York last season, the role which allowed this running attack to be so effective.

So that's where it leaves Dallas, but what of Buffalo? For Buffalo, it's a brilliant signing. This should get them much more media exposure, help them sell some tickets, and could very well translate to an extra W or two if Trent Edwards can figure out a way to actually get TO the ball. History says TO will be on his best behavior in year one, atleast until he gets a bigger financial commitment, and that this should work. For TO though? Well for him, this is sad...this is like being cut by the Yankees and ending up with the Brewers-Buffalo is the siberia of the NFL. And it's just the latest chapter in a maddening career.

What the hell is Jerry thinking?

2009-03-01T15:44:00.002-06:00

What originally was reported as a fairly sound deal (QB Jon Kitna to Dallas for an undisclosed late round draft pick, presumably somewhere between a 5-7), has turned out to be much more as instead your Dallas Cowboys have shipped CB Anthony Henry to Detroit in exchange for Jon Kitna. The media in and around town is crowing that Jerry "gave up too much" for Jon Kitna. To which I say, that's a fucking understatement.

Look, I'm not here to tell you Anthony Henry doesn't have holes in his game, he most assuredly does. Nor am I going to tell you that in a sense of pure talent evaluation (ie, were each player on a draft board and you had to choose between them) that you might not even go with Kitna. What I am going to ask you though is, who the hell trades a veteran starting cornerback for a backup quarterback? I get it, you want an upgrade over the woefully abominable Brad Johnson-you want a quarterback who can start a few games if need be and hopefully win a couple to keep you in the race until your workhorse (Romo) can return from injury.

But are you going to tell me that Jon Kitna is so head-and-shoulders above the rest of the class, that you had to trade a starting CB for him? When Jeff Garcia, Rex Grossman, Kyle Boller, and Byron Leftwich are freely available on the free agent market, you determine that you simply must have Jon Kitna-a player that claimed he was forced on to IR last season by Detroit so that they could get a look at Dan Orvlovsky, and rumored to be released soon? Jerry's rush to secure a trade for a backup QB when there are quality backups (note quality backup, not starters) still on the market is befuddling, especially with the rumors that Kitna was to be released anyway.

Further complicating matters, is what this does to Dallas' secondary. Again, I'm not going to claim that Anthony Henry is Deion Sanders, but he was your starting CB2 behind only Terrence Newman on the depth chart, and he did start all 16 games last year. Was 2008 an off-year for him (16g, 50tkl, 2sck, 5pdf, 1int)? Slightly compared to his previous three seasons (averages out at 13.6g, 55tkl, 0sck, 14.6 pdf, 3.6 int), but those numbers also reflect the increase in blitz's Wade Phillips called for him and a change in role from CB to a hybrid CB/FS. I would suggest to you, and the numbers back it up, that as much as you may personally have a vendetta or a negative opinion of Anthony Henry, the man filled a fairly important role on this team-and did so without being a distracting player. With Henry moved to Detroit, here is where the Cowboys secondary enters the draft;

CB: Terrence Newman, Orlando Scandrick, Mike Jenkins, Alan Ball
FS: Ken Hamlin, Pat Watkins, Courtney Brown
SS: Roy Williams, Keith Davis (technically Tra Battle as well, but he's a ST guy)

Do you see what a disasterous position the Dallas Cowboys are now in? Now break down their draft picks, after the trade for Roy Williams 11: 0 1st round picks, 1 2nd round pick, 1 3rd round pick, 2 4th round picks, 2 5th round picks, 1 6th round pick, 2 7th round picks.

Instead of simply signing a FA QB off the street, the Cowboys now have their backup QB position settled and now need atleast 2 CBs-one of which needs to be NFL ready (there goes your 2nd round pick) in case Jenkins game doesnt improve and/or there's an injury. Furthermore, with the assumption that Roy Williams get released (which got much more difficult to do with this trade-so it may not happen now), you're also going to need to draft an NFL ready strong safety (Keith Davis is a great ST captain, but not a great SS) in addition to another young SS and a young FS.

This trade forces your hand, and forces you to either overpay for the (low quality) free agent DBs remaining, or forces you to gamble that you can draft an NFL ready CB and S. And considering the Cowboys long history of drafting CBs under Jerry (its really embarassing), I don't see how you can possibly expect that to be the case.

In short, Jerry didn't just give up "too much" for Kitna, he mortgaged and sold the farm for a player that history suggests, should he start more than a few games, your season is sunk anyway. This trade is simply assinine.

Arlington, TX: Steroid Ground Zero

2009-02-09T16:42:00.005-06:00

Last night as I was trying to digest the latest chapter in Major League Baseball's ongoing steroid saga-the news that Alex Rodriguez tested positive in 2003-it dawned on me that the national media is really missing a pretty interesting angle on this story. Namely, outside of Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, does anyone see a pretty obvious link between most of these bigger name players surrounded by allegations of steroid use? No, well how about this, most of them seem to have played in Arlington, TX somewhere between the early '90s and 2004.

I mean think about it for a second. Jose Canseco was a Ranger and admitted steroid use, Rafael Palmeiro tested positive in Texas, Alex Rodriguez tested positive and admitted to use in Texas, Ivan Rodriguez has been dogged by steroid rumors, likewise for Juan Gonzalez and Kevin Brown. And don't forget Gregg Zaun, Ken Caminiti, Mike Stanton, and David Segui. Even back in 1990, there were hushed allegations that Ruben Sierra was on steroids after losing out on the AL MVP to Robin Yount. John Rocker, Ismael Valdez and Steve Woodard were all in Texas for the 2002 season, and all were mentioned in the Mitchell Report. The 2004 team included Chad Allen, Gary Matthews Jr., Jerry Hairston Jr. and Eric Gagne whom were all also included in the Mitchell Report, with Hairston actually testing positive and evidence existing that Matthews illegally purchased Human Growth Hormone which he parlayed into a career season in 2006 (0.313 BA, 19 HR, 79 RBI) which he then parlayed into a $50m contract with Anaheim where he hasn't been heard from since.

Ever since I can remember the Rangers have had an (accurate) reputation as a team packed with great hitters that put up gaudy numbers but lacking pitching. From Pete Incaviglia and Ruben Sierra to Will Clark to Josh Hamilton, if there's one thing the Rangers have never lacked its good hitting, especially good power hitting. And since 1994, the opening of the Ballpark In Arlington, everyone has just chalked that up to a ballpark that acts as a launching pad, with strange wind currents and short fences that practically invites power numbers. Despite his relative lack of success elsewhere, Juan Gonzalez won two AL MVP awards and put up obscene numbers in Texas before fading into obscurity. Is it possible though that it's not the stadium, or atleast not entirely, but instead that the Texas Rangers have just been ground-zero of the MLB Steroid Scandal and we just didn't know it?

There seems to be an inordinate number of players either suspected with cause or testing positive that have doneso during a tenure with the Rangers and a corresponding increase in power numbers. Could it all just be a coincidence? Or could it be that the Rangers have been either embracing or turning a blind eye towards the steroid culture behind the scenes for much of the last 15 years? I have a feeling if the Government decides to run with this like they did the Barry Bonds allegations, they're going to turn up some pretty nasty stuff, and it won't be good for Rangers PR.

Super Bowl XLIII

2009-02-01T22:45:00.004-06:00

And just like that, another NFL season has come to a close. The day after the Super Bowl is generally the worst day of the year, in my humble opinion, as it's the exclamation point on the fact that football season is, indeed, finished. Three months until the draft, seven months until training camp, and a good eight months until professional football resumes. Months reserved for baseball, basketball, excruciating heat, and general suckiness. The clock starts now on the '09 football season.

That said, the '08 season got a fitting sendoff. Wow, what a game. My predicted final score was 27-14 Steelers, and up til the half it looked good, before Arizona showed signs of life and made it a battle only to finish 4pts shy with a 27-23 final, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers the NFL record with six Superbowl wins. Penalties were the story of the day, as the Arizona Cardinals handed the Steelers over 100yds of free yardage through penalties, most of them poorly timed. I firmly believe that without them the Arizona Cardinals are Super Bowl winners (and yes, that sounds weird).

At the half it looked like a blowout, but you can't give Kurt Warner and the Cards coaching staff enough credit for making a game of it. As much as I hate the era of parity in the NFL, I can't argue with the past couple Super Bowls. And as much as I'm a Cowboys fan, I can't help but feel that all is right with the world when the Steelers won the game. I will take tradition any day when it comes to football. That said, some quick hit thoughts;

-Santonio Holmes may be a knucklehead, but that winning catch was amazing. Viewed live it appears there's no way in hell he makes it, and yet he did. And with Hines Ward-a man I respect immensely-starting to show his age, the stage is set for Holmes.

-Likewise, Larry fitzgerald is a haus. I know thats not breaking news, but his burst after that TD catch was amazing. And props to Warner for seeing the gap in the zone to set it all up.

-If I'm Kurt Warner, I'm retiring today. I know he lost, but if he retires now I think he's a surefire Hall of Famer, and if he spends a couple years languishing he might not be. Let's be honest, these are still the Cards-and I'd be shocked if they even made the playoffs next year. In fact, put me down for it now, Arizona will not make the playoffs next year.

-There was an illegal block in the back on the Harrison 100yd pick-six to Tim Hightower, and props to Ian for pointing that out. I watched it a half dozen times on Tivo, and theres no doubt it was an illegal block on the back. Just sayin'.

-Edgerrin James has ridden this playoff run to a nice little payday. And I expect him to be worthless next year.

-After the game Ben Hamburglar credited his OL, and while that's expected, his escapability is far more important than his shoddy blocking. That man is Staubach-like in his ability to keep a play alive.

Just one game left.

2009-01-19T16:41:00.004-06:00

Well, we have arrived. The matchup for the Super Bowl is set, now we've got 13 days of hype before the game, and 14 days until one of the most depressing days of the year-the day after the Super Bowl when reality sets in that the football season is over, and it will be months before its back. Thirty teams have been eliminated, many after very nice seasons, and in the end we've got the Arizona Cardinals (!!!!) against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sundays games were both actually very compelling games. In the early game you had the good story Cards making a bid for their first SB appearance against the much maligned Donovan McNabb and the Eagles. And while at the half it appeared it would be the Cards winning in a laugher, McNabb (finally) made enough plays to get his team back into it before the Cards pulled away in the fourth quarter. To me, the game came down to Donovan McNabb simply missing on his passes all day-the plays were there, and he just kept making bad decisions and bad throws. Sure, the Eagles defense didn't play to it's paper (although Larry Fitzgerald has a lot to do with that), but if McNabb could hit his open recievers I believe it's Philly winning the NFC. That said, as a Cowboys fan, all is right in the world as the Eagles won't get that elusive first Super Bowl win this year.

In the late game, we had the expected hard hitting defensive matchup. Two division rivals with great defenses and struggling offenses beating each other to a pulp. I love defensive football games, and as a result really enjoyed the game. How can you not enjoy watching hard hits and players being thrown around like rag dolls? The Joe Flacco cinderella story finally ends as Pittsburgh proved you can get to him, and like any other rookie, when you get to him (and have Troy Polamalu on your team) he will turn the ball over, and the Ravens will struggle to score points. Now, for some observations and musings from the second to last weekend of the season;

-Troy Polamalu, what a freaking stud. There was one drive (assuming a 3 and out can be considered a drive) in the third quarter where he had a sack and a pass defensed. He obviously had the game-ending (and spread breaking) pick-six at the end of the game, but he was flying around the field making plays all game. Top 5 defensive player in the NFL, no doubt.

-Larry Fitzgerald, also a stud. No breaking news there, but he has imposed his will in the playoffs. If Kurt Warner has a few more productive seasons left in him, then Fitzgerald will continue to be the best WR in the game, my apologies to Andre Johnson.

-Donovan McNabb is just an above average QB, and hes just so damn inconsistent. He'll have good games, but he's yet to put enough of them together to get his team to the big game. I realize he doesn't have great WR weapons (though Desean Jackson could develop into one), but he does have Brian Westbrook-and at some point its got to fall on him. The Eagles win yesterday if he can just make the throws. At what point do you find out what Kevin Kolb can do? I'm thinking you could still get some nice draft picks from MIN for McNabb.

-Edgerrin James post-season play is going to get him a nice contract next year, though I'll be damned if I know from who and why. Sure he's had some nice games, but his career is clearly on the downside and has been since he left Indy.

-Limas Sweed should be sick about dropping that sure-thing TD, and then faking an injury costing the Steelers their final timeout and ultimately three points as the clock expired before they could kick a FG.

-Why are you throwing to the middle of the field with no timeouts in FG range as the half is expiring? Bad decision by the Hamburglar.

-I can't figure out what to make of Santonio Holmes. He makes great plays and then bad ones, inconsistency is maddening.

-Steelers are only a touchdown favorite for the Super Bowl, huh? I think that's a pretty good bet.

Way To Go Rangers, Way To Go.

2009-01-12T19:09:00.003-06:00

In case you can't tell, that title is simply oozing sarcasm. So what did they do now? The Dallas Morning News reports here that in all their wisdom, the Rangers brass has told Michael Young that he's going to be playing third base this year. His input apparently wasn't welcome in the matter-despite being moved from second base to short just a few years back for Alfonso Soriano, and doing so without raising a stink. So what's the big deal? Well besides it having the face of the franchise now demanding a trade, it's the undercurrents of the story that matter.

You see, this isn't about Michael Young moving to 3B. No no, silly you. If you thought it was, then you're not wise to the way the Rangers under Tom Hicks play this game. See, this is step one, they leak the story to the press and blindside the player with it, leaving him to defend himself and get villified by the press/fans. Now it won't work because Michael Young has been nothing but a stand-up guy for this franchise, but its the start. Next they're going to trade him (word is they've been trying for a while now) but of course by leaking the story, they've killed his trade value (to say nothing of the 5 year/$80m contract which doesn't even actually start until this season), so they're going to trade him for pennies on the dollar. Most likely getting some mid-level prospect and having to eat a portion of his salary.

Why you ask, would the Rangers want to trade Michael Young-regarded around baseball as one of the most stand-up guys, great in a locker room, a very good hitter, and a gold-glove winner with 5 all-star games to his name? It's simple really, money. Despite residing in the FIFTH LARGEST MEDIA MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES, the Rangers are sitting pretty with the 21st highest payroll (out of 30 teams) at a hair under $70m. Move Michael Young and you shave $16m off of that, putting them at $52m, or 26th out of 30 teams ahead of only Pittsburgh, Oakland, and Tampa. And Tampa and Oakland have GMs capable of actually finding talent-something the Rangers do not.

To which you respond, it can't be all about money. and you'd be partially right. But only partially, in that the reason they're trying to move Young to 3B is they want to make room for 20 year old Elvis Andrus at short stop. Nevermind that he is only 20, only hit .295 at Double-A Frisco with 4 HR and 65 RBI and had 32 errors last season. Why you feel the need to announce him as your SS in January when he's only 20 years old is beyond me, which is why....once again....it's all about the money.

Is Michael Young worth $16m a year? His play on the field suggests he is not, but he is the face of an otherwise faceless franchise and has been for several years. He is great in the locker room, he is active in the community, he's been a loyal player and a team guy, and oh-he is a pretty damn good baseball player. The thing is, Ivan Rodriguez a few years back was thought to also not be worth the money he wanted, and all he's done since then is get a World Series ring and play in another one to cement a place for himself in Cooperstown. And now we're watching the same scenario unfold so that a greedy and cheap owner can make a little more money at the expense of winning.

Welcome to Texas Rangers baseball.

NFL Playoff Round 2 Thoughts

2009-01-12T18:39:00.002-06:00

Now we're down to the final four teams, and about the only one I think anyone would have expected just three weeks ago to be here is Pittsburgh. Somehow after an impressive victory at Carolina (possibly their first over a good opponent all season) the Arizona freaking Cardinals are hosting Philadelphia next week for the right to play in the Super Bowl while Pittsburgh is hosting Baltimore in what I expect to be a superb defensive game. Both are very intriguing matchups.

Ravens/Steelers is a divisional matchup of two excellent defenses in the insanity that is Heinz Field in January. In a game featuring three of the five best defenders in the NFL (Harrison, Polamalu, and Ed Reed) one would expect a low scoring affair with the team getting a defensive or special team TD to emerge victorious. You've got a rookie QB in Flacco whom has defied the odds and avoided a sack or a turnover in the post season against a resurgent Pittsburgh offense. I can't wait, it should be an excellent game-but I've got to take Pittsburgh by a touchdown or more. I just don't see how Flacco can remain perfect against the meatgrinder that is the Steelers defense.

Eagles/Cardinals on the other hand, promises to be an offensive game. Can the savy veteran Kurt Warner and his stud WR Fitzgerald counter the star-crossed Donovan McNabb and greatness of Brian Westbrook? Arizona would seem to me to have the offensive edge, especially with a resurgent running game, but Philadelphia has the defensive edge. That said, give me Arizona to win this thing-I'm just not sure how you stop Larry Fitzgerald. And now, on to some thoughts from last weeks playoff games;

-I know the Eagles won, and they deserve credit for that, but I'm just not impressed. That game looked more like the Giants losing than the Eagles winning. Sure they're on a roll, and McNabb has looked better than he has in a year or more, and Asante Samuel has looked great, but the way they're winning just doesn't inspire me. They're hot at the right time, but my gut says Arizona takes care of business at home this week.

-Eli Manning is back to being Eli Manning. He will always have that Super Bowl win on his resume but I'm still not convinced he's a top 5 or even top 10 QB in this league.

-Me thinks the Giants will be welcoming back Plaxico Burress with open arms. And to imagine, people honestly thought they wouldn't miss him. Their running attack is great and their defense impressive, but without Burress they just lack that playmaker in much the same way the Eagles have sine TO left town.

-Talk about spitting the bit, that was brutal Tennessee. They had a half dozen chances to win that game, thats the sort of game that haunts a fan for years. Haunts a team too.

-I've been saying all season that while they were winning, Jake Delhomme just hasn't looked right to me. I think this confirms that, he may be there healthwise but his decisions have just been off. Six turnovers at home in the playoffs against that Arizona defense? That's just absurd. The Panther are a very good team, but if they get in a deep hole I just don't think they are capable of getting out (see: Vikings, Minnesota).

-Pittsburgh is the best team left standing. Now that Big Ben Hamburglar is getting good protection and Fast Willie Parker is looking healthy, I'm just not sure how you beat them with that defense. Pass protection makes all the difference for that team, and when the Hamburglar has time to throw to Holmes, Ward, and Washington.....I just don't know how you beat them. I think the Steelers will be the first franchise to six trophies.

-That said, Baltimore won't be an easy matchup.....in many ways this week's game at Heinz Field should determine the Super Bowl Champion. Then again, we thought that last year too and look where that got us.

-Is this the end for LT in San Diego? And jeez, you think they're having regrets about letting Michael Turner walk last off-season? And I still think Norv Turner sucks as a head coach.

-Three games left this season, let's enjoy them. It's a long off-season.

Just an NFL Playoff Saturday.

2009-01-11T01:14:00.003-06:00

So about noonish I get the call from my buddy, asking me to handicap today's games. I tell him it's a tossup, though I lean towards Tennessee-but we all know its going to be a defensive struggle with a team on fire (always bad for betting) on the road against a good team that struggled offensively. In other words, it was exactly what I expected with Baltimore taking advantage of just enough Ten mistakes to get the win. Offense was underwhelming, defense was stifling, again what I expected.

More intriguing was the late game. He asked me there too, my response was;

Look man, I've checked every stat. In the divisional round you average two [of
four games] blowouts every year, and with that nail-biter in Tennessee, this
game has blowout written all over it. Arizona is on the road, where they've been
terrible, on the east coast, where they've been abysmal, in a playoff game they
have no business being in. It's supposed to rain and be fairly windy, Boldin is
out for the game, every stat I can find begs you to take Carolina, and not think
about the 10pt spread. That said, I have this weird gut feeling that says take
the Arizona moneyline. Beyond being a good payour my gut just says take it.

Buddy didn't take it, I did. Was a fantastic payout. +240, meaning a $100 bet paid out $340. Sometimes we get lucky. That said both were great games, and I can't wait for tomorrow.

Chris Johnson was underated, as strange as that sounds. Kurt Warner too, as he should've been the league MVP as it stands today. Flacco, despite being a tad underwhelming the rook of the year, but in the end thats why they vote for these awards before the playoffs. That said, give me, for tomorrow;

Philadelphia +4 @ New York
Pittsburgh -6 vs. San Digeo

More confident about Pit than PHI, to the point that I would suggest PIT is a great bet tomorrow if you can get less than a TD.

NFL Playoff Random Thoughts: Week 1

2009-01-06T20:21:00.004-06:00

Happy New Year dear reader. I'm finally over my Cowboys depression, I've finally fought off my fantasy football withdrawals, and gotten over my complete indifference at the terrible Bowl matchups the BCS has given us this year (and it's been terrible), just in time to catch the first week of the 2008 NFL playoffs and fire off these thoughts from a remarkably entertaining weekend of NFL football.

-Seriously, the bowl matchups have been terrible this year. Texas/Ohio St. turned out to be a good game, Utah/Bama was a nice game, and I'm looking forward to Oklahoma/Florida-but most everything else has been pretty damn predictable and dull. The PAC-10 has overperformed a bit, the Big 12 underperformed a little bit, and otherwise these games have been pretty dull for anyone but the gambling degenerate, which fate would have it I just happen to be.

-I've got to admit to being fairly surprised at the Chargers upset of the Colts. It's not a huge upset, but I think most folks had the rolling Colts beating the suddenly rolling Chargers, even in San Diego, especially with LT looking more like Troy Hambrick and Antonio Gates so banged up, I just assumed Peyton Manning would be his jedi self and will that team to victory once again. And like that, Norv Turner should get reprieve-despite an underwhelming 8-8 season.

-And please, don't tell me the Chargers are "better than 8-8" because they had two games "stolen" from them. Until the last 5 weeks, that was the definition of an underperforming team with the definition of a RB on the decline as their face. Thanks for all the memories LT, but the train is nearing the station-and I'd be shocked if the Chargers let Sproles walk (especially after what Michael Turner has shown this year in ATL). Instead, I'd expect Sproles to essentially split time evenly next year.

-Does anyone like the NFL's overtime rules? Except maybe the 2008 Philadelphia Eagles, I can't figure out who does. It's exciting on paper, but less than so in reality.

-Karma is a bitch, huh Chad Pennington? After a nearly flawless 7 INT season despite spare WRs, he throws 4 of them in one game as the Ravens make it look easy against a Dolphins team that was as gimmicky a playoff team as I can remember. The Wildcat was genius no doubt, but Super Bowl teams aren't built on gimmick formations, re-tread QBs, spare WRs, and discipline. Coaching can only take you so far, and if next season started tomorrow Miami would be the first team I'd choose to fall back to the pack, barring a fantastic draft.

-That Ed Reed is a beast, that entire Baltimore defense is a monster. They've been a dominant defense for almost the entirety of the last decade, and while it's only yielded one championship, I definately wouldn't count them out for another. In a playoff field devoid of any extremely potent offense (see: 2007 Patriots), I'm not sure how you could convince me that this years Steelers, Titans, and Ravens arent the Super Bowl favorites other than they're all AFC teams. That said, give me the AFC matchup unseen to win it all this year.

-Derrick Mason is extroardinarily under-rated. I think if he'd spent his career catching passes from Tom Brady or Peyton Manning we'd be talking Hall of Fame.

-All the Minnesota Vikings need is a quarterback. Gus Frerotte and/or Tavaris Jackson simply are not going to win you a Super Bowl, if even a playoff game, even with a studly defense and the stud of all studs in Adrian Peterson. Every piece is in place for that franchise, except a QB-great D, great OL, great RB, nice WR in Berrian......if I'm Minnesota I'm starting my offers at a 1st and a 3rd for Matt Cassel.

-I'm still just not a believer in the Eagles. Westbrook is great, their defense is good, but McNabb is prone to inconsistency and they lack reliable playmakers at WR. DeSean Jackson-much like Santonio Holmes in Pittsburgh-could be that guy if he ever matures, but I just don't think McNabb can win a championship, even with Andy Reid being one of the best coaches in the NFL.

-Kurt Warner, hall of famer or no? Seriously, it's a great debate. He came from nowhere to glory in St. Louis, then languished in mediocrity for a few years in New York tutoring Eli Manning, only to re-emerge and take the Arizona Cardinals-the freaking Arizona Cardinals-to a division title and playoff win. Is he a system quarterback with obvious warts? Of course, but he's got some skins.

-Larry Fitzgerald is freaking amazing. and Anquan Boldin is the closest thing to Michael Irvin since Irvin himself. Andre Johnson, Terrell Owens, and Randy Moss can all claim to be the best WRs in the NFL, but give me Larry Fitzgerald.

-So Edgerrin James wants out of Arizona now. Who does he think wants him?

-It was a nice cinderella story for Atlanta, but it's come to an end. That said they've got the building blocks in Turner, Ryan, and Abraham-now they just need a good draft and a little more seasoning. That's a tough division, and if the Falcons think they can just stand pat and be back next year they're high. A few plays out of the entire season is all that seperates the Saints, Bucs, and Falcons.

-And finally, if you want my picks this week, give me Balt +3 @ Tenn, Ari +10 @ Car, NYG -3 vs. PHI, and Pit -6 vs. SDC.

Dallas 6, Philadelphia 44

2008-12-28T19:20:00.002-06:00

In many ways, to me, this seems like a fitting end to this season. I mean, if you were going to break down this season into parts-how would you do so? My guess is part 1: offense carries an underperforming defense to wins, part 2: the purgatory period without romo ending with the defense stepping up, and then part 3: defense carries an underperforming offense. It should be noted that a woeful special teams was the one consistent through all three parts of the season (an entire season without a kick-off touchback?) So why then was this abortion of a game so fitting? Because we saw that woeful defense from the first part of the season paired with the woeful offense from the end combine to show you just how terrible this team can be when they are unmotivated, outcoached, undisciplined (though ironically, this may have been their least penalized game of the season), and reading their own headlines. This year's Dallas Cowboys have been what one would call a schizophrenic team.

If you will allow me to digress for a minute, when handicapping football games what I always look for is consistency. It doesn't matter if you're consistently good (see: '07 Pats) or consistently bad (see: '08 Raiders), as long as you're relatively consistent you're easy to wager on. If you're not consistent, you're what I consider a schizophrenic team-and that generally means its a team to avoid betting on. This season's Chiefs are a prime example, they were a bad team that every few weeks would rise up and win a game they had no business winning, and those are teams you don't want to touch (this season's Broncos are another good example, as were the Bills). Likewise in football beyond gambling, what you want to be is a consistent team. Consistently bad is ok, that means you know what to improve and will have the draft picks to do so, likewise consistently good is great, you will still lose some games, but if you're performing at a high level consistently then you know what you need to address. What you don't want to be is an inconsistent "schizophrenic" team that is constantly giving false signals as to what is good and what is bad, as it gives you no real feel for what is right and what is wrong with the team. Being schizophrenic is how you end up being mired in decades of mediocrity like Cleveland and Cincinnati. Much like a game of whack-a-mole your weaknesses rise and fall and you can't get a grasp on what is a strength and what is a weakness, and your mediocrity breeds a draft position that makes you unable to address them even if you could identify them.

It is in that vein, that I present to you the Dallas Cowboys off-season (buck up, it's only 4mos to the draft, 7mos to training camp, and 9mos to next season). What is wrong with this team? What is right with this team? Can anyone honestly tell me?

On paper the defense is solid, and we've got about 5 out of 16 games suggesting that it is an amazing unit-what what of those other games? We know Demarcus Ware is a stud, we know that Bradie James is a good player, and we've seen flashes from Orlando Scandrick-but what about the other eight starters? What about their backups? There's obviously a problem with this defense, but what is it? It can't just be coaching, because it was the same coaching that gave us those stout defensive performances. Inconsistency makes it near impossible to peg what the problem is, or how to fix it-and it leaves you making decisions based on suppositions that could easily be incorrect.

Likewise the offense should be unstoppable, again on paper. You've got one of the best OL's in the NFL, you've got the triple-threat of Owens, Roy Williams, and Witten paired with a ferocious back in Barber and contributing backups in Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. Or do you have an underperforming OL, a "star" quarterback that is mistake prone and has been figured out by NFL defenses (duck and roll right under pressure anyone?), a prima-donna WR, and injuries waiting to happen at RB? Well, which is it-what do you have? Because if you're convinced you know, you're probably delusional. The body of work that has been the 2008 Dallas Cowboys season gives you ample evidence for both arguments, and again, that's the problem. What do you change?

At this point, most people are going to be clamoring for a coaching change, and insisting that that is the answer. And while it might be-again, that's the point of this entire exercise, we don't know the problem so it's tough to find the solution-it might also solve absolutely nothing. Is Garrett the OC that called the gameplans against Green Bay and Philadelphia early in the season? Or is he the OC that called the gameplans against Arizona and Philadelphia the second time around? Is Wade Phillips the mastermind behind the defense against Tampa and New York the second time around? Or is he the goat behind New York the first time and the end of the Baltimore game? And furthermore, is there a replacement that's any better?

Stop mentioning Bill Cowher, he's not coming here. Likewise for Mike Holmgren, Jimmy Johnson, and the ghost of Tom Landry. Stop deluding yourself into believing there is a white knight standing on the corner with an "out of work" sign just begging to come to Valley Ranch and save this team. Oh, and deal with the circus that is this roster and it's Owner/GM.

That said, the offseason for your Dallas Cowboys has commenced. Now we've got nine months (and its an agonizing 9mos here in Texas Rangers/Dallas Mavericks country) to get this thing sorted out before opening day 2009.

For The People That Just Don't Get It

2008-12-22T00:49:00.002-06:00

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that this is from Bob's Blog, but I think it explains so much about me-about us-so well;

As I was leaving a frigid Texas Stadium after the game, I was walking right behind a Dad and his boy. The boy must have been 7 or 8 years old and was crying about the result. Some people might roll their eyes, but I knew how the boy felt. When you are young, and you love a sports team, you believe the games and the seasons will all have the happy endings of the Disney movies that you watch. Guess what, son, if you are going to pledge allegiance to a team as it appears you have with the Dallas Cowboys, I want to welcome you to the fellowship of the die-hards. Understand, that once you do, you are not allowed out of this commitment, and you should also understand that most seasons are going to end in tears. A favorite team is the only thing a male human feels the same about when he is 5 and when he is 45 and when he is 75. You will change your mind on everything else. Girls, money, hobbies. But, you will always still feel the adrenaline rush of a win, and the gutting sadness of a horrible loss. I didn’t say anything to the boy, as his Dad was handling it (and he might not have welcomed my advice) but I felt for him. Welcome to sports, young man. Someday, you may live to see a championship or five, but most years will end with your guts spilling onto the floor.

Baltimore 33, Dallas 24

2008-12-21T01:06:00.002-06:00

All week when asked what I thought of this game, I said I thought the Cowboys should win-but that I wasn't convinced that they could. When my handicapping friend Berry asked me about it-saying that he thought the Cowbos -4 was a gimme spread-I gave the that pause and decided against wagering on the game. The fact of the matter is this, Baltimore is far more Pittsburgh than New York (Giants) in their style of play, and I think this loss reflected that. New York is a team on the snide, actually bearing quite a resemblance to the Cowboys of last year, whereas Baltimore is a hard-nosed defensive team that is very well coached and focused on the running game but not afraid to let their quarterback-whom happens to be a rookie playing better than half the QBs in the league-make a play when it's necessary. And while not quite as crushing as the PIT loss (there wasn't quite the clutching defeat from the jaws of victory this time), the games bore quite a resemblance.

For the next week, you're going to hear people question Romo (24/45 for 252 2TD/2INT). And that's fair-that was one of the most average performances I've ever seen from a pro-bowl QB throwing for 250 and 2 TDs. For those who own proverbial stock in Romo, you're going to hear them defending him and questioning Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett and his continually odd play calls that include an over-reliance on the shotgun, despite Tashard Choice being the obvious hot hand. And then you'll hear the usual smattering of 'off with his head' regarding Wade Phillips, or indictments of the Dallas defense. Also fair.

The fact of the matter though, is this was a collective loss. The defense played very, very good for the bulk of the game-tell me you haven't heard that before (see: Pittsburgh game)-before folding late, while in the same game the offense struggled and idled in neutral for the majority of the game (again see: Pittsburgh game). The offense, led mostly by Garrett's continually strange playcalling and Romo's inability to launch a drive against a good defense until the shit hits the fan, set up a defense that was obviously gassed by the end of the game, if not the half.

I don't know about you, but I saw a valiant effort from that defense-a gut check performance-that was wasted because by the end of the game they'd spent so damn much time on the field up against a very phsyical running game, that they had nothing left. Is that an excuse for the 77yd McGahee TD and the 82yd McClain TDs on back to back plays? Absolutely not. On the former there was good blocking creating an open hole and absolutely no safety in the middle of the field-if you are going to depend on a single linebacker to make the tackle, that can happen. On the second, it should have been a tackle for a loss and instead was a long run to put the game on ice (though again with no safety help whatsoever). My point though is that while the defense surrendered those huge plays, they're the only reason the team was even close to in this game. Why you might ask?

Maybe because of the ridiculous penalties (10 for 86). Maybe because Romo kept missing recievers. Maybe because Owens dropped a couple and quit on a couple routes. Maybe because on two plays Romo had Owens and then Austin in stride for 6pts and missed the throw (and on a third Owens lost the ball in the lights). But really, because tonight Tashard Choice was the only offensive player that looked anything resembling a professional (and man, he was good, don't let that get overshadowed). If the offense had been able to do anything with any drive the defense hadn't given them (fumble at the 4yd line), I firmly believe the D wouldn't have been so tired, something that it was plainly obvious they were.

It was a bad loss, and now you need a little help to get into the tournament. My gut feeling is that you should get that help (and history backs me up, 10-6 gets into the playoffs most of the time), and that now this entire season rides on winning in Philly next weekend. On the upside it wasn't a conference game, and the tiebreakers seem to favor the Cowboys-but again, you've got to win next week. I think this team can rebound, really I do, I'm just not sure that even if they do they can string together strong performances on both sides of the ball. Early in the season the offense was humming and the defense struggling, and now the tables seem to have turned. It's going to be a wild last week.

Around The NFL: Week 15

2008-12-15T23:02:00.002-06:00

Quick hits for this week, from around the NFL;

-I understand the largesse of the situation, and the potentially botched call at the end of the Steeleers/Ravens game, but i have a hard time understanding how a reciever can have two feet inbounds in the back corner of the endzone with the ball outside the endzone and thats a TD but two feet inbounds with the ball possibly not breaking the plane and that's not a TD.

-On that same note, for the third week in a row, im telling you that the Steelers are the best team in the NFL. Their D is insanely good, and Big Ben Hamburglar does enough to win.

-The Cowboys D is not one I'd want to face in the post-season, now that's a team finding it's stride late in the season. In an ironic twist, the Cowboys and Giants have apparently switched roles from last season (good team finding confidence and on a roll versus great team losing it and losing games), and I think the Giants would be a great value bet to drop their first playoff game.

-The Cowboys offense, on the other hand, is scaring no one now.

-Saints are done, Redskins are done. That said the Saints still play the Panthers at home to end the year and the Redskins play the Eagles at home, and my gut says both teams will make an impact on the playoff race regardless of their situations.

-Speaking of the Redskins, a lot of people jumped on the Jason Campbell bandwagon early on, I started to but was late and thankfully so. I'm sorry, he's an average QB....and if I'm Dan Snyder I'm drafting someone to groom. That said, firing Zorn would be assinine.

-Atlanta is the real deal, rookie QB or not. Again this week I say that Michael Turner was the biggest FA acquisition of the off-season, and Matt Ryan is rookie of the year. To say nothing of the John Abraham acquisition. And Mike Smith as head coach? Im' a bit wary of them falling back to earth next year, but if they dont the first few games, consider this a dynasty in the making. What a turnaround.

-Speaking of turnarounds, Parcells strikes again. I will tell you right now, The Fins will win the AFCE over the vastly over-rated Jets.

-I still think the Titans win a playoff game or two. Unless they lose Haynesworth for them, then all bets are off.

-Houston doesnt win until theres no pressure to do so, and then they're fierce. I'm not sure how you remedy that, and am glad not to be their GM.

-Green Bay and Jacksonville will be much better next year, injuries just ravaged those squads. Though if Jack Del Rio is fired, Jax will fall by the wayside quicker than one would think-that man can coach, and will be picked up quicker than you'd think.

-Seneca Wallace might have something after all, and proves that without a doubt Brad Johnson is the worst 2nd string backup QB in the NFL.

-JP Losman is terrible. How the Bills manage to lose games is just beyond me.

-Detroit wont win a game this year. Nor should they. Though Daunte Culpepper might be a keeper, atleast in the short term.

-The Vikings are coming on strong late, though it might be too late, I wouldn't want to face that team in the playoffs. That said, I'd love to face the Cardinals.

-I love Carolina's smashmouth style, I'm just not sure they're as good as their record. Great running game, it really is, but your QB needs to do more than Delhomme's been doing unless you have the Steelers D.

-The Eagles aren't dead......yet. Week 17 could be fascinating.

Demarcus Ware for MVP?

2008-12-15T18:03:00.003-06:00

I've heard it mentioned a couple times today on talk radio, and decided to do a little research when I got home. Being relatively young (27) the idea of a defensive player as MVP seemed a little preposterous, so I wanted to check the past winners.

You can find the complete list here, but the last time a defensive player won the NFL MVP award was Lawrence Taylor in 1986, and before that Alan Page in 1971. So we've seen exactly two defensive players as MVP since 1971.

On a sidenote, what the hell did Mark Moseley (K-WAS) do to win the MVP in '82?

That said, this has been a down year for the league as far as marquee players go. From everything I've read/heard, Peyton Manning (335 completions for 3543 yards, 65.2 completion percent, 23 TD vs 12 INT, 90.3 rating), Kurt Warner (376 for 4290, 68.4%, 26 TD, 13 INT, 97.5 rating), and Adrian Peterson (320 for 1581, 4.9 YPC, and 9 TDs) are the front runners. I've also seen Drew Brees (353 for 4332, 64.7%, 28 TD, 16 INT, 93.9 rating) thrown in there due to his relatively gaudy numbers, though the Saints poor season would probably keep him out.

While all decent options, none of those players have turned in no-brainer MVP performances this season in the vein of Tom Brady last year, or LT, Shaun Alexander, or Peyton Manning the years previous. Which means there is a possibility this is the year a defensive player could win it. So then, who would be the candidates?

My suggestion to you would be that, should Ware break the single season sack record with 4 sacks over the final two games, he would garner strong consideration for the award. I figured the best place to start would be to look at Lawrence Taylor's 1986 stat-line (knowing that tackles wasn't an official stat then) and see how today's defensive players stacked up. Taylor had 20.5 sacks in 1986, but had zero interceptions, zero forced fumbles, and zero safeties, so he garnered the award solely on the merit of his dominance as a pass rusher.

So, I decided that we should stack up the defensive players whom would most likely be deemed candidates for the award, and narrowed it down to Demarcus Ware (DAL), Troy Polamalu(PIT), James Harrison(PIT), and Joey Porter (MIA) with Jared Allen (MIN) and John Abraham (ATL) as dark horses. Polamalu and Harrison do play on the NFL's best statistical defense as well as the team with the best record of the group which certainly would play into the voters consideration but isn't reflected in the stats. So how do they stack up?

Ware - 74 tackles, 19 sacks, 0 safeties, 2 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles, 0 fumbles recovered, and 0 INTs.
Harrison - 94 tackles, 15 sacks, 1 SFTY, 3 PD, 7 FF, 1 FUM, and 1 INT
Polamalu - 65 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 SFTY, 4 PD, 0 FF, 0 FUM, and 7 INT
Abraham - 33 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 0 SFTY, 1 PD, 3 FF, 0 FUM, and 0 INT
Allen - 48 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 0 SFTY, 0 PD, 3 FF, 0 FUM, and 0 INT

So that's how they stack up. It seems to me that statistically Harrison would get the slight nod due to both playing on the better defense/team with the better record, and having a slight advantage in every statistical category except for sacks where Ware leads by four. That said, there are two games left in the season-and if Ware gets to 23 sacks and the Cowboys reach 11-5, I would think it would be a much closer battle than it is today.

My suggestion would be that if somehow one of those two players were to actually win the MVP, then the other would recieve Defensive Player Of The Year honors to balance it out, but instead my guess is they will be fighting for DPOY honors and one of the QBs will get MVP honors.

New York 8, Dallas 20

2008-12-14T23:01:00.004-06:00

The largesse of this game is unquestioned. Going in I hadn't been this nervous since my last internet date (thought to be fair, she turned out amazingly awesome) and that was fairly obvious by my text messages to friends that read, in part;

I'm so fucking nervous about this game. This is the season. It all rides on
tonite, because it's a very long road without a win tonite.

Of which one of the many responses was, "you should put that in your blog. verbatim." You see, as it turns out, I wasn't the only person in Cowboy nation standing precipitously on the ledge. On account of living in seperate cities from many Cowboy loving friends we have a bit of a text message network we've worked out whereby we turn the sitting in the same room experience into texting each other across county/state lines on every important play (and if you want in, bu all means....)

Point is, this game was huge, and the win even larger. After the gut-ripping loss last week-or even last year(s), this team bounced back from the adversity and won a gigantic divisional game that kept them in the driver's seat for a wildcard spot. Sure, our expectations have dropped dramatically when we're praying for simply a playoff spot versus going into the year expecting that 6th Super Bowl ring, but it is what it is and we are where we are. The 'Boys won, and now continue controlling their own destiny-win out and you're the no. 5 seed in the NFC which gets you a game at Arizona-and I've got to think the 'Boys would be a favorite in that.

First thing first though, next saturday you've got to beat a damn good Ravens squad. And while based on the past few weeks I believe the Cowboys defense is up to the task, I can't say I'm positive the offense is. With that said, some thoughts from tonight's game;

-Demarcus Ware is a beast. No, he is beyond a beast. If that (3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) doesn't get him inserted atleast into the conversation I'm not sure what will. There is an elite level of defensive players in the NFL, and Ware belongs there.

-Likewise, Terrence Newman had his best game of the year with two picks and some great coverage. And while you expect that out of a highly paid first rounder, more surprising to me was the amazing coverage of Orlando Scandrick tonight. Even when he was beat, he was on the reciever like a glove and forcing Eli to throw into tight windows. Scandrick is a keeper.

-Have you ever seen a rookie nut-up and surpass expectations like Tashard Choice the past two weeks? I'm sure you have, but it's rare-especially behind an OL that resembled sieve more than wall for most of the game, and with Barber obviously ailing. That game-clinching run was beyond clutch.

-While I'm still not sold on Wade Phillips as a head coach, the defensive turn around since he started calling plays for the D makes me understand why people would. I don't doubt for a second his defensive genius, and since he took over calling plays on D it has been phenomenal. Finally, this D is playing to it's paper-and its been amazing. What a great performance tonight.

-The Giants look quite ordinary without Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs, and while I think the latter is far more the reason why, they will miss the former.

-I worry greatly about the Cowboys OL. Likewise I worry about the beating Romo took tonight. If there's one great truth to the NFL, its that back-ups on the OL kill you (see: 2008 Jaguars) and a hurt QB will too.

-I still worry about this week's media blowup regarding Owens/Witten/Romo. I'm not sure what percentage is media versus truth, but this story isnt going to die short of a superbowl win that includes an Owens TD.

Is the TO explosion imminent?

2008-12-11T17:56:00.003-06:00

According to ESPN's Ed Werder, it is. In this article, which you really must read if you're a Cowboys fan, Werder quotes unnamed players saying that they're tiring of TO's lobbying for the ball and his conspiracy theory that Romo is throwing to Witten because they're buddies and he's ignoring TO.

Who the players are is anyones guess, but if you want my opinion I'm pretty damn sure it's Jason Witten. What will it mean? I've got to think TO won't be a Cowboy next year, short of some serious post-season success. Then again, with Jerry Jones at the helm, well who the hell knows.

Around The NFL: Week 14

2008-12-09T18:43:00.004-06:00

Well another week has concluded in the NFL, and with that conclusion comes my weekly random thoughts from around it. The playoffs races are certainly heating up, and it appears that-as they do every year-the NFL is going to provide us some fantastic entertainment down the stretch.

-With the always New York biased media so ready to corronate the Jets as an elite team in the AFC, they've decided to show us their true colors. Look we all know Brett Favre was an upgrade for that team-as were some of their other free agent acquisitions-but it still looks like a team that will make a quick exit from the playoffs. That is, if they even get there.

-Fans in Buffalo have got to be just heartbroken. That team has just fallen apart. After a promising start to the season, they're done.

-Hate to say I told you so, and they definitely had a chance, but I said last week there was no way the Cowboys could win in Pittsburgh. It turned out to be a great game-but a great game doesn't move you up the standings. Now their season hinges on beating New York at home and I gotta tell you, I don't think they can do it.

-In a league of over-reaction people are reading too much in to Philly beating the Giants last week. Make no mistake, the Giants are still the best team in the NFC and Philly is still a team in some level of disarray. The Giants were just looking forward to this week against the team they hate the most in the NFL. And while Philly won, they sure did everything they could to give that thing away.

-The Redskins are showing their true colors. Like Philly they're a team with talent but with inconcistency at QB and on defense. If I'm Dan Snyder, I'm getting in on the Matt Cassell sweepstakes.

-I'm really hoping for a Steelers/Titans AFC championship game, though I wish it were played in Pittsburgh instead of more likely being in Tennessee. That will be an awesome defensive game.

-Anyone questioning the importance of an offensive line needs to reference the 2008/09 Jacksonville Jaguars. That's a playoff team without losing three OL starters before the season began.

-Looking for a darkhorse or a decent bet with good odds for the Superbowl? I'd look at Indianapolis....they're back. I don't want to be the team that has to play the Colts in the first round of the playoffs.

-Other than Arizona's turnaround, is there any reason to discuss any of the teams in the AFC or NFC West? San Diego's imploded and Norv Turner should be sacked, meanwhile Denver has the worst defense I've ever seen and is insanely inconsistent.

-I've got to say I'm a little shocked, the Packers are done. The worst part is people are going to blame Rodgers or the GM for letting Favre go, when the problem has been their defense and inconsistent running game.

-I think Chicago is a better team on the whole than Minnesota, but Minnesota should win the NFC North pending the suspension appeals for the Williams Wall. If they lose them, then I'd take Chicago to win that division. Kyle Orton is better than advertised, but what happened to Devin Hester?

-The last three weeks are going to be pretty interesting in the NFC East and NFC South. Five teams fighting for 3 spots (NYG is already in) and a lot of divisional games remaining. I would guess it will come down to week 17.

-I have no idea how the Carolina Panthers are 10-3. Delhomme has been merely average, their defense has underperformed, and while their running game has been good....it hasn't been 10 wins good. The only thing I can come up with is John Fox is still a genius.

Dallas 13, Pittsburgh 20

2008-12-07T19:17:00.003-06:00

That was simultaneously one of the best and yet most emotionally draining football games I have ever witnessed. Mind you as a Steelers fan I'm sure that the emotional toll was relieved upon victory, but as a Cowboys fan it was one of those losses that just guts you. My friend Alex and I have joked before that we let Cowboys games affect our emotional well-being far too much, and this was one of the worst losses I can remember experiencing. I think the last one that hurt this bad was the Washington game a couple seasons ago when the Redskins missed one FG only to have a penalty offer them a second closer chance that they hit to nail it. In many ways, I thought this game was karmic payback for the Buffalo game last year that the Cowboys won but had no business winning.

The first half of this game was some of the best football I've ever seen played, with two defenses playing the very definition of smash mouth football at a cold and windy Heinz Field. In fact, for 56 some odd minutes the Cowboys played the best defensive football I've seen them play since, oh, 1995. Likewise the Steelers played some amazing defense, except they did it for 60 minutes. You pair that with Tony Romo (19 of 36 for 210, 1 TD, 3 INT) looking more Brad Johnson than jedi, and you get 4 turnovers including 3 INTs. And don't kid yourself, it should have been atleast 5 if not 6 turnovers. The TD to to Owens looks jedi in retrospect, but that was an extremely ill advised throw-if the DB turns around its an easy pick. Throughout the game Romo's passes were tending to sail on him, and his decision making was continuously suspect as he seemed to focus on one target and refuse to check down to anyone but Tashard Choice (who did have one hell of a game, 23 for 88). Bennett would be open and he'd force it to Witten or Owens. It was simply an awful game for Romo.

Not that it was that much better for Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense. It's just that the Steelers defense played all 60 minutes and were able to throw in a gift-wrapped score on account of either a Witten or Romo mistake, as I'm sure both parties will say that it was their fault-but it looked to me as though the mistake was on Romo with the pass sailing a bit high.

So where does this leave the Cowboys? Mathematically (due to the ATL loss at New Orleans) they're now technically the 6th seed for the NFC, so win out and you're in. Realistically? I'm just not sure this team can recover emotionally from this. I suggest to you that about 10m into next Sunday's contest versus the New York Giants we will know where this team is at. If they come out flat off this emotional loss, then this season is over. But if instead they gained confidence from playing close to Pittsburgh, then the playoffs may be in the future. My guess it that they'll fold, but we shall see.....win at home next week, and the playoffs start to look very possible.

Around The NFL

2008-12-01T16:42:00.002-06:00

Some random thoughts from around the NFL, courtesy my football obsessed brain;

-Has there ever been a coach more deserving of getting the axe than Norv Turner? Taking a 14-2 team to 11-5 in one season, and then down to 4-8 with four to go in the next, with the only major injury being Shawne Merriman, is just inexcusable. He shouldn't have survived today, let alone the remainder of the season. I understand after 14-2 the only direction to go is down, but that's just nuts.

-Has there ever been a rookie QB play as well as Matt Ryan is in Atlanta? To have Joe Flacco also playing great as a rook in Baltimore is an amazing coincidence. This is shaping up to be one hell of a QB class and it's only 12 weeks into the season.

-Are you telling me the Chargers couldn't have gotten a 3rd rounder for Michael "The Burner" Turner? Or did they decide he was more valuable riding the pine behind LT? Mind you LT is starting to show his age. I got the Drew Brees/Phil Rivers thing, but I don't get seeing how good Turner is and having him sit on the bench for 4 seasons instead of giving him carries or moving him for a pick. What a signing by the Falcons.

-How have Raiders fans not conconcted a conspiracy to have Al Davis assassinated yet?

-QB1 throws for 2897 yards, 20 TD, and 10 INT through this week, meanwhile QB2 has thrown for 2461, 20 TD, and 13 INT. But because they don't have QB2 (Favre) the Packers are 5-7 versus 13-3 the previous season? Methinks theres quite a bit more wrong in GB than they lost Favre.

-I can't tell if Trent Edwards early season play was just a mirage, or if this is just growing pains, but after a great start the Bills have looked amazingly pedestrian the past few weeks. Normally a team gets off to a hot start and it builds confidence and momentum, but not this group.

-The Detroit Lions are the worst football team I have ever seen. Short of Calvin Johnson, is there anything redeemable about that team? Getting embarassed like that on Thanksgiving, just wow. Firing Millen was a long overdue first step towards correcting things, but it's gonna take a lot. Personally I'd start by going after Matt Cassel and drafting all the OL you can, but thats just me.

-Equally shocking is the Cardinals emergence after 30 some odd years at the bottom of the NFL. I'm still not sure they win a playoff game, but simply going is a nice start for that franchise. Sad that it's all because of Kurt Warner who can't possibly have much left in the tank. Another franchise that should be all over the Matt Cassel, but wont be because of the bust that is Matt Leinart.

-Vince Young actually threw a pass on sunday. I'm not sure that guy's future is, but I'm not sure it's in Tennessee regardless of Kerry Collins' age.

-The record may indicate that Tennessee is the best team in the AFC, and while I will give them the best defense (Haynesworth should be defensive player of the year. He, Troy Polamalu, and Demarcus Ware are the biggest defensive studs in the NFL.), I think Pittsburgh is the best all around team in the NFL. Giants and Titans fans can make their case, and its a good one, but Pittsburgh's defense is brutal and Roethlisberger is looking healthier every week. Add in "Fast" Willie Parker and the ageless Hines Ward (hall of famer or no? its a good debate), and their offense is almost equally as scary.

-As a Cowboys fan, I don't think theres any way in hell Dallas wins in Pittsburgh. I don't think there's enough jedi even in Tony Romo to make that happen. That said, I can't wait to see how the Steelers gameplan to stop Owens, Roy Williams 11, Witten, and Marion Barber. It will be fascinating to break down the game tape afterwards.

-As if on cue, here come the Colts charging back into the playoff picture. The AFC playoffs are going to be great this year....Steelers, Titans, Colts, Jets with Favre...gonna be some good games. And I for one welcome a Brady-free and Charger-free postseason.

-The NFC South, not the East, is the best division in football. The Redskins have fallen back to earth, and the Falcons, Bucs, and Panthers look great. I'm not sure 10-6 makes the playoffs this year, it may take 11 wins. That does not bode well for the Dallas Cowboys, whom desperately need Tampa to drop a few games.

Seattle 9, Dallas 34

2008-11-27T20:06:00.003-06:00

There are few things in Dallas, TX. more revered than Cowboys football on Thanksgiving Day. While as a child I did enjoy it, as I've aged I've felt that most of the country has the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, while Dallas and Detroit had NFL football. Outside of Texas/Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl and High School football, there is no greater sporting event in Texas than the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. You have your Thanksgiving dinner, maybe take a nap, and at 3:30 it becomes Sunday, albeit a bloated and stuffed one. And while some years that game provides a loss, snow, or a memorable Leon Lett gaffe, most years you get a Cowboys win as the cherry on top of a great Thanksgiving. It really is a fabulous event, and this year was no different.

It took six plays, yes six, before the Cowboys were up 7-0. Three minutes hadn't even ticked off the clock, and I texted my friend David to say, "this is going to be a blowout." Anyone that's watched Cowboys football over the past two years should have seen it, the offense was firing on all cylinders-and when that happens I'm not sure God himself can stop them. I didn't say that as a homer, but simply as a person that watched a ton of NFL football-the same could be said of the Patriots last year, or the Colts in years past. And much like Oklahoma the week prior blow out Texas Tech, the Cowboys could have named their score in this game.

Well it seems they chose 34, with a gameplan that was absurdly conservative after the half. Meanwhile the Dallas defense held Seattle to three field goals, all of which occured on drives that stalled in the red zone. As I'd said earlier in the year, this defense is the very definition of bend but don't break, happily giving up yardage between the 20s but being beyond stingy within them. Each week I watch the secondary and realize that while they don't make plays on the ball, it's not the players that are giving up the yardage but the scheme. I don't agree with it, but it seems the Phillips 3-4 is designed to give up yardage but not big plays or TDs, and when the players are playing it they can shut a team down in the redzone.

Of course, seven...yes SEVEN.....sacks doesn't hurt (most since '97, 2 from James, 3 from Ware, 1 from Ellis, 1 from Tank Johnson). Nor does a Newman INT or a forced fumble from James and Spears (wow, he did something). The point though, is while the offense was firing on all cylinders, the defense looked pretty damn good too. Holding an NFL team to under 10 points is an accomplishment, and abusing them in the process even more of one. Sure it was just Seattle, but in other games they'd have played to their competition-this week they were clearly up, which is just what we need against Pittsburgh next week. This sort of effort and execution from both the offense and the defense could very well create a W next week at Heinz Field.

The only question is, will we get it?

San Francisco 22, Dallas 35

2008-11-23T16:05:00.003-06:00

In a game that would have been far more interesting 15 years ago, Dallas managed to take care of business against a pretty damn bad San Francisco team. I will be honest, it was a little tough to get pumped up for this game, as there were only two outcomes. Either they win and I think, "well good, they should have won" or they lose and all hell breaks loose. That said, they won, they took care of business, and they need to do the same thursday against an equally woeful Seattle team setting themselves up in decent position for the brutal stretch run (@PIT, NYG, BAL, @PHI).

It wasn't the prettiest game for Dallas, in many respects it was a few different sub-games within a game. In the first quarter the Dallas offense was woeful as was the secondary, however they came up with two key goal-line stops that shifted the momentum San Francisco had gained back to the Cowboys. In the second quarter the offense started firing on all cylinders and there was a combination of the Dallas defense being extraordinary and the Niners offense being abysmal. Finally, the second half consisted of a weak Dallas defense and a Niners offense that struggled early but eventually regained its form. I know that sounds weird, it was a weird game as the intensity seemed to waiver up and down throughout the game. That said, there are a few things we can take from the game.

The officials today allowed the players to play today, keeping the flags in their pocket for a lot of questionable defenses in the secondary. I thought that benefitted the Cowboys a fair amount and covered up some of the bad coverage in the secondary. So too did the Dallas pass rush (sacks from Ware, Ellis, Spencer, and Hamlin) which was excellent. I have serious doubts that the Dallas secondary is very good, and to be honest I think they have the same concern and that's why they're holding on to Pacman Jones despite the insanity of the situation. While he did have an INT today, I think Anthony Henry is a liability as the second corner and should be a nickel corner at best.

One more thing about the secondary, with 4:17 remaining in the first quarter Shaun Hill made a very ill-advised heave down the field as he was getting knocked down. The play resulted in a 34 yard completion to Isaac Bruce, but what really got me about it was that it was simply a jumpball and Terrence Newman-the supposedly shutdown corner-didn't even make a play for it, nor did Hamlin. They just let him go up and get it, content with the tackle-it was a terrible play, and reminiscent of Bradie James' indifferent coverage the week previous.

While the pass defense was questionable, what wasn't questionable was the Dallas rushing defense. Stout, would be the adjective I'd use to describe it. Holding an NFL team to 26 yards on the ground (all by Frank Gore on 14 carries, under 2.0 YPC) is commendable. It was obvious the game plan from the get go was to stop Gore and make Hill beat them through the air, and the gameplan appears to have been solid.

On the other side of the ball, the offense looked solid. They sputtered at the start, but found their groove in the second quarter and didn't really look back. San Francisco did a good job holding back Barber (19 for 59, ~3.0 YPC) and forcing Romo to beat them. And while Romo certainly fluttered a few passes and didn't look as crisp as we're used to, he made enough passes to score 35 points (23/39 for 341, 3 TD, 0 INT). In short, both teams employed a pretty similar gameplan....the difference is one team had Shaun Hill and Isaac Bruce, the other had Tony Romo and Terrell Owens. And boy did TO have one hell of a game.

While 7 receptions for 213 and a TD indicated a dominant performance-and it was-the box score doesn't mention the three dropped balls, only one of which was a bad throw. And while the drops are certainly concerning, I think most everyone will take them if they come along with 213 receiving yards. In one of the more curious defensive decisions in recent memory, San Francisco decided not to play press man coverage on Owens as had been the case the past few weeks, and not so coincidentally he torched them because of it. Seattle will certainly return to the press coverage on Thursday one would think, and then we will see if TO can finally adjust to it. Because otherwise I wouldn't expect another game like this, and I'd expect to see Roy Williams get more looks in the passing game.

And finally, there are going to be a couple questions on the injury front for this shortened week. Kosier was pulled as a precaution at halftime. Witten took a nasty hit and is already playing with a broken rib (what a gamer that guy is!). You really want those guys on the field on Thursday. So there you have it, take care of Seattle on Thanksgiving and you've got a shot in the stretch run.

Dallas 14, Washington 10

2008-11-17T16:02:00.004-06:00

As the final seconds ticked off the game clock and Cowboy fans worldwide took a couple steps back from the ledge, the look of relief on the face of every player on the Dallas Cowboys was obvious. Like the rest of us, they knew the importance of this game....dropping to 5-5 would have made the playoffs a near impossibility, whereas advancing the 6-4 and a season split with the Redskins gives hope. If they can take care of the next two against the cellar of the NFC West-Seattle and San Francisco-they will be sitting at 8-4 with four games to go and the math of getting into the playoffs is much more friendly. Now they will probably have to take their show on the road in the playoffs unless the Giants come crashing back down to earth and Arizona loses Kurt Warner, but that's a discussion for another day.

What's important right now is that they got the W. And even more important was how they got it-defense. Not to underestimate what an obviously slightly-hobbled Tony Romo (19/27 for 198, 1 TD, 2 INT) brought to the table, nor the insane effectiveness of Marion "The Barbarian" Barber (24 for 114 and a TD), or even the clutch performance by the offensive line which created the lanes for Barber and kept Romo upright-but the most encouraging aspect of this game was the defense.

Outside of Washington's first drive-which I'm sure had everyone throwing up their arms in frustration at the return of uninspired defensive play-in which Clinton Portis (15 for 68) imposed his will and the Redskins drove down the field, the Dallas Cowboys defense was actually dominant for the first time since Tampa Bay a few weeks ago. Before getting into that though, I do want to point out one thing. If you've got the game recorded, go back and look at that Washington TD and watch Bradie James whom had perfect position on Mike Sellers and by his body language obviously read Jason Campbell's eyes to see where the ball was going, and yet for some inexplicable reason doesnt make a move on the ball and allows the TD. It wasterrible defense, and I think had the Cowboys lost James would be roasted for that.

But back to the positives from the defense. Jay Ratliff (2 sacks) has proven that he's a stud, and while I won't disagree with Bob Sturm's suggestion that he might be miscast at NT and be better as a DT, no one can deny his ability....and the awesomeness of his barbaric sack celebrations. Likewise another week another sack for Demarcus Ware, whom is definately in the conversation of best pass rushers in the NFL. Terrence Newman drew coverage of Santana Moss (5 for 29), a man whom usually destroys the Cowboys, and not only limited him but came away with a clutch interception. Anthony Henry didn't appear to be the liability in coverage we've seen from him lately, and both rookies Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins made a few plays. And of course, Bobby Carpenter did not.....but on the whole it was a beautiful performance from the defense, and what we all envisioned with all the draft picks put into it. If they can do it for a couple more weeks, then the Pac-Man Jones talk will all be for naught, as there won't be a place for him on this team.

Offensively, I think the biggest thing to take out of this game was that the Cowboys finally started putting Terrell Owens (5 for 38) in motion and that they decided for the first time all season to lean heavily on the toss play, something most people envisioned Felix Jones doing instead of Marion Barber, but Barber was fantastic on them. I'm not sure how it was so effective, but it was. And finally, I think we got to see what Roy Williams 11 can bring to this thing when Romo is fully healthy because there were several plays where it looked nearly impossible to stop Dallas once Romo established that he could in fact throw deep.

Next up is San Francisco, followed by a short week and Seattle. Get through these two, and December will be very interesting around Dallas.....which is good considering the sorry state of the Mavs and Stars at the moment.

Dallas Mavericks Season Preview

2008-11-10T19:50:00.004-06:00

I've got to admit, I'm a week or so late on this. I'd meant to get it completed just before the season started, but got lazy. Then I said I'd get it done when they were 2-2. Now they're 2-4 and I'm going to stick to my original preview, but look like a much bigger idiot in the process.

When the Mavs started to falter last season, I pinned it on Avery Johnson, especially upon hearing that he practically begged Cuban to make the Jason Kidd trade, only to state openly that he'd opposed the deal all along at his final press conference after his dismissal. There've been numerous reports since Avery got here that he didn't like Devin Harris, and that he really wanted a veteran point guard (nevermind that Harris was the only player on this team that could/would drive the lane). Numerous reports also that he lobbied hard for that trade, and to see him deny it to try and save his own ass and make Cuban and Nelson look like idiots I think is a great display of the selfishness the man had.

It was obvious after the '06 Final debacle, in which he was obviously very outcouched, that the team was starting to lose faith in him. Then you get that amazing '07 regular season followed by again being terribly out-coached by Don Nelson and bounced in the first round of the playoffs despite being the no. 1 seed, and the team completely tuned him out. Watching the '08 campaign, it was obvious that the team no longer respected or had any desire to play for, their coach. Cuban/Nelson threw the hail mary thinking that the Jason Kidd trade would shake things up and re-invigorate the team, with the result being the pass picked in the endzone and returned for 6 (if you will allow me cross-sport metaphors). In hindsight it should have been Avery sacked instead of Harris traded, but hindsight is 20/20 and we had to move on.

Cuban hired Rick Carlisle, a move I think was good, and otherwise left the core of this team together to see if Carlisle couldn't rally the troops, and get them back to their 2006 or 2007 selves. And I'll be honest, I thought he could do it. The first six games show that I'm pretty wrong, although the San Antonio game shows that when it's on-this team still has something. Even if they're woefully inadequate at the 2 guard, and have an old point guard that can't shoot, when Dirk, Howard, and Terry are on their game, this team can still be a force.

Now Carlisle just has to figure out a way to make that happen more often. I'm not sure if he can, but if he can this may be a better team than a lot of people thought they'd be. Truth be told though, even if he doesn't he's not going anywhere-and neither are any of their players. Howard's value is 10c on the dollar, and he's too valuable to be traded for a bag of balls. Dirk is the franchise, and Terry/Dampier/Diop all make too much money, have too much time left on their deals, and simply aren't that good. About the only decent trade chip this team has is Bass, and Cuban likes the kid (and i can't say i blame him). To say nothing of the salary cap hell this team is in. So success or not, this is the team we're going to have until after the 2010 season when Dampier and most everyone not named Dirk has an expired contract, and you have the following free agents to choose from(parenthesis is likelihood that they will be FAs);

Joe Johnson
Ray Allen
Ben Wallace
LeBron James (player option, likely)
Dirk Nowitzki (player option, unlikely)
Josh Howard (player option, likely)
Marcus Camby
Rip Hamilton
Stephen Jackson
Tracy McGrady
Shaquille O'Neal
Dwyane Wade (player option for 10/11, unlikely)
Michael Redd (player option for 10/11, likely)
Tyson Chandler (player option for 10/11 - 50/50)
Eddy Curry (player option for 10/11 - 50/50)
Amare Stoudemire (player option for 10/11, unlikely)
Brad Miller
Manu Ginobili
Chris Bosh (player option for 10/11, unlikely)

What a free agent class, huh?

We all know Cuban will open his pocketbook. Pick two of those guys to add to Dirk, and you've got one hell of a team on your hand again. Dirk, LeBron, and Amare....while obviously only in my dreams, would be good enough to pencil in the title on the pre-season.

So that's where we're at, Carlisle is going to try to make work what Avery couldn't....and in the meantime we all sit and wait for 2010.

Far cry from the fun of that '06 title run, huh?

Dallas 14, New York 35

2008-11-02T22:00:00.003-06:00

Well I can't say it was totally unexpected.

Or really anything less than expected.

Everyone in the so-called Cowboys Nation has known what was coming this week, praying only for a minor miracle to prevent it. That miracle didn't come, and the Cowboys were simply throttled. It's really as simple as that. This team was beat in every way a team can be beat. And now they've got two weeks to get their house in order, hopefully get some folks back from injury, and figure out a way to go 5-2 down the stretch and salvage this season. For were it to end today, there would be 4 teams ahead of them in the wildcard chase, leaving the 'Boys on the outside looking in. At 5-4 heading into the bye, 5-2 afterwards seems to be the bare minimum that will be needed for a playoff run.

This means in addition to needing wins vs. San Francisco, vs. Seattle, and vs. Baltimore you will need to get two additional wins out of @Washington, @Pittsburgh, vs. New York, and @Philadephia. Is it possible? Sure, but probable....not so much. And if you want to be certain of a playoff spot, you need to take six of those games. It's a very long road ahead, Romo or no Romo.

As for today's game, what exactly is there to say? As we all thought going in, Brad Johnson sucks. I'm sorry, but that man is done as a pro. I believe today we saw his final pass in the NFL. It was a nice career he can be proud of, but it's over. Likewise the unknown, Brooks Bollinger, proved to be only slightly better. Again, not terribly unexpected. That said, I did see atleast a little promise in Bollinger, atleast as a backup QB. This is the first week he's even taken snaps with the first team, and so considering his performance I feel like with some practice he could do something atleast better than Brad Johnson, granted that doesn't say much.

The defense came out and played fairly well for the first 25 or so minutes, before being exposed by heavy use as the offense was unable to spell them. On the defensive front though, I do want to say two things. First, Demarcus Ware is the shit. That man is a beast.

Second, word out of Valley Ranch for the past few weeks is that the Cowboys brass is annoyed by Mike Jenkins. He's got a tendency to jump routes as a DB, a form of defensive gambling that basically gives the DB a much better shot at an INT but risks giving up the deep ball if the safeties can't convert. It was a bad throw and those very instincts though that created that pick-6 today. The Cowboys haven't had a DB confident enough to jump routes in I can't remember how long, and it is for that reason that I beg and plead with the brass to let him play his game.

As for the offense, well there's just nothing to say. Barber is pretty useless when the defense knows without a doubt he's coming. The OL continues to be uninspired, TO fumbles and drops a couple, and the QBs were downright awful.

Tampa Bay 9, Dallas 13

2008-10-26T22:27:00.003-05:00

Well, it was a win. Offensively it wasn't pretty, defensively it most certainly was. If you enjoy watching defense (and I do), this game was a gem. If you're a disciple of Mike Martz? Well, it was a snoozer. Regardless, if you're a Cowboys fan it was a welcome sight. After some very suspect play for the past month, you finally saw a team that came out energized and ready to play. I can't emphasize enough how energized they looked...finally. It was close, and it was ugly, but it's a most desperately needed win.

I expect a loss next week at NYG, and this means you can do so and enter the bye week over .500. Still a damn tough stretch afterwards, but if you do it with Romo, F. Jones, Newman, and more back finally. This salvages the season. You pull out the unthinkable win next week? Well, then all is ok for the season.

If the defense decides to show up again, it's possible. On a side note, I appreciated commentator Daryl Johnston finally recognizing what I've been bitching about for weeks now....namely, the DBs playing 10 yards off the recievers and surrendering repeated short passes which makes Dallas all too susceptible to a west coast offense. Also, it was nice having a Bobby Carpenter sighting.....even if he was celebrating tackling a guy that had slipped to the turf.

I'm not full of fire or vitriol this week. I'm still worried. But hey, a win is a win is a win....and now we prepare for the throttling at the Meadowlands and then the bye and health.

Dallas 14, St. Louis 34

2008-10-19T15:47:00.003-05:00

As a general rule, I'm a pretty even keeled sports fan. Don't get me wrong, during a game I ride the highs and lows like anyone dialed in to a game, but when it's over I'm not the guy that runs to his nearest messageboard (or blog, for that matter) and proclaims the end is nigh. There are going to be ups and downs in a season, there are going to be losses, and there's going to be frustration-it happens. For the last month I've tried to put a positive face on what have been some terrible football games, expecting that this team could right the ship, play up to their paper, and make a playoff run-I've tried to avoid the panic.

Today, consider me officially in a panic.

After a crisp and methodical opening touchdown drive, one that everyone had hoped would be the norm for the game and showed the potential of this team, everything just fell apart and devolved into one of the worst performances by a football team I have ever personally witnessed. St. Louis drives down the field and scores, ok, fair enough...it happens. Then you've got the fluke interception giving the Rams a short field and they score again. It's only seven points, still not panicking. Then Barber fumbles (again!) giving the Rams another short field, and another easy touchdown against a defense that didn't seem terribly interested in stopping them. This was followed by more offensive futility and the bloodletting ensued, with Dallas unable to either muster any offense or look like anything resembling an NFL team on defense.

This team has now played four straight games of below average football, losing three of them. It's clear that this team is soft and unmotivated. Sure, there have been some injuries.....you'd love to have Terrence Newman and Roy Williams 38 out there....but those injuries aren't the reason this defense is looking so god awful. For the past few weeks I'd thought it was the scheme, with a very loose zone coverage being employed that gave the opponents recievers too much room but theoretically prevented the big play. I still think that's a part of it, but ultimately I think the problem is that this defense has Demarcus Ware (who's still a beast), Zach Thomas, and nine guys that look like they'd rather be sitting on the couch next to me drinking a beer and watching the game than actually playing in it.

But what is a GM to do? For the next week you're going to hear people calling for a sacrifice. Be it defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, Head Coach Wade Phillips, or a player a la Bobby Carpenter. The thinking goes, if you fire someone it will get the message across to this team. The problem with this approach is twofold. First, you've got to have someone to replace the sacked party that's equitable if not an upgrade. Short of Bill Cowher coming out of retirement, do you really think you're going to find that? Secondly, if losing to Washington, playing poorly against Cincinnati, and losing to Arizona doesn't motivate a team to show up against an average at best St. Louis team, then is there any reason to think that firing or cutting someone will? I will say this though, in his postgame press conference Wade Phillips had that dear in headlights look of a coach knowing his job security suddenly became less than certain. So what is a GM to do?

I've got no idea. I don't have any answers, I don't think anyone does. Is changing the defensive coordinator going to motivate this defense or change the scheme to make it better? It might. But will that motivate an offensive line that is terribly underperforming? Replacing the head coach might do both, but will it get Barber to stop putting the ball on the turf and Witten and Owens to stop dropping passes? The point is this: there are so many problems with this team, this team is sick in so many areas, that there isn't a panacea.

Owner and GM Jerry Jones has amassed all the talent he can-to the point of making a rare midseason trade for WR Roy Williams-to make this team a contender. He has done all that he can do in my estimation, and yet here they are underperforming. Something has to be done, the question is just what? And will it do any good?

What a day......

2008-10-15T00:24:00.002-05:00

Tuesday is my busiest day of the week at work, so there I was dialed in to Sportsradio 1310 The Ticket for most of the day (you know, except for actually working) as the day presented itself. In succession we got;

-Pac-Man suspended for somewhere between 4 games and eternity. Not terribly surprising considering his status, but I thought if we got past yesterday we'd be fine. I was wrong. With Newman out, we've now got a giant hole in the secondary and really, really need Mike Jenkins to step up....and Orlando Scanrick. OK, consider my worried.

-Felix Jones out two weeks. Just another weapon gone.

-Mat McBriar put on IR. Look, I know the guy is a punter....but I'm of the school of thought that punter and kicker are much more important positions than people give them credit for. Field position is the name of the game in today's NFL, and a reliable kicker is, imo, good for two W's a year. Funny thing is if it weren't for all the other injuries, the Aussie wouldn't have been placed on IR but roster spots are getting scarce.

-The Cowboys trade a 1, 3, and a 6 for Longhorn Roy Williams and a 7. Jerry Jones claims he's been trying to get this done for two years, and if he settles on that for compensation then I can't imagine what the original request must have been. That said, kudos to Jerry. Injuries aside, he has amassed the best offense-on paper-I can imagine. When Romo returns, I can't fathom a reason this O shouldn't score 30 a game.

-And speaking of Romo, apparently Brett Favre calls him and tells him to rub some dirt on it and play through the broken finger, and he's going to try.

So welcome to Dallas. That's just one day in Cowboys news......

Follow-up on NFL Week 6

2008-10-13T22:48:00.002-05:00

With the clock winding down on the Browns routing the Giants (and I'd like to point out that yes, I did bet the Cleveland moneyline), I figure it's time to do what I've been aiming to do the past few weeks but too lazy to. Namely, a rundown of the NFL weekend.

-First in Cowboys news, here we go on the injury front. Romo is out 4 weeks, Newman out another 4 weeks, McBriar possibly out for the season, and Felix Jones and Sam Hurd day to day which could very well carry on for two weeks. Other than Newman, that's all in one terribly played loss-and not mentioning a possible Pac-Man suspension which doesn't seem too likely considering it didn't happen today. Remember all those injuries they didn't have the last few seasons? Think of those, and the lost oppurtunities, as you watch Brad Johnson muddle through the next few weeks.

-Fuckin' a, what a rally from Atlanta this week. After CHI went up with 40s to go I left to go pickup my lunch before the Cowboys game only to return and see Atlanta had won it as a result of a very questionable squib kick decision and a clutch completion from Matt Ryan (yes, the rookie) and a Jason Elam kick. It's amazing how they're turning things around in the ATL, and how mature Matt Ryan is looking. Of course Michael "The Burner" Turner doesn't hurt.

-New Orleans decimated Oakland, Indianapolis destroys Baltimore.....order is beginning to be restored to the NFL, or atleast sense. The better team won.

-Carolina loses by 25 to a Tampa Bay team which we all know is better with Jeff Garcia under center, the question is how Jon Gruden doesn't see that. Garcia must be a real asshole, it's the only way I can justify his being moved and/or benched so often despite consistently winning.

-Detroit and Cincinnati keep losing. Shocking, right? Cincinnati is better than they've looked, Detroit might be....but it doesn't matter. I expect both coaches to lose their jobs, and both teams to have top 5 picks next April.

-Here's the deal, everyone's going to win next week. And in this NFL where it seems teams rest on their laurels, I can't say I was completely shocked to see St. Louis beat Washington. I mean considering it was in WAS I was surprised, but you knew the Rams would win eventually, and it would be an upset. Now that that is done, I'd expect about two more wins out of STL this year.

-The Seattle Seahawks are god-awful. I expected them to be bad, but this is just ridiculous. I know, no Matt Hasselback, but good god...this was a playoff team last year. And it seems I might have over-rated Green Bay a fair bit-they need to find a running game desperately.

Dallas 24, Arizona 30

2008-10-12T21:33:00.002-05:00

I guess the best place to start is with the reality check that despite the abortion of a football game we watched today, the Cowboys are still 4-2. 4-2 is certainly better than 3-3 or 2-4 or even 0-6....just ask the Bengals. You've got 10 games remaining and a 6-4 mark should put you in the playoffs, with 7-3 making it all but a certainty. So we've got that going.

On the other hand, if you've witnessed the past three weeks of Dallas Cowboys football, I'm guessing you're in the same place as I am.....lost and searching for answers. It's hard to figure out what exactly is wrong, but something obviously is. Today a lot of it had to do with the absolutely abysmal special teams that surrender a kick return for a TD, a blocked FG that was called back, and then the blocked punt to end the game. Oh, and a missed FG and some really weak kickoffs. Were you grading them, the special teams unit would have to recieve an F across the board. And while I'm sure that special teams will be the topic du jour tomorrow amongst columnists and talk radio hosts, I think they're only a part of the problem.

Were this a medical diagnosis, today we got a new symptom. The offensive line. Because it was absolutely terrible. Besides getting Romo knocked down 19 times, they also surendered 2 sacks, led to three Romo fumbles, and had repeatedly egregious holding and false start penalties. I believe Gurode was the only member of the line who's name we didn't hear a couple times today, with Columbo looking downright terrible. Not only couldn't they pass block, they also couldn't run block with Barber gaining only 45 yards on 17 carries. This is a very well paid and well regarded OL, and today's performance was just unacceptable and in my opinion the chief cause for this loss.

But don't forget about the defense, which was quite impressive through the first half-the first time they've looked dominant this season-only to continue to play porously in the second half, with the gameplan again to repeatedly surrender short to moderate gains in zone coverages. Impressive against the run for the most part, they continue to get eaten alive by west coast offense style plays.

And finally, while the numbers (24 of 39 for 321 and 3 TD/0 INT) give the impression that Romo had a good game, well I'd suggest the numbers are lying. The fumbles just have to stop, and while he wasn't bad-and the offensive line didn't help-he definately continued to not look like the jedi Romo we're all expecting. He's forcing passes, not evading pressure, and just generally looks off.

So you combine all those things, and you get a loss. In fact, to have only lost it by six seems to me to be quite a blessing. To have been in it at all in the 4th quarter is a little shocking, as I'm still not sure how Barber breaks that swing pass for a TD down the sideline. They played like crap and honestly should have lost by 10 instead of having a chance to drive in OT.

Cincinnati 22, Dallas 31

2008-10-05T23:03:00.003-05:00

I don't think I've ever experienced so much anger and consternation with a 9pt win. Hey, it was a win, it didn't feel like it when the game was over-it felt like a brutal loss-but ya, the Cowboys did win. But I will be damned if they didn't look god-awful during parts of that.

My biggest gripe, and it builds on last week, is the defense. The yardage they're giving up in the short to intermediate passing game is just assinine, and it seems an opponent can go there at will when they need a play. I understand Newman was out, but you've still got Henry and Pac-man back there....why are the DBs playing 8 yards off of the WRs? And don't tell me it's because you're missing Roy Williams and/or Pat Watkins. It's this zone scheme that the Cowboys have chosen to employ that emphasizes preventing the deep ball (which I'll admit they're doing well) but concedes the short pass. And that's precisely why a west-coast offense team like Washington was able to beat them, if a team can execute and thrive on the short/intermediate routes it seems to me they can beat the Dallas defense.

Furthermore, I will be damned if I can figure out why they can't sack the bloody QB. Other than Demarcus Ware's sack per a game (which is impressive) the rest of their pressure seems too little too late, which is unconscionable when you're running Greg Ellis and Anthony Spencer out there too. Even when they get pressure-which they rarely did today-they just can't seem to complete it.

Now before I get into the offense, let me say this. Cincinnati is a better team than their record suggests. That AFC North has an absolutely brutal schedule, and as I told Doss earlier, I really believe they'd be 3-2 or better if they were in the NFC West. That said, the Cowboys still should have won by 14 or more today. Which leads me to the offense.....

Romo has just looked off for the past three weeks. He hasn't been the Romo we saw last year. I can forgive the int per a game as the ying to the gunslinger yang, but I can't forgive him under and overthrowing recievers, or not protecting the ball when he's rushing. I just can't figure out what the hell is wrong. Likewise, I can't figure out how they can't get Felix Jones more involved. He is what we envisioned last year with the Julius lightning to the Barber thunder.

But ultimately, I don't know what to say. They won, awesome...they're keeping pace. But this team looks anything but Super Bowl contenders right now. Then again, if you look like crap and win, well, maybe that means you really are pretty damn good.

Washington 26, Dallas 24

2008-09-28T18:56:00.003-05:00

And there it is, in the final game these two teams will play at Texas Stadium (I'm going to put the odds at right about nil of Washington coming back to Dallas in the playoffs), another chapter was written in this stories rivalry as the Cowboys laid an egg and Washington wins by two. Yes I realize that sounds as though I'm putting the onus for the loss on Dallas instead of giving Washington their due. That's because I am.

It's not as though Washington looked particularly good in the victory (although a win is a win is a win), with the only really impressive thing to me being just how terribly wrong I was about Jason Campbell-that guy is maturing in front of our eyes and is looking like he might develop into quite the NFL QB. He had no problem going through his progressions and checking down to the 3rd and 4th options, and once a QB can master doint that-especially in the face of pressure-then I think that's a pretty nice indicator that he might turn into something. Other than that though, what I saw was a game where Washington looked solid and Dallas looked uncomfortable and out of rhythm.

At this point I'm sure you're wanting me to give credit to Washington for putting Dallas out of rhythm-but what exactly did they do? Sure Springs did a nice job covering Owens, but it's not as though they were getting much pressure on Romo, and yet Romo kept being off by a fraction on his throws. Likewise it's not as though Barber looked terrible (8 for 26 with a long of 15), and yet the Cowboys completely abandoned the running game mid-way through the 2nd quarter.

So you've got a QB who just seems off in his rhythm and a team that's abandoned the running game, mix in two parts tequila and shake and you've got a great recipe for a loss. While you're at it, garnish with a couple sprigs of maddening bend but don't break defense.

I'm not sure what it is about this defense. There seems, on paper, to be talent oozing from every position on this defense, and yet somehow every week they're the very definition of "bend but don't break" giving up yards in startling chunks. Now they get away with it when the offense is scoring 35 a game, but as today showed you, that sort of defense just doesn't win you games when you score 24. What gets me is how on paper Dallas has a better defense than Chicago, Pittsburgh, or New England or frankly most any team in this league-what is it about their schemes that is causing this team to hemmorhage yards like it does? Sure, they'll stop them in the red zone more often than not, but why do the teams keep getting into the redzone? And to expound on that, what makes this team so incapable of creating turnovers?

Seriously, if any of you have one of those genius football brains that allows you to study scheming, can you tell me what the hell is wrong with this thing?

Although Demarcus Ware....well Demarcus Ware is still the man. He's clearly the best player on this defense, a title some folks liked to bestow on Terrence Newman, whom just so happened to lay a giant egg today.

But hey, in the end, it's just one loss. You're 3-1 with convincing wins over Green Bay and Philadelphia. You're on a 12-4 pace (remember 6-10? ya me too) with one disturbing loss but still a lot of reason to hope. Take care of business next week against the hapless (and winless) Bengals, and all is forgiven. You're only looking up at the Giants, and you'll get two cracks at them.

Dallas 27, Green Bay 16

2008-09-22T22:09:00.002-05:00

What can you say? Based on the past three games, it appears that this team is the juggernaut I envisioned coming into the season. The key is going to be keeping it going, because if you recall last season they were also a juggernaut through the Green Bay game before they started to fade down the stretch. On paper this Cowboys team is as good as there is in the NFL, but as we all know being great on paper...in September...doesn't mean shit in January. Ok, is that enough sports cliches for you?

Look, this team is good. Romo had an off night (he seemed to just be missing guys), and the defense was able to hold a very capable GB offense to 16 while Marion Barber plugged away at their defense with a little help from Felix Jones.

Speaking of Felix Jones, while I'm a firm believe in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," they've got to figure out a way to get him the ball a few more times a game. I'm not saying give him the bulk of the carries, but you've got to figure out a way to give him just a few more-not because of Barbers performance obviously, or even because I buy the hype that Barber will get hurt due to his running style-it's just that you can't leave a playmaker like that on the sideline.

And now, for some thought and observations;

*I know McNabb and Rodgers are both atleast a bit elusive, but the way they've escaped from the grasps of what should've been a sure sack drives me nuts. Yes, the Cowboys got their share of sacks, and yes the pressure was very good-but for the love of good, wrap up and tackle-they should've had atleast three more. Sure, it's nitpicking, but if they'd lost we'd be going nuts over it.

*That 60yd run from Felix Jones is exactly what we all thought Julius Jones would be. And while Julius had a decent day for Seattle (22 for 140, 1 TD), the speed and explosiveness Felix has shown us had Julius' day as barely a blip on my radar. People talk about "thunder and lightning" when discussing complementary RBs, but is there a bigger contrast of extreme thunder and extreme lightning in this league?

*Already people are mumbling over Pac-Man's less than stellar punt returns. Patience folks, he will break a couple-just give it time. And while people are putting him at fault for the busted coverage on the 50yd pass to Jennings (although Wade assigned it elsewhere), I'm going to go on the record and say that I'm damned impressed with his first three games. I think by the end of the year we will all be lauding the guy and will have forgotten about all that other stuff.

*I loved moving Anthony Henry into the middle of the field and blitzing him. As soon as it happened I had to rewind the tivo, and yes-he was basically a LB on that play. I've got some reservations about Henry's ability to cover considering the past few weeks and the tail end of last year, he seems to be declining in coverage skills (although that's fine if he ends up the nickel corner)-but I thought Wade masked that brilliantly with that defensive formation. After the game he said that was his first sack since high school, to boot.

*I wondered if Terrence Newman would be back at full form. Considering they chose to throw at Pac-Man most of the game, I'd suggest that yes-he is.

*Demarcus Ware....what a beast. Just unbelieveable. And while Greg Ellis has lost a step (he completely blew an open shot on Rodgers, and was looking a bit slower than in the past) he is still a great compliment to Ware. Add in the ever-impressive Jay Ratliff at NT, and that's one mean 3-4 pass rush.

*Yes, TO was a non-factor in the recieving game. But his rundown of the DB on the INT and a couple of his block were masterful team plays. And while I'm nervous that if he doesn't get the ball next week he might start squawking, that guy has become a nice team player. And good god, is he fast. I'm not sure he's even human.

*Consider my slightly worried about the Cowboys OL. The Packers are a nice pass rush team, but not an elite one....and they got a lot of pressure. I'm not freaking, but i am a little tiny bit worried and would feel a lot better with another 0 sack game next week.

This week the 'Boys head home to face Washington, in what may end up being a tough game due to the division rivalry and the fact that it's those damned Redskins-but on paper, the Cowboys should win by 14 or more. Look, I'm just not sold on either Jim Zorn or this Washington team. I'm sure Santana Moss will burn this team for a TD, Roy Williams or not, but I see the defense giving Jason Campbell fits and the offense having all day. If the spread is less than 14, take it...if it's less than 10, go crazy.

Tomorrow I will go through the rest of the NFL. Cheers.

Philadelphia 37, Dallas 41

2008-09-16T22:36:00.003-05:00

What the hell can I say?

That was an amazing game. As the last Monday night game at Texas stadium, it gave us a memorable send-off. More than that, it gave us a great example of what the last few years of Dallas Cowboys football has been all about.

I'm not sure how this defense isn't better. Yes, they held when it mattered-this defense has been the very definition of bend but don't break-but it's maddening to see a defense with this much talent (and salary, and high draft picks....) unable to shut a team down. Yes, Philly is good...very good....but I see Chicago and Minnesota shutting opposing offenses down, and I just can't figure out why Dallas can't seem to do it. I wasn't expecting a shutout, and I'm proud of how they rebounded, but I'm not seeing a defense that plays to their paper right now, and that concerns me.

On the other hand, the offense is just unreal. Even when Philly was throwing 9 men in the box to shut down Barber, the offense sparkles as Romo took what they'd give him and bombed a few to T.O. along with the standard use of Jason Witten-and his seperated shoulder-as a safety valve. Martellus Bennett got into the act as well, as did Miles Austin for a few catches.

Other than the Stanback muff of the punt, the special teams also looked great. What can you say about Felix Jones? I wish they'd give him some carries-while I realize there are just too many mouths to feed-just because he's an electric player. His kick returns were fantastic, and now we're just waiting to see when Pac-Man breaks one on a punt.....you know it's coming.

I'm not going to play by play you to death, you saw the same game I did. It didn't seem like the Dallas offense had the ball hardly at all over the course of the night, but they still managed to toss up points. The defense seemed tired and overworked, and yet they did their best work of the evening when it mattered most. Points were scored in bunches, and there were a fair number of memorable plays including the boneheaded early celebration by Desean Jackson and the 72-yard bomb to Owens, his longest reception as a Cowboy.

All the baggage aside, how fucking lucky are we to have Terrell Owens? To say nothing of the luck of having Romo when he was a virtual lock to be cut until Quincy failed a piss test.

So here we are, 2-0......and it doesn't get easier, Dallas travels to Lambeau next week for Sunday night football against Green Bay. Judging by the first few weeks, this is going to be an early and yet important indicator of who ends up where, and who has what tiebreaker. Much like last year's matchup of two 10-1 teams, this year you get to 2-0 teams with the tie-breaker on the line.

Go Cowboys!

Around the NFL: Week 2

2008-09-16T22:15:00.003-05:00

My apologies indeed, I've been slacking. Work has been killer and somehow despite football season the other blog has occupied far too much of my time of late. That said, I watched all the NFL pre-game shows on Sunday, and there's only one person that predicted that Buffalo would upset Jacksonville this weekend, and then put their money where their mouth is (or was?) and that's yours truly. For what it's worth I also put a small wager on Oakland over KC, but it's the Buffalo game that I'm most proud of, and that we will start with this week;

*Buffalo 20, Jacksonville 16 - Trent Edwards is far more impressive than J.P Losman ever was. Buffalo has been that middle of the road team that's just muddled through the past few seasons. They're not bad, but they're not good....they're just.....there's something missing, and while QB is certainly a part of it there's more. I like Dick Jauron, and I like this team, they just can't seem to get on a roll. This season could be different, but while a win is a win, I'm not convinced that beating Seattle and a Jacksonville team without an OL qualifies as bullet points on the resume. On the other hand, Jacksonville has a very nice a defense to go along with what could be a great offense if their offensive line wasn't a disaster. Starting 3 rookies on the OL is a recipe for interceptions and an inability to run the ball, which is exactly what plagued them on sunday. Before the injuries they were a playoff caliber team, but right now, I'm not buying it. It's going to be a long season for JAX, and especially David Garrard, if they don't fix that OL.

*Chicago 17, Carolina 20. Carolina is good, they're real good. They would've been good the last two years too, were it not for injuries to Jake Delhomme and an uninspired defense. But now you have Delhomme healthy, Julius Peppers in a contract season, and while they're missing Steve Smith, that changes next week and I expect them to become better accordingly. They're 2-0 with some nice comeback wins, but I'd expect them to start outright winning games now. Meanwhile Chicago looks like the Chicago of old-great defense and special teams that will churn out some points and hold the other team while the offense scores just enough to get them over the hump. Orton is looking better than Grossman, but make no mistake-the defense is what makes this team, and losing Devin Hester on special teams could be a big problem if he's out for long.

* Green Bay 48, Detroit 25. This was my no-brainer bet of the day, that ended up dicey for a while. Green Bay is good, Detroit is.....Detroit. They're not good. I looked at the 3 point spread and thought it was a trap, but I just couldn't not bet it. Turns out they won by plenty, but not without drama. After being up 21-0 at the half, Green Bay went into a shell and started playing conservatively only to have Detroit rally back to take the lead, which GB then re-took on a FG. With 4m to go in the game, GB is leading by 2pts. What followed was vintage Detroit, int and quick TD and two pick-6 TDs. And just like that, my suspicions were confirmed-Green Bay is for real, and Detroit still sucks.

* Indanapolis 18, Minnesota 15. Minnesota's defense is great, they really are. In fact, that entire team is great except for 3 spots. Sadly, QB and WR are pretty essential to a team scoring points. With an even decent QB and a couple more than serviceable WRs, Minnesota could book their flights to Tampa now. As it stand, they're following the 2006 Chicago Bears blueprint to having a stud defense and an abortion on offense. They were up against a Colts team also having OL issues, as was evidence by their failure to score points until the end of the game when Peyton willed them to it. Peyton is shaking off the rust, I know, but if that team doesn't get it's OL back into shape soon, I'm not going to buy the post-season hype.

*San Diego 38, Denver 39. By now you've seen the mistake Ed Hocculi made, you don't need me to tell you about it. You've also seen Shanahan be himself and go for two and the win. Those are tired storylines, so just take this from this game: Jay Cutler is the real deal, and Norv Turner just can't seem to get early season wins in SD (see: last year).

And sure, the Redskins beating New Orleans at home was a little surprising, as was Cleveland dropping to 0-2.....but they really weren't that interesting. I'm just not going to bore you with the spare games. Stay tuned for my Eagles @ Cowboys review.......

Why I Love Football

2008-09-07T22:14:00.003-05:00

Which isn't to take anything away from the games themselves, which I have absolutely loved-this has been a fantastic week one for the NFL season and already the intrigue is building on the college season.

All is right in the world as football as back upon us, and my review of the weekend's action is coming tomorrow, but in the meantime-week one wasn't a very good week for me betting. Week 2 was much better, as seen above. I'm on a seven game win streak with a parlay tossed in for good measure.

Which of course means a cold streak is next.....and that's why we love football....it always keeps us guessing.

And With a Whimper, the NFL Season Begins

2008-09-05T17:30:00.002-05:00

It wasn't the prettiest, or even the most interesting, game that you could have wanted, but that's not important. What's important is that the NFL is back, football season is here.

Just as I'd expected (and mentioned in my pre-season predictions) the Redskins looked lost out there, and the Giants are going to have to win in spite of Eli Manning several times this season. I don't care if the dude has a Super Bowl ring, much like Brad Johnson after winning the SB with Tampa Eli Manning still doesn't even enter the conversation of best QBs in the NFL. He's a middle of the pack guy, and his stat-line for the game shows it (19 of 35 for 216 with 1 int and a rushing TD) once again. That said, Plaxico Burress looked damn good (can he finally stay healthy?) and Brandon Jacobs is a beast. Jacobs' and Dallas' Marion Barber have got to be the two most fun to watch RBs in the NFL.

I think Washington will get it a little more together as the season goes on, but I still don't see them ending better than 7-9 in head coach Jim Zorn's first season. Hell, they might not even win 5 games if they can't install a 2-minute drill (which they strangely didn't seem to have last night). I know it's early, but Zorn looked in over his head, especially with the playcalling that routinely had passes being thrown short of the 1st down marker. Oh, and QB Jason Campbell? He's still not showing much of anything. How long will the Redskins give Campbell before they pull the trigger and put Todd Collins back out there? Because you know Danny Snyder won't tolerate a slow start.....

Feeling Out The AFC & The Postseason

2008-09-03T18:31:00.003-05:00

Part two of my 2008/2009 NFL predictions. On which you should obviously wager your home.

AFC East
New England Patriots
Buffalo Bills
New York Jets
Miami Dolphins

Why?
Look, if you want to bet against the Patriots to repeat again you go right on ahead. Are they getting a little old? Sure, but they're still the Patriots and they might as well book their post-season charter jet now to save some cash. The Jets with Brett Favre might make things interesting, but I expect a low for Favre compared to last seasons high. And the Bills will continue their pursuit of mediocrity, I'd expect both the Jets and the Bills to be 8-8 give or take a game, which doesn't get you into the post-season in the AFC. And the Dolphins? Ya, they're not gonna be good.

AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals
Baltimore Ravens

Why?
This is another one of those divisions with a lot of question marks, and if anyone besides Baltimore won it I wouldn't be surprised. I expect the Ravens to be terrible this year, defense or not they've got two rooks to split time at QB. I think Cincinnati has a tough schedule and doesn't have the defense to be better than 7-9, and I expect Marvin Lewis to finally lose his job. That leaves Cleveland and Pittbsurgh to win the division, and I've just gotta roll with Pittsburgh. I think last year was somewhat of a mirage for Cleveland, and Derek Anderson really isn't that good.

AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars
Indianapolis Colts*
Tennessee Titans*
Houston Texans

Why?
Often people say the NFC East is the toughest division in the NFL, but I think the AFC South is pretty close. Houston is going to be better this year, but are they going to be better-enough to unseat the other teams in the division? I think Jacksonville finally steals the division from the Colts, and I'm just not going to bet against Vince Young. His numbers may be pedestrian, but the guy is a winner and somehow his teams just keep winning despite all evidence pointing to that being impossible. That said, a few bad breaks or injuries and this division could end up completely upside down.

AFC West
San Diego Chargers
Denver Broncos
Oakland Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs

Why?
The chargers are clearly the class of this division, although I think Denver keeps it close until December. Oakland improves, but it would be hard for them not to, and Kansas City stays at rock bottom, slowly improving though.

Post-season
Give me the Cowboys over the Panthers in the NFC title game. The Cowboys will face the Chargers whom upset the Patriots on the road in the Superbowl.

Feeling Out The NFC

2008-09-03T15:27:00.006-05:00

It's the first week of September, and thus time for a staple of every sports fan, their predictions for the upcoming season. So here ya go, an asterisk denotes a wildcard team. The corresponding AFC portion will come tomorrow, along with the post-season predictions.

NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles*
New York Giants
Washington Redskins

Why?
Look, I know I'm a Cowboys fan so this pick screams homerism. I assure you it's not, but instead a result of my firm belief that Dallas was certainly the most talented team in this division, and they got even more talented with Pac Man. I think Philadelphia, assuming good health, can keep it interesting though. I think the Giants will be their erratic selves losing games they should win and winning games they should lose and will miss that pass rush they've been taking for granted. I expect Washington to continue to disappoint so long as it relies on Jason Campbell and yet another new offense.

NFC North
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions

Why?
For such a talented division, there are so many question marks, especially at QB. And teams with QB questions generally disappoint. That said, for all their QB questions this division, this division has a boatload of talent in other aspects of the game. The Packers are my pick to win simply because of the talent surrounding Aaron Rodgers, but I can't claim I'm terribly confident in the young QB. I will take Minnesota second on account of their smothering defense, but if they can get anything out of Tavaris Jackson (or they make the QB switch) I could see them winning it. Chicago's defense looks similar on paper to the all-world defense they sported just a couple of years ago, but it doesn't look as good on the field-and their QB situation is a nightmare. And the Lions? Well, they're still the Lions.

NFC South
New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers*
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Atlanta Falcons

Why?
The Saints are another one of those erratic and unpredictable teams, you would think their offense should be awesome with a return of thunder (be it McAllister or Pierre Thomas) to Reggie Bush's lightning and with Sean Payton calling the show. Their defense appears to be improved, but if there's anything the last two seasons have taught us, it's that the Saints are fickle. I like Carolina to make it a battle, with the return of Jake Delhomme to health and Julius Peppers in a contract season, to say nothing of the addition of Jonathan Stewart and the always great coaching of John Fox. I think the battle for this division could be very intriguing. Tampa Bay ends up a close third, just missing on the playoffs and the Falcons continue to be terrible, although I think Matt Ryan could start to show a little something as the season goes on.

NFC West
Seattle Seahawks
St. Louis Rams
Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers

Why?
Look, I'm just not going to pick against the Holmgren-led Seahawks, especially not for perennial disappointment Arizona. History says the Seahawks will win this division....again...and that the Cards will disappoint. I think they will disappoint so much in fact, especially with the Warner/Leinart tandem at QB, that I think St. Louis overtakes them. St. Louis is better than they appeared last year, no team is going to win with their offensive line ravaged with injuries the way theirs was last season. I think St. Louis will even stay in the playoff hunt until the end of the season, meanwhile the Niners are running JT O'Sullivan out there at QB. And yes, Mike Nolan loses his job.

Cowboys Pre-season Game 4: The End Is Near

2008-08-29T15:23:00.004-05:00

So you want my synopsis of last night's Cowboys game, do you?

Ya, right....like I watched it. Look, I'm as big a Cowboys fan as anyone, but I'm not going to forego the opening of the College Football season to watch the Richard Bartel experience. If more than a couple of the people playing last night see any extended action during the regular season, then the Cowboys are in some serious trouble.

The big story of the night is that Sam Hurd suffers the dreaded high ankle sprain. No timetable has been released for his recovery and no report on it's severity, but that's normally a nasty little lingering injury and he joins Isaiah Stanback and Miles Austin on the list of injured recievers. Is it troubling? Sure, but I think the team will survive. With Owens, Barber, and Witten the need for a WR2 and WR3 is a little less severe.

What I did watch, or atleast flip through multiple times, was #23 Wake Forest pounding Baylor, which I expected despite idiots trying to convince me all week that Art Briles was going to turn it around in his first week. That was a nice little wager on Wake Forest -5.

I also watched Oregon State lose to Stanford due to terrible quarterbacking and a fumble for a touchback to end the game. Oregon State I think is better than they played last night, but that Lyle Moevao didn't impress me one bit-he seemed unable to even look at, much less pass to, his checkdown options and consistently locked onto a reciever and made terrible throws into coverage.

And finally I watched a bit of your Texas Rangers blowing another lead against the California Angels (I'm tired of the name changes, I'm going to go back to the oldschool and just go with California Angels). After Brandon McCarthy pitches a seven inning gem, and he looked great, the bullpen predictably comes in and blows the six run lead. This time it was Jamey Wright and Warner Madrigal blowing the game, but I have a feeling the result would be the same with just about any of the other relievers. The starters have been throwing some nice games now that the pressure is off and the team is buried in the standings, but the bullpen-especially with Guardado being dealt-is just terrible.

A Few Rangers Notes

2008-08-26T01:14:00.002-05:00

Sure, they're so far back and buried now as to be totally irrelevant. But football season hasn't quite started yet, so;

Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has acquired
minor league right-handed pitcher Mark Hamburger from the Minnesota Twins in
exchange for left-handed pitcher Eddie Guardado.

So there you go, the most dependable member of possibly the worst bullpen in baseball is gone. Sure Everyday Eddie had his downsides, but I think there's a room for this guy in most every bullpen. He provides a spark, he provides emotion, and he provides a veteran presence-he's the penultimate clubhouse guy, except he's still got atleast a little something.

I hope the Rangers look at bringing him back. He's not a closer, but he's a great 8th inning guy-and the experience he brings to the staff is immeasurable. As for Mark Hamburger;

Hamburger, 21, has spent the entire season with Elizabethton (Rookie) of the
Appalachian League, going 1-2 with 13 saves and a 4.17 ERA (17 ER/36.2 IP) in 27
relief appearances. He was recently named the league's Closer of the Year and
added to the circuit's postseason All-Star squad. He has held Appy League
batters to a .250 (35-140) average with 13 walks and 40 strikeouts, allowing
just 2 home runs. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-hander has allowed no walks with
10 strikeouts over his last 11 appearances beginning July 28.

He also has zero major league experience, so it's apparently Eddie for a prayer-which I guess is a-ok assuming the Rangers make an attempt back at Guardado in the off-season. I'm telling you, this guy has the intangibles, especially for a building team.

As for tonight, it's par for the course;

Highlights from this game include Nelson Cruz's 3-for-5 return to the majors
that included a homer and three RBIs. Hard to make too much out of one game, but
Ron Washington was impressed with the way Cruz stuck with a couple of breaking
balls. Even when he let them get "too deep" on him, he was able to make enough
of an adjustment to get something on the ball. Look, the guy had a great return
in Kansas City last July after being sent down to the minors, so this might be
nothing. But having a guy go 3-for-5 with a homer I think beats the
alternative.
What gets overlooked in Cruz's night, is Scott Feldman's
seven-inning performance. Feldman now has 12 quality starts. Feldman leads the
Rangers staff in quality starts. That a sidearm reliever from last year who
began this season in Double-A now leads the team in quality starts, well, it's a
testament to how farm Feldman has come in a very short period of time. But it
also speaks volumes for just how poorly this starting rotation has performed.

Scott Feldman continues to be just good enough to warrant maybe, just maybe, giving him a chance again. Which is so Rangers. Meanwhile Cruz comes up and kicks some ass, only to be disappointing a week from now and prove once again he's 4A material....he's the ultimate professional tweener.

Cowboys vs. Texans: Pre-Season Game #3

2008-08-24T18:20:00.002-05:00

Before I get into the game proper, a couple injury notes;

-Kyle Kosier was injured in the contest. He's got a sprain and hairline fracture in his foot that could sideline him up to 6 weeks, so we're probably looking at four games without the starting left guard. And that could hurt. Apparently Joe Berger is their heir apparent, so we'll see how that works.

-Giants pass rusher Osi Umenyiora is already done for the 2008 season. Compound that with Michael Strahan's retirement, and that really hurts the G-Men. He is a beast, and a major part of that team. You hate seeing pre-season injuries, especially season ending ones to stud players.

-Quarterback turned wide reciever project Isaiah Stanback hurt his shoulder, no word yet on the severity of it and if he will have to miss time. And now, onto the game itself;

Welp, there you go, pre-season game number 3 is in the books. You can tell the season is nearing and the pre-season quickly losing it's luster by the lobbying that happens this time every year with people begging the NFL to cut the pre-season to two games and expand the regular season to 18 games. Instead, we've got to go through the motions and lick our chops as we're just two weeks from the regular season finally getting here. Next weekend college football starts and fantasy drafts are had, and then we wait a week for the adult version of Christmas morning, noon on that first Sunday of the season.

And it can't get here fast enough.

There was both good and bad from the "dress rehearsal" as they call the 3rd pre-season game. Now just what it actually means for the season is up for debate, but obviously the most glaring problem is kick coverage on special teams. As I said after pre-season game 2, it's something I'm concerned about....but not overly so......yet. The majority of roster turnover occurs at the bottom end, and those guys are your special teams guys, so it makes sense that it takes them a while to gel. Now if we get to Week 3 and this is still a problem, well then it's time to get really concerned.

Turnovers were a problem to, three is too many to expect to win consistently-but then again, one of them was special teams, one was a risky throw from Romo, and one was a Felix Jones fumble. The first and third you expect in the pre-season, and the Romo pick is just a fact of life with a gunslinger QB. (see: Brett Favre).

I thought the first team offense looked dominant, especially Marc Columbo who is showing why Football Prospectus named him the most under-rated Cowboy. There were some fierce blocks out there, and the lanes were plenty large for The Barbarian. If Barber can stay healthy, I shudder to think of the type of season he's capable of as the unquestioned starter for 16 games. Crayton also looked nice, and eager to atone for last years mistakes-namely the ones in the playoff loss.

On the other side of the ball, the defense was just as good. Despite Houston having fantastic opening field position, the defense smothered them and forced a field goal. They were getting good pressure, and most notably-even when the pressure wasn't there, Schaub couldn't find open recievers. As long as Roy Williams is on the bench during passing downs this secondary appears scary good. They let quite a few passes through their hands that should have been picks, but if they can smother their recievers then you can live with that.

In the end, I really thought the score was closer than the game looked. Dallas appeared to be most certainly the dominant team. So now it's Minnesota in the throw away game, and then we're finally there......Chirstmas morning where we unwrap our NFL season.

Hitler Explains The 2008 Texas Rangers Season

2008-08-22T15:32:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure if this is from the same genius that brought us the same scene regarding the end of the Cowboys season last year, I assume it is, but once again it perfectly sums up exactly how us sad Rangers fans feel.

Devean Freaking George?

2008-08-22T01:06:00.002-05:00

I realize I'm a little late to the party on this, and that it's not the biggest news item of the past couple days, but it is the most infuriating one for me. And with the next few days most likely very Cowboy-centric, I wanted to say my piece.

So after quashing a deal that would have dealt him to New Jersey over his "Bird rights" and costing Mark Cuban $11m in the process (hey, it's not my money, but still.....) on top of having a spare season the Mavericks......re-sign Devean George?

George and the Mavericks reached an agreement Wednesday on a new, two-year
contract worth about $4 million, according to George's agent, Mark Bartelstein.
Bartelstein said the deal includes an option for George to return to free agency
after next season.

I just don't get it, I really don't. Before I continue let me please point out that his new contract is for $300k less a season than the previous one, so how about those Bird rights now Devean? But sour grapes aside, I think this quote is what just drove me nuts.

"'DG' has done a good job as a defensive specialist for us," Cuban said. "We
think he can be even better under Coach Carlisle."

Seriously Mark? I mean if you're comparing his absolutely anemic offensive game to his defensive game, then sure it's better...but Devean George does not personify defense anymore than Shaq personifies free throws. I cringe when people try and tell me that Diop is a great defensive center (2008: right at 1 block per a game and 5 rebounds), but I fight through it because he definately looks better on the court than his statistics do. That said, to call George a defensive specialist is just mindboggling.

You want Devean George's 2008 line? He averaged:

Field Goal Percentage: 35.7% (down from 39% for career)
Three Point Percentage: 32.4% (down from 34.1% for career)
Rebounds: 2.6
Steals: 0.4
Blocks: 0.2
Points: 3.7

I didn't bother to show his career average for non-percentage stats (though they were also lower across the board) on account of his averaging 3.3m per a game less last season. That said, I think those numbers speak....no they shout.....for themselves. If Devean George is your "defensive specialist" then you've got some issues. Serious issues.

Of course, anyone who's watched this team for the past couple of seasons know that it has issues. The only prayer we have is that it was Avery responsible for those issues.

Be Proud Ranger Fans

2008-08-19T17:31:00.000-05:00

Because according to Forbes, you are the most loyal fans in baseball.

But they're no Texas Rangers fans who flock to the Arlington ballpark through last place finishes and playoff runs alike. The Ranger faithful don't care if the team
trades away its best players or spends $252 million to sign an MVP-caliber
batter like Alex Rodriguez. No team's attendance is less tied to its on the field performance than the Rangers', and nowhere else in the country do fans peel off at a slower rate when the club has thin years.

(Of course, had owner Tom Hicks studied the attendance numbers a little closer back in 2001, he might not have offered what has come to be known as the worst contract in baseball history.)

To which I respond that their methodology is obviously flawed, because the only time that ballpark gets close to full is when the Red Sox and Yankees are in town. See, what they did was apply attendance to winning or losing. And while the Rangers are pretty much never winning (thus you will never see the attendance spike that would probably accompany that if it ever happened), it's true that you can count on a pretty consistent turnout. Considering there are now what, seven million people in the metroplex? I would hope you could find 15,000 people a night to watch a baseball game.

But still, be proud Rangers fans. We keep showing up year after year to watch a mediocre at best baseball team.

Some NFL Notes:

2008-08-18T22:48:00.000-05:00

With the regular season less than a month away, it's probably time to start getting serious about NFL football. And what better way to do that than to peruse the news and notes of the past few days.

But first, I found this article from ESPN regarding the sad state of Michael Vick's finances. The article read in part (click the link for it's entirety);

Banks in Toronto; South Bend, Ind., and Charlotte, N.C.,
demanded repayment of more than $6 million in loans used to finance a car rental
business, a wine enterprise and other ventures. A sports marketing company that
he hired and fired even before he was drafted in 2001 hounded him for another $5
million in lost fees. And he faced breach of contract charges on two other
deals.
"Even without the dogfighting case, Michael had been the victim of
some very flawed advice by a number of professionals who were supposed to know
what they were doing and were supposed to be helping him," observed Peter
Ginsberg, the nationally renowned bankruptcy lawyer who is trying to preserve
what little remains of Vick's net worth.

With Vick sitting in prison it's not often that the former NFL poster boy gets any ink. That said, there's something that just fascinates me about the Vick story, about his fall from grace. The man went from the top of the world to prison and apparent bankruptcy.....he had everything and now he has absolutely nothing, he's a punchline. We're so used to seeing our athletes, atleast the good ones, forgiven repeatedly for any discretion that it's still a little shocking to look at the road the Michael Vick story has followed, to see how far he's fallen.

And in the same vein of athletes getting into trouble, with Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh (booya, didn't even use spellcheck) dinged up with injuries the Bengals are apparently re-signing Chris Henry, whom they cut just months ago for his repeated run-ins with the law. I've always loved Chris Henry on the field, and while there's no doubt that he makes that offense much better, the fact that not one other team in the NFL made an attempt to sign the guy should tell you all you need to know about him.

In quarterback news, Kyle Orton is apparently the starting QB again in Chicago. How they can't find anyone better than he or Rex Grossman is just beyond me.....I'd honestly consider Vinny Testaverde. So Orton will start in week 1 against Indianapolis, who have their own issues as rumors swirl that Peyton Manning's injury could be worse than previously thought and his consecutive starts streak might be in jeopardy. Do you think NBC had a Kyle Orton vs. Jim Sorgi match-up in their minds when they asked the NFL for Chicago @ Indianapolis for the first Sunday Night Game of the year? Ya, me either.

Oh right, also Tavaris Jackson sprains his knee giving him a convenient excuse if Minnesota's season goes up in smoke. And Derek Anderson gets a concussion in Cleveland.

And finally, Anquan Boldin still wants a trade as the Cardinals continue to show why they're a bad franchise and no one wants to play there. You can't open up the wallet for Larry Fitzgerald and then leave Anquan Boldin twisting in the wind. It's just so......Cardinals.

Cowboys @ Broncos: Preseason Game #2

2008-08-17T15:36:00.001-05:00

If you're a person prone to knee-jerk reactions, especially when it comes to pre-season football, and you're a Cowboys fan-then my guess is you were left a little frightened after last night's game. The Cowboys didn't look good by any measure, with the first team defense surrendering two TDs and the first team offense sputtering. To say nothing of the rash of injuries, which all appear to be minor but we all know that a minor injury three weeks before the season can be a lingering injury three weeks into the season.

After though you probably shook your head, and then thought to yourself about how abysmal the Indianapolis Colts have been in the pre-season the past several years and how that hasn't stopped them from being a perennial contender, and that's probably a better way to think about this.

The first team didn't look good, on either side of the ball.....but they were playing with out any real scheme, it was as vanilla a gameplan as vanilla gets. We're not even talking French Vanilla here, just plain ol' vanilla. And that's why I'm honestly not that concerned. I think last season provided us with plenty of evidence that this thing is going to be ok, and that there's no reason to have a knee-jerk freakout. The personnel is the same, if not better. The coaching is the same. Tony Romo didn't forget how to play quarterback, Terrell Owens didn't forget how to catch a football, and DeMarcus Ware didn't forget how to sack a QB. As far as offense and defence goes, I think this team will be just fine.

Which isn't to say there isn't one area of concern, namely special teams. Every NFL team has a fair amount of personnel turnover each season, with the majority of that turnover being on the bottom part of the roster, the back-ups and bubble guys. Those back-ups and bubble guys are what makes up a team's special teams unit. If you're going to carry six wide recievers on your roster, for instance, the last couple sure as hell had better be able to play special teams....which is how a guy like Miles Austin gets his shot.

The thing about pre-season games is that they are where those guys make a name for themselves. When the offense and defense are sitting on the sideline with a cap on, the special teams unit is out there throughout the game, and that unit is going to be pretty similar to the special teams unit that you trot out there on opening day. And that's why it's troubling to see the special teams, especially the coverage units, look so pedestrian. That said, it generally takes a few weeks/months for special teams units to gel (yearly during the regular season you see teams struggle but improve on special teams the first few weeks of the season), so it's not time to freak out.....just to be concerned and keep tabs on it. A couple other nots;

-For years we've been told Terrence Newman could return punts, only to see the coaching staff too afraid to put their starting corner out there on punt duty. Last night we saw flashes that Pac-Man Jones has the same punt return ability he had in Tennessee, now let's just hope the coaching staff doesn't get too judicious and refuse to put him out there. This team has lacked an electric punt return guy for years, and that extra field position really adds up during the course of a season.

-Sure, Brad Johnson looked better. It would be hard for him not to look better than he did in the first pre-season game. That doesn't mean though that I'm at all comfortable with him as the backup quarterback. The guy just looks finished, and if he has to do anything besides mop up after Romo this year I don't like the Cowboys chances.

-Everytime I see Felix Jones hit that next gear and scoot past defenders, I think that's what I always wished Julius Jones would do. Instead Julius did little but disappoint other than that Seattle game his rookie season, but I think Dallas has finally found the lightning to Marion Barber's thunder in Jones.

Reality Check

2008-08-13T16:48:00.000-05:00

Last night, I was provided with two realizations. I mean, I had an inkling that both were true.....I had suspected it was the case, but last night proved without a doubt;

1) The Texas Rangers can no longer be called playoff contenders.

2) With football season mere weeks away, does anyone but the most die-hard Rangers fan even care?

On the latter point, I would guess the answer is no. I don't think anyone really believed that they could win enough games to crack the playoffs, and instead were just happy to have quality baseball to watch during that no-man's land that is summer sports. The Rangers were just a nice surprise and we will see them next summer as Basketball and/or Hockey seasons come to a close.

But on the former point, I've got to admit that I got sucked in a little bit. After they took those first two games from NYY last week it seemed improbable but possible. Sure no team had ever reached the playoffs with anything close to as bad as a pitching staff as Texas has. But I'm not sure in my two decades of watching baseball I can recall a lineup not just this potent, but as determined to crawl back from any deficit-and this pitching staff has given them plenty of deficits to overcome. After this past week though, it's become more and more clear that there probably isn't a lineup in the history of baseball that could make a team with this pitching staff a contender. This staff is just terrible. It's time to let this season play out, get the young guys as much experience as you possibly can, and then reload in the offseason.

Now reloading of course depends on the miserly Tom Hicks to open his wallet, something that is anything but a given considering recent history. That said, my gut tells me that while Hicks doesn't entirely trust Jon Daniels, he does trust Nolan Ryan, and if Nolan tells him that he needs to spend some money on pitching, he will.

But how do you spend that money? It's probably better to wait until the off-season actually arrives and we see who all becomes available. But I will say this, I think there's definately a place on this team for Guardado and Bradley next season.

Hello, And Welcome

2008-08-13T15:57:00.000-05:00

Hello, and welcome to Cockfighting in Texas, a blog about sports. Primarily sports in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

This is an offshoot of Static And Wine, another blog I write. I needed an outlet to vent my sports frustrations, and thus this blog has been born. I would be remiss if I didn't admit from the outset that my allegiances lie to the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, and Dallas Stars and that I have no allegiances whatsoever when it comes to NCAA Football on account of graduating from The University of North Texas.

This blog's focus will be primarily on the four major sports as well as college football, maybe a little golf, a little sports betting, and a little fantasy football as well.

I hope you enjoy it, and welcome any and all comments and criticism.

Sometimes, You See, I'm Wrong

2008-08-04T15:52:00.000-05:00

I'm the first to admit that I can be wrong. You see, personal responsibility is a bitch....it goes both ways. Me being wrong? That's a fairly common occurence. In regards to this blog entry I feel as though I must redact myself. I've been trying to avoid doing so for a few weeks/months now, but tonight I was called out....again...and by this douche. And even my own brother.
So yes, maybe 23 April was a *little* early to call out the Rangers. Maybe it was a little early to be so angry. Maybe, as it's turned out, they aren't actually quite that bad. Ya, they're in the Wildcard Race, and yes.....they're 5 games over .500. I've been as riveted by the offense, and the walk-off/come from behind wins as all of you. I've been watching, just like you...you should know, you get my text messages.
In short, you're right, they're not that bad. I cry, "uncle!" I give up.
They're still the worst franchise in professional sports, with the Clippers as their sole competitors. And during that first month, they were absolutely abysmal....in those regards I was right. But I've got to admit, I didn't think in a million years that POS team would morph into this one, which has been a joy to watch.
In other (sports) news, last night was the first professional football game of the season. Sure it was a scrimmage, and yes it was full of spares, but it marks not only the end of the off-season, but also the beginning of the best part of the year....for the next 25 Sundays there will be NFL football on television. God Bless America.

Roy Williams Is Jesus

2008-06-10T15:44:00.000-05:00

I can't imagine the hate mail that this guy must be getting, but I sincerely thank Gregg Doyle for having. the balls to write this. I'm sure his e-mail box is overflowing with the self-righteous telling him how very wrong he is, and truth be told I'm a little shocked CBS actually published it. I'm sure his supervisor is getting plenty of hate mail as well. Here's the article, with a little commentary after the jump;

Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams sucks at zone coverage, but Jesus loves him.
No, wait. Sorry -- I made a mess of that sentence. Let me try it again:
Roy Williams sucks at zone coverage because Jesus loves him.
There. Better.
Why are you looking at me like that? Don't blame me. I'm not the latest athlete to play the God card so clumsily and self-centeredly. I'm not the "role model" who told an Oklahoma newspaper that a direct line can be drawn from his football struggles to his new-found faith in the Lord. That was all Roy Williams, who had been having a tough year before opening his mouth and inserting his Bible.
Williams went through the entire 2007 season without a sack. He struggled in Wade Phillips' 3-4 defensive scheme to the point Phillips didn't start him in two games. There was talk of a feud between Williams and coaches and even some teammates after Williams -- whose horse-collar tackles led to a rule banning them -- got himself suspended by horse-collaring the Eagles' Donovan McNabb.
Two Cowboys questioned him recently in the media. Greg Ellis said Williams has been whining and distancing himself from teammates. Terence Newman said Williams "had a bad season" in coverage thanks to his "deer in headlights type of reaction to some plays."
With that as context, here's what Williams told the Oklahoman last week:
"Ever since I've rededicated my life to Christ, I've caught way more persecution now," he said. "But it's a beautiful thing because I know it's a breakthrough coming for me. I welcome it. What makes me any better than Christ? He was persecuted and I've been persecuted. My teammates know where my heart is. They know where my mind is at."
Williams' heart may be in the right place, but his brain needs work if it sees parallels between the persecution of Jesus and the persecution of a $25 million safety. Beaten by Roman soldiers, beaten by Randy Moss -- what's the difference?
Athletes turn to God, and God loses. Have you ever met someone who was turned .. watching Jon Kitna thank God for a touchdown pass? Doubt it. Have you ever met someone who was turned off? Sure you have. There's a saying: Christianity would be great if it weren't for all those, you know, Christians.
Just so you know, I've walked both sides of this fence. Some of you might wonder, so here goes: I've not been to church in a year, but for a decade before that, I went weekly and tithed 10 percent of my salary, such as it is, to the church. There's my story.
Lots of Christians tithe. Nothing special about me. Hell, Darryl Strawberry told reporters he was tithing in 1991. In later years, he was strung out on coke and indicted for tax evasion and charged with soliciting prostitutes and assaulting a girlfriend and failing to support his kids. I'm not sure he was still a Christian, but I'm positive I wasn't the only one to remember his tithing and wonder what happened. And I'm positive that's not good.
Not that Christians are, or are supposed to be, perfect. They're not. On the day before Super Bowl XXXIII, Falcons safety Eugene Robinson was awarded the Bart Starr Award by the Christian group Athletes in Action for his "high moral character." That night he was busted for soliciting a prostitute. It happens. Christians are fallible too, you know.
But when Christian athletes are fallible or narcissistic or just stupid, there are thousands of easily influenced people taking note. So when a whining malcontent like Roy Williams starts comparing himself to Jesus, he's not helping the bigger cause. He's hurting it. And he's just the latest in a long line of athletes to do so.
Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter is one of the most devoutly Christian athletes I've ever seen, but a few weeks ago, he was openly pining for Mets manager Willie Randolph's job. That's coveting. And it isn't very Christian.
When he played for the Marlins in 1997, Darren Daulton espoused his beliefs as a born-again Christian. He espoused them to me, and I listened. Now he espouses his belief in out-of-body experiences, numerology and his mastery of time travel. He might be crazy. He definitely isn't someone I should have been listening to in 1997.
As heavyweight champion of the world, Evander Holyfield sends one message when he speaks about his deep Christian faith. He sends another with his 11 children with various women, several out of wedlock.
Before the 2005 Super Bowl, receiver Terrell Owens said God had healed his injured ankle. Doctors had inserted two screws and a metal plate into the leg on Dec. 22, 2004. Four days later, Southeast Asia was decimated by a tsunami that killed more than 200,000. Maybe T.O. really does think God was healing an ankle at the same time He was allowing such death and destruction. Fine. But don't tell us.
Just the other day, Paul Pierce said God dispatched an angel from heaven to uplift him after Pierce went from a heap to a hero in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Said Pierce: "I think God sent an angel down and said, 'Hey, you're going to be all right. You need to get back out there and show them what you've got.'"
God is a Celtics fan. Good to know.
These athletes don't get it. After Kobe Bryant is accused of sexual assault, we don't want to hear him tell us, as he did then, "we need your prayers now more than ever." After Michael Vick is sentenced to jail for the killing of dogs, we don't want to hear him say, "Through this situation, I found Jesus and asked Him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God." After Pacman Jones made it rain in Las Vegas, triggering a melee that left a man paralyzed, we don't want to see him handing out boxes of food in a staged photo-op at an Atlanta church.
There's a reason Madison Avenue doesn't want anything to do with famous athletes like the ones in this story: People don't like them. People don't want to be like them.
So if these are the kinds of men who join the Christian club and shove their faith down my throat ... maybe that club's not for me.

You see, to me, one of the biggest beatings in the world is when people play the God card. Somehow this amazing God of their is notoriously absent as they're cheating on their wife/fucking hookers/doing drugs/embezzling money/having 15 kids/fighting dogs/etc. and yet as soon as they're caught this God suddenly appears and offers them solace and guidance and they're changed men (or women, though I can't think of an example with a woman). This isn't just limited to sports, this is rampant as well in politics, and even every day life. Nevermind if they hadn't been, you know, caught then this God wouldn't have brought them peace and they'd have continued doing what they were doing....nevermind that.
It's so fucking insincere, and yet somehow there are enough idiots/saps in this world that people actually believe this crap, and forgive the person because they've "become a better Christian." You see it over and over, you can be a celebrity and do basically anything you want....and so long as you can keep a straight face and play the God card, all is forgiven.
Oh you hate Jews Mel Gibson? That's ok if you've found God.
I know this isn't breaking news, and I really don't know why this drives me so insane....but for whatever reason it does. So I just thank the author for penning a great article on it, and appreciate the crap I'm sure he's going to get for it. Cheers.

This Team SUCKS!

2008-04-23T15:43:00.000-05:00

Dateline: North Texas. 23 April, 2008, approximately 10pm.
In some sort of cruel cosmic joke, god (or the eight armed elephant thing or allah or buddah or whatever you believe in) decided I needed to be born in Dallas, TX. And while that's better than, say, Tehran or Mogadishu or even Belgrade, and while I love my hometown....and love the Great State of Texas...there are certain drawbacks. Allergies...heat....lack of beaches, among others, ask anyone from here and they will most assuredly admit that there are drawbacks. We love it here, but we admit that it's not utopia.
Seldom mentioned within those drawbacks, is sports. I mean, we've got the Dallas Cowboys. There are twenty million bandwagon Cowboys fans all over the world, and we were blessed with being born here.....and for those in my demographic, blessed to be born to see the '90s. It is my birth right to be a Cowboys fan, and I'm the best one I can be.
But with those Cowboys, come....well....garbage. I will leave the Dallas Stars out of this on account of; 1) it's hockey, 2) they've already won a Stanley Cup in their short existence here, and 3) they're currently making us proud. I will also ignore that the Cowboys have given us a series of disappointments over the last decade (3 super bowls in 4 years gives you a little credit).
The Texas Rangers are the worst franchise in professional sports. I say this, and people try to counter, but when I ask them to name another....well, they go blank. Thirty years and one, yes ONE, playoff victory. The Arizona Cardinals are the only other franchise that belongs in that conversation. It's really an amazing record of futility.
We all fondly remember Nolan Ryan, Jim Sundberg, Pete Incaviglia, Steve Buechele, Dean Palmer, Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez, Ivan Rodriguez, Johnny Oates, Bobby Valentine, and many more....we've all got our childhood heroes. We all remember great days at the ballpark. What we consistently forget is how fucking teribble this team is, and has been since I can remember.
And this is the worst incarnation of it I can remember. Tonight they lost 19-6, after holding a 5-0 lead. It's their sixth loss in a row. They've won one game in the last two weeks. Ron Washington is about to get fired, as damn well he should. Because it's not just that they're losing, it's how they're losing. Ian Kinsler makes Alphonso Soriano look like a gold glover. But if I had to sum it all up, here goes:
Monday there was a runner on 2nd, 1 out, and a fly ball was hit to right field. Right fielder catches the ball, throws it into the first basemen (the cutoff man). Runner on second base tags up and goes for third. Meanwhile the first baseman, Ben Broussard, catches the throw and......goes to the FUCKING DUGOUT!!!. With now two outs, he goes to the dugout with the ball and the runner, confused by playing against what apparently are eleven year olds, saunters home and scores another run. I really feel like that sums this entire god awful year up, as it's not even May yet and the Rangers are the worst team in the AL. THIS TEAM SUCKS!!!!
But we've got basketball, right? I mean, the Mavs were in the NBA Finals two years ago before they choked that away scarring us all for life. And then last year they were the first 1 seed in NBA history to lose to an 8 seed, further scarring us. And this year? Well, they're about to lose in the first round again. After a trade that shook up the NBA, they've been beyond mediocre as they've been spare against every team worth a damn they play. And so now they're going to lose in the first round.....again....not having a 1st round draft pick the next two years, and not having anyone on their roster worth a damn to trade.
It's a common sports hypothetical, would you rather win a championship and then be terrible for a few years, or not win a championship but be competitive for many years. The Mavs are proving, to our dismay, that you can not win a title and then immediately return to worse than mediocrity. THIS TEAM SUCKS, and there's nothing we can do about it.
In the end, I expect both Ron Washington and Avery Johnson to lose their jobs. In fact, I will be unhappy if they both don't. They don't deserve to keep them after their teams have looked like this. Heads need to roll, and this is coming from a guy that never calls for a coaching change. But this is terrible. THESE TEAMS SUCK!!!
I was going to get into how terrible the fans here also suck, into how the cocaine and boobjob crowd are all the AAC has to offer, and how I can't believe these idiots that support the Rangers after all this keep going (I'm done, I will not go to another Texas Rangers game until they're above .500.....seriously. I'm done. Tom Hicks gets no more of my money), but I don't have the energy. I just don't have it anymore.
Hopefully next monday Ron Washington is unemployed, the Mavericks have been put out of their misery, and we can all talk about what a great draft the Cowboys had.....because this is going to be a long (and hot) summer.