pileingon

Finally Time for Some Red River Roundball

2011-05-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

After a lengthy layoff and flying under the national sports media's radar (thanks in large part to owner Mark Cuban's almost fanatical aversion to publicity during these playoffs) for more than a week, the Dallas Mavericks are just hours away from finally tipping off the Western Conference Finals.

Following their rousing sweep and total evisceration of the Los Angeles Lakers in game four, the Mavericks are brimming with confidence, but so too are the Oklahoma City Thunder, after winning their first two playoff series since relocating the franchise. It is usually during playoff series that rivalries are born, and with the obvious geographical proximity and the Red River Rivalry between the Longhorns and Sooners already a big part of the fabric of sports fans in both cities, it likely won't take long before Mavs fans are calling Thunder point guard Brian Westbrrok a flopper or OKC fans booing Tyson Chandler for his boistrous chest pumping.

Looking at their meetings this year, let's see how the teams match up:

Dallas vs Oklahoma City:

	Dallas	OKC
Wins	2	1
PPG	103.0	98.3
FG%	46.7	45.7
3PT%	37.1	34.1
FT%	84.6	73.6
RB	46.3	40
AST	23.3	23.3
TO	13.3	11

Both of Dallas' wins against the Thunder came in Oklahoma City, and Dirk Nowitzki really only participated in the first game in November, scoring 34 points; he sprained his knee early in their second meeting and sat out the third tilt. It's a very small sample size, but the Thunder really don't have anyone who can bother Dirk defensively. They will throw Thabo Sefolosha on him to try and utilize his length and athleticism to try and disrupt him in the same fashion that worked for Golden State back in 2007, but Nowitzki has learned to carve up these kinds of defensive schemes since then.

The NBA's leading scorer, Kevin Durant, averaged 29.3 points per game against Dallas, but in the two Dallas wins was limited to just 2 and 5 points in the fourth quarter. Russell Westbrook was really held in check by the Mavericks' defense, averaging just 14.3 points per game, and in the Mavs wins, Westbrook was a putrid -27 total. Add in the fact that Durant and Westbrook at times seem to be feuding for the ball and the Mavs could be catching a team going through some turmoil, especially in crunch time in close games.

The Tyson Chandler Factor cannot be understated; Chandler twice grabbed 18 rebounds against the Thunder, his season high. Ironically, Chandler was traded to OKC last year, but the trade was rescinded due to medical concerns and the Mavericks were the lucky beneficiaries. Since these two teams last played each other, the Thunder have added center Kendrick Perkins in an effort to shore up their middle, but his lack of mobility and athleticism will do little to slow Chandler.

Dallas has too many weapons and is too experienced in crunch time playoff basketball for the Thunder, and Westbrook's erratic play will doom OKC.

Mavs in 7.

Take Dis Witchooo!

2011-05-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

Following the Mavericks series clinching win in Portland in game 6 of that series, Dallas fans had to reach for the Q-tips to clear their ears after hearing longtime Mavs critic Charles Barkley not only refused toimmediately state that the Los Angeles Lakers would be his pick to win their upcoming series against Dallas. Seconds later, they really had to be questioning what universe they were in when Barkley stated that the Lakers don't have a chance to stop Dirk Nowitzki and called his game “one of the most unique” he had ever seen.

In a recent column on ESPN.com, Bill Simmons addressed Nowitzki's play in these playoffs with equal adoration: “To Dirk Nowitzki, who reinvented himself over the years as a fiery competitor with the single most unstoppable move in basketball: his foul line post-up game that always seems to result in (A) him whirling around his defender and getting a layup, (B) him spinning around, sticking his elbows right in the defender's mug and launching a jumper that starts over Dirk's head, or (C), him fading away with an awkward-looking fade-away that has to rank alongside Hakeem's Dream Shake and McHale's mega-fallaway in the Shots That Seem Technically Impossible But Go In Anyway pantheon. Do you have any idea how that shot goes in? Me neither. I also have no idea how to stop that post-up game. Double him and he kicks to an open shooter. Single him and he scores. You can't win.”

Now that the Mavericks have won two road playoff games in a row, something they have not done since the opening road in 2006 against the Memphis Grizzlies, and dispatched of a team (Portland) in a series that many experts predicted them to lose, NBA pundits are finally able to let go of their dismissive opinions of Dirk and the Mavs and actually heap praise on how magnificently Nowitzki has performed in this postseason.

Somehow, in his latest Postseason MVP Rankings column, ESPN's David Thorpe had Nowitzki ranked 7th – a full six spots behind Memphis' Marc Gasol, who he placed in the top spot. Granted, Gasol has been enormous in helping get the Grizzlies in to the second round for the first time in that franchise's history, but he's not even the best player on his team in the playoffs thus far (that would be Zach Randolph.)

Where should Dirk really be ranked? I decided to assemble the stats in the playoffs thus far for the seven players that I would consider for MVP, and see how Nowitzki stacks up.

PLAYER
PPG
FG%
3PT%
FT%
RB
USG RATE%
% OF TEAM'S POINTS*
PER
+/-
Nowitzki
27.4
46
46
90
8.7
39.0
35
26.09
6.7
L. James
25.4
48
30
76
9.4
30.3
30
28.60
6.9
D. Wade
25.3
47
28
85
7.3
35.6
33
29.26
7.3
K. Bryant
24.4
45
39
82
3.9
39.2
34
23.09
6.7
Z. Randolph
22.3
47
33
87
9.3
29.6
29
24.40
3.6
K. Durant
31.6
48
48
82
6.3
32.7
36
28.36
3.3
D. Rose
27.0
38
23
87
4.7
39.3
33
24.63
6.7
All stats from NBA.com, except PER from ESPN.com.
*Percentage of team's scoring while player on the floor.

The first thing that leaps off the page to me is Nowitzki's phenomenal shooting numbers. None of the other candidates even really come close. Factor this offensive efficiency with the fact that he surprisingly has the third highest usage rate (behind only Kobe and Rose, two players that absolutely dominate the ball when they're on the floor) and it becomes apparent what a unique and deadly weapon Dirk has been through the first seven games of these playoffs.

The one stat that will eventually determine the real MVP is, of course, wins. If Dirk can keep the Mavs winning, then there is no doubt who the MVP will be and he will have cemented his position as one of the greatest players ever to play this game. The 2006 Finals and the Golden State loss will become nothing more than footnotes on his Hall of Fame plaque.

Mavs Back on Track?

2011-01-26T15:03:00.000-08:00

It was just a mid-season game in front of a relatively aloof crowd in New Jersey, but somehow when the ball was rolling around on the rim, deciding whether or not to fall through, it felt like the fortunes of the Dallas Mavericks' season was in the balance.

A loss against the lowly Nets would signify that the the Mavs' stellar start to the season was a mirage , while a win – no matter how ugly or lackluster – would keep Dallas on pace with the Western Conference's elite.

Dirk Nowitzki's twelve-footer finally found the twine; the Mavericks escaped New Jersey with an unsightly 87-86 win and the team, their coaches and fans could all let out a sigh of relief. The season still had a heart beat.

While the Mavs remained in the top half of the Western Conference standings, they still were unable to generate any swagger heading in to the opening game of a four-game home stand. Their opponent on the other hand, the Los Angeles Clippers, strutted on to the court oozing confidence. Yes, the Clippers came in to the American Airlines Center led by their high-flying rookie Blake Griffin and punched the Mavs right in the mouth, shot a blazing 68% and held a double-digit lead at halftime. I was hoping that Mark Cuban had dispatched his helicopter to go pick up Nowitzki at his house as the MVP candidate was completely M.I.A. The team as a whole looked old, slow, and completely disinterested; only JJ Barea and Tyson Chandler showed any signs of life and carried the team offensively.

Carlisle even went the mad scientist route and threw together an off-the-cuff lineup of Barea, Jason Kidd, Brendan Haywood, Ian Mahinmi and Jason Terry to see if he could shake any life in to the squad. In one of the most disjointed basketball games I have ever witnessed due to an avalanche of whistles, the Clippers managed to score 62 first half points, the most Dallas has surrendered to an opponent all season.

Going in to the game's second half, it once again felt like fans' confidence in the Mavericks was teetering. Had they truly lost all of their mojo that they had before Nowitzki and Caron Butler went down or could they come up with an answer to the Clippers' brash attack?

Thankfully, a better defensive effort, combined with a slew of Baron Davis turnovers, enabled Dallas to get back in to the game quickly and eventually take the lead near the end of the third quarter. The crowd came to see Blake Griffin dunk, but instead were witnesses to a gaggle of Mavericks' flushes and Barea joyously driving Davis to revert to his brain-dead, “me-first” persona. Brendan Haywood's defense on Griffin and the rest of the Clippers' front line was a revelation, as was Jason Terry regaining his shooting stroke.

After back-to-back Nowitzki threes, the Mavs had turned a 15-point deficit in to a 17-point lead half-way through the fourth quarter. All of the angst and fury that callers that were getting ready unleash on the post-game shows was silenced as the Mavericks had finally remembered how to score – in their 10 games before the Clippers game, Dallas was averaging just under 90 points-per-game, including a game against Memphis where they only manged to register a measly 70 points. The 112 points they threw up on the Clips was their season-high and included a whopping 63 points from their bench.

With three very winnable games remaining on their home stand, hopefully the Mavericks can use the second half of the Clippers game as a spring board and get their momentum moving in the right direction.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE AN ALL-STAR

This seems ridiculous to even ponder, but should Dirk Nowitzki be an All-Star this season? Before his injury on December 27, not only was he a lock to be named to the Western Conference All-Star lineup, but he was near the top of everyone's MVP list. However, missing nine games, combined with his statistical slump since he's returned to the lineup, has taken some of the shine off his campaign.

Then there's the fact that there are a slew of All-Star-deserving forwards in the Western Conference. Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant have been voted in by the fans, and that leaves only three forward spots on the roster open. The game is in Los Angeles, so it's a virtual lock that rookie phenom Blake Griffin will take a spot. We still have Minnesota's Kevin Love, Memphis' Zach Randolph and Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge to deal with. If Nowitzki is still “walking in quicksand,” as he put it, as we get close to All-Star weekend, I say he suddenly catches the flu and lets one of the younger guys make the trip out west.

Stars Hit Iceberg. Film at 11.

2011-01-26T14:59:00.000-08:00

“If you're gonna drive the car in to the ditch, you may as well total it.”
-Craig Ludwig (following the Stars' 7-4 loss to Calgary).

However, if you do total your car, try not to take your wife's car out and t-bone a bus a few nights later.

You'd think that the Dallas Stars players would have been loaded for bear going in to Vancouver last Monday night. They had just been throttled by the lowly Calgary Flames 7-4, and the Canucks were one of only two teams that the Stars were chasing in the Western Conference standings and a win against them would close the gap between them.

Bear? Nope. Try a squirt gun.

During the second period of the Stars 7-1 loss to the Canucks, I received a text from a buddy of mine:

“Let's see...total ineptitude in own zone, grossly unacceptable special teams, bad goaltending, an own goal...The 2009 Stars are back!”

In two games, the Stars had given up as points as the Green Bay Packers gave the Chicago Bears last Sunday: 14.

Talk about the dam bursting.

Going in to last weekend's final two games of Dallas' Western Canada road trip, the Stars were the hottest team in the NHL and were unbeaten in 2011. Their goalies had the top save percentage and goals-against-average in the league in January. Those numbers got throttled mercilessly in the last two games; from a .954 SV% and 1.42 GAA to .745 and 7.0.

Those numbers make I Saw the Devil look like a Disney flick.

The Stars' special teams took a nose-dive as well. In the eight games in January before the Twin Killings at the hands of Calgary and Vancouver, Dallas' power play was cruising along at 44% (12-27), but went 0-7 in the losses. Their penalty kill had become lethal to opposing power plays units, allowing just a single power-play goal in 2011 while posting an absurd 95.8% (23-24) penalty-kill percentage. That percentage was nearly slashed in half against the Flames and Canucks as the Stars only went 5-for-9 (55%).

Vancouver, specifically, has owned the Stars this season. In their two meetings, the Canucks have outscored Dallas 11-2 and shredded the Stars' penalty killing units, scoring on 6 of their 12 chances.

"We're all going to bounce back," center Brad Richards said, following the loss to Vancouver. "If not, we're going to have to find a different job. We'll take it in the chin tonight but we'll be back."

In the big picture, the Stars were 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and in good shape despite the blowout losses. As of last Wednesday, the Stars still had a fairly comfortable lead in the Pacific Division – three points up on Anaheim with 3 games-in-hand on them and 6 points over Phoenix, having played one less game than the Coyotes. They were still a single point behind Detroit for second in the conference, but slid to 6 points behind Vancouver.

The team is fortunate to have one more game before heading in to this weekend's All-Star break, and Dallas could not have hand-picked a better opponent than the Western Conference cellar dwellers and frequent Stars punching bag, the Edmonton Oilers, to help cleanse the team's palate from back-to-back beat downs.

“Guys were upset today. They didn’t need to be talked to,” said Stars coach Marc Crawford shortly after the team touched down in Dallas last Tuesday. “They knew they weren’t very good, weren’t good enough. I think you could go a step further and say they knew they had a real sub par performance last night. I expect them to be a lot better Wednesday.”

Let's hope so.

Without Dirk, There's Not Much to Talk About

2011-01-12T11:46:00.000-08:00

Hurry up and get out of that suit Dirk! You're our only hope!

“Well Dirk’s not here, so let’s not talk about Dirk.”

In one terse response to a reporter's question following the Dallas Mavericks' lose to the Orlando Magic last Sunday, Head Coach Rick Carlisle pretty much summed up the mood of the team these days: frustrated and confused.

Carlisle and the Mavs' players may not want to talk about Dirk's absence or use him as an excuse for their recent struggles, but in reality, there's no avoiding it.

No Dirk equals few wins and demoralizing sledding for the Mavs. It's a good thing they got off to the white hot 24-5 start as they're now needing the buffer they created to keep them in the top half of the Western Conference playoff bracket. Since Dirk went down on December 27 in Oklahoma City, the Mavericks have stumbled to a 2-5 record and their scoring has dropped to just 92.3 points per game over their last seven games, after averaging 99.5 with their superstar in the lineup. While never considered a quality defender, Dirk's absence has killed the Mavericks on the defensive end as well; they've gone from giving up 93.4 points against with Dirk to 96.3 PA without him. They were once a +6.1 in scoring differential and are now a -4.0 in the WDE (Without Dirk Era)..

In the NBA, if a team is to be successful, it has to have a superstar. When a player like Nowitzki is taken out of the rotation, all of the other members of the team get bumped up a notch, or two in the Mavs' case as Caron Butler has been removed as well, and with rising minutes, their weaknesses become exposed. JJ Barea carried the offensive load in the loss against Milwaukee with a season high 29 points, but that can't be counted on regularly. Jason Kidd's offense has left him at a very inopportune time as he is averaging just 7.6 points per game in the last five games while shooting 25% from the field and 24% from three.

Even “Mr. Fourth Quarter,” Jason Terry, the player who the Mavs need more than ever with Dirk down, has been inconsistent. Over his past five contests, he is averaging just 15.6 points on 44% FG and a horrendous 25% on 3FG. Clearly, with no Dirk, he is the focal point of the opponent's defenses and he no longer gets the wide open looks that came with Nowitzki on the court. Ironically, the most reliable option has been the three-point fire balling of DeShawn Stevenson. The throw-in in last season's Caron Butler/Brendan Haywood trade, Stevenson has made the most of his increased minutes and has averaged 19.3 PPG on 48% shooting over the last four games and currently sits fourth in the NBA in three-point shooting.

The offensive quagmire has become so deep that the Mavericks signed former Cavalier and Timberwolves outside threat Sasha Pavlovic to a ten-day contract this week to try and bolster their attack.

Dirk's absence has revealed what many NBA commentators were offering as reason for Nowitzki's MVP candidacy – that no good team has such a precipitous drop-off from its top offensive option to its second scorer than the Mavericks – is accurate. They are lost on offense without him and at times are unwatchable.

A comparison of the top and second scorer on the top ten teams in the league (as of Jan. 12):

Team (Record)	Top Scorer	2^nd Scorer	Difference
SAS (32-6)	Ginobili (19.0)	Parker (17.4)	1.6
MIA (30-9)	James (25.3)	Wade (24.9)	0.4
BOS (28-9)	Pierce (19.0)	Allen (17.6)	1.4
LAL (28-11)	Bryant (24.9)	Gasol (18.4)	6.5
Dallas (26-10)	Nowitzki (24.1)	Terry (15.6)	8.5
CHI (25-12)	Rose (24.3)	Boozer (20.6)	3.7
ORL (25-12)	Howard (21.2)	Richardson (13.9)	7.3*
OKC (25-13)	Durant (28.2)	Westbrook (21.9)	6.3
UTA (25-13)	Williams (21.8)	Millsap (17.8)	3
ATL (25-14)	Johnson (18.6)	Horford (16.3)	2.3

*The second-leading scorer for most of the season for Orlando was Vince Carter (15.1 PPG) so the difference was 6.1. However, even with Carter traded, Howard is still flanked by six double-figure scorers, Dirk has just two. Also, there is not a single team, no matter their record, in the NBA with as large a discrepancy between their top scorers as the Mavericks.

Thankfully, only four of Dallas' next eleven opponents possess winning records, but the Mavericks' recent losses to Toronto and Milwaukee – both at home – have shown that, in in their current state, nothing can be taken for granted. The Mavs have lost five of the seven games Nowitzki sat out. They only lost five of the twenty-nine he started.

There's no way around it; you can't talk about the Mavericks these days without first issuing the disclaimer, “without Dirk in the lineup...”

Don't Sleep on DeShawn

2010-12-22T13:24:00.000-08:00

by Scott Rozsa
srozsa1@swbell.net

While the Mavericks have been scrutinized lately for repeatedly giving up large leads this season, they still have only actually lost a handful of games this year. It's almost nitpicking. Haters feel the need to criticize the Mavs despite their owning the second-best record in the Western conference at 23-5 and winners of 16 of their last 17 games as they entered their Christmas break. Man, fans can be spoiled sometimes.

The trait most MFFL's are overlooking is the number of times this season that Dallas has rocketed out to sizable leads from the opening tip. I'm going to dub it the The Stevenson Effect. Ever since guard Deshawn Stevenson was inserted in to the starting lineup in the sixth game of the season against the Celtics back on November 8, the Mavs are 20-3. His physical presence has made them a better defensive team and his white-hot three-point shooting this season – 49.3%, a career high and 4^th in the NBA - has made him a weapon that opposing defenses cannot ignore. His brashness seems to have rubbed off on his teammates as well as the Mavs have been confident and composed from the first moment they hit the court, especially on the road, where the Mavs are 10-1 for the season, best in franchise history. In addition, Dallas has led after the first quarter in 17 of the 23 games he has started.

The Mavericks have been dubbed The Streak Busters by NBA cognoscenti after snapping six opponent's winning streaks of five games or more (Boston, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Utah and Miami) and Stevenson has been a starter for every single one of those streak-ending wins. As a player who was best known before this season for his YouTube shooting contest against Gilbert Arenas, his on-court woofing with LeBron in past playoff match ups and the classic “I Can't Feel My Face” gesture after hitting a three, Stevenson has turned a corner this season and is playing with a maturity, work ethic and selflessness that many never thought he would reach.

Dallas has not allowed a team to shoot over 50% against them for the season, the only squad in the NBA who can make that claim. Stevenson has helped set the defensive tone at the beginning of each half for all but the first five games this campaign, and the Mavs were a mediocre 3-2 in those tilts. Granted, Tyson Chandler has to be given the bulk of the credit for the Mavs' defensive improvement, but Stevenson needs to be recognized as well.

Dirk, Jason Kidd, Caron Butler and Jason Terry receive headlines on a daily basis, but I say it's time to throw the Mav's own Junk Yard Dog, DeShawn Stevenson, a bone.

Top Trades in Stars History

2010-12-22T13:21:00.000-08:00

Best Trades in Franchise History

by Scott Rozsa
srozsa1@swbell.net

Watching Mike Ribeiro and Stephane Robidas play against the Montreal Canadiens, the franchise that originally drafted them, and thinking how little the Stars gave up to get those cornerstones of their roster, I began grinding away to think of the best trades in Dallas Stars history. Are there any other trades that were as big a fleecing by Dallas as these two?

As a matter of fact, there are some that are even more one-sided than the Ribeiro or Robidas deals. As my Christmas gift to you, I give you the Top Trades in Dallas Stars History:

1. Stars acquire Sergei Zubov from Pittsburgh for Kevin Hatcher. Seriously. This happened. Zubov amassed 549 points in his twelve seasons with Dallas, three All-Star selections, a Stanley Cup and innumerable Gary Oldman comparisons. Hatcher only played five seasons after the trade and fell in to a well.

2. Stars acquire Guy Carbonneau from St. Louis for Paul Broten. The Broten name carries sizable weight in Stars franchise history, unfortunately for Paul it was his brother Neal that established that notoriety. As we all know, Carbonneau can essentially be credited with creating the winning culture around the Stars while Broten played just 17 games after the trade and was out of the league.

3. Dallas acquires Mike Ribeiro and a 2008 6^th round pick for defenseman Janne Niinimaa and a 2007 5^th round pick. Ribeiro has led the Stars in scoring in three of his four seasons here while Niinimaa is currently playing for something called HV71 in the Swedish League.

4. Stars originally acquire Stephane Robidas from Atlanta for a 6^th round draft choice in 2002. They later sign him as a free agent after the lockout when it appeared no other franchise was interested. Robidas was an All-Star last year and has been the Stars best defenseman since Sergei Zubov left.

5. Stars acquire Kari Lehtonen from Atlanta for Ivan Vishnevskiy and a 4^th round pick. It may seem a little early to rank this trade with the others, but the way Lehtonen has played so far this season, and the realization that he is still just 27, combined with the fact that Vishnevskiy hasn't even played an NHL game since the trade, make this swap a heist in favor of the Stars.

Brenden Morrow Leading the Way

2010-12-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

The Dallas Stars are playing so well over the past month that it's almost become repetitive to keep blathering on and on about their improved penalty kill (88% in the last 15 games), formidable goaltending and scoring depth as the Stars have charged to the top of the Western conference.

In the past month, they are 11-3-2 and have climbed to a perch I never thought they'd reach when the season began. They're 10-0-2 in their last twelve at home and have seven more wins after 34 games than they did last season. Like their AAC co-tenants, the Dallas Mavericks, the Stars have provided their fans with almost nothing but winning hockey and it looks like patrons are realizing it and heading to the rink; attendance is ___ over the last ten home games.

They failed to pick up a point in a game only twice in their last fifteen games.

They've beaten division leaders Detroit and Montreal in succession.

Even their once anemic power play has rounded in to shape and scored goals in six straight games.

The squad is as cohesive and single-minded in purpose as any team in the league, and it has been the leadership of their captain recently that has really pushed them to the top spot in the conference. Brenden Morrow has been a beacon of determination and focus over the past five games; it's almost as though the puck that demolished his nose in the San Jose game propelled him to another level.. After surgery, Morrow was in the lineup against the Sharks just 3 days later and didn't miss a shift. In fact, he's scored three goals since getting his schnoz rearranged and donning the fishbowl.

Head coach Marc Crawford said it best: “There’s no two ways about it. He’s uncomfortable. We’re sore for him just watching him. But that’s leadership. He’s going out and leading by example. That really spirits on everybody else. You can’t help but be motivated when you see your captain come out and play the way that he does.”

It's no wonder that he's simply referred to as The Captain when Stars fans and announcers are discussing him these days.

By Scott Rozsa

srozsa1@swbell.net

Bowling for Swag!

2010-12-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

If you're a player on a college team that's not either Auburn or Oregon and playing for a national championship, what bowl would be your next selection? Well, since these players allegedly don't get paid, I'm guessing they'd be happy ending up in the Beef O'Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl.

Why, you ask? Because they have the best swag! Participants in the Beef O'Brady's bowl take home an Xbox 360, Oakley Fuel Cell sunglasses, and Oakley backpack and a commemorative mini helmet. If you're a college student, that's a pretty sweet haul.

Just about very bowl game – there are thirty-five in all – shower the players with goodies to help soften the fact that they're actually being forced to play a meaningless game in El Paso or on a frozen field in New York. But how do the bowls compare when it comes to swag? See for yourself:

New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque, (Dec. 18): Gift suite of electronics, Oakley Fuel Cell sunglasses, Oakley beanie & cap, Oakley Panel backpack, pen & Xmas ornament.

Udrove Humanitarian Bowl, Boise, (Dec. 18): Sony gift suite, New Era skull cap, waterproof parka, gloves, hand warmers, Ogio Fugitive back pack, football.

R&L Carriers Bowl, New Orleans (Dec. 18): Apple iPod Touch, Balfour ring.

Beef O'Brady's St. Petersburg (Dec. 21): Xbox 360 4GB, Oakley Fuel Cell sunglasses, Oakley Panel backpack, mini helmet.

MAACO Bowl, Las Vegas (Dec. 22): Electronics gift suite. (Hey, whadda ya want? They get to party in Vegas!)

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (Dec. 23): Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, hoodie & cap.

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Honolulu (Dec. 24): Kicker EB41 ear buds, Oakley Fuel Cells, Pro Athletics custom shorts, commemorative t-shirt, visor, Oakley Surf back pack, beach towels, calendar.

Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl, Detroit (Dec. 26): Electronics gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, leather duffel bag, football.

Advocare V100 Independence Bowl, Shreveport (Dec. 27): Electronics gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, New Era hat.

Champs Sports Bowl, Orlando (Dec. 28): $420 gift card to Best Buy, Timely Watch Co. watch.

Insight Bowl, Tempe (Dec. 28): Sony gift suite, Tourneau watch, cap, Ogio Cooper backpack.

Military Bowl, Washington DC (Dec. 29): Sony Dash, Altec Lansing portable speakers, beanie, cap, duffel bag, blanket.

Texas Bowl, Houston (Dec. 29): Apple iPod Touch, Fossil watch, t-shirt, back pack, belt buckle (you know, cuz it's Texas!!)

Valero Alamo Bowl, San Antonio (Dec. 29): Xbox 360 with Kinect, $20 Game Stop gift card, Kicker 541 headphones, Apple iPod Shuffle, Fossil watch, mini helmet and team photo.

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, Dallas (Dec. 30): Sony gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, Ogio All Terrain duffel bag, football.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, Nashville (Dec. 30): Skull Candy headphones, Apple iPod Shuffle, iTunes gift card, Fossil watch, Majestic fleece, Port & Co. long-sleeve shirt, Ogio backpack.

Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl, San Diego (Dec. 30): Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, hoodie, cap.

Hyundai Sun Bowl, El Paso (Dec. 31): Electronics, Timely Watch Co. watch, Majestic fleece, Top of the World cap, Ogio Politan backpack, Helen of Troy hair dryer (HUH??), souvenir coin.

Autozone Liberty Bowl, Memphis (Dec. 31): Apple iPod Nano, Fossil watch, Nike shoes, sandals and sunglasses, Nike Air Jordan backpack, football.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl, Atlanta (Dec. 31): $250 Best Buy card, Fossil watch, Russell Athletic cap, Russell travel bag, Chick-Fil-A gift card.

Ticketcity Bowl, Dallas (Jan. 1): Electronics, Timely watch.

Capital One Bowl, Orlando (Jan. 1): $420 shopping spree at Best Buy, Timely watch.

Outback Bowl, Tampa (Jan. 1): $150 Best Buy card, Fossil watch, cap, Jostens ring, $25 gift card to Outback.

Gator Bowl, Jacksonville (Jan. 1): Fossil watch, Oakley sunglasses, leather duffel bag, Jostens ring, football.

Rose Bowl (Jan. 1): Electronics gift suite, Fossil watch, Oakley cap, Oakley Bugeye backpack.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Glendale (Jan. 1): Electronics gift suite, Fossil watch, cap, Ogio Cooper backpack.

Discover Orange Bowl, Miami (Jan. 3): Electronics gift suite, Tourneau watch, New Era cap.

Allstate Sugar Bowl, New Orleans (Jan. 4): Sleek Audio headphones, electronics, Reactor Meltdown watch, New Era cap.

Godaddy.com Bowl, Mobile (Jan. 6): Nikon S70 touch screen camera, Timely watch, leather luggage, football.

AT&T Cotton Bowl (Jan. 7): would not disclose. It'll just have to be a surprise!

BBVA Compass Bowl, Birmingham (Jan. 8): Oakley watch, Oakley glasses, Oakley backpack, football.

KRAFT Fight Hunger Bowl, San Francisco (Jan. 9): Sony noise-canceling headphones, Fossil watch, cap, Ogio backpack, $100 Levi's gift certificate.

Tostitos BCS National Championship Game, Glendale (Jan. 10): Electronics gift suite, Fossil watch, cap, Ogio backpack.

Hey, if you made it all the way to the end of this list, you must surely agree with me now that there are WAAAY too many Bowl games!

Top 100 Sports Pictures of 2010 TotallyCoolPix

2010-12-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

Top 100 Sports Pictures of 2010 TotallyCoolPix

2010-12-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

Mavs D Unlike Anything We've Ever Seen

2010-12-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Heading in to last Tuesday night's opening tilt in a six-game home stand against the lowly Golden State Warriors – losers of eight of their previous nine games – it is doubtful that you thought the Mavs would be required to play their ace card to win the game. But this season, Dallas has a nice shiny red button that they can't wait to push: one that activates their fourth quarter defense, and they happily slapped it again to squash the Bay Area bottom-feeders.

With the score 72-71 for the Warriors after three periods, the Mavericks were in the familiar position of having to pull out a game down the stretch with their late game D, the trait more responsible for their nine-game winning streak entering the game than any barrage of Dirk jumpers or timely Jet three-pointers. And this time, they didn't have defensive anchor Tyson Chandler to backstop their efforts as he was out with a stomach virus.

No problem. The Warriors became the first victim of Les Tours Jumelle (Twin Towers): Alexis Ajinca and Ian Mahinmi combined for 15 points and 16 rebounds, and Mahinmi was on the court for the entire fourth quarter after logging only 39 minutes all season. Mahinmi did a splendid imitation of Chandler, grabbing boards and either blocking shots or altering Warriors' attempts around the rim as he plugged in perfectly in the Mavs' fourth quarter defense and threw down his first double-double. Even non-rotation players are taking pride in defense.

The Mavs ended up forcing seven Warriors turnovers and blocked a pair of shots in the game's final 12 minutes and outscored Golden State 34-28 – a pair of garbage-time threes by Dorrell Wright and Vladimir Radmonovic allowed the Warriors to surpass Dallas' season average of fourth quarter points allowed – on their way to a 105-100 victory, their tenth straight.

Defense has become the Mavericks calling card this year and has been the primary reason the squad is 17-4 through the first quarter of the season and has San Antonio Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich calling them “the best team in basketball.” They are currently the 4^th ranked defense in the league in opponents' points per game (92.6) and 3^rd in opponents' field goal percentage (.433), both vast improvements over last season when they ranked 15^th in both categories (99.3 and .457).

Specifically, it is the team's fourth quarter defense that has become one of the story lines around the league. Heading on to the Warriors' game, the Mavs surrendered an average of 22 points per fourth quarter, tops in the NBA, and held opponents to 40.8% shooting in the final frame, 2^nd in the league. They are now a league-leading 5-1 in games where they trailed going in to the fourth quarter.

It appears that head coach Rick Carlisle, in his third season at the helm, has finally got a stable of horses to carry out his defensive schemes – one that believes in the system and, more importantly, each other. The off-season addition of Chandler has been instrumental in the team's surge in defensive confidence; he has injected an enthusiasm and a swagger in the defense that Mavs' fans have rarely seen for extended stretches. And don't underestimate the insertion of DeShawn Stevenson in to the starting lineup on November 8 against the Boston Celtics, a move that put a pair of defensive aces on the court from the jump. Since Carlisle made that move, the team is 14-2.

During the current ten-game winning streak, the defensive numbers have been particularly strong:

-They have held nine of the ten teams below their season average in scoring, and limited five of the teams to 10 or more points below their norm.

-They have given up just 93 ppg and held their opponents to 43% shooting over the 10 game stretch that included wins over seven teams that average more than 100 ppg.

With three of the next five home games coming against New Jersey, Milwaukee and Portland, it's likely that we are only going to see these numbers continue to improve.

The bottom line is that the Mavericks have shot to the top of many experts' power rankings, and to within a half-game of the San Antonio Spurs, because of their much-improved defensive performance. They have defended at a high level in stretches before, but never have actually been recognized as a defensive force. That may change this year. According to basketball-reference.com, we are witnessing the best defensive team the Mavericks have ever fielded as their current defensive rate of 101.8 points per 100 possessions is far and away the best in franchise history! (Insert lame Don Nelson joke here.)

Dandy Don - Part II

2010-12-06T12:46:00.000-08:00

I grew up in Dallas, but I was only a 2 years old when Don Meredith retired. My Mom said I learned how to cuss listening to my Dad yell at Meredith through the television, but that's another story for another day. Suffice to say I learned the lesson well. Anyway, I knew Meredith more, obviously, from his work on Monday Night Football, back when MNF was an event no matter how lousy that particular week's game might have been on the field. I knew Meredith had been in pretty bad health these last few years, so the news of his passing wasn't necessarily a surprise. But it was still a pretty shocking kick to the gut on a Monday morning. It's definitely a sad day if you're a Cowboy fan; it doesn't matter whether or not you're old enough to have actually seen him play. If you think Tony Romo took some heat for his trip to Cabo a couple of years back, that's nothing compared to the crap Meredith had to put up with around here. It had to have been pretty bad to force him from the game when he was only 31 years old. Thanks for the memories, Don. You will be missed.

A Tribute to "Dandy" Don Meredith - RRW #325

2010-12-06T08:48:00.000-08:00

Farewell Dandy Don

2010-12-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

The sad news came down Sunday, December 5th, Dandy Don Meredith passed away at the age of 72. Born in Mount Vernon, Texas Meredith was a very accomplished athlete gaining All American status as a quarterback for SMU in 1959, moved on to the NFL as a third round pick by Chicago Bears who then traded him to a young Cowboys franchise for future draft picks. It is an amazing fact that Dandy Don played high school, college and pro football only in the State of Texas...specifically North Texas. He also had a successful career in broadcasting and television/movies. Here is a video clip that is fitting in saying farewell.

TCU finds a new home

2010-11-29T14:00:00.001-08:00

The news that TCU is heading to the Big East isn't a surprise, although it is sad that the Big 12 couldn't find a way to get them in. Maybe they could have brought BYU with them. While it looks good from a football perspective, the basketball team is going to get their asses handed to them on a regular basis. Not that they don't most days anyway, but it's going to be downright embarrassing. At least in football, they can lose two or three games and probably win the conference and get a BCS bid anyway. So they don't have to sweat as much to get a big BCS bowl payday. And that's what this is about after all - money. If any Frog supporter thinks this will make it easier for TCU to get into a national championship down the road, they'll be greatly disappointed. As of now, the caliber of play in that conference is really mediocre at best; they could run the table and still probably not get any higher than No. 3. It could actually hurt them in the long run. At least Utah was No. 5 at some point. I don't see a Big East team other than TCU even sniffing the Top 10 anytime soon.

Emmitt in the next issue

2010-11-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

Was lucky enough to be invited to an event featuring Emmitt Smith last week and was able to interview for a pretty long time, asking him about life after football, the Cowboys' current sorry state, and, yes, tequila. That only makes sense, since the event was sponsored by Herradura. I had never had a tequila old-fashioned, but damn that's a tasty drink.

But I digress. We're planning to run the interview in next week's issue. Check it out.

Re-signing Cliff Lee

2010-11-11T12:15:00.000-08:00

The Ticket's Bob Sturm was talking about a story he read from a New York writer about the risks involved with signing free agent pitchers to four-year deals. Basically, they don't work out the vast majority of the time. I didn't hear the rest of the segment, so I don't know if he was using that article to support his feeling that the Rangers shouldn't try to re-sign Cliff Lee. Take Bob out of the equation, since I don't know his opinion.

But if anyone thinks that, they're crazy. Sure, Lee is 32 and would be 36 or 37 (at least) at the end of the contract he's about to sign. If you want him, you'll have to give him a four-year deal at the very least. It'd more than likely be a six- or seven-year deal. That's just what you have to pay to play, in this case.

Anyone signing him won't be doing so with the expectation Lee will be anywhere near what he is now. They're signing him for two years of high expectations. Anything they get from him after that would be gravy. That's just the way it is, whether it makes fiscal sense or not.

The Rangers know that. The Yankees know that. Everybody else in the Lee derby knows that. Sure, this franchise was burned by the A-Rod deal, but Tom Hicks was a moron by paying that douche two times more than anyone else was willing to pay. The Rangers won't do that with Lee. They'll make a competitive offer -- maybe top whatever New York offers by a little bit -- but they won't break the bank for him. This new regime is too smart for that.

There's no need to over-think this. The Rangers need Cliff Lee. They know what he did in the stretch run and the playoffs, and they know his track record before he even came to Texas. Pay what you have to pay without being an idiot and bring him back. Hey, he may flame out; you never know. Nobody thought the Cowboys would be 1-7. But that's a chance I'd be more than willing to take.

Phillips Fired

2010-11-08T12:02:00.001-08:00

Here we go again....another coach bites the dust. The headline should read "Phillips Fired Today...Another Scapegoat Bites The Dust". I am now convinced Jerry Jones will never realize he is the problem. Here is a brief run down of the coaching changes since Lord Tom was fired;

2006-2010 Wade Phillips 34-20-0
2003-2006 Bill Parcells 16-16-0
2000-2002 Dave Campo 15-33-0
1998-1999 Chan Gailey 18-16-0
1994-1997 Barry Switzer 45-26-0
1989-1993 Jimmy Johnson 51-37-0

This organization continues to be the laughingstock of the league.

Cowboys - When Will The Owner Figure It Out

2010-11-08T09:43:00.000-08:00

As a fifth generation Texan, growing up a Cowboy fan was expected. The 70's were great and the players were role models. But when the franchise changed hands and the hillbillies from Arkansas showed up and fired the legendary Tom Landry, fan loyalty went out the window. Those fans not from Texas, or those recently moved to this great state that don't understand the legacy, stayed on board. The greatness of Jimmy and the Super Bowls in the 90's brought lots of fans back. However, the ignorance and arrogance of Jerry Jones has taken this team from the penacle of the NFL to the laughingstock. Jerry's attention to "whoring out" this brand has effected his ability to put a quality team on the field. His #1 objective is monetizing everything possible within the brand....to a point of alienating fans, media, sponsors, players and more. Some local media types labeled him a "marketing genius" because of his aggressive approach in selling every inch of real estate available, etc. What the local media failed to realize in attaching this label is that anyone who can figure out a way to purchase one of the most recognized brands in the world understands how to leverage that brand to maximize revenue. I'm not so sure that the label as "marketing genius" still applies to the kiss ass local media who started it....the only thing that Jerry has accomplished with his marketing approach is fielding a losing team and alienating his fan base.

He is getting what he deserves...and is the only one to blame. The only solution is to sell the franchise to an owner that knows how to build a winner or get the hell out of the way and let someone who knows football take over without the leash.

Check out this story.http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Jones-Heads-will-roll-in-Big-D-after-pathetic?urn=nfl-283321

Dallas Mavericks 2010-11 Preview

2010-10-20T17:08:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, the 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks season is here.

With all the ink currently being spilled on the mind-blowing playoff run of the Texas Rangers and the illimitably frustrating turd that the Dallas Cowboys have become, the Mavericks – far and away the most successful Dallas sports franchise over the past decade – are flying far under the radar. Hey, at least they're not the Dallas Stars, who despite starting their season 4-0 have barely registered a blip.

The 2009-10 regular season was a rousing success. The squad won 50+ games for the 10^th straight season – only the Spurs currently possess such a streak, they have 11 straight seasons – and won the Southwest Division and were the second seed in the Western Conference. They had home-court advantage over everyone but the Lakers in the West and looked like they would put their playoff demons to rest with a deep run.

Nope. One and done again.

The Mavericks' disappointing flop against the San Antonio Spurs in 6 games became yet another chapter in the lengthy tome of playoff disappointments. Head coach Rick Carlisle was roundly criticized during and after the series for some of his decisions, particularly his benching of Caron Butler in the second half of game 3 and his reluctance to throw rookie guard Roddy Beaubois in to the fray until game 6. The young Frenchman erupted for 16 quick points and was a key in erasing a 21-point deficit, but Carlisle sat him again for most of the fourth quarter and by then, the game and season were lost.

Entering the new season, there is reason for optimism and many NBA pundits are picking the Mavericks to win their division again over Houston (with Yao back) and the Spurs. While another division banner hanging from the rafters in the American Airlines Center would be nice, the Mavericks are judged solely by how they do in the post-season. Another first-round exit might spell doom for just about everyone involved as Mark Cuban would be forced to make sweeping changes.

With the climate now set, let's look at how this year's club sets up.

FORWARDS

The Dallas front court begins and ends with superstar Dirk Nowitzki. The 32-year-old power forward is as reliable a scorer and rebounder as there is in the league and last year averaged 25.0 ppg and 7.7 rpg. He is a matchup nightmare for opposing coaches and when he's on, is as close to unstoppable as they come, and well worth every penny of his recently-inked four-year $80 million contract. There has been one constant in the Mavericks' 10-year, 50+ wins streak, and that is Nowitzki. He practically never misses a game and unlike most of his Dallas teammates, Dirk takes his game to another level in the playoffs. His career playoff averages of 25.5 ppg and 11 rpg make him one of only three players in NBA history – the others being Elgin Baylor and Bob Pettite – to post 25/11's for their playoff careers. And Dirk will join them in the Hall of Fame as soon as he is eligible.

Shawn Marion, while maddening on the offensive end at times with his frequent point-blank misses, put up respectable numbers last year of 12.0 ppg and 6.4 rpg and is most effective when running the court with Jason Kidd. He's somewhat of a Swiss Army knife on defense as his size and athleticism allow him to guard anyone from point guards to power forwards. Veterans Brian Cardinal and Steve Novak will add toughness and outside shooting in limited minutes as the Mavs will most likely utilize guard Caron Butler at the three when Marion is out.

GUARDS

We've heard it repeatedly going in to this season: Caron Butler is the key to the Mavs' success this campaign. His arrival last season provided Dallas with what it hoped would be a highly talented sidekick to Nowitzki and a matchup problem for other teams due to his size, strength and ability to drive to the hoop. Instead, Butler settled for too many jumpers and averaged just 15.2 ppg as a Mav while shooting 44%. This is a contract year for Butler and he has slimmed down over the summer to make himself more explosive.

The seemingly ageless Jason Kidd is best known as one of the premier assist men in NBA history, yet he has quietly become one of the league's all-time great three-point shooters as well. He nailed a career-best 42.3% clip last year and was often called on to make big shots. Jason Terry had his worst season in a Dallas uniform, averaging 16.6 ppg on .438 shooting and .365 from three. While he is looking to reclaim his 2009 crown as NBA Sixth Man of the Year, it's likely that his minutes will be cut in to by Caron Butler (16.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg) seeing more time at two-guard when the Mavs go big, and predominantly by the young duo of Roddy Beaubois and rookie Dominique Jones. Both Beaubois and Jones have the athleticism and shot-creating abilities that the Mavericks have been looking for for years. While Beaubois won't be ready for the start of the season after suffering a broken foot at the World Championships last summer, all Dallas fans are eager to see if he can build on his memorable performance in last year's limited playoff minutes. Beaubois is the key to the season – if he can become a dependable scorer, the Mavs will excel.

Jose Juan Barea has carved out a useful niche as Dallas' backup point guard and at times ignites the team offensively. It's on the defensive end though where he gets victimized nightly by bigger opponents. Ideally, his minutes will decrease this season as Carlisle gains confidence in Beaubois. DeShawn Stevenson had a dreadful season in 09-10 and will likely be nothing more than a garbage-time minute eater.

CENTERS

Longtime fixture – literally and figuratively – Erick Dampier is finally gone. After Mavericks' tag team duo of Brendan Haywood and Tyson Chandler, acquired in the off-season from the Charlotte Bobcats, give the Mavs 14 feet of athleticism that few teams outside of the Lakers can match up with. Haywood's arrival in a mid-season trade last season was one of the factors in a 13-game winning streak as his improved offensive abilities (9.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg) over Dampier allowed Jason Kidd to actually look to the post from time-to-time and opposing defenses had to pay more attention to the paint. Here's a surprise stat for you: Haywood was actually second in the entire league in “and-one” bucket percentage; 6.9% of his attempts ended in a hoop and a free throw. Only Orlando's Dwight Howard had a higher frequency.

Haywood was an upgrade defensively as well, averaging 2.1 blocks per game. Throw in Chandler's average output of 6.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 1.1 bpg, and the Mavericks have their most promising pivot duo ever.

Health is a concern as Chandler has missed an average of 34 games the past two seasons so newcomer Ian Mahinmi, a 23-year-old from France, may get some burn.

COACHING

Head coach Rick Carlisle is regarded as a brilliant basketball mind and a coach who demands accountability from his players. In Carlisle's two years here, the team has a .640 winning percentage in the regular season, but that dips to just .438 in the playoffs. In his eight years as a head coach, Carlisle has won 50+ games five times, which is impressive, yet none of his teams have made it to the Finals. Still, he is one of the top coaches in the league and hopefully his recent collapse during practice isn't a metaphor for the Mavs' season.

PREDICTION

It is brought up ad nauseam that the Mavericks are one of the oldest teams in the NBA, yet with the potential emergence of Beaubois and Jones, and the arrival of Chandler, Dallas could dramatically decrease the average age of its rotation. The Dallas bench is regarded as one of the strongest in the league and they will have to use depth to overwhelm opponents. Bottom line, you know what you're going to get from Nowitzki, but in order for the Mavericks to make any serious noise this season – and that means success in the playoffs – Butler and Beaubois will have to contribute heavily.

I see them holding off San Antonio to win the Southwest division, gain the second seed in the playoffs again and making a run to the Western conference finals, eventually losing to the Lakers.

Uniwatch Meets Rachel Maddow

2010-09-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

For years we have had the annual unveiling of whatever disaster the Oregon Ducks were sporting to lead the way in vomit-inducing college football apparel. Remember the corrugated steel pattern on the Ducks uniforms in the past? How about the time the names and numbers have been the same color as the jersey? Stupid and a complete failure, right? In a recent Sports Illustrated.com pictorial of college football's Ten Worst Uniforms, 7 of the 10 bore the Nike swoosh, with Oregon taking top prize.

Just when you think the apparently color-blind and cross-eyed designers who dream up ways to make college athletes look more and more grotesque have taken it as far as they can, they've managed to completely outdo themselves. This season, Nike has unleashed the Pro Combat Series of Dress, a completely superfluous collection of underwear, padded undershirts, jerseys, pants and helmets that is “the lightest ever” and will be used during selected “rivalry” games this season.

The University of Texas is one of the torch bearers for this complex uniform system, one in which Nike has apparently even made the D-ring on the players belts out of titanium to make it 66 percent lighter than previous D-rings, according to their press releases.

Unfortunately for the Horns, the ounce or two that they've shaved off of their belts won't be an exclusive advantage that will give them an inside track to a national championship. The Pro Combat designers have created identical technological super hero threads for Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Louisiana State University, Miami, Virginia Tech, Missouri, The Ohio State University, Boise State, Oklahoma, and TCU.

You may have seen the Horned Frogs debut their new regalia during their recent win against Oregon State at Cowboys Stadium and asked yourself, “Wait a minute, they didn't finish painting their helmets,” or “Are those scales on their pants?” Yep. They were. Real frogs don't have scales, but your gridiron warriors are wearing patterned pants that would make Shakira blush.

To make the unis even more super cool, Nike embroidered slogans inside the collar that only can be seen when the player is putting the jersey on. For Virginia Tech, it reads “Beamerball,” for Texas, simply”Pride.” Apparently the TCU players are big Tom Petty fans as their jerseys read “Don't Back Down.”

On the Nike website, all of the Pro Combat-wearing schools' uniforms are revealed in a slide show where a faceless caricature (think Marvin the Martian, but with muscles) flexes imposingly in a dangerous looking environment: the Florida player is emerging from a gator-infested swamp, the Pitt player is pounding his chest in a steel refinery surrounded by flames, etc. The most ridiculous is the red-helmeted Ohio State player standing on a bombed-out playing field with soldiers barely visible behind him through all of the smoke of battle and with World War II fighter planes overhead. It's one the most histrionic and utterly ridiculous images I've ever seen - as if college football is somehow equated with actual warfare.

Oh wait, Nike thinks it is. In the top left corner of all of the team's slides, Nike has included the tagline “Prepare for Combat.”

Is this really the time for Nike to use the term “combat” to describe their bombastic garments while using artwork that places football players in battlefield settings to promote their product? The uniforms are clearly a shout out to current shooter video games like Halo, and will appeal to young consumers and fans for this reason, but tying their identity to war at a time when over 4000 Americans have lost their lives and more than 30,000 have been wounded in combat comes off as disrespectful and garish to me.

In the artwork that Nike created for the West Virginia uniform, the faceless model is depicted as being in the middle of a mountaintop mine, donning threads that sport dull colors to create the illusion of being covered in coal dust and will have “29” stickers attached to the helmets as a tribute to the 29 miners that died in the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster this year. It may have been well-intentioned, but Nike's attempt to salute those that died didn't go over so well.

In a recent commentary on The Huffington Post, activist Jeff Biggers accused Nike and WVU of dishonoring the hundreds of thousands of miners who have died while either on the job or from black lung.

“In an act of total disrespect, Nike claims the West Virginia University football players put their lives on the line every day, just like coal miners,” he wrote.

Luckily the suits at Nike were saved from sure embarrassment when USC was placed on probation, and thus not selected to be one of the Pro Combat schools as their marketing image would surely be a Trojan player menacingly standing in the middle of the L.A. Riots with the Watts Tower crumbling in the background.

Another event that confoundedly escaped Nike's consciousness is the 2007 campus shootings that left 33 people, including the shooter, dead. They thought it would be OK to put the “Prepare for Combat” tag on a black military vehicle and park it on campus. Nice.

Longhorn coach Mack Brown, after a visit to the troops in the Middle East put things in the proper perspective. “I learned that war is different. We shouldn’t compare football games to war,” Brown said. “We say ‘battles’ and ‘war,’ and it’s not. These young people are getting into helicopters and going out to work every day, but may not come back.”

Unfortunately, Brown didn't convey these thoughts to Nike.

I don't mean to come off like a tree-hugging, bunny-eyed liberal pansy, but Nike is a bunch of schlong-jammers. Thankfully, UCLA is still an adidas school, and adidas schools will be donning red, white and blue colors this weekend to commemorate the 9th anniversary of 9/11.

NFL Mt. Rushmores

2010-08-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

Alright football heads, time for a little debatin'!

It's 1:30am. You've just had your beer refreshed and one of your boys throws out, “OK. Name the four players that would make up each NFL team's Mount Rushmore.” A perfect way to navigate your way to last call.

“Just players? Or are coaches and owners eligible.”

“Just players. What do we care about the suits? Just give me the best players in each franchise's history.”

“Can we have two players that played the same position but in different eras?”

“Dude. I said THE FOUR FACESOF EACH FRANCHISE! I don't care what position they played or when they played.”

This actually happened to me the other night, and within minutes several other bar patrons jumped in to throw in their two cents, and it dawned on me that it might make a good column and argument starter. It's my list, so I don't feel the need to actually spending time defending each selection (and I'm too lazy too). But hey, if you want to call me out, I'm open for a little email tête-a-tête.

Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals: Jim Hart, Dan Dierdorf, Conrad Dobler, Jim Bakken. I considered my favorite player from when I was about 9-years-old, Terry Metcalf, but alas, he didn't make it.

Atlanta Falcons: Steve Bartkowski, Deion Sanders, Brett Favre, Tommy Nobis, Jeff Van Note.

Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Matt Stover, Jonathan Ogden.

Buffalo Bills: Jim Kelly, O.J Simpson, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas (narrowly edging out Joe DeLamielleure).

Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith, Jake Delhomme, Kevin Greene, John Kasay.

Chicago Bears: Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary. And yes, I did consider “Red” Grange.

Cincinnati Bengals: Anthony Munoz, Boomer Esiason, Cris Collinsworth, Ken Anderson.

Cleveland Browns: Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Ozzie Newsome, Lou Groza.

Dallas Cowboys: Roger Staubach, Emmitt Smith, Bob Lilly, Randy White. I know you Cows fans think that your Mt. Rushmore should have ten heads, but we have to keep things even. I decided to only take one QB, so no Troy.

Denver Broncos: John Elway, Floyd Little, Shannon Sharpe, Steve Atwater.

Detroit Lions: Barry Sanders, Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, Billy Sims.

Green Bay Packers: Brett Favre, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Willie Davis, Forrest Gregg.

Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts: Peyton Manning, Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, John Mackey.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Mark Brunell, Tony Boselli, Jimmy Smith, Fred Taylor.

Kansas City Chiefs: Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Jan Stenerud, Derrick Thomas.

Miami Dolphins: Dan Marino, Larry Csonka, Larry Little, Nick Buoniconti.

Minnesota Vikings: Alan Page, Fran Tarkenton, Brett Favre, Paul Krause, Cris Carter.

New England Patriots: John Hannah, Tom Brady, Adam Vinatieri, Sam Cunningham.

New Orleans Saints: Archie Manning, Sam Mills, Ricky Jackson, Drew Brees.

New York Giants: Sam Huff, Y.A. Tittle, Frank Gifford, Lawrence Taylor.

New York Jets: Joe Namath, Don Maynard, Brett Favre, Mark Gastineau, Curtis Martin.

Oakland/L.A. Raiders: Marcus Allen, Art Shell, Fred Biletnikoff, George Blanda. Honestly, the Raiders were the toughest team to narrow to four players – they have a truckload of Hall of Famers and memorable characters.

Philadelphia Eagles: Reggie White, Chuck Bednarik, Donovan McNabb, Tommy McDonald.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Terry Bradshaw, Jack Lambert, Mike Webster, Lynn Swann.

St. Louis/L.A. Rams: Eric Dickerson, Kurt Warner, Jackie Slater, Deacon Jones.

San Diego Chargers: LaDainian Tomlinson, Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, Lance Alworth.

San Francisco 49ers: Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Hugh McElhenny.

Seattle Seahwks: Jim Zorn, Steve Largent, Walter Jones, Cortez Kennedy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lee Roy Selmon, Mike Alstott, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks.

Washington Redskins: Sammy Baugh, Art Monk, Joe Theismann, Darrell Green.

So there you have it. A little NFL talk while we anxiously wait for the season to start never hurts. Let me know if I left anyone out or if you have an argument against any of my selections – we can discuss it over a few beers sometime.

Greatness in our midst

2010-07-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

Do you realize we have one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time among us? Last season, Tony Romo attempted his 1,500th pass. That qualifies him to be on the list of the most efficient passers in the history of the game. And he came in at third; ahead of names like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner and Drew Brees.

We sure do like to bitch about it when Romo throws an interception or fumbles at a critical moment in a game. And yes, he has a resounding one playoff victory on his resume. But sometimes you need to step back and appreciate talent when you're lucky enough to have it. Count me among those who'll be yelling the loudest if Romo screws the pooch in an important game this season. But at the same time, I'll try and remember that, even when he makes a mistake, Romo is still one of the very best in the game.

Ac/Dc - Walk All Over You(With Bon)(High Quality!)

2010-07-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this with all AC/DC fans. The greatness of Bon Scott what was probably 1979. I saw these guys 3 times with Bon Scott - 1977, 1978 and 1979. Awesome is the only way to describe it. I strongly suggest you catch Behind the Music on this band. It takes you back to the early days, very entertaining.

Slim pickin's

2010-07-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

If I heard correctly, I believe yesterday and tomorrow are the only two nights of the entire year where none of the four major sports leagues (and yes, I still count the NHL as one of the Big 4) have any games scheduled. It's not quite enough time to get true sports withdrawals, but it's definitely an annoyance. And I don't really get that fired up about the Major League All-Star Game, either. So for me, that's basically three straight days of nothing. At least there's a two-hour Deadliest Catch I can watch.

RIP Yankee

2010-07-13T07:13:00.000-07:00

Word just came down that long time Yankee owner George Steinbrenner passed away this morning from an apparent heart attack. Steinbrenner was at his home in Florida when the heart attack occurred last evening. He was 80. Steibrenner had owned the team since 1973 but turned the operations over to his two sons in 2007 as his health was failing. Just last week he was had visited the Yankees traing grounds in Florida and said he feeling "pretty good".

Yankee fans have now the second leg of the trifecta in place. Just last week long time, legendary stadium announcer Bob Sheppard passed away at the age of 99.

More to follow on this story.

Glad that's over

2010-07-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm just glad the Orioles are out of town and the Rangers can take a break for a few days. That was unbelievable. Friday was the biggest kick to the crotch Texas has suffered all season. And that it came at the hands of the worst team in the Major Freaking Leagues makes it that much worse. At least the Angels sucked worse the last week or so.

Rangers Trade Up

2010-07-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

Is the report correct? Did the Rangers actually trade for a dependable pitcher? Damn right....you heard it and read it correctly. The Rangers made a brilliant move today trading up Smoak, Blake and Lawson for LHP Cliff Lee. Great news from a bankrupt ball club. This will add significant excitement to the fellas in Arlington. More to follow.

LaBron Lost Luster Today

2010-07-08T19:41:00.000-07:00

LaBron's reputation has officially changed. He is no longer out for everybody but himself. Some will say that a person should move on and explore, have other experiences.....which could make sense since LaBron is from Ohio. On the other hand, LaBron was a shining star, a real bright spot in Cleveland...hope that the city would experience a championship in something. The balloon has deflated. LaBron is going to Miami...a team that will now demand respect and get it.

I have to say I am disappointed...but not surprised. The excitement of South Beach beats the hell out of CLE...so does the talent. It will be interesting to watch as LaBron never won a championship in CLE. Will his chances improve now? Absolutely.

Fan's will look at LaBron differently now....the bright lights got em.

Jamarcus Russell....Cough Syrup?

2010-07-05T15:59:00.000-07:00

Another Professional Football player is busted......this time it is cough syrup. What I can't figure out is how do you get busted for that? Did he purchase illegally and someone squealed? Was he drinking it in public trying to create a new trend in partying? Help me here. What a strange dude. Another one bites the dust .....i doubt he will see another NFL team. Hit link for more on the story...

ProFootballWeekly.com - Benson may face discipline because of assault charge

2010-07-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have been out of touch the last few days, here is a report on former Longhorn running back Cedric Benson. I wish someone would help me understand why these dillrods can't stay out of trouble.
ProFootballWeekly.com - Benson may face discipline because of assault charge

Bruce Springsteen-Born In The U.S.A.

2010-07-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

Time for a patriotic video as we approach the 4th of July weekend. Trying and challenging times are facing our country right now, embrace this holiday for it's true meaning. Faith and perseverance will pull us through. Have a great weekend!

The Week That Was

2010-07-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

Tommy Tuberville made some interesting comments on a recent radio interview. Click on link below for full story.

The Week That Was: "Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville speaks out; The New Orleans Saints offer a chance to feel like a champion and shout outs for last week's accomplishments."

Don Coryell: Be Passionate

2010-07-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

This a a good video highlighting the career of Don Coryell. An innovator of the passing game in the NFL, Coach Coryell was passionate about winning. Throughout his career he took losers and made winners. It is hard to believe he never won a Super Bowl nor was he ever inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. RIP Coach.

You Can't Fix Stupid

2010-07-02T10:27:00.000-07:00

Ok..you are a gifted athlete...football player at that. You are treasured your entire life because of your ability to win. Grades were secondary to the athlete and the school system. You are recruited by a top tier institution to play football and end up taking the University's athletic program to new heights which then results in being a draft pick in the NFL. As the BIG money is rolling in you decide that the law does not apply to you. You have several run ins then finally get busted in a dog fighting ring which results in prison time and suspension from the NFL. You serve time and get out. The NFL re-instates you in hopes you have been rehabilitate. A notable franchise signs you and gives you a chance. Even though the fans booed at first appearance, as the season went on you became more acceptable. Then you decide to have a birthday party for turning 30. The party goes late and someone ends up getting shot. Now you are scrambling to protect the millions you earn by making excuses about why this happened. Chances are you will never play another down in the NFL and for good reason. You can't fix stupid. Michael Vick will continue to end up on the wrong end of the law because that is his scene. He is too stupid to know any different. Sad but true.

Elin Norde-GREEN!

2010-07-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

Run with that money Elin!

Tiger Woods' ex leading lady Elin Nordegren has proven it pays to keep your mouth shut. Rumor has it this sweet Swede agreed to keeping her mouth shut to all media forever. As long as she stays inside the country and does not move to Sweden, she will still receive full custody of the kids. Even though this is a rumor, the quoted amount for following basically these two agreements is $750 million. What is Elin demanding? According to the examiner.com "Elin is demanding that Tiger not expose their children to any of his female companions, “unless he is married to said person.” Basically, no hoochies around the children. Another agreement: only married women, not romantically linked to Tiger Woods, will be allowed around the children, and female members of Tiger’s staff that Elin personally knows.

Meystedt-News