Teased

Good Morning to Texas. You still have no pitching. Back to the drawing board after the Red Sox swooped in and grabbed Josh Beckett. Is it better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all?

Revo gives A for Effort …

Yes, sadly, the Rangers came up short Monday in their effort to land Josh Beckett from the Florida Marlins, who rather stupidly elected to take a lesser deal from the Boston Red Sox because the Marlins didn't want to pick up even Hank Blalock's modest contract.

Disappointment at the corner of Ballpark Way and Randol Mill was palpable, and it should be.

This was the kind of deal the Rangers have been needing to make for years, perhaps even a once-in-a-decade-or-two opportunity. That it fell through left new general manager Jon Daniels almost literally sick to his stomach.

But for those of us who have been begging the Rangers to become more aggressive in acquiring pitching on the trade market, even this failed effort signaled that there's a new sheriff in town, and he's pulling no punches.

"This was a tough negotiation that we played strong in from the beginning," Daniels said in a conference call late Monday afternoon to announce that the Marlins were going in another direction. "Our goal from Day 1 was to do whatever it takes to obtain a No. 1 pitcher.

"That was our No. 1 priority, and it still is."

Makes you feel like standing and cheering, doesn't it? Imagine how we'll feel if the Rangers manage to actually land a decent pitcher someday.

Evan Grant on Daniels losing out on first stare-down …

"The longer it went, after we were willing to meet their asking price, the more we thought another club would be involved," he said. "I don't think I was surprised when I heard from them."

Daniels downplayed the possibility that the Marlins might have made the deal if the Rangers had included the pitching prospect earlier in the process. This would have been Daniels' first deal as Rangers GM. He took over in October for John Hart.

"You can certainly play the 'what if' game and the decision-making process, I'll look back on," Daniels said. "But I think it was clear that the Marlins were looking to maximize their gain in exchange for two very good players."

T.R. Sullivan …

Jiri Fischer collapses during game …

Everything stopped in Joe Louis Arena on a surreal Monday night, the night Jiri Fischer's heart stopped. The Red Wings' defenseman was in stable condition later Monday at Detroit Receiving Hospital. Team officials said he was awake, responsive and in good spirits while greeting teammates, as he recovered from what was called a seizure.

There was no more hockey on this night, surely one of the scariest in NHL history, absolutely the scariest night the Wings could ever remember. The Detroit-Nashville game was stopped in the first period, to be resumed later, a decision that didn't even need to be debated. All involved needed time to compose themselves, and figure out what they saw.

Jiri Fischer video …Very concerning…

Texas with furious comeback beats West Virginia …

We all know Dallas has the best resume of any NFL team since the birth of the Super Bowl, right? Here is a few “I’ll be darned” items in the wrong direction.

During Sunday’s Cowboys-Lions pregame show, Mickey Spagnola suggested that the Lions had just one playoff win since 1957. That reminded me of the one win they had, when they steamrolled the very young, very talented, but not ready-for-primetime Dallas Cowboys in 1991 in the Silverdome, 38-6. The Lions are 1-9 in the playoffs since the 1960, with their one win being against maybe the greatest group of players in this NFL generation.

What other team holds that odd distinction of stinking, and yet rising up once against the Boys?

That’s right Cardinals fans. The Arizona Cardinals (formerly of St Louis and Chicago) have exactly one playoff win since 1947: Texas Stadium in 1998.

Honorable mention: Carolina Panthers, who once had only 2 playoff wins – both against America’s team. Of course, they now have 4 (Rams and Eagles, too).

What says vintage cold weather football like not running the ball and not stopping the run? Packers lose AGAIN …

Thus, the Vikings swept Green Bay for the first time since 1998 and improved to 5-5, still within hailing distance of NFC North Division leader Chicago (7-3).

The Packers saw whatever dim hopes they might have had to claim the division title for the fourth straight year all but extinguished.

As it stands now, the Packers are one of four National Football League teams mired at 2-8. Houston is the only team worse at 1-9.

Limited to 48 yards rushing at halftime, the Vikings pounded away for 112 in the second half to finish with 160.

Meanwhile, the Packers had to settle for 21 yards on the ground as neither Samkon Gado nor Tony Fisher found any room to operate behind an offensive line that was clearly whipped at the point of attack by the Vikings' stout front seven.

meet Edward G. Hochuli …

Rockets here tonight …I must tell you, there slow start is surely a surprise. Especially when everyone assured me they were going to be better than the Mavericks. It is still early, but they look like they have no guards again…Who thought Bob Sura was so valuable?

But as the Rockets return to American Airlines Center tonight for the first time since they were whipped more thoroughly than any team has ever been whipped in Game 7 of a playoff series, they face more than the rolling Mavericks.

Staggering since the 116-76 drubbing, the Rockets bring the worst record in the Western Conference to Dallas as the worst-scoring team in the NBA.

And there are indications that a shakeup might be needed.

With no backcourt player making better than 40 percent of his shots, the Rockets have begun to wonder whether their time has come and gone.

Mike Bascik turned in these +/- numbers for Game 4:

Game 4 Loss Mavs vs. 76ers

Terry +13, Christie -9, Howard -14, Nowitzki +9, Dampier + 5
Daniels -16, Van Horn -24, Harris -16, Diop -16, Armstrong -7

I would type some thoughts about UFC 56, but I would rather just show you.

I give it a very solid review. I don’t want my $35 back.

And, finally this email:

What next for the Rangers? I hear they may hold a wednesday press conference naming Hank Blalock as their captain. --Mike B.