Thursday, means almost Friday

Losing….life….force.

Mavericks lose, make Avery mad …

The Mavericks' coach said this was one of the most disappointing games he's been associated with since taking over and questioned the internal leadership of the team.

"I'm going to stop saying every time we have games like this that I failed," Johnson said. "Every, single time we have a game like this, I've got to always say I've failed. I've been waiting for 79 games to get some internal leadership. I haven't gotten it yet.

"At the same time, it's my fault. I didn't get them ready to play. It's my fault, ultimately. No, just blame me like we always do."

And he didn't stop there.

"We had no energy, no emotion, no concentration," Johnson said. "Just nothing. We were disinterested in playing basketball tonight.

"We didn't earn our paycheck. We need to give Mark Cuban a rebate, all of us ... We didn't earn it. If he wants to garnish our checks, we shouldn't stop him from doing it."

Cuban's response?

"I'll take it," Cuban said. "He's right. There wasn't a sense of urgency out there."

Koronka gives the Rangers some hope …

"I don’t know when I’m going to be in there," Laird said, "so I’m just trying to do what I can to help the team win when I am in there."

He rated his work behind the plate for Koronka bigger than his offensive performance. Koronka, too, said he hadn’t had to shake off Laird more than maybe once or twice all night.

The Laird-Koronka teaming worked, as Koronka gave up only two earned runs on six hits in six innings. He also picked up his first win as a Ranger. Maybe most impressive, he held Vladimir Guerrero (hits in 39 straight games against Texas) to a single in three at-bats and ended Garret Anderson’s 19-game RBI streak against the Rangers.

"Watching (the highlights) on TV last night, and hearing Guerrero’s streak," Koronka said, "that was kind of one of my goals – to get him out of that. He’s one of the toughest hitters I’ve faced."

With a few weeks before the NFL Draft, Reggie Bush seems on top of the pile …

Bush seems fairly secure to be selected No. 1, because the Texans need a running back and they already have millions invested in quarterback David Carr. Houston signed the former Pro Bowl wide receiver Eric Moulds this month, so the Texans' offense could feature Carr, Bush, Moulds and Andre Johnson, who has caught at least 63 passes in each of his three seasons.

Young is a native of Houston and a fan favorite after leading Texas to the national championship. But Bush helped himself by running the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds at his recent workout and by bench-pressing 24 repetitions of 225 pounds. Bush hopes to be the first running back selected No. 1 since Cincinnati chose Ki-Jana Carter in 1995.

"My next goal is to be the No. 1 draft pick," Bush said after visiting with the Texans last week. "This is something I've been looking forward to my whole life."
Bush, like everyone tracking the draft, will have to wait until April 29 to see how it unfolds. Will Leinart be the first quarterback taken? Will Young go among the top 3, or fall out of the top 5? Will Cutler be chosen ahead of Young, or fall out of the top 10 completely?

Even if Bush is the first pick, the draft could take more twists and turns than one of his open-field runs.

Wow, this guy will be missed: Aaron Taylor leaves ABC …

Darren McCarty files for bankruptcy …wow. He made good money in the NHL, played 11 years, and now that his career is almost over, it is all gone and then some….ouch.

Calgary Flames winger Darren McCarty, a former Red Wing who was one of Detroit's most popular professional athletes in recent years, has filed for bankruptcy.
In documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit, McCarty listed assets of $1.9 million US and debts of $6.2 million.

In addition to at least $185,000 owed to casinos in Detroit and Las Vegas, he listed debts to banks, credit card companies, friends, utilities, law firms and a roofing company.

McCarty, 34, said in court filings that many of his assets are tied up in insurance polices, his NHL pension and $490,000 in business loans that are unlikely to be repaid.

McCarty played 11 seasons for the Red Wings. The defenceman's combativeness, charitable work and sideline as a rock guitarist made him a fan favourite. McCarty also scored the winning goal in the clinching game in 1997 as Detroit won its first Stanley Cup in 42 years.

The Red Wings bought out McCarty's contract in July after a lockout of NHL players cancelled the 2004-2005 season. He currently plays for the Flames and has seven goals and six assists in 65 games this season.

McCarty listed his income as $2.1 million in 2003, $1.5 million in 2004 and $193,959 in 2005. According to court documents, McCarty received $538,729 from the Red Wings when they bought out his contract, but his ex-wife Cheryl received 75 per cent of that - $404,046.

Not to be outdone, Steve Garvey is not doing well, either …

In a two-hour interview with The Times, Garvey acknowledged having chronic financial problems but declined to publicly address specific information contained in this article. Speaking generally, he blamed his debt on a combination of tax liabilities, financial support for most of his nine children and stepchildren and costly legal battles over business and personal affairs.

"Do I expect to pay every debt? Do I want to? Absolutely," said Garvey, now living in Southern California. "The day I'm able to be debt-free is the day I'm going to be the happiest guy around."

Later, in a prepared statement, Garvey added that he was saddened by "the misuse of the L.A. Times by outside sources who clearly are intent on defaming myself and my family. I could positively address each issue but that would only validate this vicious abuse of a private family."

People owed money by Garvey see themselves, not Garvey, as the victims. Attorneys who have sued him, for instance, believe he has more money than he is letting on and allege that he has hidden assets.

Quipped one attorney trying to collect on a $235,000 debt owed by Garvey:

"Once a Dodger, always a dodger."

Well, Lebron sprains ankle, should be ok …

No Way! Racism in soccer? …but Brazil looks like they know how to punish it…

Prosecutors on Wednesday charged a Brazilian soccer player with racism, a crime in Brazil, for insulting an opponent in a match last month.

Prosecutors in the southern Rio Grande do Sul state charged Juventude defender Antonio Carlos after TV images showed him shouting "monkey" during a state league match on March 5.

Antonio Carlos -- who previously played with Italy's AC Roma, Brazil's Palmeiras and Santos and Brazil's national team -- faces from one to three years in prison if found guilty.

Prosecutors said, however, the player can avoid a trial if he agrees to have 10,000 handbills made with the saying, "We are all equal," and "Say no to racism." He would have to help distribute the handbills during sporting events in the city of Caxias do Sul, where Juventude hosts its matches. Caxias is about 750 kilometers (465 miles) south of Sao Paulo.

Racism is a crime in Brazil not subject to bail.

Operation Taco Bell …
Stop asking me for this! Erin Hawksworth’s myspace page …And on behalf of the Ticket, I would like to express my sincere apologies for that train-wreck on the show Wednesday…Corby and Gordo should be ashamed...

Sportsbybrooks myspace page …

come along to Taco Town …

Fear Kimbo! …

I gotta get out of this place….