Thursday 10/26

It was a night when the World Series was rained out, so I began to come to terms with that little pain in the very back of my head that I have been ignoring for over 4 months. I watched the Mavericks for most of the 2nd half from Pittsburgh as they beat Cleveland, 83-81. I can’t remember a season that went so well that is remembered so badly, but it happened. I week from tonight the San Antonio Spurs visit Dallas in the season opener. The symmetry is perfect, of course, that the Rangers played themselves out of the race when Cowboys camp was opening. And now, more symmetry as the Cowboys are tanking right as the Mavericks are ready to begin. This is sports in the big city. I love me some Dallas.

Anyway, that is then. Now Tony Romo is the starter, and I am ready to proclaim a personal moratorium on this board about Romo v. Bledsoe. It has been decided, argued, rebutted, re-rebutted, and now we shall move on to Sunday. As a man who knows his way around Wisconsin, I feel a little state pride for the young man, but I fear what John Fox is plotting for Sunday Night.

Parcells explains where he is on this …

Heralded but untested, Tony Romo has long been targeted as the Cowboys' quarterback of the future by coach Bill Parcells.

But in making the decision to install Romo as the starter over veteran Drew Bledsoe, Parcells has nothing but the present in mind.

Although the Cowboys (3-3) have struggled through their first six games and are about to embark on three consecutive road games starting Sunday in Carolina, Parcells says the Cowboys still have a chance to do something in 2006. And with 10 games to go in what could be his last season in coaching, he firmly believes Romo gives them the best chance to win because of his mobility.

"I know the business; I've been in it a long time," Parcells said. "They can get the hearses if they want to, but I'm not riding in them yet. Simple as that. I just need to make an attempt to do something that alters kind of what we have been... this thing is a long way from being over."

The season might not be over, but considering Parcells came here in 2003 to return the Cowboys to the Super Bowl, time might be running out on him in Dallas. He has a 28-27 record and just one playoff appearance, and that resulted in a first-round loss.

Sherrington enjoys Unitas v Romo v Favre …

The thought occurred to me when he was asked Wednesday if it isn't a bad time to be replacing Drew Bledsoe with Tony Romo, what with a three-game road trip coming up.
And somehow the question prompted Parcells to invoke the name of John Unitas.

Maybe you know the story: Cut by the Steelers and picked up by the Colts off a semi pro lot, Unitas was forced into action as a rookie.
And his first play? An interception.

Sounds like Romo's story, all right. Only let's not get carried away.
A football culture primer: For all you kids, Johnny U. was the greatest QB ever in some books. Never mind the flat-top and black high tops. He was tough, brilliant and he'd step on your throat if he had to.

Now, Parcells didn't say Romo is the next Unitas. Frankly, he'd probably take Earl Morrall.

No one can be sure who Romo really is, but he's leaving clues. And in tying himself to Romo, just as he once did to Bledsoe, Parcells is betting there isn't an anchor on the other end.

You're saying: What's the risk? Did you see Bledsoe's interception before the half? Don't you find yourself counting every time he pats the ball?

Didn't it look as if he were asking Michael Strahan to dance?

Excellent points. But before you cast Romo as the lesser of two evils, you should ask how Parcells got himself into this QB fix.

If Parcells really had doubts late last season about Bledsoe, as some reports indicate, why not tell Jerry Jones to go after Drew Brees?

Better question: Why didn't he lock up Jake Delhomme when the Cowboys had him in custody out at Valley Ranch?

Blame Jerry for many sins, but Bledsoe was Parcells' choice, as was Romo.

And exactly what does the head coach expect from the 26-year-old pride of Eastern Illinois?

More than a bus driver. A good thing, too. Like any Wisconsin kid of the last decade or so, Romo wanted to be Brett Favre, not Cosmo Kramer.

Romo bears several Favre-ish traits: confident, even cocky, well-liked by fans and teammates, and he likes to make things happen.

Here's the difference: Favre has, or at least had, one-of-a-kind talent that allowed him to make plays and overcome the ones he screwed up.

Romo? Just enough talent to make a few great plays but not enough to make up for his mistakes.

Of course, he doesn't think so. Even after three of the ugliest picks you'll ever see, Romo still believes.

"I threw into some tighter spots than you would like," he told The News, "but that's what you do when you're trying to win a game."

Peter King on Gibbs and Parcells following eachother to obscurity …

Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells. Lions in winter.

"I'm ashamed to put out a team that plays like that,'' Parcells, the Dallas coach, said Monday night after his Cowboys got drilled by the Giants. He could have been speaking for both men, after Washington's poiseless players contributed to Gibbs' fifth loss this season Sunday at Indianapolis

Weird stat of the week: Gibbs and Parcells both lost 36-22 over the weekend.

Sad stat of the year: These two coaching giants are a combined 46-47 in their NFC East Comeback Tour in regular-season games, 1-2 in the playoffs.

Father Time stat of the year: Gibbs and Parcells are each 65.

We all wonder whether this is the end for both men, whether six months from now Parcells will be at his home in Saratoga Springs awaiting the summer thoroughbred meet and whether Gibbs will be back at his auto-racing garage in North Carolina, plotting how to win a stock car championship. These two used to own the playoffs and won five of the 10 Super Bowls between 1983 and 1992, but are in danger of leaving the game without winning a single postseason game beyond the wild-card round in their final coaching stops.

Weekly Buccigross rates the NHL …

2. Dallas Stars: Naming Brenden Morrow captain was the right move. The NHL is a young man's game again, and Morrow brings an energy and a youthfulness to an organization that needs good young players desperately. Also, Dallas needs Morrow to score 35 goals this year. He needs to step up his game offensively, and maybe the captaincy will give him a little push in that direction. Dallas still is a bit of an older team, so it will be interesting to see whether the older players can stay healthy and stay energized all year. The Stars also need people like Antti Miettinen to score all year. The Mike Ribeiro trade was clutch. They look like a really good team right now, but we need to keep an eye on them.

Marty Burns rates the top 10 whiners in the NBA …only one member is from Texas...via Argentina…

6. Manu Ginobili, Spurs
Frequent flopper is used to European-style theatrics. Loves to use those quick hands to gesticulate.

Weekend College Football TV schedule …

My new favorite hockey player: Evgeni Malkin



Give me the Gold



Dan and Bob 1:43 (doesn’t really go anywhere)