Boss in Dallas

On a Monday morning, I have a number of links for you to consider…

It all starts with my first Bruce Springsteen show…That was very cool, despite only recognizing about 6 songs (unless you allow me to include the 7th that I thought was 10,000 maniacs song)…
Dude can rock for 58 years old…


The Setlist …

April 13, 2008
Dallas, Texas
American Airlines Center

Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Trapped
Reason To Believe
Prove It All Night
Because The Night
She's The One
Livin' In The Future
The Promised Land
Girls In Their Summer Clothes
Independence Day Tour Premiere
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last To Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands

Meeting Across The River
Jungleland
Born To Run
Glory Days
Dancing In The Dark
American Land



Thor’s Review …

Give him a mike and a spotlight and he's still very much the Boss.

Mr. Springsteen and the E Street Band didn't sell out the American Airlines Center on Sunday night. But they reminded the near-capacity crowd why they're one of rock's greatest live acts: showmanship and spontaneity.

The longer the concert went, the looser it got. Near the two-and-a-half-hour mark, Jon Bon Jovi – in town to play the AAC on Monday – appeared from thin air to co-sing "Glory Days." (Finally, a chance to duet with the guy he's spent his whole career imitating.)

"Dancing in the Dark" was even more of a hoot, as Mr. Springsteen pulled a dozen gleeful grade-school girls from the crowd to serve as the "E Street Dancers."

His set list was equally unpredictable, with obscure oldies like "Meeting Across the River" and "Independence Day" mixing with "American Land," his Pogues-style ode to immigrants. Even "Reason to Believe" took on new life as a swaggering Chicago blues.
Of course, he played "Born to Run" and "Badlands." But he also devoted a third of the show to new tunes that sounded as good as the classics. When's the last time you saw an arena-rock act pull that off?

Star Telegram’s Review …

In sports news, Rangers swept by Toronto? …

Marlon Byrd slid into third base with a leadoff triple in the bottom of the 10th inning and pumped his fist as the crowd jumped to its feet. The Texas Rangers, down by a run, had three chances to at least tie Sunday's game.

Then ... nothing happened. There was no clutch hit. Not even a sacrifice fly or a broken-bat hit over a drawn-in infield. Against closer B.J. Ryan, who was making his season debut, the Rangers got a groundout, a pop up and a line drive to right field. It gave Toronto a 5-4 win and a three-game sweep.

Texas finished the series 3-for-28 (.107 average) with runners in scoring position.
"It does get frustrating," said catcher Gerald Laird, whose fly ball ended the game. "We played a really good game and got the lead and couldn't hold onto it. You want to drive the runs in and it's not happening right now."

And from today’s Newberg Report:

The Rangers' starters, in fact, have seven quality starts in 12 games (their
five non-quality starts are matched in the American League only by the
Twins), and a 3.19 ERA, which is three-hundredths of a run off the league
lead. And yet no Texas starter has more than one win.

No American League team has a lower fielding percentage than the .973 mark
owned by Texas, or a lower defensive efficiency rating (.6864), or more
errors (13), or more unearned runs (11).

No American or National League team hits worse than the Rangers' .184 with
runners in scoring position, or their .192 with runners on base.

This time last year, Texas was 5-7, in fourth place in the West, two games
back.

Today, Texas is 5-7, in fourth place in the West, 2.5 games back.

Meanwhile, day off for the Stars and Ducks, with both teams working out in the metroplex this morning… How about that Mike Ribeiro?….

Center Mike Ribeiro was expected to flourish in his second season with the Dallas Stars. With flashy passes, shifty moves and his knack for slowing the tempo, Ribeiro didn't disappoint much during the regular-season schedule.

But the question remained: with tougher matchups in the postseason, with opponents such as the Anaheim Ducks intent on smothering him, could Ribeiro still deliver?
Judging from the first two games, apparently so.

Ribeiro was one of several players who needed to be good, if not great, for the Stars to thrive in the playoffs. He and linemates Brenden Morrow and Jere Lehtinen were expected to continue their goal-scoring proficiency beyond the regular-season schedule. And so far, nobody has disappointed.

"They've just made some things happen in the game, and that's a credit to the players that they are," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "Those players get a lot of focus, but they've been able to capitalize on the power play, and they've been very strong."

That goes especially for Ribeiro. His breakaway goal in the first period Saturday was a beauty, a quick flip to his backhand that gave the Stars the early lead. He added two assists, and has five points (one goal, four assists) in the Stars' 2-0 series start against the Ducks.

Morrow, whose power-play goal in Game 1was set up by Ribeiro's patience and pass, is still stupefied.

"He's surprised me so many times this year. I should be used to it," Morrow said. "To see how small he is and the type of stuff he can do. And when he gets hit, he gets up and finishes the game."

Ribeiro is one of a few Stars with a target on his back. But in these past two games, he has found his space and capitalized on it.

"You expect that from a guy like that," defenseman Stephane Robidas said. "You know in the playoffs he's going to face the best defensemen and best defensive forwards."
He hasn't been dealing with slouches. Ribeiro's line expected to tangle with Ducks forwards Sammy Pahlsson, Travis Moen and Rob Niedermayer in the postseason, and it has. But Ribeiro and mates have found ways to get the upper hand. In addition to his three points on Saturday night, Ribeiro drew a penalty that led to Jere Lehtinen's power-play goal in the second period.

Pressure and target-wearing didn't just start for Ribeiro with the playoffs. But he expected it to get tougher at this time of year. So far, he's been able to handle it just fine.

"It's been that way all year, but we have to create offense," he said. "It doesn't
change what we have to do."

After the concert last night, I enjoyed some great Flames – Sharks drama …

The chants Curtis Joseph has received at the Saddledome in the past have been very different than the cries of 'Cujo' that rained down upon him last night.

"It's usually slow and drawn out," the Calgary Flames backup goaltender said slowly, drawing out his own words. "With a different tone."

Making his Cowtown debut nearly three months after the veteran was signed to spell starter Miikka Kiprusoff down the stretch, Joseph helped the Flames to a remarkable comeback in a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks to take a 2-1 lead in their opening-round series.

Kiprusoff started, but was pulled 3:33 into the game after allowing three goals on
five shots to temporarily quiet the Sea of Red.

In the silence, you could almost hear the flustered Flames goaltender's stick crack as he slammed it against the glass on his way through the bench to the locker-room to cool off.

But Joseph -- whose last playoff win was as a visitor to the 'Dome as a member of the Detroit Red Wings in 2004 -- earned many an ear-bending chant in Kiprusoff's absence in his first home game as a Flame.

Head coach Mike Keenan was ready for the questions about a possible goaltending controversy as a result.

"I knew you'd have a controversy going, so you'll have to wait and see," said Keenan, who will surely go back to his star netminder for Game 4 tomorrow night.
But Joseph deserves credit for his play after coming in cold.

"It would be interesting to see if you had a heart-rate monitor on you how much it jumps," said Joseph of receiving the tap. "We scored four goals, and that's good news."

I always say that watch any back 9 of a Sunday major and you will love it. Perhaps, we learned yesterday that not every Sunday is great …nobody challenged Trevor at all…

How about Mother Nature? She had the run of the place Sunday afternoon during the final round of the Masters, otherwise known as The Day Tiger Woods Wanted To Shriek.

It was there for Woods. A fifth green jacket. A 14th major. Another
chance to pour more cement around his golf legacy.

Instead, he was done in by his own numerous mistakes, an even-par 72 that could have been strokes lower, and by the 35-mph gusts that had Augusta National's flags standing straight out from their flagsticks. Either that or someone kidnapped his putting stroke.

"I just didn't quite have it this week," Woods said.

There's no polite way of saying it: Woods yacked away his chances at a Masters that was absolutely his for the taking. And with it goes any more of his talk about a 2008 Grand Slam.

"I learned my lesson there with the press," he said. "I'm not going to say anything."

So South African Trevor Immelman won. Or maybe more accurately, he didn't lose. Sometimes they're one in the same, especially at this course.

"It's the craziest thing I've ever heard of," said Immelman of a 12-month period that has seen him battle through an intestinal parasite and a cancer scare.

Then there are the non-health-related issues: a Tiger scare.

"You know, the guy boggles my mind," Immelman said. "This guy is frightening."

Immelman, 28, led from start to finish, becoming the first player since 1980 to lead or share the lead in every round. If he was worried about Woods, he didn't show it. No need.

Afterward, in Butler Cabin, defending champion Zach Johnson helped Immelman slip his arms through the sleeves of the coveted green jacket. Immelman's new favorite piece of clothing came with some history attached to the lapels.

Thirty years ago, Immelman's boyhood hero, Gary Player, won his
third and final Masters title. Player left a voice message for Immelman on Saturday night, telling him, "I know you're going to win." Immelman put the message on speakerphone and played it for his entire family.

SI VAULT: Josh Beckett and Josh Hamilton feature …great reading…

And, the Mavs lost, but more on them tomorrow...

Email:

I don't think that I will see the game tonight since I am in Sharks broadcast territory, but listening to the radio broadcast on XM lst night, they brought up Bob Errey, then captain of the Sharks as the team prepared for the '94 playoffs.

A couple of nights before the playoff series with the #1 seeded Red Wings began, Bob was laying in bed and couldn't sleep. Errey won a Stanley Cup while in Pittsburgh and was thinking about what it takes to succeed in the playoffs. After awhile he decided to jot down what he was thinking which he shared with the coaches and all the players. Mayn are very simplistic

Here are his 16 Points for Playoff Success.

1. It takes 16 WINS to win the Stanley Cup
2. 4 Wins per series
3. Never dwell on the past (good, bad, win, lose)
4. Never take anything for granted
5. One shift is as important as 20
6. Rest
7. Confidence
8. Momentum
9. Throw statistics out the window
10. Luck
11. Play bigger
12. Never retaliate
13. Get pucks out, get pucks in
14. Never out of a game (ie. high sticking major = 5 minute PP)
15. Have fun
16. Heart is more important than skill

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