Vicente! Vicente! Vicente!

"This is a simple game. You throw the ball; you hit the ball; you catch the ball!" -- Nuke LaLoosh, to reporter in "The Show".

Rangers newcomers make baseball look easy …

Nevin's homer put the Rangers ahead 4-0 in the first, when the first four batters reached base. Mark Teixeira had an RBI single, and Nevin followed with a drive to left field.

His two-run single with two outs in the fourth made it 6-0 and finished off Wakefield, who took the loss. Hank Blalock greeted Lenny DiNardo with an RBI single.
Brad Wilkerson, the Rangers' new leadoff hitter, was 3-for-5, scored three runs and homered leading off the sixth against DiNardo. Rod Barajas added a two-run homer in the seventh against David Riske.

Wakefield allowed seven runs and seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks. After going 16-12 last season when he pitched exclusively as a starter for the first time since 1996, the knuckleballer became only the third Red Sox to pitch in parts of 12 seasons. The others are Roger Clemens and Bob Stanley, who each pitched 13 seasons in Boston.

Josh Bard had a tough first start for Boston — three passed balls in the 4 2-3 innings catching Wakefield. That matched the number of passed balls he had in 220 innings as Cleveland's backup last season.

Padilla moved up a day into the No. 2 spot to replace Adam Eaton, out up to three months because of a sprained tendon in the middle finger of his pitching hand.
Manny Ramirez struck out twice against Padilla. The second was on a 94-mph fastball in the sixth inning, and Padilla threw to only one more batter after that.

Mavs spank Kings …remember when the Kings were really, really good? Good times…

Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points, Josh Howard had 23 and Josh Powell dazzled during a game-breaking stretch of the second quarter, helping the Dallas Mavericks shatter Sacramento's nearly monthlong run of strong defense with a 127-101 victory over the Kings on Tuesday night.

Sacramento, which is trying to hold onto the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, hadn't allowed more than 98 points its last 13 games – but gave up 63 in the first half. Dallas broke 100 with 54 seconds left in the third quarter and wound up topping its season-high for points by six.

The Mavs also made a season-best 61.3 percent of their shots, including 72.2 percent in the third quarter. Seven Mavs scored in double figures, with reserve center D.J. Mbenga just missing with eight. Powell had a season-high 12.

He’s Back! Quincy signs with Montreal …

Former NFL quarterback Quincy Carter signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL on Tuesday.

Carter, who played for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets, signed a one-year contract with an option for 2007. He will be at Alouettes' training camp in May.
"I'm proud to join the Montreal Alouettes," Carter said in a statement. "This is a great opportunity for me to do what I love best, which is to play football."

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Carter had his best season with the Cowboys in 2003, throwing for 3,302 yards and 17 touchdowns. He left Dallas the following season to join the Jets, where he threw for 498 yards and three touchdowns in seven games.

The MLS is at it again: Please welcome “Inter Toronto” …

The first international club in the league, the name Inter Toronto FC (an obvious reference to Inter Milan) seems like an ideal choice for the club. It is just the latest in a recent round of MLS clubs re-branding themselves to sound more European.
Over the last few years teams such as FC Dallas, Red Bull New York, Real Salt Lake, Club Deportivo Chivas USA, and Dynamo Houston have been either added, or renamed from typical North American style nicknames.

Inter Toronto FC is expected to play their first games in April of 2007 at the new Toronto soccer stadium located on the site of the old Exhibition Stadium.

I know I have said it before, but I shall say it again: Stealing the names of European Soccer teams is not the way to go. You cannot grab things that appear European (names, uniforms) to attract fans of the European game, and then Americanize the sport with things that do not exist in Europe! There is no draft (nor SUPERDRAFT) and there is no playoff format to determine a league champion. Either do it the right way, or name every team after an animal like the sports in the US do, and completely ignore the way the beautiful game is run where it is #1. It would seem that someone in MLS would understand that those of us who love the sport overseas love the way they do things. What we don’t love is a completely meaningless regular season, followed by 80% of the league making the playoffs. We also don’t love conferences for a league with only 12 teams. That makes almost no sense. Have 1 league table (the soccer fans know what I am talking about) and decide your champion the European way. Or, the easier way might be to stop with the silly names that confuse the natives (like Football Club Dallas – when football means something quite different in Dallas) who do not follow the sport worldwide anyway.

Incidentally, FC Dallas looked good Saturday and have Real Salt Lake on Saturday at home …Real Salt Lake…Not Fake Salt Lake….

And now, some links that you the reader have sent me:

The Aggie War Hymn played with the traditional musical instrument of Indonesia, the angklung. …Seriously, is this blog the bomb or what?

Kidd Kraddick versus Kevin Federline in a dance contest...



Yanni gets arrested …

Did Shawn Bradley ever get dunked on? Let us count the ways …

The great Gatorade experience …

Pirates attack! …

That concludes the reader contributions for today. You should all be proud of yourselves…

The Weekly Buccigross Hockey Column …It is usually solid. This week is no exception…

"There is no more passionate owner in sports than Bill Wirtz and the Wirtz family. ... This is just going to be a question of getting back on track. They were a little unlucky, and they have acknowledged they made some mistakes."
-- Gary Bettman on the state of the Chicago Blackhawks

Vomit. Die, Bill Wirtz!

Salty ham.com looks at the Shield …

And now, email:

What does Sports Sturm think of this?!?!?

Some people think there are members of the Packers' front office who quietly wouldn't mind if Brett Favre retired and that the future Hall of Fame quarterback wouldn't mind being released so he could sign elsewhere, perhaps even with the Vikings.
-- St. Paul Pioneer Press

I would kill myself if he became the Vikings QB. And, I doubt I am joking…

Hey,

I was typing this during your discussion about the ovary jersey and then you read my mind. I think they need to have Modano wear the old North Stars jersey at least once again before he retires. Whether it is a third jersey or just a one time thing, I think he needs to wear that jersey. Could be against the Wild, but I would love to see that sweater on the ice with the Blackhawks again.

Later,

Paul

Paul, we have got to get this done! I would love it. Check out how great this would be for a 3rd jersey:

Bob, I was listen to the post game show tonight and your discussion about Hockey's popularity in Dallas. I will agree that there is only a minor hockey buzz in the city right now. I think there is one major reason for that, that over-shadows all others. That reason is the negative attitude of the media (BaD radio not included). It's sad to say, but I believe most people are sheep. They believe what they are told to believe and they follow what they are told to follow. The Dallas media and American media in general puts out the message that hockey is not worth paying attention to, that it's a fringe sport. The general public buys into this. The public reads in the DMN that the Stars game only scored a 1.1 in the ratings and the writer says it's because hockey doesn't translate well to TV. The general public reads this and assumes it's the truth. So, given the choice of watching the Mavs or the Stars, the sheep will watch basketball, because they've been told hockey is hard to follow on TV. Plus hockey is some foreign sport that only Canadian's holed up in igloos should care about anyway.

Junior Miller said in the FWST a couple of years ago that the Musers don't talk hockey because none of their listeners call to talk hockey. I wrote him and said hockey fans are not going to call a person who knows less about hockey than they do to ask a question. Why would a hockey fan call and ask him a question about the Stars power play, when they know he hasn't watched a full game yet this year.

If the media gave hockey equal coverage, the interest level would rise to the same level. I really don't understand the negative attitude the media has towards hockey. Even the writers who used to cover hockey, before moving on to other sports, rag on hockey.

Sorry for rambling,
Drew

Here is one on Bob Knight and the poor season in Tech land:

Hey Bob – here’s the rumored “inside scoop” on the reason for Bob Knight’s failed season this year. A relative of mine who lives in Lubbock says that it has been announced that Pat Knight (Bobby’s son) will take the reigns as coach when Bob retires. Apparently, that has been part of the agreement from the beginning and part of the reason Knight took the job in Lubbock (though no one knew it until now). So the scuttlebutt (as 1920s Reporter Guy would say) is that Knight eased off the coaching this year and let Pat do a lot of the work while he made reality tv shows. Bobby expected Pat to coach and win (wins that would go on Bob’s resume) and then retire after this year as the winningest coach in history (he’s close to passing Dean Smith). But Pat’s coaching didn’t go too far and now Bobby is going to have to coach again next year to get his record-beating wins and he’s also going to have to figure out how to make his son a decent coach in the mean time. My prediction: a good TT season next year, a retirement, and a buy-out/firing of Pat within 2 years after that.

Of course, not one iota of this is confirmed. But I thought I would pass along the rumors that I’m hearing from Lubbock.

Ryan

But, I thought they shot the tv show in October…

Sturminator,

Yesterday on the blog you had a post from the NY Times about Mike Wallace on the Tiger interview, which was interesting to hear his perspective. However, I think that the more important point is the actual subject of the article. Does it not make you crazy that ESPN is so hypocritical when it somes to the Barry bonds thing? Much like Greggo, I am infuriated at the sight of Bonds and the thought that he is ruining the greatest tradition in the greatest game we have. To compound this I am driven absolutely nuts by the idea that MLB and the Giants are planning to celebrate this fraud. Next, we have to deal with the largest sports news outlet in the world PAYING HIM TO BE ON THEIR AIR!

Most of the regular media seems to be paying slight attention to him and the steroids, fewer are talking about MLB's support of him, and ESPN's support is being relegated to the media critics in the opinion pages. Here, thanks to Belo, the Dallas Morning News won't write anything about it.

Here's my point. You have the power to let alot of people know about this. I am not trying to get you to start a movement or boycott. But I am encouraging you to book this into your show. You and Dan have always been good about criticizing media when they need it the most, and there is no time like the present.

Please don't neglect this. It deserves the attention that it isn't getting.

P1 Justin

And now, more email on fan loyalty:

Bob,

I'm listening to you talk today about all of the TO 'I don't wanna be a Cowboy fan anymore' talk.

I'm a Yankee fan and I just don't understand that line of thinking. I remember the Stump Merril years, The Ricky Henderson experiment and the A Rod slapping incident. All dificult to deal with, but not enough to throw down my pinstripes.

WHAT IS THE POINT OF BEING A FAN IF YOU'RE GOING TO BAIL THE FIRST TIME THEY
DO SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE?!?!?!

I hate Jose Conseco. I don't understand why the Yankees ever, ever, EVER had anything to do with him. He's the only ball player I've ever heckled...And it was when he came through town as a Yankee.And it really stings knowing that he was on the roster when they lost won the World Series in 2000.

But that didn't keep me from rooting for the Yankees that year or any other year.

So go A Rod, Go Damon, Go Jeter, Go Unit.

Crazy man...crazy.

Billy The Texas Yankee

---

I'm loyal to the Cowboys….I hate the Cowboy fan that says they have hated the Cowboys or whatever since Landry was "fired". I could care less.

I hate the Cowboy fan that says they hate the team for moving to Arlington. I could care less.

I hate the Cowboy fan that says now that T.O. is a Cowboy, they are out. I could care less.

T.O. standing on the star….could care less. I care about wins and championships. DEFEND THE ENDZONE next time!

Yes, they frustrate me at times with their moves. I couldn't stand the Campo years! But, anyone that knows me, knows I have supported them since 1989. As you know, I have been to every training camp since the 1992/93 season. I even named my kid after Troy. I am already planning to go to the HOF ceremony (thanks Bob for the advice) and plan to go to Oxnard (just to annoy BaD Radio again). Heck, I got a freaking job with the Cowboys (part time). I have basically made them the center of my own tiny, little world. No matter, even moving to Arlington, I support that star.

Love you.
Michael
---

Bob,

I agree with you 100% on your description of a die hard fan. I've been married for 11 years and I have two kids. I am just as big a fan of the Cowboys now as I was as a kid. I love my wife and my kids are everything to me, but my interest in the Cowboys has not changed. While in the military and stationed in Japan, I would get up at 3 a.m. on Monday morning to watch the Cowboys on T.V. These T.O. haters are idiots, I'm sure as soon as he starts scoring TDs and leading them to the playoffs, they will be right back on board.

Keep up the good work, as usual your hot sports opinions are right on.

Later,
Woody in Rowlett

---

Bob and Dan,

I listen to the ticket online everyday and I an a really die heart fan

I tried to call in today and tell you what I did , to prove just how much I love my
dallascowboys. I am a restaurant manager for Chipotle, we cater the food for the
sorry ass redskins every week . 3/26/06 I received my T.O. jersey in the mail .
I put the jersey on just before we arrived at the Redskins park , needless to say
they were not happy with me. my boss called me very very upset . he asked me
not to do it again. BOB & DAN , to all of the so called die heart cowboys fans who
are leaving because of T.O. tell them GOOD RIDDANCE.

SIGNED E. CARL SMITH-DIE HEART FAN
FROM FALLS CHURCH, VA
---

Bob,
Caught your segment on the TO thing and "Die Hard Fans" today.

I wrote a letter to the Editor of the FWST (which of course went unpublished) saying nearly the exact same thing in response to all those letters they published from supposed die hard fans that were done with the Cowboys after the T.O. signing.
That Star incident was so completely overblown it was pathetic. I really fell that it was handled on the field by Cowboys players, not to mention that T.O. served a one game suspension afterward.

If you remember, after the first celebration on the star, Emmitt ran out and "reclaimed" it after his next TD. When T.O. tried it again, George Teague handled it. It was high drama for sure, but that's about it. To hear some people talk about it, you would have thought that T.O. hauled Rowdy out there and cut his head off or something.

There have been so many reasons for the casual fan to jump on another bandwagon during the history of the Cowboys. I would venture to say that a lot of these guys that are jumping ship now had only recently gotten their memorabilia collection back up to snuff after they ditched them after the Landry dismissal.

Bottom line, if these guys are really die hard fans, then they will be back...they will latch onto something that T.O. does this season that in their mind, "makes up" for the star incident, or, they will just quietly skulk back when the winning starts, hoping that nobody will notice.

I know you check the board at scout.com from time to time. Some of these same T.O. haters will start a thread there wondering if Ray Lewis would be a good FA pickup. If you ask me, what he was caught up in is a lot worse than anything T.O. ever did. Oh, and these same T.O. haters would be bitching by the 4th or 5th game of the season if the Cowboys were losing because they had a chance to pick up T.O. and they didn't. This is borne out by the many conversations that have been had concerning Randy Moss.

Keep up the good work and tell Dan to quit being a pansy and pick a team.

Dan
---
Bob, you are normally the voice of reason and sanity on the show. Today, I am not so sure.

I have been a Cowboys fan always. Went to the Thanksgiving day game every year as a kid. Caught a Drew Pearson sweat band one year after the game as he threw it in the stands. Actually WAS at the 1979 Redskins game, 35-34 Cowboys win that December (man was it cold). Blah, Blah, Blah.

Now, I am conflicted with the T.O. signing. Many people are mad about his disrespect of the star. I was as mad as anyone that day, but that was just a guy with talent scoring on you and rubbing your nose in it. Maybe he was a bad sport, but if you can get that talent on your team to rub it in someone else's nose, GO FOR IT!

What bugs me is his disrepect for his current teammates and players. You say a die hard fan will stick with the team through thick and thin. Now I know in this day and age players are always switching teams. But as a fan, I expect my players while on my team (whether for 1 year, 3 years, 7 years or whatever) to stick with their team and teammates through thick and thin.

THAT IS NOT T.O. He has thrown 2 teams under the bus. Calling out quarterbacks, disregarding coaches and owners, turning his back on his teammates. I don't want that player on my team.

I will always be a Cowboys fan, and I ultimately want success for the Cowboys. However, I do not want success for T.O., so I can't root for Cowboys success at the moment. If somebody breaks T.O.'s leg halfway through the season, then GO COWBOYS.

Maybe in your mind that makes me not a die hard fan. But truly, you are nothing but a guy with an opinion, just like me.

Kendall in Willow Park

By the way, love the show. Even though I never listen.
Babyarm.

Good stuff. Keep em coming.

"I Stink"

It is just one game, Millwood looks like a Ranger, and Big Papi is good…Padilla vs. Wakefield tonight.

Millwood, who is supposed to lead this staff by example, made no excuses. After allowing five runs in five innings, all of them after there were two outs, Millwood channeled all-time Rangers win leader Charlie Hough. After losses, Hough used to drag off a cigarette and say plainly: "I stunk."

Though recent results have often suggested the same answer would apply, Rangers pitchers have rarely echoed that sentiment. Over and over Monday, Millwood said his outing simply was unacceptable.

"I threw too many bad pitches," said Millwood, who won the AL ERA title with Cleveland last year and signed a five-year, $60 million deal with the Rangers in December. "I stopped locating pitches. It was a frustrating day, whether it was opening day or not. I'd be frustrated by this kind of performance in July. I'd be frustrated by this kind of performance if I won. I expect a lot more out of myself."

In Boston, Schilling is back in form …

Now Schilling is back. At least he was yesterday. In the Sox' first Opening Day win since 2000, Big Schill stuffed the slugging Rangers, holding Texas to five hits and two runs over seven innings in an impressive 7-3 victory over the team that used to be owned by Schilling's favorite president.

''Curt looked great," said Sox owner John W. Henry, who watched the early innings in the lower boxes. ''That was as big as the win today. Bigger, actually. It means a tremendous amount to this club to see him healthy and pitching well."

Catcher Jason Varitek seconded that emotion, saying, ''Curt set the tone, big-time, for us. People don't understand the severity of the injury he had and he still tried to pitch for us. If he throws the ball like he did today, we're going to have a chance to win a lot of games."

Schilling was 21-6 for the Red Sox in that magical season of 2004, his first in Boston. But he was getting shots in his ankle after April that season and yesterday said he's feeling stronger than he has at any time since 2002 (23-7 for Arizona). This is bad news for American League hitters and great news for Red Sox Nation.

''He is at the top of his game," said Rangers skipper Buck Showalter, who managed Schilling briefly with Arizona in 2000. ''You've got to tip your hat to him. When you are playing against a guy like him, there is not much room for error."

I know sports are tough. I know life in sports is tougher. Trust me, when I watched a disappointed Martin Skoula slowly slip in a cab outside a Calgary hotel after the Stars had traded him a few weeks ago, you realize that being a professional athlete is not perfect.

Having said that, I will recognize that the Rangers hate to lose their little buddy, David Dellucci. By all accounts, DD was a good dude, stand-up guy, and popular in the room. Here are the comments from Mark Teixeira and Mike Young:

Tex ….

"It's tough when your No. 2 starter goes down and you trade the most popular guy in the clubhouse," first baseman Mark Teixeira said.

Young …

Many people associated with the team expressed sorrow to see such a vocal team leader go.

"I was shocked. I didn't think Looch was going anywhere, considering how productive he was," shortstop Michael Young said. "... I can't let my personal feelings get involved here, because [today is] Opening Day."

OK. Mark and Mike are sad that DD is gone. I get that. What I don’t get is what would ever make these guys happy! So, last August, the Rangers two best players tee off on management at the trade deadline for not doing anything and getting them help. Now, management gets them help and they are not happy what they had to give up to get it. I have a thought for both of them: Shut-up. They are getting pitching to make you guys happy so that you will want to stay here, and if they have to trade a buddy to get it, try to remember your hot opinions of 8 months ago. If I was Jon Daniels, I would tell these guys to worry about playing.



Florida dominates; bores America ….

The Gators defeated U.C.L.A., 73-57, on Monday night for Florida's first N.C.A.A. tournament championship. And these Gators, who had a No. 3 seeding, will truly go down as one of the consummate teams in tournament history.

The Gators began the season an unranked group of nobodies and ended it in resplendent fashion, with their run of five blowouts in six tournament games as dominant as it was improbable. Florida beat its opponents by an average of 16.0 points and dominated U.C.L.A., leading for the final 37 minutes. In perhaps the most telling statistic, the Gators had assists on 21 of their 26 field goals.

"It was really a total team effort," said Florida Coach Billy Donovan, who at age 40 became the second-youngest coach to win the tournament.

Noah won the tournament's most outstanding player award. He scored 16 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and set a title-game record with 6 blocked shots. But four Gators finished in double digits, and many others could have easily laid claim to the award.

Chmura pounds Favre …Trouble in Packerland continues….

"People who don't think that it's all about him are fooling themselves," said Chmura, referring to Favre not yet making known his plans to return next season or retire. "With a quote like, 'What are they going to do, cut me?' It's all about him."
Favre made his comment about getting cut last week to reporters. It sounded like a line tossed out in jest, but some observers, including Chmura, have chosen to see an example of Favre's arrogance in it.

"It's OK to think it, but you can't say stuff like that," Chmura said. "That's this guy's mind-set."

Chmura, 37, said Favre was hurting the Packers organization by not letting them know what he is going to do.

"Where it's hypocritical is, he's very critical of Javon Walker and he's not a team player, you know he (Walker) doesn't care about the team," Chmura said. "Well, what is he (Favre) doing now? I mean, does he think this is the best thing possible for the team? I mean, they have one quarterback on the roster who they like, who hasn't even started one NFL game. They have to know."

Chmura's comments about Favre occupied about 10 minutes of air time. He said Favre was stringing the Packers along by not making up his mind.

"These quotes are 'I am better than the game,'" Chmura said. "'I will make my decision when I want, and Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy aren't going to tell me what to do,'" Chmura said, referring to the Packers' general manager and coach.
Chmura said if Favre returned it would be for the money.

"He had the other quote in the newspaper saying if he comes back this is definitely his last year," Chmura said. "Well, the Packers aren't going to the Super Bowl. They aren't close to the Super Bowl. I think if they keep going in the direction they are, they can go 8-8, 9-7. Why come back? Why, if not for the money?"

Chmura said Favre did not support him during his trial.

"He's a selfish guy," Chmura said. "He's a very selfish guy. And what people don't know, I'm not going to say this to throw the guy under the bus, but this is a guy from my arrest to my acquittal never called me one time."

A Cowboys-heavy MMQB with Peter King …

Whatever happened to Craiggers? …Hasn’t Kilborn fallen off the face of the earth?

Matt Mosely, bit guy …

The Channel 8 streaker …unedited of course….

soccer rap ….

So, you want to get rich by fighting in the octagon? Well, you can put duct tape on your back window …Folks, there is very little money in this…

In fact, since the last three links were all from youtube.com, go there, search “1310” and enjoy…

Opening Day Pessimism

Well, here we are. Opening Day in Arlington, Texas, and hope springs eternal! Sort of.

So, with a little help from Jamey Newberg , I offer you this year’s edition:

the Rangers' Opening Day roster is as follows:

Pitchers (12): Antonio Alfonseca, Joaquin Benoit, Fabio Castro, Francisco Cordero, R.A. Dickey, Scott Feldman, John Koronka, Kameron Loe, Kevin Millwood, Akinori Otsuka, Vicente Padilla, Brian Shouse

Catchers (2): Rod Barajas, Gerald Laird

Infielders (7): Hank Blalock, Mark DeRosa, D'Angelo Jimenez, Ian Kinsler, Phil Nevin, Mark Teixeira, Michael Young

Outfielders (4): Adrian Brown, Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix, Brad Wilkerson

As a point of reference, I believe Benoit, Cordero, Dickey, Loe, and Shouse make up the 5 pitchers left over from last year’s staff. Don’t buy houses if you are a pro athlete.

So, what will happen this season? As much of a homer as I can be, and I can be a big one, I just can’t give you a good prediction on the little red shoed Rangers. Not enough arms yet. But, I will be one of the few to trumpet the trade of Saturday as I love Rob Tejeda. I saw him pitch in person Last August and he knocked my socks off…Obviously, you must ask what the Phillies didn’t like about him, but they are getting a guy coming off a 29HR season in Looch. I like the deal a lot.

Meanwhile, The Rangers decided to give up on Juan Dominguez which was nearly as big a shocker as George Mason getting bounced on Saturday night. They thought so little of the guy that they thought they would even trade him to Oakland. Oakland of all places! So, it reminded me of the last time we gave up on a pitcher and he ended up in Oakland:

Texas was willing to give up on the Duchscherer, a Texan from Lubbock, because he allowed 20 earned runs in 14 innings, including five home runs, in a September cameo appearance.

"Pretty much it was, 'He doesn't throw hard enough to get big league hitters out,'" Duchscherer said. "They didn't stick with me and let me take my lumps and learn the ropes."

It was a career crossroads. Duchscherer wondered if any team would believe in him, but a call from A's general manager Billy Beane eased his doubts.

As Duchscherer remembered it, Beane told him essentially, "We like you and what you do. We know what stuff you have. We don't mind if you throw 98 (mph) or 88. Just get guys out. That's all we care about."

Duchscherer said, "That gave me some comfort that they weren't going to write me off just because I didn't throw hard. That's why Texas got rid of me."

Totally different circumstances, and I am sure there will be a totally different result. But, between Doug Davis and Justin Duchscherer, I am a bit tired of allowing someone else to reap the rewards of the Rangers farm system.

So, in conclusion, give me the Rangers at 82-80, good for 3rd place. That is the best I can do, but how about a 2007 rotation of Millwood, Tejeda, Loe, Volquez, and Danks? There is reason to believe that Daniels is building something worthwhile.

Other predictions:

ALCS = Angels and White Sox
NLCS = Cardinals and Dodgers

World Series = Cardinals beat the Angels

Links:

Mike Wallace on the Tiger Woods story …

Wallace, however, admitted that the two segments devoted to Tiger Woods on "60 Minutes" the previous day was a tank job, with Woods and Co. dictating the ground rules for what correspondent Ed Bradley could and could not ask.)

Worst Final 4 weekend ever? Tonight will tell the story on that. Give me Florida, but really, who cares? Parity looks good on paper, but when it gets down to it, you want Duke, UConn, and the usual suspects on that wall. You need them on that wall or you don’t care, either.

At least we know Yannick Noah had a son now ….



Oh no! Eagles fan cracks back at Terrell Owens …



What ever happened to Winnie? …

All things leprechaun …



What happens when a dude pranks his wife in his Darth Vader outfit? Hilarity …That’s what….

Bribes are cool …

LAGOS, Nigeria - Soccer referees in Nigeria can take bribes from clubs but should not allow them to influence their decisions on the field, a football official said on Friday.

Fanny Amun, acting Secretary-General of the Nigerian Football Association, said bribery was common in the Nigerian game.

“We know match officials are offered money or anything to influence matches and they can accept it,” Amun told Reuters on Friday.

Amun first made the statement earlier in the week to a soccer seminar in the capital Abuja, prompting protests from other officials.

“Referees should only pretend to fall for the bait, but make sure the result doesn’t favor those offering the bribe,” Amun said.

At the seminar, Nigerian league chairman Oyuiki Obaseki reprimanded referees for poor quality match reports, saying that bribery was to blame.

“The quality of your reports have not done our league any good, so please desist from corrupt practices,” he told delegates.

Despite a high-profile campaign to stamp out graft in the impoverished African country, Nigeria consistently ranks among the most corrupt countries in the world -- and soccer is no exception.

I know the links appear to lack any thing timely and relevant, so I might as well admit I posted these Sunday night. But, since I am not working on Monday, I guess this is better than nothing, right?

See you Tuesday Morning….

Friday Excuse for No Blog

As a creature of habit, my world has been turned upside down as this morning, my wife and daughter hopped on an airplane to see her family until Monday night. That leaves me and 17 month old Brett. Aside from my show today, lil' Brett and me are joined at the hip until Monday morning at 10:00 when I get a babysitter for opening day.

So, blogging will be second priority. This morning, I got nothing for you, and I will try to make up for it, but no promises until mom gets back. I know some of you dads do this all the time, but for me, this is the maiden voyage.

Party on.

News Filled Blog

NFL Owners mess with the game …I guess I just don’t get this…

The new rules require players to stay on their feet during celebrations — snow angels are out — and to not use any props. So the Bengals' Chad Johnson, who once celebrated a touchdown by dropping to one knee to propose to a cheerleader, would be hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for that action next season — but only if he dropped to his knee. If he is standing up, the act is legal. Many of Terrell Owens's stunts — from the situps to grabbing a pen to sign a football — are out. But Johnson's Riverdance celebration is acceptable.

If a celebration goes on too long, an official will warn the player to stop. If he does not, he will be penalized.

The limits were requested by player representatives during a meeting with members of the competition committee at the N.F.L. scouting combine. Three teams — Dallas, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay — voted against the limitations.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what Chad Johnson comes up with," Indianapolis Coach Tony Dungy said.

One of the members of the competition committee is Marvin Lewis, Johnson's coach.
Almost all the rules changes favor the offense and scoring, including:

Defensive players must try to avoid a low hit on a quarterback who has his feet planted even if the player is being blocked into the quarterback. That change stemmed from the rash of injuries sustained by quarterbacks in that situation, the best known being Carson Palmer's knee injury during the Bengals' playoff game against the Steelers. Still, the Steelers' Kimo von Oelhoffen, who rolled into Palmer, would not have been penalized on the play because he could not have avoided the contact.

If a runner is ruled down by defensive contact while fumbling, the play is now reviewable. But the call can be changed only when there is indisputable visual evidence of which team recovered the fumble.

The horse-collar tackle rule was expanded to include grabbing the inside collar of the back of the jersey, as well as the shoulder pads.

Defenders may not line up head-on with the center on field-goal and point-after attempts. Defenders must now line up in the gap next to the center.
Among the proposed changes that were voted down:

There will be no communication system in helmets so coaches can relay calls to a designated defensive player; coaches and quarterbacks currently have such a system.
A flinch by an eligible receiver that does not draw an immediate reaction from a defensive player will still be ruled a false start and a stoppage of play will be called. The competition committee wanted the flinch to not be ruled a false start.
"The defense seems to be on the wrong side of many of these," Carolina Panthers Coach John Fox said.

Owners tabled a proposal by the Kansas City Chiefs to expand the number of playoff teams from 12 to 14.

Andy Reid talks T.O….Sort of ….

Asked how he thought Owens would do in Dallas, Reid was brief.

"He'll be all right," he said.

Asked if he was surprised Owens would sign with Dallas, Reid again was brief.
"I had a pretty good idea that they were interested," he said.

Asked if he regretted ever bringing Owens to Philadelphia, Reid again recited a quick answer.

"I don't look back," he said. "I did what I did."

Owens said at his Dallas press conference that he's not the person that he was portrayed in Philadelphia, that there was another side to the story. Reid was asked if he'd ever seen that "other" side of the story.

"I'm probably going to see it in July," said Reid in reference to the scheduled summer release of Owens' autobiography.

Only after the line of questioning moved on to Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia, Reggie Brown and the rest of the current Eagles did Reid warm up to the discussion.

Across the room, Brad Childress was a bit more expansive about the top off-season acquisition by the Cowboys. Childress was Owens' offensive coordinator at Philadelphia. He's now the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.

"He's a phenomenal player between the white lines," Childress said. "He'll probably be much the same as when he came to us in Philadelphia. He'll probably be a good citizen and a very good player. He'll be a model ... this year."

Childress said he expects Cowboys coach Bill Parcells to sit down with Owens very soon.

"I know Bill will probably have a 'get right' meeting with him, tell him what his expectations are, what his rules are," Childress said. "And I think it will go from there."

I am becoming convinced of two things recently:

1) The Dallas Stars are very capable of a Stanley Cup. This is the first time I have felt this way since 2000, but there is no denying it any longer. I think they have all of the pieces in place, now that Willie Mitchell has sealed off the back end in a tense finish as well as anyone since another #2 skated back there. The Power Play is beginning to dominate, and despite the fact that Marty Turco will have to prove it, he has the look of a player ready to rise to the playoff occasion.

2) Dallas does not seem to care. This city seems largely indifferent to the Dallas Stars, despite the fact that no team in the sport has more wins, and they broke the 100 point barrier before we turn to April. I feel it is my duty to bring you up to speed on this, so I will. The Stars are a great story that you should check out before you miss it. I think we may have a World Championship in this town in the next few months, and the smart money right now says it is the hockey team that will win it. But, will anyone notice?

Stars 2, Ducks 1 …and bad blood was spilled. Rematch on Friday night in SoCal…

Stars get a little love in Sports Illustrated …

Does continuity breed success, or success continuity?

The Stars this week re-upped head coach Dave Tippett and assistants Rick Wilson, Mark Lamb and Andy Moog through the 2007-08 season to ensure they have their bases covered, whichever the case.

That group has been together for four seasons to date, and Tippett has a record of
135-68-30 over that time -- the best mark among active coaches.

The willingness to reward hard work and on-ice results with security is the backbone of one of the league's best-run franchises.

It's also why teams with their sights set on impending UFAs Jason Arnott and Willie Mitchell would do well not to get their hopes up. Free agents don't leave Dallas unless there's no place for them on the team (as was the case with Ed Belfour and Derian Hatcher). Given that the Stars should have enough financial wiggle room to accommodate both players -- and that the team should be able to compete for the Cup for the next several years -- there's no reason to think Arnott and Mitchell will break that trend.

Adam Eaton down for a while! …

This is almost the same injury that tormented Eaton last summer, forcing him to miss more than two months with two different trips to the disabled list.

"Pretty much one pitch, the last pitch I threw," Eaton said. "Similar injury, different tendon. It feels the same, just a different part."

Last year's injury was to a tendon in the middle of the finger. This pain is more toward the base but Eaton didn't like his chances of avoiding an extended stay on the disabled list.

"I can feel the finger, and slim [chance] it is on it's way out," Eaton said.
Eaton, acquired from San Diego in the offseason, faced just nine batters before feeling the tendon bite him on one curveball to Padres outfielder Dave Roberts.

Trainer Jamie Reed and Showalter went to the mound and Eaton immediately left the game.

Asked what his first thoughts were, Eaton said, "Three weeks ... no throwing."

Eaton was supposed to start on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers but said, "Judging by last year, I'm going to miss more than one start. It hurts just to squeeze the ball. I knew I couldn't put any pressure on it to throw a breaking ball."

Revo says to get Danks up to the bigs now …Wow, dude, I think that is crazy…

Mavs get spanked in Cleveland …nice 3rd Quarter…

James followed Kobe Bryant, Jason Richardson and – oh, yeah – Kobe again as players who have topped 40 points against the Mavericks, dumping 46 on them as the Cleveland Cavaliers danced to a 107-94 victory Wednesday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

For the second consecutive night, an MVP candidate overshadowed Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 29 points but could not will his team to victory. Just as Detroit's Chauncey Billups had one-upped Nowitzki on Tuesday night, James did it 24 hours later.

And so, the Mavericks (54-18) have a two-game losing streak. They also lost consecutive games against Milwaukee and San Antonio before Christmas.

"We don't like losing one in a row," coach Avery Johnson said. "You can only imagine how two in a row feels."

Fun with Steroid Investigations …

ESPN's confirmation of Mitchell as the head of the investigation comes after Wednesday's New York Times reported that Selig was on the verge of announcing an investigation into steroid use by Bonds and other players as detailed in the book "Game of Shadows" and that Mitchell's name was being floating around baseball circles as the outside person to head such an investigation.

ESPN has learned that Bonds and any other current player who may be part of this investigation will be allowed to play while the investigation is ongoing.

Selig has been under pressure for weeks to form an investigation. Two books being released this spring accuse Bonds of using steroids, human growth hormone and insulin for at least five seasons beginning in 1998 -- "Game of Shadows," written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, and "Love Me, Hate Me: Barry Bonds and the Making of an Antihero" by Jeff Pearlman. Baseball did not test for performance-enhancing substances until after the 2002 season, and Bonds has denied ever knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs

I believe we have an April Fool’s joke on our hands: The Dallas Observer claims Dirk has a CD coming out …

Die Hard – The Silent Movie …

Good times. Finally, I have been asked for the audio of Alec Baldwin vs. Sean Hannity; Here you go ...

Wednesday Links

Due to lack of time, I will offer only links and quotes today. Sorry.

Pistons edge Mavericks in the End …

They came to the Palace of Auburn Hills to make a stand, then wound up on the wrong end of one as the Detroit defense stood strong at the end, holding the Mavericks to two points in the final 4:30 and nothing in the final 2:19.

After Marquis Daniels' short baseline jumper put the Mavericks up 88-86 with 4:34 left, they were outscored 11-2, a clunker of an ending to an otherwise charged-up game.

"That's as good as it gets in this league," said Jerry Stackhouse of the playoff-intensive atmosphere. "It was a live feeling in the building. And we were right there.

"We're much better than we showed tonight. We normally close games out a lot better than we did. I just think we didn't play smart. That cost us the game, as well as offensive rebounds throughout the game."

The Pistons had lost by 37 at American Airlines Center in November. This time, neither team led by more than four points in the fourth quarter until Detroit pulled away in the final seconds.

The Mavericks did just enough to stay in the Pistons' shadow. And they did just enough wrong to sabotage themselves.

"We fought," Johnson said. "This was a playoff atmosphere. We wish we'd have been able to match their intensity down the stretch. But we didn't. We just did not execute. We were hesitant. We didn't get to the foul line. We didn't deserve to get there. We didn't make strong enough moves."

Stackhouse, Diop with big performances in big game …

Stackhouse, who played for the Pistons from 1997 to 2002, said he still feels comfortable at the Palace.

"Obviously, I'm quite familiar with these rims," he said. "And this was a competitive atmosphere. If you can't get up for that game, something's wrong."

The Mavericks got numerous strong efforts against the Pistons, including a nine-rebound showing from DeSagana Diop, who will be making an emotional return tonight to Cleveland, where he played his first four NBA seasons.

It was Diop's block of Rasheed Wallace's layup that helped spring the Mavericks to an 84-80 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Diop and Erick Dampier helped battle the Pistons' tandem of Ben Wallace and Antonio McDyess to a standoff.

But there were problems, such as Marquis Daniels' Shawn Bradley-like six fouls in 12 minutes. And the Mavs had no answers for Chauncey Billups or Rasheed Wallace, who like Stackhouse is a former North Carolina standout. He had 21 points and 10 boards, then threw Stackhouse some love.

"I wish he would have gotten it going against somebody else," Wallace said. "But Stack did his thing."

It just wasn't enough.

Dominguez doesn’t exactly step up in his final start …Sheesh. What a mess…

Dominguez was able to speak Tuesday. If not with his performance, he made his case verbally.

"I feel like I belong in the majors," an animated Dominguez said through an interpreter. "I think I can help this team. But it's not my decision. If they don't want me here, it's going to be very sad for me, but I'll still have a job to do in the minors."

Dominguez worked through the first two innings Tuesday in a brisk 25 pitches. In the third, though, he lost the strike zone.

He threw 12 balls in one 14-pitch stretch. Then Rangers left fielder Steve Murphy lost a ball in the sun. The next batter, Mark Kotsay, bounced a ball to first.

Dominguez was slow to get to the bag to take a throw from Phil Nevin. Showalter indicated it wasn't the first time this spring Dominguez has been late to the bag.
"That was my mistake," Dominguez said. "There were some little things that happened in the inning and I let it get away. I have to control myself more and stay focused."

Cowboys a bit interested in Joey Harrington? …

The Cowboys join Cincinnati, Denver, Kansas City, Miami, Oakland and Seattle as teams with permission to speak with Harrington. He visited with the Dolphins on Tuesday and has a visit scheduled with the Bengals today.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said his pro personnel staff has studied Harrington, but "I haven't talked to Bill [Parcells] about it at all."

Harrington, the third overall pick of the 2002 draft, has two years left on his contract, but the Lions have given him permission to seek a trade. He is scheduled to earn $4.45 million in base salary in both 2006 and '07. He's also is scheduled to receive a $4 million roster bonus June 15.

Haven't talked to Bill yet? Hmmm. Bill would eat Joey for lunch...

Amare hurt again …

Amaré Stoudemire did not want to talk Tuesday about how his comeback has been called off after three games.

And that said it all. He seems to be tired of reliving why his knees still ache. He seems to want to avoid rehashing how his past two games regressed into a shell of his former athletic presence. He does not want to give answers because perhaps he has none about what will happen now.

Stoudemire may not be back for the rest of this road trip or the rest of this season, a possibility that many suggested should have been the case all along. He will resume rehabilitation activity with the Suns holding out hope that he could recapture his athleticism with scrimmages and conditioning sessions rather than frustrating games like he had Saturday and Monday.

The Musers alerted me to this development Mavs had contacted Sprewell …

The Mavericks called about two weeks ago when they were dealing with a flurry of injuries.

"He said he would call back the next day. He never did. So we dropped the idea," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said via e-mail.

The Spurs also put in a call to Gist's office about a month ago, though nothing came of it.

"These teams recognize Latrell's value, and they've gone to their top players to ask them whether Spree would be a good fit," Gist said.
Sprewell made $14.6 million last season in the final year of a contract he signed after rehabilitating while with the New York Knicks. Sprewell led the Knicks to the 1999 NBA Finals after serving a 70-game suspension for his attack on former Golden State coach P.J. Carlesimo early in the 1997-98 season.

After turning down a three-year $21-million extension from the Timberwolves, explaining he had "a family to feed," Sprewell went unsigned last summer as an unrestricted free agent.

According to Gist, Sprewell made the mistake of waiting on the Los Angeles Lakers at a time when the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers all were expressing interest in signing him. But the Timberwolves and Lakers were unable to agree on a sign-and-trade deal that would satisfy both teams, and then other teams turned to other free agents. So by the time training camps started, Sprewell's only choice was to play for the veteran's minimum, which he feels is beneath him.

Homemade lightsaber duel …

Wow. This creeps me out, and yet fascinates me: With all of this myspace craze, someone has taken it upon themselves to put a site together featuring myspace people who die. It is mydeathspace.com …

Beyond the Boxscore puts the focus on the Rangers …

implosion World …



US College Hockey Online ….

Pistons Await...Ambush Ahead

Showdown in Detroit tonight…

The Mavericks and Pistons won't have a fire-and-brimstone rivalry unless they someday meet in the Finals. But since the Pistons got whacked by 37 points at American Airlines Center – their first loss this season after starting 8-0 – tonight's months-removed meeting at The Palace of Auburn Hills offers an intriguing story line.

Add the Mavericks' quest for credibility, and it has the chance to be a fun evening.
"Dallas is good," Detroit's Richard Hamilton said. "Their record speaks for itself. But when everybody was telling us we had an opportunity for 70 wins, [I said] if we don't win a championship, that's not a successful season for us.

"Whatever you do in the regular season is easy. You really got to step up in the playoffs. Until you do that, the regular season really doesn't mean anything."
Hard to miss that message if you're the Mavericks, although they would like to think averaging 57 wins the last five seasons means something. And it does, just like being on pace to win 63 games this season is an achievement.

But Rasheed Wallace amplified Hamilton's point.

"They've had good records the last few years," he said, "but weren't able to go far into the playoffs. That's one of the knocks people are saying about them."

Cowlishaw on the MVP campaign of the big German …

The Dirk Nowitzki-for-MVP bandwagon gets rolling at full speed tonight when the Mavericks face the Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills with the stakes being ...

Wait a minute. The Who-for-What?

Perhaps we should take this thing one step at a time. These are, after all, the Dallas Mavericks.

In a quarter of a century, the Mavericks have never produced a Most Valuable Player candidate, let alone an MVP. Goodness, this team's never even had an MIP which, if you aren't paying attention, is Most Improved Player. Current Maverick Darrell Armstrong won that honor in Orlando in 1999, just so you know.

The Mavericks never had a first-team All-NBA player until Nowitzki cracked through that barrier a year ago.

He hasn’t made anyone forget Ken Hitchcock…yet, but he has done a fine job and now, the Stars extend Dave Tippett and entire staff for another year …

Volquez shelled in his last start …and folks, the 5th starter race is turning comical…But, in case you forgot where I am on this: Juan Dominguez was 6 out of 10 quality starts last August and September. Give him the ball. And Honestly, a trade for that 5th arm is the best option…

Right-hander Edinson Volquez might have pitched himself out of the competition for the final spot in the rotation.

He had a horrid 38-pitch first inning that deteriorated into a six-run rally by the Mariners. Volquez, who allowed Milwaukee five runs in two innings Wednesday, fell apart after consecutive infield hits to start the game. The Mariners sent 10 batters to the plate and had five straight hits at one point.

Right-hander Juan Dominguez will try again to gain some degree of momentum today when he faces Oakland in Phoenix. Right-hander R.A. Dickey, who threw six shutout innings Friday, will pitch an inning or two and is scheduled to come back Saturday and start the exhibition finale. The schedule would put Dickey on pace to start the fifth game of the season.

Astros wrestle with Insurance Company over Bagwell …

NFL officials realized there was too much fun in the NFL ….

New Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, who, in 2000, celebrated a pair of touchdowns on the midfield star at Texas Stadium, will be allowed to celebrate in the Eagles' end zone at Lincoln Financial Field this season. But, if a new rule limiting players' celebrations is passed this week, Owens won't be able to use the football as a prop or go down to the ground.

His celebration also can't be deemed excessive.

"He better hurry up," said Falcons general manager Rich McKay, the co-chairman of the competition committee.

The rule will be enforced by a 15-yard penalty and is subject to a fine.

Billy Packer: college basketball ambassador of kindness …

SI reporter: "How difficult a sell would a Florida-LSU final be on the West Coast or even here in New York, where the SEC means something way different from the Southeastern Conference?"

Packer: "The SEC means something different?"

SI: "Securities and Exchange Commission."

Packer: "You need to get around the country a little bit and not be so parochial about being in New York. You [don't] sound like Sports Illustrated and more like a horse's [behind]."

Russell nailed all 4 ….

Russell Pleasant of Bellevue, Neb., was one of four people out of 3 million entrants in an ESPN.com contest to pick all the teams in this year's Final Four: LSU, Florida, UCLA and George Mason.

Pleasant said there was no secret method to picking the 11th-seeded Patriots. "I got them confused with George Washington," the 46-year-old said yesterday.

"I was filling in my bracket on the job and trying to do it pretty quick," Pleasant said. "When I got done, I said, 'Was that George Mason or George Washington?' "

According to statistics provided by ESPN, 1,854 of the 3 million brackets had George Mason making the Final Four.

In a rule Cowboys fans should like, Steelers’ Dan Rooney tries to get ticket-buying policies of teams that don’t have their own fans abolished …This is long overdue. Memo to Cardinals, Lions, Chargers, etc: If you don’t like it that the Steelers, Cowboys, Packers, and Giants fans buy all of your tickets when their teams come to town, then try selling them to your own fans!

Dan Rooney has proposed a rule that would prevent teams from making fans buy tickets to other games if they want to purchase one for a specific high-profile contest.
It is an obvious attempt to stop Steelers opponents on the road from forcing the team's fans to buy tickets to other games if they want to purchase a ticket to the game against the Steelers. The Bengals and Chargers were among those teams on the Steelers' schedule last year who had those policies. The proposal is given little chance of passing.

Lovie Smith not extended; but wildly underpaid …

Lovie Smith has two years left on his contract, but the Bears have decided not to extend or renegotiate it even though Smith is the lowest-paid head coach in the NFL at $1.35 million a year.

Still cautious after a bad experience redoing the contract of previous coach Dick Jauron, club President Ted Phillips said he wants to see another good year from NFL coach of the year Smith before he opens discussions about a new contract.

In only two seasons, Smith's market-value contract is out of date. Suddenly the dean of coaches in the NFC North, he will make less than Minnesota's Brad Childress and Detroit's Rod Marinelli—each $2 million a year—and less than Green Bay's Mike McCarthy ($1.9 million)—all starting their first seasons as head coaches.

By delaying a contract extension, the Bears will lose money if Smith has another good year, even though the perception now is they are trying to save money. "It's not about the money," Phillips said.

Drew Henson = good QB? …

And after two games in NFL Europe, he's the league's leading passer and his team is undefeated.

"It felt really good just to be back running the show," said Henson, who last was an unquestioned starter in 2000 as a junior at U-M. "Being under center is the most exciting thing for me, to be in the flow of the game, make plays to help the team when the game is on the line and be out there in the fourth quarter."

Henson said he hadn't played in the fourth quarter of a game since August, when he got some clean-up duty in an exhibition game with the Dallas Cowboys.

In two years with the Cowboys, Henson has played in seven regular-season NFL games -- all in 2004. Last season, he roamed the sidelines behind coach Bill Parcells as a third-stringer and eventually expressed an interest in going to Europe to get some playing experience.

"Dallas told me to get used to being on the field, game situations and running an offense," Henson said. "The playing part will take care of itself."

Henson, 26, beat out former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang for the starting job in Germany. He has played the first, third and fourth quarters in the first two games and played well.

He leads NFL Europe with a 91.3 passer rating, with 22 completions in 35 attempts for 229 yards and one touchdown and no interceptions. In Saturday's 22-0 victory over the Berlin Thunder, he was 17-for-24 for 171 yards and a TD.

P1 Nick Earl at Old Trafford (home of the evil Manchester United)…

great column on Tired sports debates …

Aggie Fans in a nutshell …Very amusing…

Yesterday, NBA Fights. Today, Best mound charges! …

Kip Dynamite in the news …

Big for this Cowboys fan loyalty …

Top 20 Dallas Stars prospects according to Hockey Future.com …

I have received quite a few emails regarding the Cowboys trading up to #2 with the Saints and having their choice of Matt Leinart or Vince Young. This is a popular idea from Cowboys fans, so I thought I would answer the idea on the blog.

The price is absurd.

According to Gil Brandt, Here is the points chart for the value of each pick in the draft. And here is what I found:

New Orleans = 2nd pick of the draft - 2600 points
Dallas Picks in the 2006 NFL Draft and points for each pick
1-18 900
2-49 410
3-80 190
5-145 33
6-172 22
7-207 8 =All picks total 1563 points

It would basically require 1st and 2nd in 2006, and the 1st and 2nd in 2007 to get to #2 to take Vince Young. And that price is way too expensive if you ask me.


UFC Fans, rejoice! The following are videos featuring UFC guys versus normal people. And don’t think for a second that we are not trying to secure someone to choke out a certain member of our show….

Joe Rogan versus Myspace challenger …

Joe Rogan chokes out radio dj …

Randy Couture chokes out traffic chick …

Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger

Triple Overtime! Triple Overtime! Wisconsin 1, Cornell 0 and the Badgers go to the Frozen Four!!!

See this is the good thing about having your own blog. Despite the fact that almost no readers care about the college hockey playoffs, I am selecting this dramatic victory as my lead story!

From the stick of UW defenseman Josh Engel to the stick of UW freshman winger Jack Skille and past a stunned Cornell goaltender David McKee.

"I just buried my head and shot it," an elated but exhausted Skille said after ending the second-longest game in NCAA playoff history. "That's usually what I do. I try to get all of it."

Skille got it all Sunday evening at the Resch Center.

His one-timer a little more than 11 minutes into the third overtime lifted UW to a 1-0 victory over Cornell in the Midwest regional final and sparked an emotional victory celebration. On the ice, the UW bench emptied instantaneously as Skille disappeared beneath his teammates. In the stands, the crowd of 8,086 fans, almost all dressed in UW attire, roared with a mix of pleasure and relief.

"We're going to the Frozen Four," Skille said, repeating the thought that crossed his mind when he saw the puck slam into the back of the net at 11 minutes 13 seconds of the third overtime. "We're going to Milwaukee."

UW, which fell one victory short of a Frozen Four berth in 1993 when the championship was played at the Bradley Center, didn't miss this chance.

The Badgers (28-10-3) face Maine (28-11-2) at 7 p.m. on April 6. Boston College (25-12-3) and North Dakota (27-10-2) meet at 2 p.m. in the first semifinal. The winners meet in the title game at 6 p.m. on April 8.

"We want more," UW senior captain Adam Burish said. "And we're going to work for more."

Cornell (22-9-4) made UW work harder for this victory than any other this season.
The teams combined for an NCAA-playoff record 100 shots, with UW peppering McKee with 60. Cornell stymied five UW power-play chances. McKee made six consecutive saves, in a span of 57 seconds, during the last of those power plays, late in the third period.

David McKee, Cornell Goalie and Irving kid, was dominant in the loss with 59 saves …

McKee, a Hobey Baker Award finalist last year, and Elliott, the only goaltender on the Hobey list this season, put on a show worthy of their resumes.

Elliott was credited with 40 saves and extended his streak of shutouts to three - a first in program history. His two biggest saves came in the third overtime, when he denied Big Red left winger Topher Scott on an odd-man rush and stoned left winger Matt Moulson at the doorstep.

"It's pretty incredible what he's doing," UW left winger Nick Licari said of Elliott, who was named the regional's Most Outstanding Player.

McKee made 59 saves and seemed to be getting stronger as the game went on for the Big Red (22-9-4). The winning goal came on a play when he thought a teammate would be stationed at the half-boards of the defensive zone. Engel was there instead and his quick pass to Skille left McKee vulnerable.

"(Skille) one-timed it and didn't give me time to react," McKee said. "It was a good play by him."

McKee’s Bio …

Class: Junior
Hometown: Irving, Texas
Height / Weight: 6-1 / 185
Position: Goaltender
Experience:2L
Last Team: Texas Tornado

Before Cornell
McKee joined the Big Red after a successful season with the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League. He posted a record of 26-7 with a goals against average of 2.41 and a save percentage of .899. McKee was named to the NAHL first team and was also named to the all-rookie squad.

Stars beat Calgary; Arnott very good again …



Above, George Mason.

Despite not caring about any of the 4 teams left, you have to admit the George Mason story is absurd ….

Little-known George Mason led mighty Connecticut by a point late in the first half. Within minutes, it trailed by 12. George Mason, which had never won an N.C.A.A. tournament game in its history until nine days earlier, somehow regained the lead against a team that had won two national championships since 1999.

George Mason lost the lead four more times. It took it back every time, repeatedly sending the Verizon Center crowd, rooting for history and the home team, into rafter-rattling delirium. A sign behind the George Mason bench read, "Can you hear us now?"
The message came through, loud and clear, after five minutes of overtime. With players dancing and administrators crying, a deep voice spun a crazy, swirling dreamlike celebration both deeper into euphoria and sharper into reality. "Your attention," a voice blared above the din. "Would the winners of the Washington D.C. regional please assemble on the center stage."

Up jumped the George Mason basketball players. Above the chaos, the scoreboard silently offered nothing but facts: Mason 86, UConn 84. The moment will last forever.

Ask Yahoo about low seeds …

Dear Yahoo!:
What's the lowest-seeded team to ever advance to the men's Final Four? What about to win it all?
Jeffrey
Burke, Virginia

Dear Jeffrey:
Everyone loves an underdog. And nowhere can you find more mutts howling for an upset than at the men's NCAA tournament. First-round shockers are to be expected at the Big Dance, but most party crashers bow out in the middle rounds to make room for the big, bad power schools. Have any Cinderallas stayed past midnight? Let's go to the videotape for a look.

Ever since the field expanded from 48 to 64 teams in 1985, the lowest-seeded squad to make it to the Final Four was LSU in 1986. An 11 seed, the Tigers lost to eventual champion Louisville. The lowest seed to win the championship was eighth-seeded Villanova in 1985. They capped an amazing run by toppling Patrick Ewing's mighty Georgetown team.

Kurt Busch wins a wild day at Bristol …as far as I am concerned, they could race at Bristol once a month…That is my favorite track…

How the heck do the Redskins get around the cap? They don’t. Todd Archer is on the case with a nice breakdown of what the Redskins do …

The Redskins' spending does create problems, such as having players no longer on the roster counting against a current cap. Eventually, the Redskins will have to pay a price against the cap for paying these prices for players now.
At least that's what their opponents hope.

But remember this: All it has gotten the Redskins is one playoff victory since Snyder bought the team in 1999.

The Reaper awaits in Detroit …

If the Mavericks really want to get Johnson's attention, it will happen Tuesday night against Detroit. A much-needed two-day break should let the Mavericks freshen up before their visit to the Pistons, who are heavy favorites to return to the NBA Finals in June. Having beaten them by 37 points in November, the Mavericks figure to see an angry bunch of Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

"They're going to play with a chip on their shoulder," Dirk Nowitzki said. "They got the best record in the league, and they're going to come out firing. They're so balanced, you can't really concentrate on one guy. It should be a great defensive battle."

That's the hope, anyway. The Mavericks are one game removed from probably their worst defensive game of the season when Golden State punctured them for 122 points at American Airlines Center.

"Avery gave us an earful after that defensive outing," Nowitzki said. "We scored 121 at home and still lost at home. That's not really our style. We want to set the tone defensively every game."

The question is whether that's realistic for these Mavericks. Their offense remains much more dangerous than their defense, which is why national media members continue to disregard them as unworthy of inclusion with San Antonio, Detroit and even Phoenix since the return of Amare Stoudemire.

Is there crying in basketball? …

Further rumors of Arrested Development’s future ….

25 best Arrested Development moments ….


Rob Petitti loves his mail …

Compliments of the NFL's performance-based pay program, Rob Petitti has a freshly invested $100,000 tucked away in a mutual fund, a special-order hot tub that is to be delivered to his Dallas home sometime Friday, an itch to make one more big purchase, and if possible, even more motivation for the 2006 season.

"To tell the truth, I was shocked, because I didn't realize [the PBP program] could be worth this kind of money," Petitti said of the bonanza bonus that arrived in his mailbox last week. "A guy told me, like, 'Oh, you might get $80,000 or $90,000,' and I was pretty cool with that. And then I found out how much I was going to get, and I couldn't believe it."

The second-year veteran, who started all 16 games for the Dallas Cowboys at right tackle in 2005, is now a true believer. Only the 209th prospect selected in the 2005 draft, having dropped into the sixth round after an injury-plagued senior season at the University of Pittsburgh overshadowed what had been an otherwise superb college career, Petitti is No. 1 on this year's performance-based pay roll call.

If you enjoyed the discussion on Friday of the Leprechaun, You may love this …If you don’t know what I am talking about then Click Here …

Bob,

There is a great story about a locla kid that plays hockey. He only has one normal arm. I have coached against him several times and he is a great hockey player. he will be going to Latvia to represent the USA. great story, chek it out.

Story Here …

Justin Miley

Wow. Thanks, Justin for that.

Dancing Ditka …

Turn down your speakers if you are at work and F-bombed Tupac offends the dude in the next cubicle over: NBA Fights …it will make you hate the Jazz all over again…

Meredith sent me this gold:

Just got this email from my friend...y'all need to get to the bottom of this:

"Chicago Cubs reliever Ryan Dempster is in the back of ESPN magazine this week (the one with Chri$ Paul on the cover) and he was asked if he saw Brokeback Mountain. He said yes, and he thinks there ought be a Brokeback Dugout. Dan Patrick asks who would be his Heath if he was Jack, and he said Gabe Kapler! He said not because he thinks he's gay, but he is a really well-built handsome man."

There will seldom be college hockey leading off the blog. But then again, it has been since 1992 since Wisconsin has been to the Frozen Four.

Madness in the Month of March

Texas lives to fight another day …actually, Saturday…

"I'm just glad the shot went in," said Paulino, who was two-of-eight from the field before his game-winning shot. "I haven't thought about the importance. I'm just living the moment."

The immediate significance for the Longhorns: Texas is one victory away from its second trip to the Final Four in four years. The Longhorns (30-6) will play No. 4 seed LSU (26-8) at 3:40 p.m. Saturday at the Georgia Dome for the right to advance to the Final Four in Indianapolis. LSU knocked off top-seeded Duke 62-54 in the other semifinal.

West Virginia had tied the game at 71 on a 3-pointer by Kevin Pittsnogle — one of 15 in the game for the Mountaineers — with five seconds remaining. The Longhorns immediately got the ball inbounds, and A.J. Abrams fed Paulino waiting on the left wing.

"The whole play was just to get down the court and get a shot up and see what happens," Paulino said. "Luckily it went in."

West Virginia (22-11) rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to briefly take the lead in the second half. The Mountaineers wiped out most of the halftime lead with a frantic 54 seconds to begin the second half, which included a pair of 3-pointers.

By the way, the conversation has come up, “has a team ever won the NCAA Football and Basketball titles in the same year?”. Also, Texas is presently the Baseball title holder, too, but it was the previous school year. If any of you have the answer, send it in. Otherwise, I will research that later today.

In fact, here is an email:

Ah-ite Sports Sturm,

I got a sports question for you. If Texas now goes on to win the NCAA tourney (now that Duke and Gonzaga are out of the way, it is definitely possible), has any school ever won a baseball, football, and basketball championship in a calendar year? And if we do, can you just throw Texas bone and admit: We’re Texas… the best that ever was? Never listen…

- P1 Miles, Fort Worth

Mavericks blow a big one at home …Jason Richardson = one of the more underrated players in the NBA?

The Mavericks overcame a seven-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter and had a six-point lead with 35 seconds left. But after making 30 consecutive free throws to start the game, the Mavericks missed three of their final eight when Golden State was forced to foul.

That set up a prayer from Richardson that was answered at the buzzer and ruined a sensational 51-point night by Dirk Nowitzki, who was serenaded to Most Valuable Player chants but would have traded everything for a free throw in the final 30 seconds.

Keyshawn gets 4 years in Carolina …

Complete financial details were not immediately available, and the two sides were still fine-tuning some elements of the deal late into the night, one team source acknowledged. But sources said the contract is worth approximately $3.5 million per year and that Johnson will receive a $5 million signing bonus on a contract that could be officially signed as early as Friday.

Meanwhile, Larry Allen signs with the 49ers …Not long ago, Owens for Allen would have been the biggest blockbuster in football…

Vanderjagt in the fold ….

Under Jerry Jones' stewardship the Cowboys had success finding unknown kickers from Chris Boniol to Richie Cunningham to Billy Cundiff.

Last year, that luck ran out, so Thursday the Cowboys jumped into the expensive end of the free-agent kicker pool by signing Mike Vanderjagt to a three-year deal worth $5.5 million, including a $2.5 million signing bonus.

In eight years in Indianapolis, Vanderjagt became the NFL's most accurate kicker in history, making 87.5 percent of his tries (217-of-248). The Cowboys have not had a kicker make 80 percent for a season since 1998.

If this is really true, I am amazed: Nascar Rain coverage beats NBA and Golf? ....

NASCAR on FOX's rain-out coverage Sunday from Atlanta Motor Speedway posted higher ratings than the NBA and PGA, according to BenMaller.com TV moles.

The Hollywood Hotel's extended rain broadcast with Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond proved to be more popular than an NBA matchup between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and the final round of a PGA event.

Sunday’s rain coverage generated a 3.3/7 overnight rating according to Nielsen Media Research, enough to beat head-to-head competition from a Lakers vs. Cavs NBA game on ABC by +39% (3.3/7 vs. 2.0/4) and the final round of the PGA’s Bay Hill Invitational on NBC by +18% (3.3/7 vs. 2.7/6).

Richie Whitt continues to monitor the Ticket since the Cowboys marriage …

Mike Rhyner is still calling Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells “The New Jersey Con Man.” Rhyner’s on-air partner, Greg Williams, is bashing Parcells for missing last weekend’s earth-shattering press conference to instead attend baseball spring training. And there are at least enough dissenting Terrell Owens opinions to form a small dog pile.

On its first major Cowboys story as the team’s flagship station, KTCK-AM (1310, The Ticket) stayed true to its tone. Host Bob Sturm gave Owens a decent grilling in his first one-on-one interview as a Cowboy, and pre- and post-press conference roundtables mixed in everything from George Dunham’s unyielding support of the team to Williams’ assertion that Owens is an “a-hole.” So far, concerns about the station cowering to its new master seem to have been exaggerated.

It’s early, but not too premature to appreciate the Cowboys’ shift to The Ticket. Former flagship station KLUV-FM (98.7) probably wouldn’t have carried the press conference live, much less held a forum or taken calls from listeners afterward. So, how much will we not miss KLUV? As one industry insider told me recently, “They made no effort to be informative on the Cowboys. They were an oldies station that just happened have the Cowboys on weekends.” Yikes. –Richie Whitt

Spike ties its future to the UFC …good decision…

Having seen ratings success of late with reality show Pros Vs. Joes, the network’s total audience was still down 16 percent from last year in February, averaging 1.28 million total viewers in prime.

Going forward programming-wise, the network has renewed its contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to allow for four new seasons of the reality series The Ultimate Fighter, 10 live fight cards and 26 hour-long episodes of UFC Unleashed, which features old fights.

Oprah from Space …wow. People are sick…

Old Friends meet in the FA Cup Semifinals ….

Chelsea and Liverpool have been pitted together for the fifth time this season, in the FA Cup semi-finals.

The sides have already met twice in the Barclays Premiership and twice more in the Champions League, with Chelsea winning the league encounters and the European meetings both draws.

In the other semi-final Middlesbrough or Charlton will face West Ham. The ties will be played on April 22 and 23.

Chelsea and Liverpool also came face to face five times last season, meeting twice in the league, in a two-legged Champions League semi-final and the Carling Cup final.

Wild prediction is hit in England ….

And now, some more great email:

Here are his indoor / outdoor stats vs Vinatieri's, including stats for what Yahoo considers kicks when the game is "close" and "close/late"...

Vanderjagt
Indoors 87.6 (127/145)
Outdoors 87.4 (90/103)

Vinatieri
Indoors 94.4 (34/36)
Outdoors 80.4 (229/285)

Vanderjagt
Close 89.1 (90/101)
Close/Late 89.5 (34/38)

Vinatieri
Close 80.0 (136/170)
Close/Late 78.4 (29/37)

I think most people just have his Charlie Brown kick from last season on their mind...

P1 Hank

Wow, those are shocking numbers! And don’t forget tonight’s television news!

Boys,

As we all mourn the passing of Lem, and contemplate the bastard-ness of Shane and rath of Vic, I can understand Bob's grief and inability to find out the exact air times for the syndication of the show on Spike TV.

I fought through it all and checked on SpikeTV.com, and according to the schedule on that site, syndication of The Shield will be Fridays at 9pm and 10:00 (they say 10 and 11, but I assme those are EST times b/c Dish Network says they air here at 9 and 10), with a re-broadcast of what appears to be the same shows on Sunday night at 11:00 pm and midnight (that's local time again).

This Friday at 9:00 is "Pilot" and at 10:00 is "our Gang (Episode #2). Those shows are again scheduled for Sunday at 11:00 and midnight. So two chances to watch.

Next Friday (31st) will be "The Spread" (Ep #3) and "Dawg Days" (Ep #4) (and those two will be re-broadcast Sunday at 11:00 and midnight).

Just wanted everyone to know!

Keep up the good work, and get Lem back on the air ASAP so we can find out what he really thinks about having a grenade in his pants and I assume being out of the show. But as South Park proved last night, he could come back as Darth Lem... And if you don't know what I am talking about with that reference, check out CNN.com's video clips. Those guys hate Tom Cruise more than y'all do.

Sign me a P-1, but keep my name out out of things,
please, as I am supposed to be working!

16 to 8 to 4

To appease Attny Dan, and others who are weird enough to really care what I think will happen in a sport I hardly watch, here are my NCAA weekend picks:

Duke beats Texas to represent Atlanta
UCLA beats Memphis to represent Oakland
UConn over the Shockers from Washington
Nova over Georgetown from Minneapolis

There. Ignorant picks from someone will watch the Mavericks tonight, and the Stars tomorrow night until the last 5 minutes of the college games.