Dallas Sports Blog

If this ball went foul, we'd be waiting another three minutes for a pitch.

I see your Texas Rangers continued to hover around .500 in my absence. Which is a good, amazing, frustrating thing.

Tonight they try (again) to get two games above .500 for the first time in the Ron Washington era. Which reminds me, considering the job the manager is doing is there any reason for management to get their contingency list out of the drawer and make a change at the All-Star break?

No way.

With the energetic, effective infusions of players like Eric Hurley, Brandon Boggs, Max Ramirez and Chris Davis, the Rangers are a more entertaining team these days. And without Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the lineup, they are a much quicker team.

I did manage to catch part of a game while on vacation, but I’ll be honest, I barely made it through Salty’s at-bats without hurling my stopwatch at the TV. No kidding, this is the guy’s right-handed routine after every friggin’ pitch (yes, even if he doesn’t swing):

Back to the grindstone.

Ok, so where were we?

First, a review of my week-long sabbatical:

Dad’s house: Painted.

Guadalupe River: Cold.

Hootie & The Blowfish: Eh.

As for sports, I'm playing catch-up today. The thing that has first struck me is that the Mavs nabbed a nice player with the 51st overall pick last week.

If I don't make it back, hey, it's been fun.

We need to talk. Actually, no, we need a break. How about one, then the other?

Been at this sports blogging thing going on eight weeks. So far, so swimmingly. I write, you read. I write some more, you correct my mistakes. I write still more, you sometimes feel moved to write back.

Hate to break our momentum with a 20-second timeout, but it’s vacation time at Ye Ol’ Sportatorium. Next week I’ll be floating the river in New Braunfels, attending a concert by this guy and painting my dad’s house. Swear, I couldn’t make up that cumbersome of a trifecta.

Dude's reputation has taken a hit.

Despite his horrible post-season and his humiliating pot statements, Mavericks forward Josh Howard is ready to show his face around town again.

Fittingly, at a discounted rate. His stock and his image are at all-time lows.

I won’t be able to attend the first annual Josh Howard Basketball Camp next Monday through Friday at The Sportsplex on Alpha Road. Neither, apparently, will many kids. The camp, which benefits Josh’s foundation, recently slashed its price from $260 to $210.

Never a good sign. What, parents aren’t convinced their kids should get “life skills” from a guy who'd ideally change his uniform number from 5 to 420?

Terry Glenn's leverage is running on empty.

It’s preposterous to think the Cowboys will release veteran receiver Terry Glenn. Why? First of all, they need him. Secondly, they have him.

As in, over a barrel.

Before pondering anything else about Glenn’s trials and tribs during minicamp, remember this: Last year he made $6 million and played in two games. That’s owner Jerry Jones’ negotiating stance, and Jerry usually gets what he wants.

Glenn had two surgeries on his right knee last year and now the Cowboys want him to sign an injury waiver contingency contract of $500,000 in case he hurts the knee again. If not, he makes $1.75 million.

Honestly, I don’t see Glenn’s leverage.

Sure they'll score tons of points, but are you convinced?

The Cowboys are having a mini-camp. Terrell Owens is making headlines. And, a sure sign that football season has indeed arrived in the middle of the June, this morning I got my grubby little hands on Dave Campbell’s 2008 Texas Football.

On the “Best in Texas” cover: Would you believe, Texas Tech? Yep. Coach Mike Leach, flanked by quarterback Graham Harrell and Dallas product/All-American receiver Michael Crabtree. (Priceless pic on page 17 of the players flashing Tech’s “Guns Up!” hand sign, while the indifferent Leach sports his gun kinda half-ass sideways.)

The cover story, written by Dallas’ Only Daily columnist Kevin Sherrington, picks Tech to win the Big 12.

Other notable forecasts: West Virginia’s Pat White to win the Heisman, Georgia to take the national championship and Euless Trinity to win the 5A high-school title.

Fall isn't exactly in the air, but it did just get a smidge cooler. -- Richie Whitt

Tiger Woods: 3 minor knee surgeries, 14 major championships.

With news today that he needs another knee surgery and time to heal a broken leg, Tiger Woods’ U.S. Open victory just became even more miraculous. In conjunction, Dallas golf guru Hank Haney just got jiggy with the "clear" button on his Palm Pilot. And our summer just became a little more bummer.

(Also, in case you've been invloved in this debate lately, it chalks another one up for the humans over horses. Big Brown cracks a hoof and finishes last; Tiger suffers torn ligaments and a stress fracture and still wins. So there.)

With the British Open and PGA Championship now reduced to consolation prizes, the TV forecast the next two months reads as follows: Clear, hot and dry, with a high of Wimbledon in two weeks, the baseball All-Star Game in a month and scattered Rangers games possible. Accumulations of two or more not likely.

In retrospect, last night's title was won last summer.

Three things I guarantee after last night watching the Celtics, not surprisingly, beat the Lakers for the NBA Championship:

1. Kobe Bryant isn’t, in fact, Michael Jordan. In the clincher, he went 22 minutes between baskets.

2. Coaching, I repeat, coaching is the most overrated aspect of sports. Last year the Celtics went 24-58 and missed the playoffs under the guidance of Doc Rivers. This year they acquire Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and suddenly we’re supposed to trumpet Rivers as some sort of genius? I don’t think so.

3. If, and hopefully when, Dirk Nowitzki finally leads the Mavericks to a title, his post-game celebration will be much more classy and coherent than Garnett’s. The Celtics’ star screamed that he was “certified”, that he was on “top of the world!” and – in a bizarre channeling of Joe Namath – told ABC’s Michelle Tafoya “you look good tonight, girl.” W. T. F.?! -- Richie Whitt

Another season. Another empty spot on the Mavs' mantle.

The basketball season officially ends tonight, when the Celtics beat the Lakers in Boston and win the NBA Championship. In a tense, low-scoring game, gimme the Celtics minus the five, under the 191.

For entertainment only, of course.

Then, finally, we can get on to the business of watching Mark Cuban feud some more with Don Nelson and lamenting the fact that the Mavs have no first-round pick in next week’s draft.

Can James Gist possibly be the key to getting over the hump? -- Richie Whitt

Somehow, the Rangers don't miss this guy's big bat.

The Rangers have trotted out Ben Broussard, Chris Shelton and maybe soon even Hank Blalock to his old position. And in last month’s draft they picked the next him.

But dig a little deeper – just a level or two down in the minors – and the trading of first baseman Mark Teixeira looks like a home run for GM Jon Daniels.

The deal, made last July 31, was officially Teixeira and middle reliever Ron Mahay to the Atlanta Braves for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four minor leaguers. With Teixeira making his first return to Rangers Ballpark tonight, seems like as good a time as any for some hardball analysis.

Shall we?

Now, and only now, I've earned the right to call this joint The Sportatorium.

Just got my grubby little hands on Gentleman’s Choice, a new documentary by Dallas film producer Mickey Grant. Better late than never, those of you who stumbled onto this site looking for professional wrestling vignettes will be rewarded.

Through extensive interviews and gold-mine footage, Grant tells the tale of former wrestler “Gentleman” Chris Adams. If you fondly recall the ‘80s heyday of the Von Erichs, Bill Mercer, Bruiser Brody, matches with shaved heads at stake and sellout crowds from Texas Stadium to Reunion Arena to the Cotton Bowl to, yes, even The Sportatorium, this ditty is a must see.

See here, I been to a race or two.

I’ve been to the Daytona 500, attended several races out at Texas Motor Speedway and even penned one of my first Dallas Observer columns about racin’. It’s always been a little fascinating/unsettling seeing all the white faces, red necks and confederate flags.

According to this story over the weekend, sometimes race can even take precedence over the race.

Responding to allegations in conjunction with a lawsuit filed by a black former employee, NASCAR suspended two people last week, one of them for an offense committed at the 2007 race in Fort Worth:

The U.S. Open trophy will reside in Dallas. Sorta.

Since Father’s Day is all about eating and sleeping and not mowing the lawn and eating some more – oh yeah, and watching golf – doesn’t it officially spill over into today?

Thought so.

No one in sports delivers more dramatic success than Dallas golf guru Hank Haney’s pet project, and this morning, thanks to a heart-pounding birdie putt on the U.S. Open’s 72nd hole last night, we get 18 more holes and four more hours of Tiger Woods. Balky knee and all, any doubt Tiger is going to bury Rocco Mediate before Torrey Pines' marine layer burns off?

Update: Barely.

Enjoy.

FRIDAY: Check your calendars, triskadecaphobians. Don’t walk under ladders. Don’t screw with masked dudes named Jason. And, whatever you do, don’t work around cranes.

SATURDAY: Still six weeks until the Cowboys depart for Oxnard, Calif., but that isn’t stopping Terrell Owens and Marcus Spears from throwing a “Back to Camp” bash at the Palladium Ballroom. In light of this week’s news, I think it’d be funny if you went up to T.O. and asked him to pee in a cup. Dare ya.

SUNDAY: For you nostalgic Ticket P1s, the artist formerly known as “He Who Must Not Be Named” caps Dad’s Day with an appearance with Fox 4’s Mike Doocy on Sports Sunday at 10 p.m. The night before, former ticker guy-turned-Mavs’ voice Mark Followill will try to follow my huge (re: embarassingly tiny) footsteps as the guest analyst on Channel 21’s Frisco RoughRiders broadcast. And, just in case my son happens to log on, here are a couple gift ideas. -- Richie Whitt

Almost 10,000 career assists, yet somehow Jason Kidd couldn't pass on her.

Mavs fans, you think this blog item is going to be about how good you should feel, considering you purged your sorrow six weeks ago as opposed to waking this morning to the grief of blowing a 24-point lead on your home court in the NBA Finals?

You think it’s going to be a exxy and ohsey breakdown of how Dallas is trying to acquire a first-round pick for the June 26 draft?

Looking for the daily itinerary of new coach Rick Carlisle’s visit to see Dirk Nowitzki in Germany? (Prediction: weiner schnitzel is involved daily.)

Wrong, wrong and wrong. It’s Friday. Get your mind in the gutter.

One's talking. One's making noise about talking again.

Sat down with Mike Rhyner a while back for my upcoming (no, really, I swear it is) piece on former partner Greg Williams and stuff. As most of you know, he’s the world’s most stubborn 57-year-old curmudgeon. But when our confab turned to his controversial comments of last winter, the Hardliner with the soft underbelly offered …

An apology? No …

A modification? Eh …

A clarification? Yahtzee!

In addressing Williams’ departure back on Dec. 21, Rhyner pissed off and at least temporarily alienated a whole gaggle of P1s. Surely you remember the declaration that went something like this:

Guy on the right: Good golfer. Guy on the left: Great job.

Dallas golf guru Hank Haney called the U.S. Open set-up at Torrey Pines in San Diego “the easiest I’ve seen in 30 years.” So far, his star pupil with the surgically repaired knee doesn’t agree.

Update: Tiger just birdied 8 and 9 to totally shoot the wheels off this item.

Still, are there better jobs on this planet than the swing coach of the best golfer ever? Perhaps, only, this chick’s director of cleavage? -- Richie Whitt

Milton Bradley and another emotional dust-up. Geez, whoda thunkit?

At the risk of Milton Bradley catching a flight to Dallas this morning to come kick my ass, I’m going to re-affirm what we all already know: He’s a nut. (Quick timeout while I go double-bolt the door.)

If you’re surprised by the Rangers’ outfielder last night climbing four flights of stairs to confront (dismember?) a Royals’ TV analyst, you haven’t been paying attention. Bradley has long been an irrational hot-head. A blow-up like this was just a matter of time.

Remember, you were warned.

Think he's nervous yet?

With the Rangers bobbling along around .500, manager Ron Washington’s job safe for at least another month and tonight’s game against the – vomit – Royals, there must be something sexy in our baseball world.

Can I interest you in a 23-game hitting streak?

Shortstop Michael Young, despite playing with a broken finger he dropped a weight on last week, can start making this guy nervous with a hit tonight. The team record streak, after all, is only 28, set back in 2000.

During the streak Young is hitting .339 (37 for 109) with three homers and 13 RBI. In other words, nothing worthy of waking up Joe D. Yet.-- Richie Whitt

On second thought, this wasn't a foul. Wait, that was our first thought.

With only a 1.7 percent chance of winning, the big-market Chicago Bulls stole the NBA Lottery. Pushing the NBA Finals back to relevancy, the league got lucky enough to have the Lakers and Celtics this summer. And after attempting only 10 free throws in Sunday’s Game 2, the Lakers – on the brink of losing a short series – shot 34 in last night’s win that guarantees at least a highly-rated Game 5 … and beyond?

Look hard enough, and the NBA will give you multiple reasons to cock your head and squint your eyes in a “Hey, it must be a conspiracy” sorta way. Dwyane Wade and his 16 – sixteen! – free-throw attempts per game in the ’06 Finals against your Mavericks ring a bell?

Now comes yesterday’s revelation by former ref and admitted felon Tim Donaghy that NBA officials do indeed conspire to alter the outcome of games. Watch enough sports – any sport – and the initial reaction is … duh.

Now, where'd we put that embalming fluid?

If you sense a light blogging day, you’re very perceptive.

1. Not a lot of stimulating sportsiness in the air.

2. I’m chin-deep penning a cover story about you-know-who.

So, in a very transparent attempt to be both dismissive and productive – I’ll write a column about this sooner or later -- let me reach out to you to help me construct a list of the greatest all-time memories of Reunion Arena. If you haven’t heard, the old joint is on Death Row.

Off the top of my noggin’:

Sure, now you get up.

In news even more shocking than Big Brown finishing last or Roger Federer getting bagled in a Grand Slam final, this morning I came across this line:

“R.A. Dickey pitched two scoreless inning for the win.”

What the %$#@*&?! The way ex-Rangers are chunking the ball this season, next thing you know Roger Moret’s gonna snap out of his catatonic trance and be a 20-game winner for the Angels.

Surely you remember Dickey. After so-so results with the results with the Rangers earlier this decade he added a knuckleball and became the team’s fifth starter in 2006. After consulting with Boston’s Tim Wakefield and former Rangers’ ace Charlie Hough, Dickey made his first start and – kaboom! – allowed six homers. He was immediately demoted to Triple A and disappeared until resurfacing in April with the Mariners.

What, you mean most 34-year-olds don't look like this?

According to this story just posted on ESPN.com, Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens has been placed in the NFL’s “reasonable cause” testing program for performance-enhancing drugs.

Which means? Owens, who recently botched some telephone calls to set up off-season drug tests, can now be randomly tested up to 24 times a year, for possibly the remainder of his career.

Seems like an “Oh, shit!” story, but owner Jerry Jones shrugs and says he knew all about the situation when last week he held a press conference officially giving Owens a new contract worth a guaranteed $13 million.

SMU’s basketball team is back safely and successfully from its summer camp in Africa. If you’re interested, head coach Matt Doherty will provide details tonight at 8 on KRLD 1080 AM.

I don’t expect an explanation of the above video, which seems to be SMU football players dancing. But I’d like one.

Anyone? -- Richie Whitt

When your dad starts yapping about "back in the day", this is what he's talking about.

Wanna see something cool? I know where you can jump in a time machine.

Back to the days of 57-cent gas. Back to the days of Kern Tipps. Back to the good ol’ Southwest Conference.

Giving props to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame’s new Southwest Conference wing which will open later this summer in Waco, Fox Sports Net Southwest is showing old football highlights, starting with the conference’s 1963 season and Texas’ National Championship tonight at 10. FSN’s SWC Legends is a series of 30-minute adaptations of old highlights, spiced with new interviews.

It was a better day when Tipps called the SWC and this guy called the Olympics. Re-live it. Sorta. -- Richie Whitt

Yep, him again.

This item pinged to me from Sportatorium superfan Clay Swartz (hey, us former UTA Shorthorn sports editors gotta stick together), who kept tabs on Tony Romo’s attempt to break 100 on the U.S. Open golf course in Torrey Pines, San Diego over the weekend.

Romo and his 2 handicap played in the Golf Digest US Open Challenge on Saturday, hoping to tame the Tiger Woods-accclaimed “Toughest Golf Course in America.” Aside from looking like a 40-something Cowboys homer in baggy polo, saggy-assed khakis and blue “D” cap, Romo was impressive.

He started the day with a 5-over 40 on the front nine and – despite a triple-bogey on 18 – carded a righteously decent 84. He was the best in his foursome, which included NBC TV morning man Matt Lauer, douche bag singer Justin Timberlake and an everyman John Atkinson.

In fact, I bet a pro will shoot worse than 84 when the tournament begins Thursday. Any takers?

And, before you start going ape shit over Romo not being at Valley Ranch 24/7, at least this outing was within our borders. -- Richie Whitt

Sorry TMS, two wheels are better than four.

FRIDAY: Convicted steroids dealer-turned-NFL informant David Jacobs was shot to death along with his body-building girlfriend in Plano yesterday. Like it did me, did this send a cold-blooded shiver down your spine? With the way he imported raw powder from China, manufactured it into steroids and developed a national network of dealing, Jacobs’ case reminds me of American Gangster. You? Of course wild-ass, unfounded speculation on what happened runs from suicide to hitmen. Jacobs had named only former Cowboys lineman Matt Lehr among his buyers. But since he began cooperating with federal prosecutors and the NFL, no doubt he developed enemies. Creepy quote from Jacobs’ father, “I’ve been waiting on this call.” Gonna take a while to sort this one out. Might as well get started.

Update #1: The Dallas County medical examiners says suicide.

Update #2: What an unfortunate nickname.

SATURDAY: There’s a big event out at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. Not the Bombardier Learjet 550 Indy race, but rather the sideshow-turned-main draw – Robby Knievel jumping his motorcycle over 20 Hummers at 7 p.m. It’ll set a record, and it may be his last. “I’m in my 40s now, but still jumpin’ and smokin’ and drinkin’,” Robby says. “I’m like Keith Richards.” Anyone whose dad was the inspiration for this is alright by me.

SUNDAY: Rangers’ TV color man Tom Grieve will work the team’s game against Tampa Bay tonight, then head off where no man wants to go: prostate cancer surgery. Great timing by Fox Sports Net Southwest, which will present In My Own Words: Tom Grieve at 10 p.m. The 30-minute show, moderated by John Rhadigan, takes us from Grieve’s days as a Rangers’ outfielder (he talks about taking batting practice at Arlington’s Randol Mill Park), general manager and broadcaster (starting alongside the late Mark Holtz). Grieve has grown more assertive in the booth through the years. Here’s hoping we get the chance to hear him grown even more so in the near future.

The guy on the right will be the Father's Day guest on Doocy. The guy on the left doesn't give a damn.

Apparently, Greg Williams’ recent TV appearance wasn’t as bad as some of you/us thought.

At least not according to Fox 4 sports anchorman Mike Doocy and his perfect hair, who has invited Greggo back for an encore performance next Sunday night, June 15th. In fact, I hear Williams may become a monthly staple on Doocy’s very watchable Sports Sunday.

Speaking of Williams’ media career, I also hear that he is still talking with ESPN Radio about a weeknight gig. I think settling on a partner (Nate Newton is apparently off the list of candidates) is the last hurdle, but this thing’s dragged on so long now that we wouldn’t be surprised if it never happened, right?

The sooner he gets here, the better.

My in-depth analysis of Rangers’ first-round draft choice Justin Smoak goes something like this: Can he be here by 7:05 p.m.?

By most accounts, the switch-hitting first baseman from South Carolina is the next Chipper Jones or Mark Texeira. For damn sure he’s better than what the Rangers have been trotting out to the position this season.

Ben Broussard? Chris Shelton? And coming soon to an error near you, Hank Blalock.

Squint hard enough and you can see these two in Mavericks' blue.

Well, not really. But we can dream.

And, as nightmares go, how’s this? The Mavericks almost made three separate trades for guys who will figure prominently in what should be a scintillating, fascinating NBA Finals between the Lakers and Celtics. Guys named Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Kevin Garnett.

It’s okay, take a 20-second timeout to collect your thoughts.

On his appearance on ESPN Radio last week, owner Mark Cuban confirmed he basically pooh-poohed acquiring Kobe and Gasol because the Lakers wanted Dirk Nowitzki and the Grizzlies wanted Josh Howard.