​One of the best things about being a sportswriter? Getting paid to go to games.

One of the worst things about being a sportswriter? Working on holidays.

Not that I'm complaining. I've got lots of media friends who are without full-time jobs, and there's nothing more stressful than trying to patch together a paycheck in this economic climate.

I cherish both my gigs. Just, um, a little less on days like this, Labor Day.

While friends are at the lake, having a pool party and just chllin', I'll be slaving away today in my lil' corner of the blogosphere and on 105.3 The Fan. Just as later this season when I'll -- thanks to the Cowboys -- work on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and -- yikes -- at 9 a.m. New Year's Day.

Again, I'm not complaining (too loudly). The Cowboys are working today at Valley Ranch getting ready for the Jets, the Rangers are playing in Tampa and SMU is vigorously trying to salvage its season in the wake of Sunday night's disaster in College Station. Tennis is on at the U.S. Open in New York and let's also hope that somewhere the NBA owners and players are working to find labor peace.

So put away the white shorts, fly your flag, celebrate the end of summer with a refreshing kiss of temperatures in the 80s and be thankful for being employed. In the past, present and hopefully future ...

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R.I.P., Korey Stringer

​It was 10 years ago that Minnesota Vikings' offensive lineman Korey Stringer dropped dead on the team's training camp field, a victim of a heat stroke. I covered the Vikings' first game in the wake of their teammate's death, a pre-season game played right here in San Antonio's Alamodome.

Still, long after we've realized that humans are no match for heat and that even football players aren't indestructable super heroes, people are dying on football fields.

Last week 14-year-old Tyquan Brantley collapsed and died in South Carolina and yesterday in Plano a football assistant coach died, apparently of heat exhaustion. Prestonwood Christian Adacemy assistant football coach Wade McLain passed away after the team's first practice of the season.

While the Cowboys practice in the 75-degree cool of The Alamodome, north Texas is sweltering toward a record summer. Apparently you guys are headed for 109 degrees today and will soon threaten 1980 for the most consecutive days over 100. Today we're at 31; the record is 42.

I'm generally one of those "It's summer. It's hot. So what?" guys. In '80 I was a 16-year-old punk working at a record-pressing plant on Irving Boulevard in Dallas. My job? Take giant tubs of hardened, scraggly vinyl scraps from records and manually cram them into a 300-plus degree re-grind machine that melted them back into liquid vinyl for the next record. All while wearing jeans and being yelled at by my boss, who doubled as my dad. In the '70s I played football at Reed Junior High in Duncanville, where we beat the heat only with salt tablets and by taking two breaks per practice sharing a water hose. Shoot, even last weekend I got out and played tennis at noon.

Stubborn, yes. But not to a fault.

Even I realize that this heat can kill you. Especially if you're not acclimated.

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​Since I'm out on vacation next week let me get to this Fourth of July tradition a little early: Happy Birthday, America.

 

235. Labor lockouts peace

234. Failure Jesus, working his magic on Dwyane Wade.

233. The right to hate Tom Hicks and the responsibility of remembering Chuck Greenberg.

232. Cowboys' Super Bowl expectations. Every single year.

231. Tiger Woods' rise. And fall.

230. Ron Washington's relentless optimism.

229. Cowboys Stadium.

228. Jon Gruden.

227. Jordan Spieth's future and Dez Bryant's present.

226. The star on the helmet.

225. Yankee pinstripes.

224. The 18th at Pebble Beach.

223. Dick Vitale, John Madden and, yes, even Brent Musburger.

222. Marion Jones, before she lied.

221. Hail Mary and Touchdown Jesus.

220. The Ice Bowl, the Rose Bowl and the Beer 'n Bowl.

219. Game 7.

218. Cameron Crazies.

217. Stockton to Malone.

216. Rick Carlisle.

215. The Williams sisters.

214. Boston's Green Monster and Augusta's green jacket.

213. The 12th Man.

212. Brian's Song.

211. Spurrier's visor.

210. "H-O-R-S-E," "Hot Box" and "Tackle the Man with the Football."

209. Happy Valley and March Madness.

208. Michael Jordan.

207. The seventh-inning stretch and "Down the stretch they come!"

206. Army-Navy.

205. Pauley Pavilion.

204. Caddyshack.

203. "Gentlemen, start your engines!"

202. Atlanta's Tomahawk Chop.

201. Vince Lombardi.

200. Don King, Gene Keady and Slick Watts.

199. Kobe in the clutch and Junior on the gas.

198. Hot dogs.

197. The Three J's, The Four Horsemen and The Fab Five.

196. "It ain't over 'til it's over."

195. Hawg hats, Fort Worth Cats and Minnesota Fats.

194. Mark Holtz.

193. A two-putt birdie.

192. Wide Right and Student Body Left.

191. Britney Griner.

190. The smell of fresh-cut grass on Opening Day.

189. Slow-motion instant replays.

188. Al Davis' white(ish) windbreaker.

187. Pizza delivered simultaneously with kickoff.

186. The hole in the roof so God can watch his favorite team.

185. The Immaculate Reception.

184. A no-hitter after eight.

183. Jimmy Connors at Flushing Meadows. At night.

182. Alligator arms, swim moves and The Shark.

181. Tom Dempsey.

180. The Silver Boot, the Iron Skillet and plain ol' braggin' rights.

179. Underdogs.

178. Navratilova vs. Evert.

177. Grass.

176. Hat tricks via bicycle kicks.

175. Jerry Jones.

174. NFL Films.

173. Bo Jackson.

172. Bobby Knight's sweaters. And trifecta bettors.

171. Texas-OU Weekend.

170. Flo-Jo and Little Mo.

169. DirecTV's Sunday ticket.

168. Two points, three-peats and four- baggers through the five hole.

167. Robert Hughes.

166. Slap Shot.

165. Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston and Deion Sanders on the
other side of the camera.

164. John Wooden's program and Red Auerbach's cigar.

163. The Steel Curtain.

162. Taking your glove to the game.

161. Tatu. And tattoos.

160. "Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!"

159. Amen corner. And Death Valley.

158. Nike vs. Reebok.

157. No. 1 vs. No. 16.

156. Boomer Sooner, Rocky Top and "wake up the echoes."

155. One-handed 360.

154. Phil Jackson's Triangle and Dean Smith's four corners.

153. Breathe Rights, eye black, mouthpieces and ear holes.

152. The Great One and The Greatest.

151. "Fumblerooski."

150. Monday Night Football's old theme music.

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It's sunny. It's May 5th. The Mavs are winning. The Rangers are in Seattle. The birds are chirping. And the patio is calling.

I'll be at Duke's in Addison this afternoon talking Mavs, Mavs and more Mavs on 105.3 The Fan, toasting Mexico with cervezas and, oh yeah, watching midgets wrestle.

(Go ahead, everybody at once ... "Richie, what time will you be wrestling?")

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​If St. Patrick's Day wasn't a good enough excuse to let the boss man cut you loose early to go drinking, perhaps you should consider a vasectomy.

That's right, you heard me.

Dallas urologist Dr. Mitch Moskowitz is offering his version of March Madness, in the form of a vasectomy complete with doctor's orders to stay home, lay on the couch and watch basketball. With, of course, a bag of frozen peas on your crotch.

As part of his "Sport Snip" special, Dr. Mitch will throw in a gift card for pizza, wings, sports snacks, beverages and even a bracket. If you need pointers - on the games that is - feel free to use my cheat sheet.

And, for those of you cringing, there is no scalpel involved. Just a 15-minute out-patient procedure.

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​10. The St. Patrick's Day/Greenville Avenue Parade is my favorite day of the year in Dallas. It's the one day our city lets its hair down, drops the materialistic b.s. and has fun, with total disregard to how we may look doing it. For about 12 hours a year, I get tricked into thinking there's hope for us yet. Unfortunately, we now return you to your regularly scheduled Dallas douchebaggery.

9. You want fun? I rode on a float that featured bikini-clad beauties in a hot tub. And somewhere along the way I got hit in the ribs by a Jack in the Box hamburger. So what'd I do? Unwrapped it, took a big bite and threw it back in the crowd, of course. Duh.

8. Best float belonged to the Hare Krishnas. Never gets old.

7. Honestly, I only saw one pair of exposed boobs the entire day. And, most uncomfortably, it was a 40-something woman letting them dangle while standing right next to another lady's 5-year-old-ish kid. Awkward.

6. There were over 100 floats and police estimate 100,000 were along the parade route. And all they desperately wanted was a strand of beads worth five cents.

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​It was 16 years ago today that a red-headed backup quarterback from Princeton authored one of the most amazing holiday scripts in Dallas Cowboys' history.

Thanksgiving Day, 1994. With Troy Aikman and Rodney Peete out with injuries, Dallas' third-stringer stepped in and promptly fell behind the Green Bay Packers, 17-3, at Texas Stadium. But in a performance that was as amazing as it was surprising, the quarterback threw for 311 yards, tossed long touchdowns to Alvin Harper and Michael Irvin, and led the Cowboys to a team-record 36 second-half points in a rousing 42-31 victory.

The quarterback that day will be the head coach tomorrow: Jason Garrett.

Ah, the magic of Thanksgiving.

​The turkey. The dressing. The relatives and the heartburn, neither of which will leave. The Salvation Army's red kettle. The classic opponents, including this year's New Orleans Saints. The grandiose halftime show, tomorrow featuring Keith Urban. The - usually anyway - Cowboys' victory.

Dallas is 27-14-1 all-time on Turkey Day. Some of them - for better or for worse - you might remember ...

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​Labor Day, Schmabor Day.

Yeah, I'm flying my flag today. But I'm also in here and on the radio at 105.3 The Fan. At work. And not complaining.

Considering I've got friends who've been on unemployment going on a year now, I feel fortunate to have a gig - much less two - that I love. And considering my employment history ... let's just say I'm blessed to be a good at bee-esser both in print and in voice.

Otherwise ...

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Our country turned the ripe old age of 234 on Sunday. Between burgers and beers and bikinis, I tried to spend some time remembering how friggin' fortunate we are to have a variety of sports and the freedom to choose which ones we love and loathe.

Add to the list if you want. Or just pick and choose. Whatever.

It's a free country.

234. Dirk Nowitzki's loyalty.

233. The right to hate Tom Hicks.

232. Cowboys' Super Bowl expectations. Every single year.

231. Tiger Woods' rise. And fall.

230. Josh Hamilton's resurrection.

229. Cowboys Stadium.

228. Jim McKay.

227. Jordan Spieth.

226. The star on the helmet.

225. Yankee pinstripes.

224. The 18th at Pebble Beach.

223. Dick Vitale, John Madden and, yes, even Brent Musburger.

222. Marion Jones, before she lied.

221. Hail Mary and Touchdown Jesus.

220. The Ice Bowl, the Rose Bowl and the Beer 'n Bowl.

219. Game 7.

218. Cameron Crazies.

217. Stockton to Malone.

216. Brandi Chastain's sports bra.

215. The Williams sisters.

214. Boston's Green Monster and Augusta's green jacket.

213. The 12th Man.

212. Brian's Song.

211. Spurrier's visor.

210. "H-O-R-S-E," "Hot Box" and "Tackle the Man with the Football."

209. Happy Valley and March Madness.

208. Michael Jordan.

207. The seventh-inning stretch and "Down the stretch they come!"

206. Army-Navy.

205. Pauley Pavilion.

204. Caddyshack.

203. "Gentlemen, start your engines!"

202. Atlanta's Tomahawk Chop.

201. Vince Lombardi.

200. Don King, Gene Keady and Slick Watts.

199. Kobe in the clutch and Junior on the gas.

198. Hot dogs.

197. The Three J's, The Four Horsemen and The Fab Five.

196. "It ain't over 'til it's over."

195. Hawg hats, Fort Worth Cats and Minnesota Fats.

194. Jason Kidd's instincts.

193. A two-putt birdie.

192. Wide Right and Student Body Left.

191. Natalie Gulbis.

190. The smell of fresh-cut grass on Opening Day.

189. Slow-motion instant replays.

188. Al Davis' white(ish) windbreaker.

187. Pizza delivered simultaneously with kickoff.

186. The hole in the roof so God can watch his favorite team.

185. The Immaculate Reception.

184. A no-hitter after eight.

183. Jimmy Connors at Flushing Meadows. At night.

182. Alligator arms, swim moves and The Shark.

181. Tom Dempsey.

180. The Silver Boot, the Iron Skillet and plain ol' braggin' rights.

179. Underdogs.

178. Navratilova vs. Evert.

177. Grass.

176. Hat tricks via bicycle kicks.

175. Jerry Jones.

174. NFL Films.

173. Bo Jackson.

172. Bobby Knight's sweaters. And trifecta bettors.

171. Texas-OU Weekend.

170. Flo-Jo and Little Mo.

169. DirecTV's Sunday ticket.

168. Two points, three-peats and four- baggers through the five hole.

167. Robert Hughes.

166. Slap Shot.

165. Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston and Deion Sanders on the
other side of the camera.

164. John Wooden's program and Red Auerbach's cigar.

163. The Steel Curtain.

162. Taking your glove to the game.

161. Tatu. And tattoos.

160. "Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!"

159. Amen corner. And Death Valley.

158. Nike vs. Reebok.

157. No. 1 vs. No. 16.

156. Boomer Sooner, Rocky Top and "wake up the echoes."

155. One-handed 360.

154. Phil Jackson's Triangle and Dean Smith's four corners.

153. Breathe Rights, eye black, mouthpieces and ear holes.

152. The Great One and The Greatest.

151. "Fumblerooski."

150. Monday Night Football's old theme music.

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​*Ron Washington's first and only experience with cocaine came at age 57? Of course I believe him. Why wouldn't I?

*Okay, I admit it. I secretly, desperately wish I wrote for the Dallas Morning News and talked for 1310 AM The Ticket and admit that my jealously bleeds through into my sub-par work.

*I totally respect and admire Sarah Palin.

*I trust C.J. Wilson.

*I don't think Erin Andrews is that hot, but man is she an informative sideline reporter.

*I don't really believe what I write, nor do I write what I believe.

*Sure, Tim Tebow is a virgin.

*Truth be told, I'm in awe of NASCAR drivers, women's college basketball and Wade Phillips.

*I think squirrels are cute.

*I'm convinced Dirk Nowitzki is overrated.

*I'm mesmerized by the pro day workouts of guys like Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy because, let's face it, those are totally indicative of what kind of NFL player you're going to see on Sundays next Fall.

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