Couple links

Opening weekend of the Texas high school football playoffs which is religion in this state.

My Plano wildcats take out the vaunted Dallas skyline who returns to their house of horrors at smu where they lost in the semifinals to southlake Carroll dragons in one of the craziest endings you will ever see last year.

Southlake / skyline crazy ending on YouTube

Mark Cuban and Donald trump feud on twitter

Fake Cuban and Trump attempt to sort out their differences on the ticket

Back from the dead

After a long hiatus, I have decided to come back.  In this information age, it is amazing how much sports can be consumed on an average sports day.  While I still love watching sports, finding a balance gets tougher and tougher.  College basketball season tips off tonight and I will try to follow that season.  November college football continues tomorrow and the 2nd half of the nfl season kick off Sunday.  It is the golden era for a sports fan indeed...

Bizarro Sports World - Dallas, TX

In the last 12 months we have witnessed what can only be described as the Bizarro sports season in the Dallas Fort Worth Area. It started with the 2010 Rangers baseball season that ended in Game 5 of the World Series at the Ballpark in Arlington. A run so improbable that I still don't believe it actually happened. It cotinued with the monumental collapse of the Texas Longhorn 2010 football season that ended with a completely new coaching staff, Will Muschamp departing for the Florida Head job (so much for "coach in waiting" tag, and Garrett Gilbert going from the chosen one to finding out who is the next real quarterback at the University. And it has continued with the Dinosaur Mavs who added some key role players in offseason and mid-season with Tyson Chandler and Peja. Jason Kidd found the fountain of youth. JJ Barrea looks closer to Steve Nash than the point guard at your local Y. And finally Dirk is approaching Larry Legend status if he brings the These past 12+ months have been best run of Dallas sports since my time in the area (about 20 years or so) especially when you consider I'm not a huge Cowboys fan (yea I know long story). Definitely the most interesting. It was nice after losing all those playoff home games in person out in Arlington (attended losses against Tampa, one loss against NY in game 1, and one loss against SF in game 4) to get a win last night in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals...

7 more games to go until the first championship for a DFW team since 1999...

Here was my view from a certain Rangers Owner's box last night...

Fall in Review - Coming Soon

After noticing that my last update was September 27th, I think it would appropriate to recap what has been two of the most memorable moments in this region's sports history.

The Texas Rangers won their first playoff series in franchise history and then proceeded to knock of the mighty New York Yankees in the ALCS before falling to the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. Meanwhile, the Texas Longhorns football program and Dallas cowboys were experiencing two of their worst seasons ever. Remarkable times right now to be sports fan in this area and I will try add more commentary around what has been a wild past few months.

Also, I intend to make more regular posts on the Rangers. While i have always had a tilt towards Rangers related content, now their appears to be a real appeal to baseball fans for more Rangers updates. So stay tuned for that...

Rangers Headed to Playoffs

It's only been 11 years but it is now time to celebrate a winning baseball team in the DFW area.  How sweet it is...





And Evan Grant previews the Rangers playoff roster...

UCLA Meltdown

2 weeks into the college football season and UCLA is already in shambles.  Losses at Kansas St. and getting blanked 35-0 by rival Stanford can do that to a team.


Houston is up this week with Texas on deck...  ouch.

Week 1 Picks

College Football is back and that means trying to figure out this crazy sport.  No guarantees on any of these picks but this will be a good forum to keep track of my handicapping ability.  Let's move right to week 1:

@Fresno -3 over Cincinatti
Colorado St. +12 over Colorado
@Oklahoma St. -14.5 over Washington St.
Illinois +11.5 over Mizzou

I will be in Vegas all weekend so look forward to an exciting first week of college football

Scattershooting

The University of Texas has signed a six-year deal with Dallas-based Branded Retail Energy, which will likely be the first of a number of deals with the company that will see some of the country’s most powerful collegiate sports brands sell consumers electricity and natural gas in deregulated markets. Consequently,

Texas Longhorns Energy will be available to consumers in mid-August.

Auburn wants to claim the 2004 National Title from USC.

Nebraska really dislikes Texas.






 

Shipley Serenades McCoy at His Wedding

Even the Colt McCoy Haters (I'm looking at you Dave) will enjoy this one.

Courtesy of TMZ

Longtime Yankee Announcer Bob Sheppard Passes Away at 99

The requisite YouTube accompanying tribute..



Bob Shepphard moment from 1968 After RFK's death...



And oh yea, The Rangers traded for Cliff Lee and have lost 3 games in a row (on the verge of 4) to the Orioles at home.

Texas Longhorn Football History in 6 minutes

This video is worth watching...

Josh Hamilton Home Run and the Rangers

We are nearly to the all-star break and the Rangers are in first place. Life is good out in Arlington if you don't pay attention to that whole ownership change (See Rangers Bankruptcy) situation.

I will try to review the Rangers first half and what we can expect for the remainder of the season hopefully ending with a playoff run.

For now, Enjoy the longest home run hit at the Ballpark in Arlington which occurred in a June 27th game against the Astros.

All 490 feet of it...

Allen Iverson Playing Football

I knew Allen Iverson was a great high school football player in Virginia along with being one of the best high school basketball players ever. I had no idea he was this good. Jaw Dropping video of Iverson's high school football days..

Top John Wooden Quotes

Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.
John Wooden

Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.
John Wooden

If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.
John Wooden

Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.
John Wooden

Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts.
John Wooden

Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.
John Wooden

You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
John Wooden

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
John Wooden

Will Farrell kicked out of Roundrock Express Game

April News and Commentary

We have had an unbelievable run of sports in the last few months dating back to the Colts - Saints Super Bowl.

Tiger Woods returned to the world of golf in dramatic fashion competing all the way until Sunday when Phil Mickelson closed the deal in a powerful storyline of his own with his wife battling breast cancer and waiting on the 18th green for him after he secured his 3rd green jacket. With 4 major titles wins to his credit, Phil is starting to cement himself in the pantheon of greatest golfers in the history of the game.  How Tiger Woods responds throughout the rest of the year (particularly the majors at Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, and Whistling Straits) should be interesting to say the least.  Both players resume their tournament schedule at Quail Hollow in a couple weeks.

This month also included the best NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in recent memory culminating with the Butler vs. Duke Final.

  Interesting article from a Houston blog about what if Butler's Gordon Hayward's half court shot at the end of the National Championship game went in?

The Rangers baseball season is off to a shaky start with Ownership turmoil. Tom Hicks is working with his creditors to complete the sale of the team to the new Ownership group.   Ron Washington's job security is still in question if the team doesn't finish with a decent April (5-6 through 11 games).

From ESPN BLOG:

The day after Darington Hobson declared for the NBA draft, the athletic New Mexico forward was challenged to a dunk contest by St. Pius X High player Kaelan Brennan and was happy to oblige.

Hobson visited the school for a speaking engagement, and KOB-TV has video of the best slams of the dunk session. Brennan proved to be a worthy competitor.

Not every dunk was successful. Three times, Hobson couldn't connect while leaping over another student, grazing his human prop on one occasion.

His words might have meant more.

Darington Hobson talked about a low point in his life, when he was playing for a junior college, not where he wanted to be. "If I didn't believe in myself I wouldn't be here," he said, He just declared for the NBA draft to take place on the upcoming weekend, and was not letting the doubters discourage him. He wakes up each day with the inspiration, "Prove myself."

Cool video of the New Mexico basketball player

Random Thought of the week:
 Why do I never run into Kate Beckinsale in an airport?

Everyone's favorite baseball fan Alyssa Milano thinks Jimmy Kimmel is dreamy and apparently has a serious Twitter addiction.

Texas Brings in Another Top Class; Big DFW Impact on UT's Class and Across College Football

Signing Day is like Christmas Day and every other holiday wrapped into one for college football fans. Hope springs eternal for all fans across the country and no college football coach is going to disparage their class regardless of who they ended up signing. Florida finished with the consensus number one class. The Longhorns were not too far behind. I am going recap my top 5 impact players from this class based on need and position.

Darius White - WR - Fort Worth, TX (Dubar)

The 6-2 and 205 pound receiever was the top receiver in the state and adding his playmaking ability will help the offense right away.

Jackson Jeffcoat - DE - Plano, TX (West)

Jim Jeffcoat's son is one of the top defensive linemen in the country.

Tevin Jackson - LB - Garland, TX

Any kid smart enough to wear a Rangers hat is good by me.

Traylon Shead - RB - Cayuga, TX

Class A Running back grew up in a town of a couple thousand. He will play in front of a few more fans than that when he suits up for the Longhorns.

Next Texas Coach and more UT Recruiting Dominance

The Rise of Muschamp is Upon You

UT finishes this recruiting season with an uncharacteristic (most recruits are usually locked this close to signing day) bang.  Plano West's own and former Cowboy great Jim Jeffcoat's son Jackson Jeffcoat committed to the Longhorns last week and many consider him the top prep defensive linemen in the country.

And if that wasn't enough Will Muschamp secured the top prep Linebacker in the country not from Texas but from Ohio.  Landing Jordan Hicks with Ohio St. and Florida after him was a true recruiting coup for this already ultra-talented class.  This class does show the embarrassment of riches Mack Brown and his coaching staff have at their disposal.   I am headed to the UT recruiting luncheon on Thursday the day after signing day so look forward to seeing this class more closely on film.  I will try to post commentary...

Jordan Hamilton goes bezerk against Oklahoma St. in Stillwater

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/baseball/usatpoll.htm
Texas is #1 in almost every preseason baseball poll

Just another week in the life of a longhorn fan.

Week 3 Picks

What started poorly in week one (see previous post) got worse in week two. It is time to turn this thing around and hopefully it starts this Saturday.

The talk around Kentucky is unbelievable right now. That line opened at 10 is at 14 in some places right now. I really like the spot for Kentucky.

Another sluggish week 2. I had some live dogs (LA-Lafayette, Houston, UNLV, purdue, ohio st.) but did so poorly in the early morning games that by the time the night games kicked off I didn't really play many of the games I liked. Oh well. Need to get on track this week. Here is what I like:

@Kentucky -13 -- You get a little concerned when so many people are on a game this large. A guy over on cappingthegame.com (collegekingrex) calls this the game of his life and he has a pretty lengthy and strong track record. Not sure if he helped move the line or not but it bumped up huge in the last 48 hours. To me this is like TCU - Viginia which i passed on last week. Seems almost too obvious but plays out just how the cappers thought.

@Kansas -22 -- I'm with Ball. Mangino has patsies for breakfast and Army outplayed Duke last week. I like Kansas to continue their roll.

@Arkansas -1 -- Really like this spot for the Razorbacks. Coming off a bye week and no one is talking about Petrino's bunch. Georgia has already been put through the ringer versus Okie St. and South Carolina. Expect Georgia to punch Arkansas in the face early but Arkansas responds with a big SEC win to jumpstart the Razorbacks at home.

Arizona +6 -- Stoops quietly building up the talent in Tucson. While going into Iowa and getting a win is tough, i agree with Ball that emotionally Iowa may be a little down for this one. Expect a "ball-grinder" of a game with AZ at least keeping it within a one score game if not pulling off the upset.

Utah +4 -- Utah has something like a 14 game regular season win streak going. While they struggled some in the 2nd half against SJ St., i think they are just a better team than Oregon overall.

I also like:
@A&M -18
@Baylor -10
@BYU -7
All a little higher than I would like but still seem
tempting.

Buffalo +4
La-La +26.5
Nebraska +5

Week 1 Picks