Former Texas Ranger busted for allegedly threatening a woman

Perhaps this was a matter of time, but a former member of the Texas Rangers has been arrested, can you guess who? 

If you said Milton Bradley you would be correct.

The LA Times is reporting that Bradley was arrested in Encino for allegedly making threats towards a woman.

This story is a continuation of Bradley's long history of a hot temper. 

Ron Washington's greatest trick in his tenure as Rangers manager may have been to keep Bradley on track. Bradley played for the Rangers in 2008 when he played in 126 with 509 at bats; he hit .321 with 22 HR and 77 RBI that season. It was his only year with the team. He played the last two seasons with the Mariners. Why do I think this incident may not be good for his career?

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Workout Wednesdays: Yoga-ing at Indigo Yoga

FORT WORTH - Yoga sounds like a workout that requires a Yanni song, such as Reflections of Passion or World Dance, or perhaps a great John Tesh tune. But if you allow yourself to get past a yoga instructors requests of, "Breeeaaaaattthhhhhheee" or "Listen to your inner kitten" you will soon learn that yoga is a killer workout.

It does, however, require some time and an open mind. Fort Worth now features a number of yoga studios, among them Indigo Yoga. This studio has a class for pretty much from beginning level to expert, Zen-master such and such.

In the past decade yoga has evolved from Zen-master breathing workouts for moms to balls-out sweat sessions that pro athletes use as well as average Jane and Joes who are trying to drop weight. There seems to be a class specifically designed for whatever your needs. Be sure to be ready to sweat like a dog in Texas, don't worry that you aren't strong enough to do everything just yet - some of these poses are a Mitch - be sure to breathe, and most likely be prepared for a healthy dose of meditation as well.

That last part - the introspection - isn't for everybody but it doesn't mean you have to do it. But it also doesn't mean you should bring your iPod to rock out to Scorpions while everyone else is trying to find a happy place in their own sweat.  

This thing works to drop weight, and serves as a hard-core workout that can complement weight lifters to runners. If you want some muscle tone, yoga works. You want to lose weight, yoga works. If you want a good stretch, yoga works.

There are so many variations and forms of yoga you can easily get overwhelmed when scouting this classes. You can go from the super-slow yoga classes that can take as much as 90 minutes, to the lunch-friendly 55-minute classes that are a bit more intensive and leave you feeling like you really just worked out.

Indigo is a pretty good place to start, particularly for a beginner.

The drawbacks are that it takes a decent amount of time - door to door probably two hours - and it is not cheap. Prepare for $10 a class. Because of the influx of yoga classes and yoga studios all over the U.S. the competition has reduced some prices, slightly, and you can get deals here and there.

This type of workout can be life changing, and totally addictive. There are some people who will do this as many as seven times a week. 

Do a little bit of scouting on this type of workout before you try it, but it is worth your time. 

Indigo Yoga
4812 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
817-735-9642 

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Wednesday drive through: The final day of the MLB season's meaning

Jennifer Lopez is saying she is rising above the divorce talk gossip.  Good for her; she's had plenty of practice.

Sunday night will be a sad day - Andy Rooney is retiring

And now ... after 13 months of the MLB regular season, we have finally arrived to the final day. The Big Mac Blog speaks for everybody in saying, Thank God.

While we can't get enough of Red Sox gag, there are a few other games that matter as well.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Red Sox at Orioles, 6 p.m. CT
Lester (15-9, 3.49 ERA) v. Simon (4-9, 4.85 ERA)
ESPN is said to be airing a four-hour pre-game show on its home team. Lester is going on short rest to try to give the Red Sox a chance to prevent this epic collapse. I thought the Red Sox and their Moneyball ways would prevent such a thing?

Yankees at Rays 6 p.m. CT
TBD v. Price (12-13 3.35 ERA)
Does anyone in Tampa know it has a baseball team, outside of the spring training home of the Yankees?

Indians at Tigers 6:05 CT
McAllister (0-1, 8.53 ERA) v. Porcello (14-9, 4.76 ERA)
The Tigers need this and a Rangers loss to finish second in the AL.

Rangers at Angels 7:05 CT
Harrison (14-9, 3.46 ERA) at Richards (0-2, 8.00 ERA)
No one is noticing, but the Rangers are in prime position to return to the WS.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cardinals at Astros 7 p.m. CT
Carpenter (10-9, 3.59 ERA) v. Myers (7-13, 4.31 ERA)
Tony LaRussa should be fired if the Cardinals lose 2 of 3 to the Astros at any point this season, or given a lifetime extension if he gets this team to the playoffs.
Myers has been seriously hot the past month. 

Phillies at Braves 6 p.m. CT
Blanton (1-2, 5.03 ERA) v. Hudson (16-10, 3.23)
This is the one pitching matchup that favors the Braves in this series. The Braves are privately praying the Red Sox lose so maybe no one will notice their gag is equally as impressive.

 

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Quote of the day

SAM: What's the story, Norm?

NORM: Boy meets beer. Boy drinks beer. Boy meets another beer. 

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ESPN should have passed on a documentary about Steve Bartman

Growing up in Indiana you are either a Cubs fan, or a Reds fan. I hated the Cubs. Having been to Wrigley Field, I understand their cult following and their fan base - it's one of the great places to see a sporting event in the world - but I'm not a Cubs fan.

That said, I felt nothing but genuine sympathy for Steve Bartman. This is the Cubs fan who kinda got in the way of Moises Alou's attempt to catch a ball in the Cubs' series against the Marlins in Game 6 of the 2003 ALCS. Every time I see the replay I really don't see how Bartman was at fault. It looked as if the ball was falling directly towards the wall between his seat and the stands. Either reaching, or avoiding, the ball is a logical reaction.

The hell this guy caught in Chicago, and around Cub Nation, for getting in the way was embarrassing. He didn't lose that series. The Cubs could have won Game 6. They could have won Game 7.

Tonight at 7 p.m., ESPN returns to one of the best series it has ever produced, 30 for 30, with "Catching Hell" a documentary about the Bartman ordeal. Here is a story about the whole scenario from the Chicago Sun Times. From the sounds of it, the documentary focuses on the intense media coverage of the event; not sure if Bartman is in this piece or not. My gut tells me probably not.

ESPN's 30 For 30 series aired last year documented so many wonderful moments in sports over the last 30 years, and every one of them focused on willing participants from Reggie Miller to Craig James and the Pony Express right down to Marcus Dupree's fall from fame. The key is they all agreed to be a part of the story from inception.

Bartman agreed to watch the story, not be in it. He was not in the arena. He was not in the field of play. He paid a lot of money to watch those who were.

ESPN has a tremendous need for programming, but no where on an MLB ticket stub is there a waiver about agreeing to invade your life/privacy if you attend a baseball game.

 

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If you are wondering how the D.C. peeps feel about the Redskins loss ...

Always one of my favorite things as a sports fan is to read the clippings from the other side.

Here is a collection ...

Thomas Boswell writes a good one on the Cowboys' having the edge because of the QB.

This guy is kidding himself if he thinks the Redskins are an NFC East contender.

DeAngelo Hall bagged on the decision to blitz three straight times during the decisive drive for the Cowboys.

It's always fun to read the team websites defense of their team. Hey, I get it - they all share the same name on the check.

The Washington Times chides the team for an inability to finish the game.

 

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Hope Solo DWTS Update - The dream lives!

I do realize there is a lot going on in the FW/d sports scene - North Texas just won a football game - but it's my job to update the masses who missed Hope Solo's performance on Dancing With the Not Stars.

Hope trumps the news that Nancy Grace apparently suffered an unintentional wardrobe malfunction sans Justin Timberlake on the show. Apparently the bag fell off of her head.

I digress ...

The song Hope danced to last night is so bad it makes me want to shove glue in my ears.
But to watch this video with the sound down is a good way to begin any day ...

 

 

The truth is Hope can't dance, but ... who cares?

 

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Quote of the day

Det. Frank Drebin: Is there a ransom note? 

Capt. Ed Hocken: Yes. The butler found it. It was tied to this window and thrown into the rock garden. I sent the note to the lab. They're demanding one million dollars. 

Det. Frank Drebin: Why would the lab demand a million dollars? 

 

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The Drive Through: Cowboys immediate reaction, panic and praise

1. Red Ball: Cowboys are 7-4 under Jason Garrett. Last 9 games have been decided by 3 points or less. Eat it, Peter King!

2. Anybody who questions Tony Romo's anything, save for the postseason, really needs to shut it. His line was bad, his center was awful, and his receivers looked like they didn't know where they were. And in the fourth quarter he was good.

Fourth Quarter Romo In 2011:
Week 1 at Jets: 5 of 12, 108 yds., 0 TD, 1 Int, 1 fumble
Week 2 at SF: 12 of 15, 201 yds., 2 TD, 0 Int
Week 3 v. Wash: 6 of 12, 107 yds., 0 TD, 0 Int

Romo's line: 22 of 36 for 255 yards with 1 pick. His QB rating was 70.9. Considering the circumstances, a brilliant night. 

"It was a tough game, the pain side of it," Romo said after the game. "It's hard to mentally keep coming back each play. It's not just me doing it. It's a bunch of guys. Tonight was a great example of keep grinding and moving forward. There were a lot of mistakes. A lot of mistakes. These guys are tough and they want to get back in there."

3. Felix Jones picked a very, very good time to have a good game: 14 carries, 115 yards. The o-line was pretty shaky, but when Felix got loose a little bit it forced the Redskins' defense to honor the run and not just sit down on the passes. Felix also had three catches for 40 yards.

4. It's time to admit what Martellus Bennett is - a professional athlete without a position. We are the ones who keep putting expectations on this guy, and he's never produced like it whether it was at A&M or with the Cowboys.
Kevin Ogletree ... time to get it or get out. 

5. The Cowboys defensive front-seven can keep this team in games. It would help, however, if DeMarcus Ware showed up before the fourth quarter. Ware did nothing in the first three quarters before making a few very big plays on Rex Grossman.
"I thought the defense was outstanding," Garrett said after the game. 
It was, but next week against the Lions it's going to have to be better. This is the Redskins. This is Rex Grossman.

Linebacker Anthony Spencer's sack and forced fumble on Rex to effectively win the game is more proof of just how good this guy can be, when he wants it. He didn't last season.

"We're going to have to swallow this one," Rex said after the game. 

6. Hate to say this, but Terence Newman is never going to be 100 percent healthy again.  

7. It may be time to seriously consider moving Tyron Smith to left tackle and Doug Free to right tackle. Smith's upside says he should be an LT, while Free may be better suited for the right side. Free hasn't been as good so far in 2011 as he was in '10.

8. Dez Bryant: 4 receptions for 63 yards. He was almost invisible the entire night, but for one busted play with 2 minutes remaining. This guy has got to figure it out. He's too good not to.
Romo's improv play where he escaped pressure against another blitz and found Dez for a 30-yard gain on a 3rd-and-21 with 2 minutes remaining enabled the Cowboys to win.

"It happens. The first 2 times we blitzed too and got them in third and long," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said after the game. "It didn't work. Romo made a good play and it was a good catch by the wide receiver."

9. Dan Bailey. Looks like the Cowboys have found their kicker. Thank. God. Bailey was good from 41, 27, 32, 41, 23 and 40. 

"I would say pretty reliable. He has a good demeanor for a kicker, and for a football player," Red said. "The field goals were the difference in the ball game for us."

 

 

10. NFC East Division Standings, and points for and points allowed

Cowboys: 2-1   69/67
Redskins: 2-1   66/53
Giants: 2-1      71/60
Eagles: 1-2      78/77

 

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MLB's two Texas teams have a massive role in 2012 playoffs

Since the Astros and Rangers can't seem to align their good seaons together, and we'll never have an all-Texas World Series, we will have to settle for both teams having an impact in the MLB playoff race in the final three games of the season.

The Rangers have locked up their second-consecutive AL West title, and are now playing to determine if they can get homefield in the ALDS over Detroit.

Meanwhile, our friends in Houston have baseball's worst team but are playing host to the Caridinals in a series the Atlanta Braves really, really, really need for the Astros to be competitive in.

The Caridinals, which are one game back of the Braves for the NL wild card spot, close out the final three games of the season with three in Houston tonight. The Astros are coming off a 19-3 loss - on Fan Appreciation Day no less - to the Rockies.

If the Astros, which sport a healthy 55-104 record, can expect to win a game of this three-game set it would be tonight. They send Wandy Rodriguez out; how this guy has an 11-11 record on this team is one of the more remarkable stats of this 2011 season. A 3.51 ERA helps. This sure has been a good way to celebrate the team's 50th year in existence.

Meanwhile the Braves host the best team in baseball, the Phillies, tonight in the first of a three-game series. The Phillies will start former Ranger Cliff Lee. Can you say, screwed?

Big Mac Blog prediction: The Cardinals have the better manager, will win this final playoff spot, and can thank Houston for making so much of it possible.

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