Jason Hatcher is right - the Cowboys DON'T have a Ray Lewis

Cowboys defensive end Jason Hatcher is a good, good dude. This guy came from one of the hardest backgrounds imagineable in tiny Jena, Louisiana. He went to Grambling, and media training was very likely never in his background. He doesn't know how not to be honest. The problem was, before this season, no one much listened because he didn't play much.

But this week Hatcher's mouth created a bit of stir when he told the local ESPN radio affiliate: 

"Dude. I gotta be honest with you: That's a good question. That's a good question. I really don't know. It's just another thing we really need ... like the Ravens, we don't have that. We've got the talent. We've got everything we need. I think we get like a Ray Lewis-type. Everybody buys into him. When Ray Lewis speaks, everybody listens to him. A guy like that. We really don't got that. I think we definitely need somebody like that."

Speak the truth, brother. There is no one on his defense with a big voice and a big game. The NFL demands there be the game to back up the voice. 

DeMarcus Ware has a big game, but he's quiet. It's not in him. And, quite frankly, when the game gets big what has he done? Jay Ratliff? His personality is too erratic to consistently breathe fire beyond just game day. Anthony Spencer is quiet and nice. Bradie James and Keith Brooking? Too late. And no one in that secondary should be talking.

Perhaps Sean Lee grows into that type of voice and role because he has the makings of having the necessary game to talk.

Hatcher is dead on that the Cowboys need someone with a voice like Ray Lewis. But what they need more than that is a guy with a game like Ray Lewis.

 

 

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Lamar Odom is a nice role player

DALLAS - Lamar Odom's averages of 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds are on pace to easily be the worst of his pro career. Right now the Mavs forward averages a tick over 21 minutes a game.

Even though when Odom was acquired the Mavs hailed all of the different things he can do on the court because of his talent, in the end the NBA is a slotted game. Lamar is about the same height as Dirk Nowitzki, and they need to occupy the same spot on the floor. As good as Lamar is, he's not Dirk.

"I don't want to call out numbers, I'm all about the 'W' at this point in my career. I got the Sixth Man (of the year award) and that was fun but at this point I'm all about winning games," Odom. "I like being up in the plus/minus (statistic). My role is a little different here than it was in L.A. where I finished games. When I come off the court now and Dirk comes in, I want to be up in the plus/minus. You know what that's about, right?"

Plus/minus is a relatively new stat the tracks how a team is doing in terms of points when a player is on the floor. For instance, if Odom enters the game with the Mavs leading 70-75 and by the time he leaves the floor the score is 77-75, he's a plus-two. Some coaches and NBA people like this stat, others feel there are so many variables that can easily skew the number.

"I think it's important," Odom said.

Odom didn't want this trade, and now the Mavs are simply trying to make the best of it. At this point, we should merely expect he can buy Dirk Nowitzki minutes, and chip in. Anything more is a bonus.

He said this transition being dealt from the Lakers to the Mavs right before the start of this season has been the most difficult of his career. For most of the season he's looked out of place on the floor with this team.

"Yeah, I've never been traded," he said. "It's different because this was unexpected. (But) it's over. I let it go. You have to get it go. You have no choice. I owe it to these guys in this locker room. My body is starting to feel like an athlete again."

Say whatever you want about Lamar, but this is a polite and decent man. Every time I have dealt with him whether he was a kid at New York's Christ the King high school, the Lakers, Team USA and the Mavs he is always polite, courteous and respectful. After this particular interview concluded on Monday, he did something I don't think I have ever had a professional athlete do:

Lamar Odom: "What's your name?"

Mac Engel: "Me? I'm Mac Engel."
Lamar Odom: "I'm Lamar. Nice to meet you." 

 

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Quote of the day

Omar: I'll do what I can to help y'all. But, the game's out there, and it's play or get played. That simple. 

 

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Video of Josh Hamilton speaking on Glenn Beck TV

I spent a great portion of the day writing and waiting to write about Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton's appearance today on Glenn Beck TV.

Josh spoke for about 30 minutes today in an interview with pastor James Robison, and came across once again as sincere even though he didn't face many (any?) really hard questions.

Here is one clip courtesy of Glenn Beck TV. 

 

And if you really, really have a lot of time ... here is the full interview:

 

 

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The TCU four - what did they do on the field?

Now that we know the names of the four TCU football players who were part of the drug sweep, we can get to the important task at hand: What does this mean to the team itself after all four guys were kicked off the team.

Tanner Brock, LB
Likely starter for 2012. This one hurts. He missed most of the 2011 season with a foot injury but he was expected to be a major contributor moving forward. 

D.J. Yendrey, DL
Not good. A likely starter, and a senior. Last season he had 5.5 tackles for losses, and three sacks. He was honorable mention all-conference last season.

Devin Johnson, DB
A former walk on, he had become a reliable contributor. In 2011, he was credited with 7 tackles for losses and 3 sacks.

Ty Horn, OL
He was a backup at right tackle last season behind senior Robert Deck. 

 

 

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Drug bust at TCU includes four football players meaning this program has really arrived

One day after the TCU football program continued the process of joining the big time by releasing its 2012 Big 12 football schedule it took a massive leap up the legitimacy power poll. This morning a large, campus-wide drug bust was announced that reportedly includes the names of four football players.

Police chief Steven McGee said this morning that all of those arrested are drug dealers, and that later today arrest affidavits would be available. Apparently this involves some frat boys, and football players. 

Going to a BCS game against Boise State was a major step for this football team.
Beating Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl was another step.
Joining the Big 12 was thought to be the final hurdle.
A major drug bust? Now that's big time.

You can't be a big-time college football power if you aren't a little dirty. These things happen when, as the kids say, "you get good."

The full scale of this is not known just yet; if the players involved are obscure TCU coach Gary Patterson can easily dismiss them under the "We don't run that type of program" edict. If the players involved are serious contributors with a major upside? Well, a little counseling and a suspension for all drop-kick plays against Grambling may be in order.

I am sure TCU coach Gary Patterson is thrilled with this news. This is the type of feather and validation no coach wants any part of, but they are a part of big-time college athletics. 

TCU, you have arrived. Now we know you can compete with the OU's, Okie States and, yes, even Texas.

 

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Quote of the day

Pincus: You have options. You can either continue to be miserable or you can just stop being angry at everyone and accept the way things are. Allow yourself to live.

 

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TCU coach scores a job-securing win against No. 11 UNLV

For TCU fans hoping men's basketball coach Jim Christian is going to be fired after the season, spend your time lobbying for something else.

Christian has all but assured himself of another year at TCU after scoring easily his best win in his tenure:  102-97 in overtime against No. 11 UNLV. What appeared to be as many as 50 fans stormed the court (sarcasm font needed).

Have to happy for TCU senior guard Hank Thorns, who scored 32 points and hit 8 threes. He is from Vegas, and he transferred from Virginia Tech to TCU precisely for a moment like this. He earned this.

This team needs dramatic talent upgrades across the board to be able to just compete in the Big 12, but that's for a later day. Right now Christian has a team that can at least compete in the Mountain West Conference, and has a shot at a postseason tournament. 

I have always believed this guy could coach, provided he has players. This is relative, but this is easily Christian's best team in his tenure at TCU because he has players who enjoy each other, are coachable, and can actually play. This team is winning all of these close games for a reason.

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Awesome photo of a shark eating another shark

This is simply too cool not to include ...

This incredible shot of one shark eating another shark comes via National Geographic; the photo was taken on the Great Barrier Reef.

Immediately after the shot the tasseled wobbegong reportedly told the photographer, "A bit gamey. Could use some kosher salt."

 

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Big Mac & Galloway replacement goes off the rails

 

 

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