« April 2012 | Main | June 2012 »
It was Judge Smails who told his fellow patrons at Bushwood C.C., "Don't you people have homes?"
Going on a brief break as I try to come up with a master plan to fix the Cowboys (GM), Stars (forward/defenseman), Mavericks (too many problems to count) and Rangers (Game 6).
Hope you all have a great week.
@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com
Facebook Mac Engel
Chuck Daly:
Wipe everything off the board. It's all about attitude.
@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com
Facebook Mac Engel
GRAND PRAIRIE - For those of you who don't watch "Mad Men" and are unaware that Don Draper's ad agency is trying to land a car as a client, it's probably not a coincidence that said automobile is a Jaguar, which is in the process of re-launching itself.
Part of this aggressive, and expensive, re-launch campaign of the pricey high-end automobile from Great Britain is luring potential buyers to test-drive their car. This included a recent meet-and-greet in Lone Star Park's parking lot where clients were introduced to the latest line of Jags.
If you ever get a chance to do this with a high-end, super fast car - do it. I come from the school that cars are a necessity and a waste of money, but the chance to drive a really nice one at very high speeds is very enticing.
Jaguar entertained consumers with a brief introduction to their new cars, including this X-KR (which runs about $130,000), and then put their hopeful buyers through a series of driving tests in the cars. The two of the five that mattered were speed and performance.
The first thing you notice on these cars is how a luxury car feels. The new car leather smell, the Darth Vader's bathroom gadgets and toys that surround the driver; there are more buttons to adjust your seat than a computer keyboard. This thing drinks your coffee for you.
Now add the following to your bucket list: "Have retired Indy 500 driver give you a ride in a high performance car, full throttle, on a quarter-mile strip".
Jaguar hired former Indy car drivers Roberto Guerrero and Davy Jones to aid the drivers at this event; Guerrero was in the speed. Watch this 30 second clip:
When I made my turn with Guerrero in the passenger seat, the car hit about 80 m.p.h. I think that's good, and what I try to hit in a school zone. He did 85, or so. This type of test, as a driver, is merely of nerves and trust - do you trust the brakes?
What you quickly learn about a Jaguar's braking system is that it's so sophisticated and "smart" the driver really has to try hard to screw up.
The next test was driving fast through a series of twists, and turns, a la Formula 1. Davy Jones sat with the driver on this portion, and the difference between an amateur and a professional driving is embarrassing. No matter how good of a driver you think you are, you aren't a pro.
In this course I was able to turn my "fast" lap at about 32.75 seconds. With Jones driving, he did it in 29 seconds. His drive was smooth, fast, and on the shortest line possible whereas my lap was fast, abrubt and all over the place. The only thing missing was a bottle of Bud (just a joke).
Unless I win the lottery I don't plan to buy a Jaguar, but I can easily see how people fall in love with high end/fast cars and now it's official: I want one.
@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com
Facebook Mac Engel
Getting ready to take a break and thought I would leave you with this: TCU Showgirl Jordan Daigle has made it through a series of cuts to earn an invite to the Dallas Cowboys' cheerleaders training camp. Also included in this is former TCU Showgirl Kelsey Bond (these two are pictured here from a Sports Illustrated shoot way back when).
About 400 women roughly began, and now 45 women have made it to this training camp.
Daigle joined The Big Mac Blog for a chat back on November 10, 2011:
Name: Jordan Daigle
Major: Broadcast Journalism
Hometown: Plano, Texas
Favorite place to eat in Fort Worth?: Sushi Axiom. Love the Tower of Pisa!
Favorite movie: Wedding Crashers and now Bridesmaids.
Favorite pro sports team:Cowboys, Mavericks, and the Rangers. Typical Texas girl, I suppose.
The Big Mac Blog: Most embarrassing song on your iPod?
Jordan Daigle: Pokemon theme song. I have no idea why it is on there.
The Big Mac Blog: How long does it take you to get ready for a game?
Jordan Daigle: Well about an hour before game day practice and an hour after practice. So I guess 2 hours in all. I never quite feel completely ready though. There is always something to be touched up!
The Big Mac Blog: How long does it take you to get ready to go out with your friends?
Jordan Daigle: Depends on who you ask, I think I probably take an hour 1/2. However, someone like my boyfriend would probably disagree with that. In his mind I take forever!
The Big Mac Blog: Finish this sentence: Sex and the City is ... :
Jordan Daigle: Not my "all time favorite show ever!" Surprisingly, I never got into. I did see the first movie though and was entertained.The Big Mac Blog: Most embarrassing moment performing?
Jordan Daigle: One time I completely blanked during a halftime performance. I thought that was pretty embarrassing. I just kind of pranced around. I definitely heard one of the girls say "what are you doing?" as she passed me mid dance. Still, not quite sure what I looked like. I'm sure my mom has it on video somewhere.
The Big Mac Blog: Ever been injured performing?
JD: Besides the accidental/usual pom pom smack in the face, no :)
The Big Mac Blog: Is TCU joining the Big 12 good, or should it have stayed in the Big East?
Jordan Daigle: DEFINITELY GOOD! I cannot wait to be a fan at those games. Kind of wish I had one more year of Showgirls, but hey I did get to experience the Rose Bowl and the Super Bowl, so I am very fulfilled.
The Big Mac Blog: How do you remain interested, or cheer, in a blowout?
Jordan Daigle: Well haven't experienced one yet. Or well actually I guess at a few basketball games. I mean it is still entertaining to watch even if we are losing. We are also constantly moving around so games go by relatively fast.
The Big Mac Blog: If a Genie granted you three wishes, what would you wish for?
Jordan Daigle: Well, I would really like to be transported to a beach right now, have a full week of spa treatment, and have an unlimited supply of Betty Crocker funfetti Cupcakes.
@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com
Facebook Mac Engel
FORT WORTH - The first reaction to the addition of a Capital Grille in downtown Fort Worth is not food but location. It is directly across the street from Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, and what feels about five feet away on the same block from Del Frisco's.
This a cow triangle of terror.
The Capital Grille is a large, old steakhouse chain that just now has come to Fort Worth.
If you have never been to a Capital Grille elsewhere, know that it's not cheap, but takes its high standards very seriously and this is fine dining experience worthy of a special occasion.
This is a solid addition to the downtown Fort Worth restaurant market.
From the appetizer menu the prosciutto wrapped mozarella with vine ripe tomatoes (pictured) is a solid way to start. It nearly tastes like bacon wrapped tightly around a solid piece of cheese that falls apart in your mouth. The lobster and crab cakes is also a solid score. The way this appetizer menu is set up you could easily order from this and pick and choose for dinner.
From the dinner menu the 24-ounce dry aged porterhouse requires a bit of patience. Capital Grille does not trick up its steaks with a heavy rub; it just uses Lawry's seasoning. The first few bites of this porterhouse, prepared medium rare, were a bit on the dry side. About three bites towards the bone, however, you get a full appreciation for this piece of beef.
The sushi-grade sesame seared tuna with gingered rice was oustanding. It does taste like sushi, and stayed well inside the raw line. The texture was like sushi, yet it tasted like a tuna steak.
From the sides menu an absolute must is the lobster mac 'n' cheese. Ths is a Capital Grille staple, and could easily pass for dinner, lunch, breakfast, a snack, etc. The lobster pieces are a perfect blend to the comfort-rich cheese cuisine.
The star of the dessert menu is the cheesecake with fresh seasonal berries. Unlike cheesecakes that are blockish and too heavy, this is a light, almost fluffy, dessert.
The wine menu here is extensive, and a wait staff that makes you feel like royalty are good for solid suggestions to compliment whatever it is you order.
The Capital Grille menu runs on the large side for a fine dining experience; normally high-end restaurants have a limited selection in a perceived effort to perfect what they do offer. It does not taste as if anything suffers here, and that this established chain has found the right combination of offering a lot without sacrificing quality.
Make no mistake - you are going to spend your money here. Capital Grille does not advertise itself as an inexpensive night out, yet fine dining. It is that, and is a solid addition to Fort Worth.
@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com
Facebook Mac Engel
Johnny Cash: Hello, I'm Johnny Cash.
@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com
Facebook Mac Engel
Most people don't much care about college baseball (sorry, they don't), but every now and then the game provides some moments that even the most casual non-fan has to take notice.
For instance, TCU's 9th inning against San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference baseball tournament in Las Vegas on Thursday, played in front of approximately 50 people.
Click here for Stefan Stevenson's story from the game, which TCU rallied to win to post one of the biggest "Thank God's" in the program's history.
TCU led 14-4 going into the top of the 9th inning before all hell broke loose. Literally.
* SDSU scored 11 runs in the 9th inning to take a 15-14 lead. TCU gave up 11 runs in a game twice during the entire season.
* SDSU hit two home runs in the inning, and four extra base hits.
* This could have been a lot worse. SDSU scored 9 of its 11 runs with one out. It had the bases loaded with one out before the final two batters were retired consecutively.
* TCU had one error, threw two wild pitches, issued two walks, and hit two batters in the top of the 9th.
* With TCU scoring a pair of runs in the 9th to win, the inning saw a combined 13 runs and 12 hits.
* The game combined for 376 pitches.
* Time of the game was three hours and 47 minutes ... or about the average length of a Yankees/Red Sox game.
@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com
Facebook Mac Engel
FORT WORTH - Should you frequent The Crowne Plaza Colonial PGA event this weekend, and stop by the par-3 13th "party" hole, please know this is not an easy shot.
This hole, known for its cadddie races, and alcohol-infused crowd, looks like an easy reach.
The first picture is from last month, when I tried to ace it. Nice, clean, open ... should be within no more than 5 feet of the pin.
The second picture was taken from the spot where my impressive tee shot landed.
As you can see by the photo:
a.) The wind was brutal.
b.) The club of choice was junk.
c.) The golf ball was defective.
How would this shot have fared had my invitation to participate in this tournament not been lost in the mail?
As you can see by the third and final picture, taken today from roughly the same spot where my original tee shot landed, I would have been just fine ....
@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com
Facebook Mac Engel
This is not offical, New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams hasn't signed anywhere, and I am too big (fluffy?) to say told you so but ... the reports keep surfacing that DWill is not coming to the Mavericks this offseason.
The Lakers are the new twist to this scenario. According to this report from Sports Illustrated, DWill is more tempted at the idea of going to the Lakers than he is the Mavericks. But his preference is to remain with the Brooklyn Nets, and build from there with guys like Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace.
I have thought from Day 1 WIll was never coming to the Mavericks, which leaves this cap-clearing previous season left to look at guys like ... Steve Nash.
Maybe Michael Finley can come back.
@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com
Facebook Mac Engel
Recent Comments