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Not sure what to say other than ... oh God, why? This is what current FOX NFL color announcer and former Dallas Cowboys FB Daryl "Moose" Johnston wore during the telecast of the Cowboys-Saints game today.
Did he have to tuck it in?
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Your Dallas Mavericks NBA professional basketball team is 12-15, the fourth-fewest wins in the Western Conference.
Now they don't have a starting point guard who knew how to play the position as veteran Derek Fisher was granted his release because he was home sick. The point guard they do have, Darren Collison, they don't want as their starter.
Fisher has long been known to be very tight with his family, but it's funny how he finds himself longing for his LA home now that he is on a team that appears to be going nowhere. I'm sure that's just a coincidence.
When he signed to play with the Oklahoma City Thunder last season for a stretch-drive to the playoffs being homesick never seemed to be an issue. He never complained about missing home as the Thunder went all the way to the NBA Finals.
When Fish' signed with the Mavs he had to know this team was not in the same position as the Thunder, or the Lakers or any other legit contender. That by signing with the Mavs was merely the chance to play a lot, collect a nice check, and very likley lose in a way he was not accustomed.
It's OK if he just said, "Screw this" rather than to say, "I sure miss home".
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I began the 2012 season with $50 of Monopoly money, and plan to fake bet a fake $10 spot on five college/pro games against the line to see how smart I am. Last season, I was plus $110. This season ...
Improvement. I followed up my 0-for-5 with a respectable 3-2 last week. I am up to plus-$50. Time to get rich.
Last week's picks
1. N.Y. Giants at Atlanta Falcons o/u 51.5: UNDER. WIN
2. Carolina Panthers at SD Chargers (-3): CHARGERS. LOSS
3. SF 49ers at NE Patriots (-5): PATRIOTS. LOSS
4. Indy Colts at Houston Texans (-9). TEXANS. WIN
5. Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins (-7.5) FISH. WIN
This week's picks
1. Baylor at UCLA (-1). BEARS. Don't let me down, Coach Briles.
2. Oak Raiders at Car Panthers (-8.5). CAM NEWTON. I believe in the long flight thing.
3. NWE Patriots (-14.5) at Jax Jaguars. GISELE. Angry Pats + Bad Team = Blowout
4. Washington Redskins (-6.5) at Philly Eagles. EAGLES. Closer than it should be
5. Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos o/u 44.5: UNDER. Me heart some Peyton Manning.
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This is how the NCAA tournament eventually expanded to 68 teams; it keeps growing because the need for more cash never ceases.
This bowl season will once again include tickets that schools and bowl games can't give away as well as a slate of mostly blah-games the powers that run college football would rather die than give up on a business plan that nets them so much money each year in personal incentives.
Using that reality, how are these bowl games going to remain remotely relevant if both attendance and TV ratings continue to decrease at such an alarming rate?
Flip it.
It's complicated but the basic framework of college basketball can be applied to college football: Move the bowl season to September and start this playoff in December, or November.
The early-season schedule in college football has become over run with dogs as coaches do their best to schedule guaranteed wins. Since TV has most of the leverage, it can put the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl in September and suddenly a Washington vs. Boise State is a pretty attractive game. A Holiday Bowl between Baylor and UCLA is a very big, and relevant, game.
What we have now remains an exhibition schedule that allows countless teams to go home with a ribbon, free swag, and the coach and or AD with a giant bonus check.
How are teams eligible for these September bowls? Base it on the previous year's record, or something along those lines.
By moving the bowl season to September you give fans and TV more meaningful games and give meaning to these "exhibition" games that right now fewer and fewer people are buying, either with their money or with their time.
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Watching the carnage between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night was arguably the most painful reminder of just how far Los Mavs have fallen since winning the NBA title two years ago.
The Miami Heat layup drill was impressive, and then it just grew tiresome and sad. The Heat's 110-95 win was not that close.
The saddest part is the Mavs were trying and hustling and it simply didn't matter because the talent differential is just too great to overcome.
The return of Dirk Nowitzki, who should be back before year's end, will help and may make the Mavs a contender for the eighth seed, but not much more.
The team can't rebound well enough. Darren Collison is an NBA guard, but he is not a pure point guard. O.J. Mayo is a good scorer, but he may be a case of a good scorer for an average team. Not sure if a team can win with O.J. Mayo as its best scorer.
The good news, we are told, is the team has all kinds of financial flexibility to pursue top line free agents who will use the Mavs as leverage and then sign with another club.
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Mr. Parker: Fraaa-gee-lee. That must be Italian.
Mrs. Parker: Uh, I think that says FRAGILE, dear.
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EULESS, Texas - Out of curiosity I pulled into this gun & ammo shop on Highway 10 to see how accurate the stories are - that gun stores are doing very good business these days, and not just because people are in the holiday spirit.
The stories are indeed true. This place was doing fantastic business when I visited on Thursday afternoon.
"It's for the wrong reasons," one store employee told me. "I knew it was going to happen but I didn't think it would be like this."
One employee told me he figured that since the Newtown tragedy, business at this location has at least "tripled". Fear of not being able to buy automatic assualt rifles are driving customers to stores to buy these guns, even with money they don't necessarily have.
"People are panic buying," he said. "At first they were coming in wanting to buy a specific (AR); now they are coming in saying, 'Give me whatever you got.' Whatever - AK 47s, whatever."
We're talking people buying guns that run from about $800 to $2,000 per. Most of the "cheap" ones are sold out.
This store employee, who is over 60 and is a gun collector, fears that it's a matter of time before legislators re-introduce the Brady Bill, and then ban magazines that carry anything more than 10 rounds. He does not see a day when all ARs will be banned.
The chatter in the store between a few employees and customers focused on people who are calling for a ban to guns; that it's not the guns that are killing but the people. That this is more of a mental health issue than a 2nd ammendment issue.
Personally, I'm not a gun guy. Don't own one, and can't see myself buying one. I have shot a few times in my life, and certainly can see why people enjoy it. Although I really can't see the need to buy an AK-47. It was created to hunt people, not deer.
And I tend to agree with this store employee - they are not going to be able to ban all guns in this country, but more restrictions, especially on ARs, are coming and the day of buying guns with large magazines are very likely numbered.
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'Tis the season of the great scam that is the bowl schedule where everybody gets rich - coaches, athletic directors, bowl executives - while the ticket paying customer gets screwed out of watching good games.
The good news is that as bowls have become more plentiful - there are 35 at last count - the demand for tickets continues to drop.
If you are a fan of Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor or Texas and have a deep desire to attend one of their bowl games, for the love of God don't pay full price.
By kickoff they'll be paying you just to sit in the stands on the hope you may buy a Coke and a hot dog.
Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl
Baylor (7-5) v. UCLA (9-4), San Diego, Qualcomm Stadium, Dec. 27
Cheapest ticket through bowl game site - $75.
Ebay $57.50
StubHub $69
Meineke Car Care of Texas
Minnesota (6-6) v. Texas Tech (7-5), Houston, Reliant Stadium, Dec. 28
Cheapest ticket through bowl game site - $35.
Ebay $24
StubHub $17
Valero Alamo
Texas (8-4) v. Oregon State (9-3), San Antonio, Alamodome, Dec. 29
Cheapest ticket through bowl game site - $50.
Ebay $21
StubHub $45
Buffalo Wild Wings
TCU (7-5) v. Michigan State (6-6), Tempe, Sun Devil Stadium, Dec. 29
Cheapest ticket through bowl game site - $25
Ebay $31
StubHub $19
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This is fun ... this is the depth chart of the Dallas Cowboys defense entering Week 1 against the Giants in New York compared to the unit that will play the Saints on Sunday. Just a few minor tweaks.
v. Giants
DT:
vs. SAINTS
DT: Marcus Spears, Tyrone Crawford
NT: Sean Lissemore, Brian Schaefering
DT: Jason Hatcher, Rob Callaway
SLB: Anthony Spencer, Victor Butler, Kyle Wilber
MLB: Dan Connor
WLB: Ernie Sims, Brady Poppinga
JLB: DeMarcus Ware, Alex Albright
* Jay Ratliff is still listed as the team's starting NT, but he is injured
Despite all of these massive changes to the lineup, the Cowboys defense ranks 14th overall in the NFL in total defense.
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FORT WORTH, Texas - Thanks to Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy for the head's up on the opening of Kip'z BBQ, which just recently opened.
I gave this place a shot and was not disappointed. The ribs have a very distinct home-cooked flavor and the sausage links were just spicy enough. Also offered as entrees include oxtail, sliced and chopped beef sandwiches, beef tips, pork steaks, etc.
The ribs do no taste like a Cousins or a Railhead; they taste as if they were made in your kitchen. Everything on the menu pretty much tastes like it was made in your kitchen.
The star of the menu is the killer banana bread pudding. It's sweet, but not rich, and has a light, fluffy taste that does not weigh you down ... although I am sure it does.
Nothing on this menu is going to break you - think about $10 per head. If that.
The interior decor of Kipz is basic with a couple of TVs and some signed photos of local celebs, most notably the late former Denver Broncos DB Darrent Williams, who graduated from Wyatt High School.
The service is very kind and helpful.
If the local food thing is your thing, try Kip'z.
KIP'Z
Open for lunch and until 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays
1509 Evans Ave. (two blocks east of Interstate 35W at East Allen Avenue)
817-705-1622
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