10. Battle scars. The Mavericks are fueled by them. As of last night, the Thunder now have one of their own. Who feels worse about their closing confidence this morning: Harold Camping and his May 21 oops or Chokelahoma and its 15-point implosion? 9. Whether it was an epic meltdown or…
10. Regrettably, I didn’t go to the Oklahoma City National Museum, but apparently Jason Kidd did. Can’t believe that tragedy was 16 years ago all the sudden. 9. Stayed in a hip, happening part of OKC called “Bricktown.” Think of it as Dallas’ West End, with a canal running through…
A day short of six weeks after breaking his arm, Josh Hamilton is back. So is Nelson Cruz. And with them, will the Rangers welcome the return of their offense? After a weekend in Philly in which they were outscored only 5-4 over 27 innings of, let’s face it, boring baseball,…
10. Think of the Ford Center Oklahoma City Arena as a ‘roided Reunion. Basketball here is still fresh and, let’s face it, there’s nothing else to do. I was at Reunion in the ’80s and Sacramento’s ARCO Arena with the cowbells in the ’00s, and this place is louder. Says Dirk…
*Darren Oliver (1-5) gets yet another loss. And that’s two blown saves for Feliz on consecutive nights after 19 straight closes. *Durant’s dunk: Awesometown. Peja’s expression: Priceless. *Watched cyclist Tyler Hamilton snitching on Lance Armstrong in the 60 Minutes clip. Not buying it. He’s a two-time drug loser with darting eyes, wordy…
10. You knew the Thunder wouldn’t be content to lose another game of one-on-one with Dirk Nowitzki. They fronted him in the post. They doubled him. They held him to 29 points. Nick Collison, touche. And, you’re right, that’s something I thought I’d never type. 9. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle…
Adrian Beltre got the big hit. Ian Kinsler made the defensive play. And, in a first, Mark Lowe salvaged what Neftali Feliz ruined. The Rangers beat the Royals in extras last night and — pending a weekend visit through Cliff Lee and the formidable Phillies’ pitching staff — might avoid these…
If the Mavs-Thunder somehow doesn’t do it for you, how about some Colonial golf out in Fort Worth or even a basketball game played by football players? After delivering a eulogy for his dear friend Ron Springs at his Carrollton funeral this morning, former Dallas Cowboy Everson Walls will help host…
The Mavs can play better than they did in Game 1 of the NBA’s Western Conference Finals. For the first time in the playoffs they allowed 100 points, 112 to be exact. The Thunder grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and, according to Mavs’ coach Rick Carlisle, corralled 13 of the game’s…
He’ll be here before you know it. Sooner than we all expected. He’s got the above-average arm in the outfield. The plus-speed on the base paths. Immeasurable instincts. That sweet lefty swing. Bat resting anxiously on his shoulder, ready to spray the ball, with power, to all parts of any…
The Rangers lost a game because Matt Harrison walked two guys and then coughed up a home to the White Sox No. 9 hitter. We’ve dissected Dirk. And the Stars … who knows cares? At least there is news with our Cowboys. Sorta. While the NFL lockout storms toward its June 3 court…
Dirk Nowitzki was obviously unstoppable with 48 points and an NBA playoff-record 24 of 24 free throws, but the Mavs were stagnant and stale offensively until J.J. Barea entered the game in the second quarter. As Thunder coach Scotty Brooks said afterward, “He’s a handful.” I’m still shocked at his…
For once and all, he pronounces it “No-WIT-skee.” Has since the day he stepped off the plane from Germany back in 1998 and arrived at the Mavs’ old practice facility at the Baylor-Tom Landry Center in Dallas. You call him “No-VIT-skee”? He shrugs. Doesn’t care. Likewise, it doesn’t bother him…
The Mavericks haven’t lost an NBA Western Conference Finals series in five years. Of course we all know what happened last time Dallas advanced this far — in the 2006 NBA Finals. The come-from-ahead loss to the Heat sent the franchise into a psychological spiral from which it is just now recovering…
Execution vs. Explosion. Savvy vs. Speed. Aptitude vs. Athleticism. You get the picture. Mavs vs. Thunder. While — yeah, I know — I shoulda took my Mavs-over-Blazers first-round pick and quit while I was ahead, I predicted a Lakers’ win the West semis and, happily, sheepishly, here we are in…
Ron Springs’ fight is dead. His litigation, however, lives on. While former Cowboys teammates Roger Staubach and Everson Walls prepare to speak at Springs’ funeral in Carrollton on Thursday, the ex-running back, who died of a heart attack while in a 3 1/2-year coma last week, is still being represented furiously…
As I’ve said before, new Rangers TV play-by-play voice John Rhadigan is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Love him as a friend. Be honored to have him as a neighbor. Or a role model. Whatever. Great dude. But as the voice of my baseball? Um, let’s see…
By the way they reacted at their fog-machine introduction last summer and their tearful over-reaction last week, you’d think the Miami Heat already had won two championships this season. But no, after last night’s drubbing in Chicago they trail the Eastern Conference Finals, 1-0. And for those of us who…
I’ll have my position-by-position breakdown complete with, yes, the highly (smirk) coveted prediction tomorrow, but let’s get this party started pronto. Back in 1994 I covered the Mavericks for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a team that featured point guards Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea. Well, not exactly. But funny how sports works. Kidd…
Whether you’ve reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt’s End: *Went and watched the American professional debut of Cuban defector/Rangers’ prospect Leonys Martin last night in Frisco. In a word, wow! With his father and agent in the stands at Dr…
Ron Springs was pronounced dead yesterday. After dying on Oct. 12, 2007. I wrote about Springs’ sad plight in a March 2010 Observer cover story. But you already knew his tale. Former Cowboys’ running back who became a national poster boy — along with Everson Walls — for warm-n-fuzzy feelgoods…
Michael Vick took steps toward rehabbing his image last season. No thanks to the Eagles quarterback, one of his former bait dogs is doing much better as well. You remember Mel, right? I first told you his story almost a year ago. It was later picked up by the Los Angeles Times, etc., and…
