Sports & Recreation

Feed us the rock because this is the proverbial slam dunk. No doubt the Stars’ Jamie Benn is one of the most respected captains in hockey, and being quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys obviously puts Dak Prescott in the spotlight, broken ankle or not. But nobody carries that Face of the Franchise mantle quite like the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic. Heck, he’s in the running for face of the entire NBA. Consider that in the Mavs’ final win of the 2020-21 season, a 105-100 victory over the Clippers in the playoffs, the star forward had a hand in 31 of his team’s 37 field goals, a mark of 83.8% and a league postseason record. Amazing talent, good looks, boyish charm. Simply put, Luka is the man. Or the face. Or whatever you want to call it. Regardless, he’s ours.

Owner Rob Ables instructs all ages and experience levels in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art based on grappling in ground fighting. Marcelo Garcia is a retired martial artist and considered to be one of the best grapplers in the world. Some students who train under him, like Ables, go on to open gyms and teach his techniques. World class local martial artists like Chelsah’ Lyons and celebrity practitioners like the late Anthony Bourdain have rolled at the Dallas gym. Without strikes, students can spar at various degrees of intensity without the risk of serious injury. Just don’t forget to tap out.

This woman is fierce, and she’s done Texas damn proud. In June, Dallas native Sha’Carri Richardson became known as the fastest woman in America when she sprinted the 100-meter dash during the Olympic trials and dominated the competition. But the athlete’s dream of participating in the Tokyo Olympic races all but went up in flames after she tested positive for marijuana. Still, Richardson’s story sparked a national conversation about athletes and cannabis use, and as an open bisexual, she’s become an LGBTQ+ hero. With a Nike sponsorship and a Beats by Dre commercial under her belt, Richardson isn’t slowing down any time soon.

Some 20 minutes from downtown Dallas and 10 miles southwest of the city, Cedar Hill State Park unfurls across more than 1,800 acres of nature. Cedar Hill’s been open since 1991, and it’s a popular camping destination for those Dallas residents who don’t want to venture too far from home. With campsites dotting the park, you can go for a dip in the lake, fish for crappie or catfish, or explore the DORBA trail by foot or on off-road bicycle. Luckier still, the park’s restrooms are equipped with hot showers, and if you’re rolling down there in an RV, there are plenty of spots to hook up to the electricity or sewerage.

The name is a bit misleading, as Cousins Paintball Dallas is actually located in Forney, but it’s only about 20 minutes east of downtown Dallas. Dallas or not, Cousins is the place to go if you and your pals are looking for somewhere to hammer the heck out of each other with little, painful, paint-filled balls. The property stretches across 300 acres of what Cousins describes as “awesome terrain,” chock full of good hiding spots from which to ambush your buddy and light him up. Cousins offers open play Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., but you can also book private sessions any day of the week.

Just a hair north of the Dallas border with Richardson, Wizards is a popular watering hole that as of late has something even more interesting to offer than beers and hard booze. Whether it’s your run-of-the-mill karaoke night, playing Texas Hold ‘Em for cash money or watching tiny people ravage one another in the micro wrestling ring, Wizards offers an interesting variety of entertainment. In August, the Richardson establishment hosted the Micro Wrestling Federation for a night of brawling before drunken patrons. But if you’re looking for something more, well, low key, pop in and play pool on a mellower night.

As long as the weather allows, Cedar Ridge Preserve opens its gates Tuesday through Sunday from 6:30 a.m. until sundown. You can walk, jog or sprint your way up and down the winding trails carving their way across this slice of nature. Less than a half hour from downtown Dallas, and with nine miles of trails, Cedar Ridge unravels across some 600 acres. Some of the trails are more challenging than others, but Cedar Ridge has options for both beginning runners and experienced trail trekkers. Better still, the views aren’t too shabby; you can spot all sorts of wild mammals, birds and reptilian friends native to North Texas as you sweat out your stress.

Flagpole Hill has seen a lot of sunsets since it was established in 1929. The 107-acre park is an outdoors paradise with trails, an inclusive playground (meaning it’s equipped to accommodate wheelchairs, for example) and a large pavilion with picnic tables and grills. But most impressive is the park’s view of White Rock Lake. Pro tip: if you climb up the stone steps to the platform that holds the flagpole area, you’ll catch a view of the sunset between the trees that’ll remind you of everything you love about living on your home planet.

Yeah, we know, the idea of a staycation is less appealing when you’ve been staying put for a year and a half, but at least you can make a point to get out of your damn house and spend most of your time outdoors. The Arlington hotel has an infinity pool that’ll make you feel like swimming for infinity. The modern, upscale bed and breakfast is not your grandma’s inn; the sleek, modern building is a design marvel, which is reason enough to rent a room and check out Arlington’s entertainment district. The hotel’s pool, however, is the indisputable star, with stunning views, a cabana and pool bar.

There’s simply no cooler bowling alley than Bowlski’s. The newly renovated Lakewood landmark is worth visiting even if you don’t plan to bowl at all. The former movie theater now has Instagram op-worthy art, 10 lanes and a candy shop. Sometimes they book bands that perform behind the bowling machines — yes, you can hear them through all the noise. Entertainment director Moody Fuqua (formerly from Club Dada and RBC) also keeps the venue’s adjacent bar, The Arcade Bar, booked with live music and dance nights, turning the place into a small entertainment Mecca.

Biking is a much smarter individual transportation solution than those city scooters that turned out to be a fiasco, plus it’s great exercise, which we all need after a year of doing little to nothing. But in a traffic-heavy city such as Dallas, you want to know what to expect before you take off on a bicycle to the great unknown. The Santa Fe Trails are paved, smooth and bike friendly, and run from White Rock Lake to Deep Ellum — so you can start your day with a scenic route and end it with a beer and live show.

DFW can lay claim to having its share of unique sports venues. There’s the American Airlines Center in downtown, the historic Cotton Bowl and, of course, the glitz and glamour of AT&T Stadium. While we would love to give the nod to Globe Life Field, the Rangers’ new palace of air conditioning, we’re still sorting out our feelings about the move from The Temple. Instead, in terms of a fun night at the ballpark, we’re drawn to the intimacy of Riders Field, home of the Rangers’ Double-A affiliate in Frisco. Since 2003 it’s offered a mix of minor league charm and big-league conveniences. With a cheaper ticket and a team sitting atop its division, Riders Field can give you that needed Field of Dreams vibe. Except for, you know, there’s an Ikea next door instead of corn.

With a little shoutout to SMU’s rowing team for winning the first conference championship in program history, there’s really no question that for 2021, success, thy name is Duncanville High School basketball. The Panthers took the UIL state title in 2019 and were expected to repeat in 2020 when the season was called off due to the COVID pandemic. No worries, Duncanville simply took care of business in 2021. Led by power forward Ron Holland, the top recruit in Texas for the 2023 class, and senior Zhuric Phelps, who won MVP honors in the championship game, the Panthers cruised to a 29-1 overall record and a 66-53 victory over Austin Westlake in the finale for the powerhouse’s fifth state title.

Wide Receiver CeeDee Lamb nearly posted 1,000 yards last year despite the Cowboys’ MASH unit of an offense, and Adolis Garcia has brought fun and excitement to the ballpark while challenging for the Rangers’ rookie home run record. But you can’t deny the impact that Jason Robertson had on the Stars this past season. Despite being a second-round pick in 2017, he was practically unheard of around these parts. That all changed when the left winger went on to lead NHL rookies in assists (28) and even-strength points (39) while ranking second in points overall (45). For his effort, Robertson was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team and finished second in voting for the Calder Cup, given to the NHL’s top rookie. Needless to say, the kid is all right.

We’re still feeling the sting from Dirk Nowitzki’s retirement two years ago, and a move at the Maverick’s head coaching position is the closest the team has come for filling the gap. Jason Kidd made his second return to the Mavericks, this time as the team’s head coach. Kidd’s history with Dallas goes back to the start of his NBA career when the Mavericks used their second draft pick to bring him to the team in 1994. He left for Phoenix and then New Jersey before returning to Dallas in 2011. The move cost the Mavericks a little bit more money, but it was worth it since Kidd helped bring the team through legendary competition, like the LA Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and the Miami Heat’s power duo of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, to its first Finals win. Having a coach who knows how to power through walls of seasoned opponents and lead hot, top talent like Luka Doni down the court could lead to that elusive second NBA Finals trophy.

Give us Arlington elementary school teacher Audrey Simmons. Why? Honored by the Rangers as a frontline worker, she threw out the first pitch at the team’s home opener this year. You’ll remember that she got the ball when Gov. Greg Abbot backed out just hours before the scheduled start, in an odd protest to Major League Baseball decision to move the All-Star Game from Atlanta because of Georgia’s recently passed restrictive voting laws. Calling it shameful that baseball was “being influenced by partisan political politics,” Abbott did what Abbott do … and tried to influence baseball with partisan political politics. Of course, the vast majority didn’t care one way or the other, Simmons got her deserved moment, and we Texans gave the rest of the country another good laugh.

If you’ve been to Sylvan Thirty, you might have easily missed the two bocce ball courts that line the parking lot in front of CiboDivino. Those two giant blue rectangles on the ground aren’t there to trip you, rather an opportunity for you to channel your inner-Italian and spend some time learning this highly underappreciated sport. There are some great amenities that come with these courts, which start with miso lobster ramen at TEN Ramen and a cold draft beer. Or grab a pizza or giant charcuterie board from CiboDivino. Picnic tables near the court allow for the perfect setting for a friendly game of bocce ball and a pleasant meal. It’s BYOB.

America is finally having the discussion it should’ve started when Confederate monuments started popping up all over the South and the military started naming bases and buildings after the Civil War’s most notable slavery defenders. The South Garland Independent School District’s trustees unanimously retired South Garland High School’s long-time mascot, The Colonel, a title that’s as old as the district itself, at the beginning of the year. Then the district fielded submissions for a new mascot and narrowed the options down to 16 possibilities voted on by student and staff as part of a “Mascot Madness” bracket. The Titans edged out The Texans with 65 percent of the vote presumably because no one wants to be associated with Texas’ second worst pro-football team (Fun fact: It would’ve been third if The XFL was still in operation).

Virtual reality entertainment has exploded as the technology becomes more accessible and versatile. Sports is still a big part of gaming, but it hasn’t quite caught up to the popularity of other types of games set in virtual realms. A new virtual gaming space in Grapevine, however, has helped sports catch up to the medium. The Crush It! Virtual Sports Lounge is the first and (for the time being) only virtual gaming center dedicated to the sporting life. Guests can rent a pod complete with a motion capturing game system that can play almost any kind of competitive sport from popular fare like baseball and football to the more obscure like cricket and dodgeball. Players use real balls and sports equipment like bats and golf clubs to put points on the board and get one stroke closer to the goal. It’s an inventive way to tap into a new market for virtual gaming and the best part is you can order drinks and play sports even when it’s raining.

Novice golfers wanting to embarrass themselves in front of a date don’t have to pay $47 an hour at Top Golf. Town East Golf Center in Sunnyvale offers the chance to play a real round of golf for roughly $1 a hole. Now, when we say “real,” that does come with some caveats. The course is rough around the edges — it’s more like playing golf in a pasture that has been creatively mowed. But that’s part of its charm. You can just show up without a tee time, and we’ve seen a couple play this course while pushing a baby stroller. Which is to say, you come here to get outside and have a little low stakes fun, not because you’re the next Jordan Spieth in training. Although, if you do discover a new passion, Town East Golf Center will actually give you a feel for the game’s flow and skills you’ll need to play more challenging courses. Just be advised that the word is out about this hidden gem and weekends are getting busy.

Paul Lynde has been rooting for Southern Methodist University’s Mustangs for 48 years, even though the team’s losses far outweigh its wins over that time. Nothing has been able to stop Lynde from showing up in the stands to root for his team. He’s flown almost every corner and border of the country and to Hawaii eight times just to watch his team compete in the “away” column. He dug his heels during 22 losing seasons and for an entire missing season in 1987-88 when the team had to sit on the sidelines for committing recruiting violations. Even with a chickenpox diagnosis at Halloween, he threw on a scarecrow costume and sat far away from the crowd so he could enjoy the game without infecting his fellow fans. He worked his way into a “players’ parents only” game against Tulane University in New Orleans to be the lone fan sitting on the SMU side.

Even though sports weren’t as prevalent this past year as other seasons, it didn’t soften the conversation around its various controversies. One of the biggest was the presence of the national anthem and athletes protesting police racism by kneeling during its pregame presentation. Naturally, the issue was overblown in a beet red state like Texas, so when Mavericks owner Mark Cuban decided to listen to the people peacefully protesting and show a simple gesture of solidarity to their cause, inevitable uproar followed. Instead of backing down, Cuban stepped up and explained why he pulled the anthem from his team’s home games for the time being. “We also hear the voices of those who do not feel the anthem represents them,” he said. “We feel they also need to be respected and heard, because they have not been heard.”

NBA players have mastered the art of dunking so well that it’s lost its shiny wonderment. Tyler Stone, a guard on the Joshua High School’s Owls basketball team, brought the BOOMSHAKALAKA back to the game in a big way. The Owls faced off against the Ennis Lions at the start of the year. Stone got a fast break that left nothing between him and the net but air. So the mullet-sporting guard goes barreling down the center of the court and launches his hefty frame to the rim. He not only came down a solid dunk and two points for his team but also brought the rim and the backboard glass down with him. Someone in the crowd turned the moment into a looping video and it went viral on Twitter, being shared by sports sites like Overtime and Barstool Sports. You know a play is impressive when even the ref asks for a high five.

Few athletes put up more for their fans’ entertainment than professional wrestlers. They hurl their bodies on stacks of folding chairs, get entangled in barbed wire and take the occasional garbage can lid to the face just for the crowd’s amusement. Local pro-wrestling took a very hard hit when the pandemic prevented crowds from forming around the squared circle, but the fighters at SOAR Championship Wrestling did everything they could to keep the coronavirus from permanently pinning them to the mat. The outfit found new venues that could house small capacities with proper social distancing and worked with its wrestlers to allow them to safely square off in the ring as the vaccinations and new infection totals rolled out over the summer. The wrestling company showed patience and determination in keeping their show going. and that’s even more impressive when you realize they did it without applying for federal stimulus funding or small business grants. Getting slammed in the back with a folding table is an effective way to learn how to stay on your feet when times are tough.

You can’t get a bigger endorsement for your skating rink than from party gods DJ Sober and Blake Ward. Just this past month, the pair began throwing their series Roller Boogie party, filling it with glitterati glamor. Interskate in Lewisville has been standing — or rolling — for decades with a spacious rink and retro vibe complete with LED lights and disco balls. The staff is known for its friendliness and is accommodating with private parties.

We can already hear the jokes. “Cricket in Texas? What’s next? Croquet and crumpets?” Get your cracks in now because they won’t be as funny when Grand Prairie opens its new, pro-cricket stadium in the early part of 2022. The project was announced in 2020 and construction on the oval arena started this past year as crews turn the old Texas AirHogs baseball field into a “boundary,” one of many terms you’ll learn when the new team starts its first season in town. Once you get over the misconceptions about cricket as a tea-guzzling snoot-off for stuffy guys, you’ll see just how exciting and competitive the sport can be for fans. Cricket requires equal amounts of skill, strategy and focus. It’s practically baseball except there’s a different point structure and no Alex Rodriguez, so what’s not to like?

The 2020 Summer Olympics may have started a year late because of the pandemic, but that just gave our teams more time to prepare. The Olympics added a new 3X3 basketball event to the games, and Dallas Wings guard Allisha Gray was one of the four athletes on Team USA who took home the gold, with an impressive 6-1 tournament record. The new basketball event is an extremely abridged version of the traditional basketball bout since games only last 10 minutes or until one team reaches a score of 21. The U.S. team led the entire time in the final game against the Russian Olympic Committee, and Gray did a stellar job boxing out the competition’s open players to force rebounds that helped put them over the top. The win not only makes her an Olympic champion from our neck of the woods. She’s also on the team that won the first medal in her event in Olympic history.

Our hometown team in the Overwatch league may only be 4 years old, but it established an impressive following in that time by fragging the competition to win its biggest tournament so far. The Envy Gaming team went 9-3 in the 2021 to win its first Overwatch League title in a close, pulse-pounding win against the Shanghai Dragons. The team seemed to be in a corner just a few days before the May tournament when its top Hitscan specialist Ki-hyo “Xzi” Jung had to step aside for health reasons. Going into a high pressure tournament as a perceived underdog, however, seemed to pump an extra dose of octane into the Fuel’s performance. The team finished with a 4-2 tournament record against Shanghai, a $100,000 purse for winning the “May Melee” and a record win for the team’s books, which is more than we can say for most of Dallas’ other sports teams.