2012 Oklahoma Sooners Football

The final weeks of the NCAA Football regular season may have been as electric and entertaining as ever. But, looking at how things started this season will shock you even more. Many teams fell in and out of the top five and some out of the top ten, shaking up the BCS like never before. While a hand full of teams celebrated the bowl selections like children on Christmas morning, many team that had high hopes heading into the season finished with great displeasure. The Oklahoma Sooners were one of those teams left hanging in the dry that Sunday evening. While hoping for an at large bid to the Sugar Bowl and hoping to face a Florida Gator team that left a sour taste in the Sooners mouths following a bitter National Championship game loss, neither luck nor fate were in the Sooner’s favor. Northern Illinois slipped in to the BCS, knocking Oklahoma into a Cotton Bowl for the ages. The Sooner nation better not lick its wounds too long though. A young Texas A&M team, led by their freshman quarterback and Heisman trophy winner Johnny “F-ing Football” Manziel, is out for blood. While the Sooners and head coach Bob Stoops didn’t see their championship season finishing with a game in the Cotton Bowl, it will nonetheless be a game for the ages. The Sooner nation better not lick its wounds too long though. A young Texas A&M team, led by their freshman quarterback and Heisman trophy winner Johnny “F-ing Football” Manziel, is out for blood. While the Sooners and head coach Bob Stoops didn’t see their championship season finishing with a game in the Cotton Bowl, it will nonetheless be a game for the ages. hat many don’t realize about Oklahoma Sooner football is the constant pressure to win a national title. This season, the Sooners tied as Conference Champions, losing two games against teams with total combined losses of ONE. Their two losses were against Notre Dame, who will play Alabama in the BCS National Championship game, and Kansas State, who also shared the Big 12 crown, led by another Heisman caliber quarterback. Oklahoma won the other ten games on its schedule, costing itself a BCS bowl game only because coach Stoops and Oklahoma played Notre Dame out of conference. Alabama on the other hand had one loss, and played no top twenty teams out of conference. Oklahoma and Stoops are known for playing tough out of conference schedules, resulting in many high ranked years that included losses. In the end, a handful of players had remarkable years, so let’s pat them on the back as we take this break before the real games begin.Landry Jones came into the 2012 season with Heisman hopes and National Championship dreams. In reality, a rough beginning to the season forced Jones playing catch-up down the stretch, and that he did. Jones finished the season with 3989 yards passing, throwing 29 touchdowns, with only 10 interceptions. He boasted a completion percentage of 65.5%. The stats don’t tell the whole story, mainly leaving out Jones heroics down the stretch, leading multiple game winning drives and overtime to defeat West Virginia and rival Oklahoma State in the final weeks of the season. Landry will be missed dearly, but his final game against the Aggies may be his last hoorah before the NFL draft this spring. Blake Bell also took snaps as the signal caller, mainly around the goal line or short yardage situations. His eleven rushing touchdowns may have hurt Landry Jones’ stock in the draft, but it helped the Sooners win several games. The other notable runner this season was Damien Williams. Williams carried the ball 160 times for 905 yards and 11 touchdowns. These are remarkable stats considering Williams split time with several other backs. Two receivers led the way for the Sooners this season, including Justin Brown and Kenny Stills. Brown had 66 catches for 822 yards and 4 touchdowns. Great numbers, but not quite as good as Stills. Stills lead the team with 75 catches for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns. Just a junior, Oklahoma faithful hope Stills sticks around for another year, leaving the draft for another day. I personally follow Stills on twitter @KSTiLLS4 and notice his constant dedication to the university and his teammates. Individual talents played a major role this season, but Stoops preaches team play, and that’s what they did. The team finished ranked number eleven in total offense, with 505 yards per game. The defense gave up 378 yards per game, giving the obvious advantage to the Sooners week in and week out. This advantage will be needed in the Cotton Bowl, playing a team that knocked off the undefeated Alabama squad earlier in the season. Luckily, this Oklahoma team has been resilient most of the season, and come this January, the Aggies of College Station will be glad they no longer play the University of Oklahoma. Follow me on twitter @DFWsportscreed

Cowboys Recap: Is This Team Real?

The last time the Dallas Cowboys finished the month of December with a winning record, DeMarco Murray was probably in Junior High, and Jason Garrett was nowhere near a NFL head coach. Eleven years later, Dallas finds itself tied for first with two games to play, Murray is the game changer Dallas needed to sustain a running game, and Garrett looks like a season game manager after making all the right calls late in Sunday’s defeat over long term rival Pittsburg Steelers. The game was won in “all three phases of the game” as head coach Jason Garrett likes to so eloquently put it each week, but in fact that’s just what did it. Let’s sum up the play of these “three phases”, and try to find a way we can continue this approach for the next six games. OFFENSE: The Dallas Cowboys are most known for their controversial quarterback in Tony Romo. Over his career, Romo has carried stellar numbers, including the most passing yards in Cowboys history. Yes I will say that again, Tony Romo has more passing yards in Dallas than Staubach and Aikman. What most don’t realize is Romo has single handily carried Dallas back into first place with not only stellar play, but an Iron Man attitude. The Cowboys offensive line has struggled drastically this season, leaving Romo running around aimlessly avoiding defenders, all the while Dallas fans praying for the magic, and not another horrible turnover. This Sunday against the Steelers there was only one of those blunders, a fumble around the goal line by DeMarco Murray. The fumble cost Dallas points, but Garrett showed trust in his young star, leaving Murray in the game, which turned out to be the deciding factor of the game. Murray had 81 yards on just 14 carries. Ask any quarterback his thoughts on having a running back average nearly six yards/carry, and he will be pleased. Murray also scored the game tying touchdown in the fourth quarter on third down, a gutsy call by Garrett that ended up being a great play. The second major key was the play of Romo. While going 30-42 with 341 yards and two touchdowns is a stellar performance, no turnovers against the Steelers standout defense was the change in the game. Romo, Murray, and Garrett all worked together, giving Dallas their biggest win of the season, and much hope for Cowboys fans all around. DEFENSE: When many think about the Dallas defense, a pot belly long haired grungy man comes to mind. Although that description of the Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is accurate, the reputation should be a team that made a few major stops this Sunday to help their team win. Garrett put faith in his defense several times in the final minutes of regulation Sunday, and boy did they respond. Back to back sacks and key stops kept the Steelers from scoring on their final two possessions of regulation, giving Dallas the chance to keep the game tied and eventually win in overtime. As sloppy as the game may have been, the final defensive play by Dallas summed up the teams last six weeks, resilient. Brandon Carr was a high profile free agent this offseason, and after his game winning interception Sunday against the Steelers, he is worth every penny. Teams go after major talent to make game changing plays, and that’s just what Carr did Sunday. Someone who many won’t remember as another major game changer was Alex Albright, who played an amazing game after Simms was knocked out early with a concussion. Albright isn’t the first Cowboys player to step up this year, but yesterday was a major spotlight, and Albright showed up. The defense may be banged up, may make some bone head plays, but against tough teams the last two weeks, the defense has kept Dallas in the game, and helped put us in first place. SPECIAL TEAMS: Probably the most forgotten phase of the game, special teams won us the game this Sunday. A fumble in the fourth quarter on a long punt return by the Steelers gave Dallas great field position, and even better a chance to tie the game rather than fall behind by two scores. This play put us in the proper situation to tie the game, but the kicking of Dan Bailey put us ahead for good. Many don’t notice the work the young Oklahoma State kicker has done this season. He is 27/29, including eight from over forty yards. As much as I disagree with almost every special team’s play we make, the job was done yesterday so let’s not dwell on the negative.

In the end it was a big win for Dallas, but an even bigger win for the fans. Cowboy’s fans are probably the most loyal in sports, with nothing but a blue star to root for over the last fifteen years. But the last six weeks have been different. Dallas has been the underdog, has been the team to get in the trenches and be accountable. The last six weeks have been multiple slaps in the face by media, injury, and devastation, but a unified locker room with a strong leader in Jason Garrett has helped this year’s team prevail to a great spot with two weeks to go. It’s nowhere close to a perfect scenario, but it’s the resiliency and attitude that we fans love. Seeing Garrett get red faced pissed off at a ref, and near tears after an emotional win is what we want in our coach. Seeing players hug and carry around teammates jersey’s is the comradery we want, and making that game winner in overtime is the W we want. The Dallas Cowboys have given us something we haven’t seen in years, and that’s a team that’s fun to root for some Sunday! Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed

The Politics of College Football

With the country buzzing after a wild Saturday in the world of college football, little was said about the major hiccup taking place right before our eyes. In an environment where most teams are forced to do their talking on the field, reputation and politics is currently becoming more relevant than accomplishments and records. Most of the country agrees that Notre Dame belongs at the top of the college football world, but the envied spots just below are coveted by many one loss hopefuls, leading to a disturbing end to another controversial season. Yes, there are in fact remaining games to be played, but for the most part the minds have been made up who should play for the title. After Kansas State and Oregon, the top two ranked teams in the country, both lost on Saturday, many teams moved up and gained a new life. That’s where the controversy really begins. As we all know Alabama is the poster child in college football right now, and the SEC is considered the closest thing to the NFL as we’ve ever had. As dominant as they have been over the years, reputation doesn’t win games, and shouldn’t affect ranking either. Alabama somehow gets a pass on these things, and gets ranked and talked about strictly by reputation rather than results. Right now you may not believe what I am saying is true, but when you look at the Alabama schedule it is less than impressive. This season Alabama has ONE top ten win, which was against LSU. The only other win Alabama can brag about is a week one win over Michigan. For those of you that don’t follow college football, Michigan is currently ranked 19, and after this weekend will probably be knocked out of the top 25 once again this season. That will leave Alabama with one win on the season against ranked teams. They also have a loss, against a team that lost to both Florida and LSU previously in the season, and both these teams are currently ranked behind Alabama. Here’s where things get even more interesting. Florida is also a one loss team with its only loss coming to 3rd ranked Georgia at a neutral site. Florida beat LSU worse than Alabama did, and was able to beat Texas A&M in College Station. Of all the ranked teams, Florida is probably being cheated the most. The final issue I have with Alabama being ranked number two in the country comes in the coaches’ poll. Last week Alabama was ranked behind Georgia, but after a win against Western Carolina they jumped nearly 50 points and passed the Bulldogs. I don’t know how or why this happened, but it sure stinks from where I am sitting. Yes we all know the Tide can play with and beat anyone on any given Saturday, but the way college football goes so can anyone else. If the season ended today the Irish would be underdogs in a game against Alabama, and would probably get beat. That doesn’t mean Alabama deserves to be in the game. Florida plays its fourth top ten ranked team this season on Saturday against Florida State, and in my opinion a win there should push them forward. Last season our nation's champion did not win their conference, or play in the championship game for that matter. This season should be no different, and hopefully voters can put away history and start going by facts. Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed

It's the Cowboys, what did you expect?

What started out as another hopeful Sunday gone terribly wrong for Cowboys fans turned into an overtime win, but more importantly a half game closer to the first place Giant’s and a possible playoff berth. From the outside, this looks like a promising step forward for a team haunted with December meltdowns, but even a feisty Cleveland Browns team was no match for Tony Romo’s November heroics, who now holds a 21-3 record as a starter during this thankful month. That leaves merely one final game that statistically the Cowboys can win before they head down the long road of late season failures. December has been nothing but headaches for the Dallas Cowboys nation, but this year’s team and the games remaining could possibly be the right ingredients to finally get over the hill. If you watched yesterday’s game then you probably believe I am drinking the blue Kool-Aid, but numbers say otherwise. The schedule makers were no friend of Dallas the first eight games of the season, but heading into the final six games leaves the Cowboys in a position they typically don’t excel in, controlling their own destiny. As true as that may be, today I will still break down the remaining schedule, and hopefully we can find a way to slide the Cowboys into the end of the season tournament. But first, we can dwell on yesterday’s win, because a changing Tony Romo has the Cowboys on its first winning streak of the season. The last couple games Romo has slowed down his play, taking fewer risks, and being much more efficient. He hasn’t been throwing interceptions like before, but rather a high completion percentage, and above all, back-to-back wins. This doesn’t mean the offense is dominating in all aspects, mainly because the offensive line has trouble staying in front of their own shadows. Yesterday Romo was sacked a career high seven times, and hit ten. Even someone as cool headed as Romo was caught yelling at his offensive line during the first half of yesterday’s game, during a time when a first down was seemingly impossible. This has been a constant battle for Dallas this season, and injuries have not helped. With players being shifted from one position to the other, and left tackle Tyron Smith leaving with a high ankle strain, Romo had no choice but to go 35-50 with 313 yards and a touchdown. As good as a 70% passer rating is, the most impressive number that isn’t in the stat line is the zero interceptions. More often than none, a quarterback that gets sacked seven times typically throws a couple interceptions, but the fact that Romo avoided those throws inevitably kept Dallas in the game. The other star that has been blanketed with criticism by many including myself was Dez Bryant. His twelve catches for 145 yards and a touchdown were just enough, and hopefully a jumpstart to the remainder of the season for Dez. The defense once again was the silver lining, keeping the team in the game when the offense couldn’t move the ball. After thirteen first half points, Dallas shut down the Browns until Dallas was able to take the lead in the fourth quarter. This isn’t the first time we have seen resiliency from a much improved defense, giving Dallas the chance to hang around in any game. All these stats and pats on the back look good, but in the end it was a very sloppy game, but in the NFL, a win is a win. Now Dallas has a short week to finish off their favorite month against a hot Washington Redskins team led by rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. This will be no easy win, but at home I think Dallas will be too much for even the Redskins passing attack, leaving us with a 27-17 win, and even better a 6-5 record. After a much needed few extra days rest, the Eagles will come to town lead by a rookie quarterback and a locker room full of issues. Andy Reid is probably coaching his final days in Philly, making things even worse for a spiraling franchise. These factors are too much for even the Cowboys to screw up, giving us a 24-21 nail biter at home. Next, we jump over to the AFC to play a local DFW quarterback in Andy Dalton. Cincinnati is starting to heat up, which could make things very hard for the Cowboys. The Bengals are best when throwing the ball, but the Dallas secondary has proved itself most of the season, giving the edge to the big blue. Dallas 21-17. This is the week on the schedule that everyone made plans and decided to miss this one. The Steelers have been a pain in the neck of Dallas faithful for decades, and this season will be no different. At this point in the season I have Dallas winning five straight, but the Steelers seem to be too much for the Cowboys, edging us out 24-21. After a tough game against Pittsburg, things won’t get much easier for Dallas as they face a surging Saints team. Drew Breese has things turned around in New Orleans, but an inconsistent defense will be too much to overcome, giving Dallas a 31-27 win. The final game of the season will be in our nation’s capital, playing a Washington team that has nothing to play for, and even more importantly, nothing to lose. This game will be a trap game for the Cowboys, and looking at past history, the exact recipe for another Cowboys letdown. This game was the hardest to pick, a must win situation will help Dallas prevail, pushing us to a 10-6 record, and most likely division champs. These games all look very good on paper, but as I have stated many times before, no team can break your heart like the Cowboys. We could just as easily lose four of six, but how much fun would that be to write about? Instead, we will stay positive and let the numbers speak for themselves. Dallas played an awful schedule and prevailed winning as many as they lost. Now the division and playoffs are back in sight, and this may be the season we get over the hump and back on the NFL radar. Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed

Final Days of the BCS

With playoffs already set for a future date, college football can’t do anything but wait until the new championship tournament goes into effect. This means the BCS gets to ruin the hopes and dreams of many deserving athletes and their opportunity to represent their schools as National Champions. Yes, a team will be crowned and many times the best team in the country does in fact win, but this season, just like many before, the BCS did not and will not get things right. Like many other critics of this flawed system, we don’t have a special insight on how to select the top two teams, or a formula or equation that puts the best two teams in the spotlight. What we do agree on is the fact that no one besides our savior himself could predict how a bunch of 19 year olds will react to millions of viewers and earth shattering pressure. That is the main reason playoffs were implemented many years ago in other sports, and continue to be the only format used. If you don’t follow college football or don’t really care, then you may wonder why this league sets itself apart from everyone else, or why it took so long to come from the dark side. In 2009 the BCS and other bowl games made $261 MILLION. If that doesn’t answer your question, I don’t know what will. The BCS is no doubt a money making machine, but at what cost does money prevail in college athletics. We must remember that these young men and women are not paid, but given scholarships instead. Players don’t make money on uniform sales and popcorn prices, which makes one wonder how much is enough. I do realize many universities use their profits on football and basketball to fund all the other sports, and if that offers a few more scholarships each year to someone that wouldn’t have received one otherwise, then so be it. But I have a feeling it goes much deeper than that. This excess money is now going into the pockets of others, and that’s when the competitive side steps up. Imagine the last ten years with an 8 team playoff. Auburn would have never been snubbed a decade before, Utah beating Alabama and staying undefeated would have pushed them closer to a national championship game. Boise and TCU could no longer play the “what if” card, and all those 10-2 teams that played tough, out of conference schedules would be able to show up in December to play against the big boys like they deserve. No more three way ties for first in the Big 12 when all three teams rank in the top 10, no more high ranked SEC schools missing out for being in the wrong conference. The best teams would be matching up, and what a year this could turn into if we had playoffs now. If the season ended today, three undefeated teams would be fighting for two spots, and a big group of one and two loss SEC, Big 12, and PAC 12 conferences would have plenty to play for with a few weeks to go. I’ve always been told that the best way to prove your point is to convince your audience that it’s the best idea. Imagine what it would be like watching Notre Dame play Georgia, or Alabama against Oregon. These types of matchups could be at our disposal for a few weeks during the time people spend most of it at home, December and January. At the moment, teams are forced to take a month, or sometimes even six weeks off between their final regular season game and their bowl game, something that plays a major disadvantage to a team getting hot late in the year. College football has so many great attributes that other sports would kill for. Players are giving it there all for a game they love, not because they are paid. Crowds are as loud and rowdy as ever, and most of us know what a game day tailgate can be like. I’ve never seen a sport that draws people together like college football. Recently I was at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Orlando, hoping to catch the Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma game. It took until halftime to get it put on one of the fifty TV screens because the place was filled to capacity with Ohio State fans, decked out from head to toe. Since when do Ohio State fans migrate to Orlando anyway? This kind of atmosphere takes place in no other sport, and the BCS takes away from that. Playoffs won’t be the fix all like we hope, but it’s a step in the right direction. This holiday season while we all cuss the BCS, just remember Santa is bringing playoffs soon, and this mess will be behind us in no time!

Taste of a Better Life?

Before you call me crazy or argue my extreme bias for a franchise that has made a career of breaking hearts, give me the chance to convince you why the Dallas Cowboys aren’t out of this thing yet. With nine games played against some of the league’s best teams, things are anything but over in the high profile NFC East. Dallas won Sunday in an unfamiliar fashion. Three touchdowns by the defense and special teams were more than enough to fly past the Eagles on Sunday afternoon, starting a stretch of favorable matchups for Dallas heading into the second half of the season. Dallas held the second hardest schedule in the NFL over the first eight games, but that is over and things begin to get much easier. Yes we will must travel to Cincinnati and host the Saints and Steelers, but those are very winnable games. We also play two games against a struggling Washington Redskins team and another home game against an Eagles team that is at the brink of total destruction. The Giants have left the window open, and yes I will say it. The Cowboys will be tied with the division lead two weeks from today. That probably seems all but impossible just a week after many proclaimed the season as lost, but back to back losses by the Giants heading into a bye week speaks differently. A win over struggling Cleveland Sunday puts Dallas just a game back of first, with a Thanksgiving matchup with Washington following. The Giants on the other hand get a week to talk about this losing streak and what they will do when Aaron Rodgers and the Packers show up the following Sunday night to possibly tie the division once again. Sure I am probably sugar coating things way too much, as most know the Cowboys are the best around at breaking hearts late in the seasons, while the Giants pose as the typical Cinderella story each December, but things are different this season. Cowboys fans are used to blown leads and offensive let downs in the past, but the 2012 Cowboys are different, they play defense. Now speculation usually does one of two things, makes one look very smart or oh so dumb, and we will know soon enough which side I fall on. Being a Cowboys fan enables me the ability to believe every year we are title contenders, and this year is no differently in a league with so much parity. The Cowboys will also bring back a much needed running back in Demarko Murray, which will hopefully lead to a sustained running game now that Tony Romo has slowed down with the turnovers and is playing a more conventional type of quarterback. Last night’s 19-26 with 206 yards and two touchdowns is exactly what the Cowboys need when they are playing this type of defense. In the past Romo was needed to win the game, but this season simply making the right throws and staying out of trouble gives Dallas the chance to win any ball game. Jones also had success running the ball last night, going 71 yards on 16 carries, sporting an average of about 4.5 yards/carry. Jason Garrett is also beginning to improve as a game manager, although going any direction but up was almost inevitable. The entire team is beginning to look more like a team to be contended with in the NFC, but much will need to be proved with 7 games left. I’m not calling championships or Super Bowl appearances, I’m just saying look out for the Cowboys down the stretch in this anything but conventional NFL season. Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed

Texas Rangers Final Recap: Is it April Yet?

After back-to-back trips to the World Series, saying Texas Rangers fans were hooked wouldn’t do justice. Ranger fans set records this season, ranking 3rd in baseball in total attendance, just behind the Yankees and Phillies, two of the bigger names in the game. The Ballpark averaged 42,719 per game this season, blowing the previous record out of the water. No wonder many continue to grieve as the fall classic heads towards another World Series, one without our beloved Texas Rangers.  If you followed baseball this year, this news may come as a surprise to you. The Rangers did in fact lead the American League for the majority of the season, and the division until that disaster filled final day in Oakland. The Rangers didn’t just lose the division during an epic meltdown down the stretch, they lost their entire post season when the bats stayed inside, and the Baltimore Orioles celebrated a one game Wild Card finale. All of this negative energy is very common in the DFW area; because our beloved Dallas Cowboys have been breaking hearts since their last Super Bowl win in the 90’s. Now the Rangers hold the title as letdown of the decade, and many of the new fans may look elsewhere for comfort. They won’t be missed, because what Ron Washington, Nolan Ryan, and John Daniels are doing isn’t a one and done system, but a style that will make our Texas Rangers contenders for many years to come.  I am as guilty as any, and spent the last couple weeks not watching the MLB playoffs, rather checking scores and complaining about no Rangers playoff baseball. The grieving period is over, and now it’s time to get back to work. In my short era of following DFW sports, I have had the privilege of watching the Cowboys be non-contenders for nearly two decades, and a Mavericks team that broke our hearts yearly until Dirk Nowitzki caught fire and defeated the Miami Heat and LeBron James in 2010. Coping is learned over the years, rather than taught, but this blog today will definitely give you some hope. I have learned that convincing myself that next season will in fact be different, and next season we will be back in the mix, is the only way to recover from these devastating losses. The 2012 season started better than any could expect. Our first loss came during a ninth inning blown save by Joe Nathan, and besides that the team seemed to dominate the first two weeks of the season. The season was then completely underway; the Rangers had a solid cushion, and big plans heading into the brutal hot summer in Texas. Most of the country watched the Rangers thinking it was the same team that had been to back-to-back World Series, but they couldn’t have been more wrong. This was a new Rangers team, a team that was made to not get to another World Series, but win the damn thing. The 2012 Rangers pitching staff was nothing like the previous years, tossing things around and bringing in some much needed leadership. After losing top notch pitchers to free agency the previous two years, it was time to get creative. That’s when Ryan and Daniels decided to take a big risk, and boy did it work out. Every few years Japan has a dominant player, and during those years owners across the League break the bank trying to bring in the foreign star. This year the Rangers decided to take a big chance, throw some big money out there and hope for the best. Yu Darvish, a hard throwing giant from Japan that supposedly had 7 pitches was on the market and the Texas Rangers wanted him. $108 million later he was ours. The second major offseason move was acquiring veteran closer Joe Nathan. The 2011 World Series was lost by closers, and this year that was not going to be the case. The Rangers signed Nathan for his many years on the job, moving young prodigy Neftali Feliz to the starting rotation. The previous year Feliz blew a two run lead in the 9th to win the World Series. He was so shaken he couldn’t return in the 10th, and that was all Ron Washington needed to see and it was time to make a change. Nathan did just that, setting a franchise record of consecutive saves, setting the bar over thirty. All these new additions and changes seemed to be exactly what the Rangers needed to finally grasp that Championship trophy, but an injury bug decided to take matters into its own hands. Colby Lewis was maybe the turning point of the season, sustaining an injury that kept him out for the remainder of the year. It didn’t seem quite so detrimental with a big division lead, but in the dog days of late summer and fall, when a young staff was starting to struggle and bats were getting cold, his steady and consistent starts were missed. Lewis was the anchor of the staff in the 2011 playoffs, and who better to stop a slump than a veteran of that style. Instead the Rangers were forced to pitch youth, something that later showed to hurt our playoff chances. Feliz shocked many when he started off pitching lights out, but an injury knocking him out until summer 2013 set the team back even further, and put a little doubt in the eyes of some Ranger faithful. With all the injuries and setbacks, some of the season was actually a very big positive. Matt Harrison took over as leader of the pitching staff, winning 18 games, sporting a strong 3.29 ERA. Darvish too had great success, striking out an astonishing 221 batters, while winning 16 games. These two strong seasons give great hope heading into a season with much to prove in 2013. There were some letdowns this season, mainly by Derek Holland, who was also bothered with injuries. Holland held a 4.67 ERA, much higher than anyone expected heading into the season. Holland is a huge talent, and an offseason to work and improve will hopefully put this big lefty in position to turn some heads next season. Hitting has always been strong in Texas, and this year was no different. Josh Hamilton was the team leader in RBI and Home Runs, but a two month drought mid-summer knocked him out of the MVP talk, and possibly out of a Texas Rangers uniform. Hamilton is a free agent this season, and the Rangers show no sign of offering anything thus far. Adrian Beltre was very strong this season, but also missed time due to injuries. Even with the missed time, Beltre still hit 36 home runs with 102 RBI's. A .321 batting average also led all starters, and this power will be needed next season if Hamilton is not in the lineup. Two other players that shared time in the outfield were David Murphy and Craig Gentry. Both players batted over .300, leaving no doubt they need extensive playing time next season. The other big upgrade this year was Elvis Andrus. After a few years of watching this flashy shortstop make plays on the diamond, his bat finally became a threat, hitting just under .300 most of the year, using speed to make outs that much harder. As hurt as many of you are right now, this is when you need to tune in and get ready for a great run in the future. The Rangers have many great starters, with many expecting big contract offers from other teams as soon as theirs run out. The positive is the farm system Daniels and Ryan have created. The Rangers have built a dynasty in the lower levels over the past few seasons, with Mike Olt and Jurickson Profar catching the eye of every scout in baseball. These two future stars have the making to build a franchise, and adding them to an already talented team will most likely be our recipe for success. On the pitching side Martin Perez shows much promise, and could possibly contend to make the rotation next season. If Perez works out as expected, the Rangers could possibly have four pitchers in their mid-twenties competing to be the ace of the rotation. Before I go I must take this time to play the role of John Daniels, something no person can adequately do in my eyes, but what the hell. The Rangers pitching staff could use just a little more support, and that’s why I think it’s time for a couple trades. Nelson Cruz has been a fan favorite for years, but many can’t let go of his misplay of a fly ball that allowed the Cardinals to win the 2011 World Series. This isn’t why I want to trade him, his sub .250 batting average is. Cruz has a high profile and even bigger swing, so teams needing power would give up a lot to bring him in. Mike Olt would make a fine replacement in right field, giving this young up and comer the chance to show his talent. I also would trade David Murphy. This trade hurts the most just because the kind of player Murphy is, but a talent like that needs to be utilized every game, and there just isn’t room in Texas. I would then move Ian Kinsler to the outfield, giving second base to Profar. Mitch Moreland becomes my full-time first baseman, leaving an infield that may hold the title as best in baseball. Mike Napoli is more than a catcher; he is a leader with these young pitchers. Because of this, I would sign him to a contract, hoping he can get back to “the year of the Napoli”. As wild as all this seams, the Rangers could do all these things, and if it happens, I will be the first to say I told you so. This may all seem very over whelming, and many of you probably think I am crazy and still can’t think about Rangers baseball. For me it’s time to move on. The grieving stage is over and we must start to prepare for next season. The Rangers will bounce back, and we will be on top again. My boldest prediction yet, Texas Rangers, 2013 World Series Champs!

Red River Rivalry

Producing maybe the biggest split in the Deep South since the Texas and Mexican War, the Red River Rivalry gets fans and players alike fired up for the game of the season. Things start to get fans in the mood with the beginning of the annual State Fair, held at Fair Park in Dallas, which peaks the day these two football powerhouses meet each year. Many fans can’t convince themselves what would possess someone to support the opposing team, adding more drama and intensity to an already heated rivalry. In 2005 the Dallas Morning News asked 119 D-1 coaches who played in the biggest rivalry in college football. Their answer was the Red River Rivalry. This year will feel a little different than in years past, with neither team cracking the top 10 at this point in the season. Oklahoma began the season ranked in the top 5, but a heartbreaking loss to Kansas State bumped them out of national championship talk and into a debate on Big 12 supremacy. Texas on the other hand was rolling strong until a gut wrenching loss to West Virginia last week ending their undefeated season, just before their big matchup with the hated Sooners. Before I can make any predictions or speculations about the game, I decided to take a moment and appreciate past games and the overall history of this great matchup. Beginning in 1900 when neither team even had nicknames, Texas was called the “varsity” team, and won 28-2. That game 112 years ago started a rivalry that will hopefully last for many years to come. So far, it has lived up to expectations. The game began being played in Dallas in 1912, with a few occasions played at other sites. This is another great tradition that the game entails. No team has a home field advantage, and with a split stadium the walls of burnt orange and crimson red light up a stadium like no other. Many consider the “post war” era, or since 1945, the most relevant time to count statistics, therefore we will too. Since 1945 one or both of the two teams have been ranked in the top twenty-five 61 out of 66 games. That number alone speaks volumes for the kind of tradition and dominance these two great programs possess. Also, since that time the Longhorns lead the overall series 33-31-3, showing how incredibly competitive and well-matched the two teams have been. Sure this is a bunch of mindless information, but you must know the history to appreciate the games being played currently. When discussing the game as of late, “even” would not describe the two teams. Since 2000, Oklahoma is 8-4, outscoring Texas 370 to 246, a very unbalanced number compared to the previous years. Another number that really jumps off the page is the fact that six of the last ten winners of this game played for the BCS national championship afterwards. That shows alone how powerful these two teams have been during that span. As much as it may seem, this rivalry doesn’t begin to sum up these two teams success. Each has won multiple national championships, with Oklahoma leading with 7 and Texas having 4. They have also dominated their conference, leaving Oklahoma the leader again with 7, and Texas second overall with 3. Much of the other teams in the Big 12 have strived to make up the gap these two teams hold, and this year it seems to have finally happened. That will not take anything away from the great game we expect to see this weekend in Dallas, knowing anything can happen in a game filled with teenagers and a stadium full of emotion. Both coaches have had much success in their careers, with Stoops leading Brown in most categories. This was the deciding factor when my colleagues and I sat down to pick this game, because Vegas has set the line favoring Oklahoma by 3. A margin that small leaves me feeling no confidence in either side to win for sure, making predictions even more difficult. As fans we can simply hope for a great game, leaving one of the teams still in contention for not only a conference championship, but a national title as well. My two good friends and Editors will assist me by offering predictions for this game, making things just a little more interesting. Dustin Hughes predicts Oklahoma 34, Texas 42. Keith Walterscheid says Oklahoma 24, Texas 31. My prediction is Oklahoma 34, Texas 27! Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed Edited by Dustin Hughes and Keith Walterscheid

TCU Coach Gary Patterson Sets the Curve

After a 4-0 start in a season where TCU joined the Big 12, things were looking up for this new BCS contender. That’s when things started to go terribly wrong for the Horned Frog faithful. Last week, starting quarterback Casey Pachall was pulled over by police for running a stop sign. He was then arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, followed by an indefinite suspension by head coach Gary Patterson. Only later did Coach Patterson come out saying a decision would be made after the weekend, leading to a press conference today addressing the issue. Today, Patterson addressed the media and college football world in a way that many should take note of. He didn’t kick Pachall off the team for good, or let him off much easier than deserved because as we all saw this Saturday; the Frogs aren’t near the team without him. Rather, Patterson sat down with Pachall and his parents and found a solution that would help everyone, especially the 21 year-old quarterback. Patterson announced that Pachall would not be enrolled in school for the remainder of the season, and would be checking into rehab for treatment. Patterson was quoted saying, “If he gets clean he can come back.” This decision came after the Frogs ended a 12-game winning streak, which to-date was leading the country. “For those of you that think it’s about wins and losses you’re wrong.”, Patterson stated when discussing a very difficult decision. “I’ve got a young football team and a person who obviously needs help,” Patterson explained when discussing the future of his quarterback and previously undefeated football team. This situation was a great time for me to get on my soap box and discuss something I feel has been handled completely the wrong way in the past. For the record, I am in no way condoning athletes that abuse the superiority and power they have, but when dealing with young college athletes, I think sometimes we are much too hard on them. These kids range from the ages of 18-22, many living away from home for the first time. They are being bombarded with media, fellow students, teachers, and above all, boosters. Most of you adults can remember your younger days or college times, and most of them consist of a few stories your husbands, wives, and kids will never hear. Being in the spotlight like major college sports are today leaves no room for error for these athletes, making mistakes that are made daily by others seem much larger by those in the sports world. Patterson took a different route than coaches and schools have in the past, he took a route that, in his eyes, was the best for the young man and the team. Hopefully this will set a precedent for other coaches and schools dealing with troubled athletes. The whole purpose of coaching as Patterson stated is, “You try to change people’s lives, that’s what this is about.” This philosophy should be taught in any and every coaching clinic around the world, because it truly is the sole purpose of coaches and teachers. Let’s stop forgetting about kids because they won’t be able to help us win the next game, but instead help them win in the remainder of their lives, outside of sports. Follow me @DFWsportscreed Edited by Dustin Hughes

Why the Texas Rangers WILL WIN Friday Night

Find the nearest chair, take a seat, get comfortable, and take a nice deep breath. The Texas Rangers will beat the Baltimore Orioles Friday night to win the first ever one game wild-card playoff. This won’t do much the nervous energy many Rangers fans feel today after such a devastating final series just days ago. After reading this, you too will understand why the Rangers will win tonight, and tomorrow morning the first cold front this year will lead us right into the Fall Classic as we baseball fans love to call the MLB playoffs. Sure, I am a life-long Texas Rangers fan with an immeasurable amount of bias when discussing my favorite baseball team, but throwing opinions out and looking at the facts is sometimes the best way to figure things out, and possibly lower your blood pressure. Something I consider the bible when predicting sports are what Vegas thinks will happen. The people that set the betting lines typically have a better idea of who will win, how many runs will be scored, and just an overall better understanding of the teams and game. The Rangers head into the game tonight favored by almost 2-1 odds, something very surprising since both teams hold identical 93-69 records. The game is being played in Arlington, which I will label as our first clear advantage. If many of you haven’t been to a big-time game at the Ballpark in Arlington, you don’t know what you’re missing. Crowds over fifty thousand give the atmosphere of a college football stadium, with a venue that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck during the national anthem. I, myself, have attended countless regular season games, but also attended game 5 of the 2010 World Series, and game 1 of the 2011 ALCS. These games will be memories I talk about for years to come, and tonight will be no different for the Ranger faithful that make their way to the stadium for this all or nothing showdown. Emotions go a long way in sports, but the facts don’t lie. After 162 games, the Rangers finished 3rd in overall batting average (.273), while the Orioles finished at an unimpressive 20th place (.243). The Orioles did hit 14 more home runs this season than the Rangers, placing second in baseball, while the Rangers finished up 5th. Texas did take the MLB RBI crown with 780, which blows Baltimore out of the water with their 677 RBI’s. Runs scored also showed a major difference in favor of the Rangers, leading baseball again with 808 runs. The Orioles finished 15th scoring 712. Looking at these numbers give Texas a clear advantage on the offensive side, but everyone knows great pitching typically wins in the post season. Both teams finished in the middle of the pack on team ERA, with Baltimore leading by merely .09 earned runs per game. This modest difference also occurs in opposing batting average, where Texas leads by only .02. Pitching looks to be almost identical, but the starters tonight may have a different opinion. Darvish has been very hot as of late for the Rangers, but Saunders has had his issues. In six starts at the Ballpark in Arlington, Sauders is 0-6 with a 9.38 ERA. Yes, you read that correctly, Sauders has been SHELLED every time he has pitched in Texas, almost as badly as Romney shelled President Obama Wednesday night. He has pitched against the Rangers eleven times, holding a 3-7 record with 6.48 ERA. No matter how you look at it, Sauders struggles against the Texas Rangers, and tonight will be no different. The final tipping point that made me realize the Rangers would win tonight was a look at our past. The last two years have been filled with much excitement, while each ended with major disappointment. This bad taste in the mouth of Texas Ranger players and fans is something no one seems to want again, so a poor performance by our guys is not an option. Ron Washington, as I have said before, is possibly the best manager in the game, which trickles down to all 25 players on the roster. Tonight is a night where we enjoy the spotlight for evening. Tonight is a night where we take care of a simple formality. Tonight is the night the Texas Rangers get on the track to being the 2012 World Series Champions. Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed Edited by Dustin Hughes

This One for Skip

Two years ago no Texas Rangers fan had ever seen their team win the American League Championship, play for a World Series, or shock the country with hot bats and teenage like smiles. With seven games to play and the best record in the AL, Rangers fans now say it’s World Series or bust. Over the past two seasons, the Texas Rangers have turned into a baseball powerhouse, with home runs and bedazzling defensive plays. All these accomplishments are something DFW lives for, being called “a winner’s city” by Troy Aikman. That doesn’t mean the Rangers road to success has been without trouble and despair. Since a failed drug test just a few years ago, Manager Ron Washington has been not only the leader of this popular clubhouse, but a father figure to many of the players. Washington has dealt with not only his own off the field issues, but with his players as well. Keeping star centerfielder and slugger Josh Hamilton in line is maybe his biggest success, a task many thought was too much for any big league ball club. Somehow Washington holds that magic touch needed to help Hamilton with his troubles, with many crediting his own experiences as the reason why. Others say his success as a player helps him connect with the players. This may seem like nothing much, but in an era where media and news is constantly trying to stir up trouble and drama, things have stayed relatively low key in Arlington. Regardless of how or why he is able to keep a clubhouse that seems full of smiles, the Rangers look to win their third straight division title, something very new to this franchise. Washington says this season is not World Series or bust, but finishing a job that allured their grasp the previous two seasons has to keep him up at night from time to time. Many managers or even franchises would spend time making big changes after back to back World Series let downs, but not Washington. He coaches each game with a smile on his face and a jump in his step when he waves runners around third from the dugout. This kind of energy motivates players to do anything for their skipper; a respect many managers never receive from their players. Many times in sports that kind of thing goes unnoticed, and the value of a coach is sometimes never appreciated the way they deserve. So next time you are cussing the old man for pulling a pitcher too early, or a pinch hitter you just think is crazy, remember what the Rangers were before Mr. Washington came to town, because I promise you the New Orleans Saints would tell you first-hand what a great coach is worth. Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed Edited by Keith Walterscheid and Dustin Hughes

Are Rules Ruining the Game?

Rules are made to be broken. How many times have you heard that line over the years? If you’re anything like me, it is a constant refresher to how most American’s, and much of the human race in fact behave. Much speculation has been made involving children, implying many will do something simply because they were told not to. As talented as the professional athlete is today, they are still playing a child’s game, only at a substantially higher level. Each year more and more rules are added to sports to “make the game better”, but mainly to sell more tickets and possibly keep players safe. In my eyes, safety is something that should always be considered when deciding a rule, but at what point do we sit back and say enough is enough? Over the past years, I have noticed major rule changes in the three big sports in the U.S.; baseball, football, and basketball. Much has been said about last night’s NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, but I wonder if so many rules could possibly be to blame. In my generation, I have seen the way a quarterback can be hit change drastically, typically depending on how the most popular player got injured the previous season. Last night a roughing the passer was called that kept Seattle in the game because a lineman was chasing the quarterback out of the pocket and dove to tackle him below the waist as he threw the ball. This rule only exists because Tom Brady suffered a season ending ACL tear a couple seasons earlier, leading to a penalty that possibly cost Green Bay a win. Officials are forced to allow horse collars in certain spots on the field, but not in others. Sunday Dallas Cowboys receiver Kevin Ogletree slipped on a hat thrown by an official that was making a signal that the quarterback left the pocket, which changes how defensive backs can play. This resulted in Ogletree having a pass go over his head and prevented a touchdown. The official took the blame, but in my eyes an unnecessary rule caused the situation in the first place. Instant replay is added to the game to make sure plays are correctly called, but only certain plays can be reviewed. Last night the final play was reviewed, but had it happened on the two yard line possession of the ball could not have been reviewed. How much sense does that make? Also, coaches can challenge plays, but not during the last two minutes. WHAT IS THE POINT OF REPLAY IF A COACH CAN NOT REVIEW A PLAY WHEN IT MATTERS MOST? The new player safety rules protect defenseless players, but in fact they are in full pads, choose what parts of the field they occupy, and are in fact making millions of dollars to play a simple game. Baseball has made two changes over the last few years that to this day still get my blood pumping. A game in which players are voted in by fans, is not mandatory, and consists of different pitchers and substitutions every inning does in fact determine home field advantage in the World Series. I have yet to hear a convincing argument supporting that case, and luckily the NFL is smart enough to consider cancelling its Pro Bowl because it is in fact a meaningless game. The second change is adding an additional playoff spot. When I heard this new rule I was very excited, until I learned it was a one game playoff to determine who would represent the wild card position. That means a team ten games better than another can miss the playoffs because one team has a stud starting pitcher like Justin Verlander or David Price. Once again this makes no sense to me, because an overly long 162 game season needs more than one game to decide a playoff spot. Somehow the NBA has stayed out of the spotlight when it comes to rule changes, but they have some that will make you scratch your head. A player cannot take a charge from an offensive player if they are planted inside a restricted area. This rule allows giant centers to dip shoulder and push their way to the basket, with no chance of being called for an offensive foul. They league says the rule was made to stop players from sliding under the basket to take charges, but why can’t officials make that judgment call, since in fact that’s what every call is in the NBA. A second rule that in my mind was added to keep star center Shaquille O’Neal dominant in a sport that needed stars was the “hack-a-shaq” rule. This rule prevented players from fouling someone without the ball at the end of the game. The league said the rule was added to make the game better, I think it allowed players the chance to stay in games they didn’t deserve to be in. Sports were made to be played for fun and watched to entertain the masses once their days have passed. Today it simply is all about the money and keeping a high status brand. Any time unneeded rules are added to anything, value is lost. Next weekend when you are watching the NFL and yelling at replacement officials, take a look at a rulebook and see how many you can remember. It will amaze you how out of hand things have gotten. Unfortunately, the bottom is not near if money and politics continue to run these great games. Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed Edited by Dustin Hughes

End of the Dynasty?

After a weekend of watching several great football and baseball games, I started to notice a few behind the scene things that don’t catch the common eye. The MLB race for October has hit full speed, with many teams fighting for division leads, playoff spots, and home field advantage. As a young sports fan, dynasties have not ruled the sports world like teams did in the 90’s and before. No team has won three out of four Super Bowls like the Dallas Cowboys or six NBA championships like Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Baseball, a sport historically dominated by the New York Yankees, has failed to establish a power over the last decade. College football, as many know, has been constantly blanketed with negative feedback with the current Bowl Championship Series, known as the BCS. Critics complain that the current system doesn’t properly allow the best team to be crowned champion, resulting in a soon to come playoff system. These things may seem to lack importance in many eyes, but for me it raised some questions. Are sports finally reaching a point where the playing field is becoming much more equal? Could the days of franchise supremacy and multi-title holding superstars be coming to an end? LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Tom Brady may argue this is not true, but let’s look back and decide for ourselves. In the last ten years, the NBA and college football have each had six different crowned champions. The San Antonio Spurs lead the charge with three championships, the closest to a dynasty in all sports. Three college football programs have held the trophy high multiple times after the final whistle, including Alabama, LSU, and Florida. Those numbers seem distributed almost perfectly, but the NFL and MLB may have something to say about that. Each of these leagues has presented seven different champions over the last decade, something that almost proves their sports are on the way to complete equality. Many argue baseball is not fair, however looking at the facts may change your mind. The New York Yankees have been known from the beginning as the deep pocket dominators in a sport deemed “America’s pastime”. With that said, they have only won ONE World Series Championship in the last ten years. Only the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox have achieved multiple championships, winning two each. Switching to the NFL, the New England Patriots looked to be our next dynasty, but the New York Giants have defeated them twice in Super Bowls, leaving the Patriots, Pittsburg Steelers, and Giants all winning two titles this decade. Colin Cowherd of ESPN has said multiple times that dynasties and villains are good for the game. He says more people will watch hoping for the “bad guys” to lose. I must respectfully disagree with Mr. Cowherd, because I firmly believe a sport is at its best when every team has a chance to contend with a month left in the season. Baseball fans are lying if they say they don’t check the wild card standings immediately after seeing how their respective team did each night. NFC East fans can’t say with a straight face they haven’t noticed how competitive their division is beginning to look this season. Nothing builds a fan base like a contending team and magical playoff run. The last ten years have moved each sport in the correct direction. Before we know it, TCU will be crowned king of college football and the Pittsburg Pirates will be facing the Seattle Mariners for a World Series Championship. Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed Edited by Keith Walterscheid, Dustin Hughes, and Aaron Walterscheid

Pretender or Contender? The Big 12 in 2012

Heading into the fourth week of the 2012 NCAA football season, intriguing would adequately describe what we have seen. Multiple top 10 upsets have stolen the headlines, blocking the Big 12 the contender discussion it may truly deserve. Now much of the college football world will laugh at such a remark. The argument is even made that the PAC 12 is actually the second best conference this year. Speculation is flying around this young season, but what we do know are a few facts. After three weeks of play, the Big 12 and SEC are tied with six teams each falling in the top 25 polls across the country. Much of the great play being seen from Big 12 teams comes from two new kids on the block, #16 TCU, who won the Rose Bowl two years ago against a stellar Wisconsin team, and #7 West Virginia, who dominates opponents with an offense like many in the conference. Many believe that alone could shake up a conference dominated by Oklahoma over the previous decade. Offense is exactly what the Big 12 is known for, and probably the reason most don’t rank them with the SEC. Leave no doubt, offense is everywhere this year in the Big 12, ranking four teams in the top 8 in offense and 5 in scoring. Although they suffered an early loss, Oklahoma State sits atop the list in total offense and scoring. Many argue this is typical for the Big 12, but what many aren’t noticing is the much-improved defenses across the conference. Three teams fall in the top 10 in defense, with Texas Tech at #2, TCU at #7, and Oklahoma finishing at #10. Another point many SEC faithful like to bring up is the poor teams most Big 12 teams have played. As true as this may be, the same falls true with most top ranked teams. What we can definitively prove is the Big 12 is 22-2 in non-conference play this season, topping the SEC who holds a stellar 23-6 record. All this “top ranking conference” talk doesn’t typically get very far, because the common opinion see’s Alabama and LSU playing at a level not comparable by other teams. At this point those thoughts may be true, maybe these two SEC teams are substantially better than anyone else in the country. Or maybe the rest of the country is catching up, and the Big 12 is actually shortening a gap that has existed for many years. To end this never-ending debate, hopefully the NCAA and BCS will give us the chance to first hand see the best conference in the country.

AL West Race

With only 14 games left in this long season, the Texas Rangers are in a position they didn’t see coming after this offseason. With all the hype going west with the big-time free agent pickups by the Angels, including our own CJ Wilson, the season was expected to be going much differently. Instead, the Rangers for the third year in a row hold the AL West lead by 4 games. The only difference from the past two seasons is the team contending to the title, and this year’s Oakland team is giving the Rangers all they can handle. Fortunately for Ranger fans, the team has picked up its play the last six weeks of the season, with Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre pounding the ball like we are accustomed to seeing. Mike Napoli also returning to the lineup has fans begging for another “year of the Napoli” with only a few games to play before the Fall Classic begins. Now a race for the ages is boiling up for the two wild card spots, something that is also new this year, so baseball fans are in for a fun next few weeks. The Rangers hold the best record in the American League, as well as the biggest division lead. A rubber match game Thursday night between the Rangers and Angels could all but end the Angels chances of contending for a title, and possibly knock them too far back to recover in this tight Wild Card race. In today’s world sports are heading towards more and more drama and excitement for fans, something we all need to buckle up and enjoy for the next three weeks. With a change in the game making more teams qualify for playoffs, anything can happen. We all remember the last night of the regular season in 2011, and the stage is set to contend with what many great baseball minds call “the greatest night in baseball history”.

Are the Boys Back?

Domination is probably the best word to describe the Cowboys performance at MetLife stadium Wednesday night when they left town with a 7 point win over the World Champion New York Giants. In a game where few gave the Cowboys a chance to win, they shocked the nation with good defense and even better offense, something not seen in these parts since the glory days of the 90’s. Rather than endless discussions of how replacement officials cost either team the game, the focus has been on Cowboys wide receiver Kevin Ogletree who caught 8 passes for 114 yards, 2 of which were for touchdowns. From a man that had never caught a TD in his three years with the Cowboys, Ogletree made his mark on the 2012 season by showing Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett he was the man for the job. The offseason had been blanketed with media questioning who would fill Robinsons spot as third wide receiver, something we may not hear for a while after his performance Wednesday night. Another jewel that must not go unnoticed was the play of DeMarko Murray, who rushed for 131 yards on 20 carries, while also catching 2 passes for 9 yards. The offense never looked so balanced, something we Cowboy fans have been dreaming about for some time. The game seemed to be much more lopsided than the score showed, and when the Cowboys needed a first down to win the game, Tony Romo came through. After Jason Witten was called for a holding penalty on a converted third down run by Murray, Ogletree hauled in his 8^th catch on a slant from Romo for 15 yards and a Dallas first down. As great as the offense was, the true winner of this game is Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan. While his defense did give up 17 points, they held the Giants to a field goal in the first half when a Tony Romo interception set the Giants offense up on the 2-yard line. Hopefully that stop is the kind of hard nose defense we can expect for the remainder of the season. Every football brain knows the keys to success are playing good defense, running the ball, and winning on the road. Well ladies and gentleman, it may have only been one game, but at least things seem to be headed in the right direction.

Josh Hamilton is Back

Almost every MLB player has some sort of slump during each season. Even the Bambino had some down years during his great career.  For decades we have watched great players come in and out of slumps, and every time we give up and move on, thinking their season is lost. Josh Hamilton had what many called an “extended slump”, with many of the great baseball minds wondering if his off the field issues would ruin his game for good. The last 30 games have done nothing but shut up all the doubters, and helped the Rangers move into first place in the American League in the process. Six weeks ago the baseball world was ready to give up and forget about Josh Hamilton, and that’s when he decided enough was enough. Since that time Josh has taken back his League leading RBI spot with 111, and battled for the home run lead, currently in second with 35, merely 3 behind Dunn of the Chicago White Sox. With a season many though was lost, Hamilton is making a hard push for MVP with 35 games to go. All these stats seem to make him the favorite, but what we have forgotten to discuss is what he does when he isn’t batting. Josh Hamilton is one of the best centerfielders in baseball, and if you ask around many will tell you that testing his arm is a mistake you only make once. Diving catches are a nightly thing in Texas when watching Josh Hamilton glide around the outfield like a Gazelle in the Serengeti.  With a 5.5 game lead in the AL West, and one game lead over the Yankees for home field in the playoffs, how can we help but flirt with MVP ideas? The next 35 games will tell us a lot, but don’t count out the hard hitting lefty from Texas.

The Real “decision”

With the entire NBA universe waiting at the edge of their seats for the destination of Nets star Deron Williams, the night will end without an answer. Williams plans to announce where he will play this upcoming season Tuesday.  With this time to sit and speculate, lets reflect on the last major free-agent announcement. Lebron James starred at a sold out event after his signing, but Williams may in fact hold more power with his decision. Multiple teams outside of those directly affected by Williams must wait to make offers or propose deals because of the magnitude of this move. Future Hall of Fame point guards Jason Kidd and Steve Nash are waiting to either ride Williams coat tales, or replace his holes. General Managers are waiting to offer contracts until Williams picks his next home. No one could have ever for seen a time when someone not considered an “Elite” player controls the market so much.  This trend is sure to continue with star players wanting to play along side other stars. The NBA is changing as we speak. If this trend continues the League will soon have a handful of elite teams, with everyone else fighting over the first lottery pick. Last season the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Championship with one superstar, and it may very well be the last time for years to come.  

Welcome to the rest of my life.

With the world moving faster than anyone ever imagined, most of us are left sitting and wondering if we are truly letting life pass us by. Technology has changed the world and my generation is the first to face the common cliché’, “adapt or die”. If I never learned how to text, tweet, send an email or update my Facebook status, my life would probably be just fine, but who strives for “fine” anymore? Recently at a new job I met a women who hated when security information was sent via text. She didn’t text and felt completely left out. My question is, how do you feel when you’re sitting at a table and everyone is texting on their phones? Regardless of age, race, sex, or religion, living in America comes with the conception that we are technologically savvy. With that being said I decided it was time to take my next step in this technological era. I recently made a twitter account (@k940creed) even with my great fight to never give in, and I must say I catch myself on it several times a day. So my next venture is this blog. According to Creed popped in my head and I decided I wanted to start sharing my interests with the world. Whether its sports, hunting, or the hot spot I just hit on a Saturday night, I hope to bring something new into your life each day when you look at things from my eyes.