The Ranger's Nasty Bullpen

When the Rangers signed Eric Gagne a few weeks ago the team, the team has gained the image as "the" best bullpen in the league. If Eric Gagne can pitch even the slightest bit like he did when he was the most dominate reliever in the game in 2004, the Rangers certainly have one nasty relieving core. This is how it looks:

1. Eric Gagne
2. Akinori Otsuka
3. Frank Francisco
4. Wes Littleton
5. Kameron Loe
6. C.J. Wilson
7. Joaquin Benoit

The Rangers will most likely go with a seven man rotation this year because they now have a more reliable starting rotation. There will be plenty of competition during spring training to crack this elite bullpen as Ron Mahay, Josh Rupe, Rick Bauer, John Koranka, Jon Rienicker, and Edison Volquez will all be auditioning for a spot. If everybody is healthy, the Rangers should go into the season with the notion that their bullpen will be a big asset to help this team win in close games. Teams that have exceptional bullpens usually are teams that play into October.

There were rumors circling that the Rangers were looking to trade Otsuka in order to fill out there "used to be" depleted rotation. With the addition of Brando McCarthy it looks like the Rangers no longer need to shop Otsuka. Having a one-two punch of Canadian/Japanese flair in the 8th and 9th innings will be something fun to watch this season.

The bullpen was a big problem last year as the team had trouble playing in close games. Many leads were blow and thus many games were lost. This rotation is scary on paper, and overall the Rangers have vastly improved their pitching. Every year we see how good pitching dominated good hitting. It’s a very fact and this year the Rangers have a chance of winning with pitching.

- Big-D Sports

Josh Howard: A Rising Star

Howard, last week's Western Conference player of the week, went 10-for-19 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds in Dallas’ 97-84 win over Charlotte. Dallas is 9-1 this season when Howard scores 20 or more points.

After signing the young star to a long-term contract this off-season, Josh Howard has elevated his game to All-Star status. Josh Howard is becoming a huge threat and is a dynamic sidekick for Dirk. He has improved his outside game and his three point shooting. This gives him a duel threat of driving to the basket, or pulling up for the quick jump-shot. This very element has improved Josh Howard’s status as one the games best young players.

Here is a look at Josh’s stats: 05-06 vs. 06-07

Ppg 15.2 vs. 18.2
FT% 73.5 vs. 85.4
3ptm .5 vs. 1.8
Blk .4 vs. 1.3

Howard, averaging 20.8 points over the last 14 games, would like to be in Las Vegas for the All-Star game on Feb. 18. If he isn't chosen, he'll be happy for a few days off.

"That's a kid's dream always," Howard said. "If the fans and coaches want me, I'll want to play. But I'm not going to cry if I don't make it because there are a lot of good guys out there."

Howard contributed a four-point play and a three-point play during the late third-quarter outbreak. On the three-point play, Howard dunked after rebounding his own miss, bringing the AAC to its feet.

The Mavericks have the chance of sending three to this year's All-Star game. Dirk is already a guarantee, but Eric Dampier and Howard could be joining the dunking Duetchman. With the injury to Yao Ming, Eric Dampier may very well be going to the All-Star game in “sin city.”

Who would have ever though that “Erica Dampier” would make it the All-Star game in a Mavericks uniform? I know that that would be a real stunner if it happens, but he deserves it because he is playing with heart this season and I applaud him for it!

Bah, Humbug!

Four weeks ago, the Philadelphia Eagles were 5-6 and facing the troublesome possibility of playing out the string without starting quarterback Donovan McNabb, lost to a season-ending knee injury.
One month later, the Eagles were a team exuding holiday cheer and a new lease on postseason life. The 23-7 rout of the Dallas Cowboys put the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs and on the verge of a fifth division title in six years.

The division was in our hand and the Dallas Cowboys flat out lost it. All of those division championship tee-shirts and hats hot of the press may never be sold, and I’m still not sold on this team.

What a terrible game all around. I’m not sure where to start but this game could be a GOOD thing for the Cowboys. For some reason the Dallas Cowboys need to wake up and stop listening to the media. Clearly this is not a super-bowl caliber team. This team has the potential, but the defense is truly lacking.

The Cowboys' defense appeared wholly unprepared to restrain the Eagles quarterback Jeff Garcia, who passed for 238 yards, scrambled for 43 more and is 4-1 since taking over for injured McNabb.

Terrell Owens is still 0-for-2 against the Philadelphia Eagles. That's the least of his problems.

Owens managed one touchdown against his former teammates Monday, but otherwise was not much of a factor. He caught only two passes for 23 yards and hurt his team with two costly drops, resulting in widespread boos from the home crowd.

His frustration was evident after a 23-7 loss, when he scored the only Dallas touchdown, then complained several times that not enough passes are coming his way.

"I just feel like I'm not involved early in the game," Owens said. "Everybody knows that's what I do. Every team that I've played on, I've been involved early and often. It's hard to get in the flow when you're getting a ball here, a ball there."
Owens isn't the only frustrated Cowboys receiver. Terry Glenn and Owens totaled just three catches for 40 yards Monday night.

"I don't think we're trying to win; no, not on offense," Glenn was quoted Tuesday in the Dallas Morning News. "You have to execute and get everybody involved. I try not to let it get to me. Man, I've been fighting it all year. I'm trying to be a team player, but there's no reason for it. No reason for it. "I'm not alone. The whole offense is frustrated," Glenn said. "They are looking around saying, 'Why can't we do anything when we have all these weapons?' "

This team needs to gear it up again and prepare for the playoffs. A win next week could really help the Cowboys before the playoffs. Mental toughness will be the key for the Cowboys who are lacking it at the moment. If the defense can’t step it up, I don’t see this team going past the second round of the playoffs.

Cowboys vs. Eagles

Get your popcorn ready and your slay bells ringing because this is a HUGE game for the Cowboys. If the Dallas Cowboys win then the Cowboys are the crowned the NFC East Division champions. If we lose the Eagles have a chance of claiming the NFC East Division for themselves. So the Cowboys just need to win this one!

Who isn't ready for a little Christmas day football between the Cowboys and the Eagles? When I saw this game when the schedule was released months ago this looked like the makings of an classic game. Bad blood between T.O. and Donavan McNabb, who could ask for a bigger storyline on Christmas game? Ok, Donavan will be on the sidelines but guess who will be under center for the Eagles? Yep, Jeff Garcia. I'm sure we all remember the clashes he and T.O. had in San Francisco. Well it looks like the hatred will continue on this peaceful and grateful day.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, has been one of the league's biggest second-half surprises, resuscitating a season that looked all but lost when quarterback Donavon McNabb was ruled out for the year due to a torn ACL suffered against the Titans on Nov. 19th. The Eagles have managed to go 3-1 in McNabb's stead, scoring their most impressive victory during that stretch by going to the Meadowlands and stunning the Giants, 36-22, last week.

Andy Reid's team defeated Dallas by a 38-24 count on Oct. 8th, and a second win over the Cowboys would give the Eagles the tie-breaker advantage should the two squads finish knotted in the standings. Philly will clinch at least a Wild Card berth with a win on Monday, while Dallas has already secured its first postseason trip since 2003.

Garcia should be able to make some hay downfield against a Dallas secondary that has been the weak link in the Cowboys' defensive chain of late. One week after allowing the Saints' Drew Brees to gut them for 384 yards and five touchdown passes, Michael Vick and at Atlanta passing attack ranked dead last in the league managed to throw four more touchdown passes against America's Team last week. Let’s hope they step it up or it could be a long Christmas day, which is never bad but lets hope the secondary steps it up.

Philadelphia is most deserving of its reputation of being soft against the run, though the league's 28th-ranked rushing defense (138.6 yards per game) did a nice job against the Giants' tandem of Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs last Sunday. The duo totaled 88 yards on 22 combined carries with a pair of touchdowns, with neither breaking off a run of longer than 14 yards. MB3 (marion barber III for all ya’ll) will need to have another great game in order to help the cowboys offense moving.

I feel pretty comfortable about this game but the Eagles are a definite threat. Tony Romo is going to have a big day and lets all sing joy to the world when the Cowboys take the NFC East!

- Big-D Sports

More Starting Pitching as Rangers add McCarthy

Today Texas acquired right-hander Brandon McCarthy from the Chicago White Sox in a five-player deal Saturday in which the Rangers gave up their 2003 first-round pick John Danks.

John Danks, the ninth overall pick three years ago, and fellow right-handers Nick Masset and Jacob Rasner were sent to Chicago for McCarthy and outfielder David Paisano.

The 23-year-old Brandon McCarthy already has 65 major league appearances (only 12 starts), and is 7-9 with a 4.39 ERA. He has 117 career strikeouts while walking only 50 batters in 151 2/3 innings. McCarthy has some electiric stuff and will be a fine addition to the starting rotation.

McCarthy worked primarily out of the bullpen for the first time last season, and was 10th in the AL with 75 1/3 innings worked in relief. The Rangers plan to use him as a starter this season.

Danks split last season between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Oklahoma, where he combined to go 9-9 with a 4.24 ERA in 27 games (26 starts). He has a career minor league record of 21-30 with a 4.20 ERA in 92 games (82 starts). Dank is one of the great minor leaguers in the Rangers orginization but never really got a chance in the big leagues. For some reason the Rangers wanted to groom Danks for a long time before his arrival in the majors.

This is a great deal for the Rangers. After watching Danks at many Frisco Roughriders game, he only looked like a solid 3 or 4 starter in the rotation. It would have taken Danks probably two more years until he was inserted in the the Ranger's rotation, and in return the Rangers recieved a already proven young starter. I like what GM Jon Daniels is doing as he building the Rangers for the future, not just for this season.

- Big-D Sports

Dirk Goes Down But the Mavs Get a BIG Win

The Dallas Mavericks showed heart last night. A late nationally televised game on the west coast, things looked ugly from the start. Dirk went down with a ankle injury and didn't return, and the Mavericks found themselfs in a big hole early. Seattle came out hot and were shooting a blazing 72% in the first quarter and had a quick double-digit lead and were ready to send the Mavs back to Dallas early. Dallas could have given up when they lost Dirk, but they fought hard and showed some character.

With the Mavericks Nowitzki absent for most of the night, Dampier matched a season high with 22 points and grabbed a season-best 16 rebounds in Dallas' 103-95 win over Seattle on Wednesday. Dampier was a leader on the court all night. He filled the role of Nowitzki and played the best game he has EVER played as a Maverick.

This is what happened when Nowitzki went down with 2:05 left in the first. Seattle's Chris Wilcox jumped for the rebound of a missed free throw by Jerry Stackhouse and was bumped by DeSagana Diop of the Mavericks. Wilcox fell to the ground, his legs spreading and his left foot hitting Nowitzki just above his left foot, causing his ankle to roll.

Nowitzki was down on the floor for a few minutes, and could not put weight on the leg, but X-rays were negative. He was to be re-examined in Dallas, and Johnson said Nowitzki was day-to-day.

After trailing by 11 at halftime, the Mavericks erased most of the deficit by the end of the third. Dallas went on a 12-0 run, including a four-point possession that included a three-point play from Dampier and a technical foul free throw from Terry after Hill argued with officials.

Dallas could have given up, but Dampier played like a stud and lead the Maverieks to this win. There were points in the game were "Big Damp" looked like a young Shaq (i'm serious!). These tough games build character for a championship caliber team, and this is exactly what happened when the Mavs stepped up in a HUGE way to fill the void of Dirk. Overall great win!

- Big-D Sports

Getting Ducked Out

Last night was supposed to be a big game for the Dallas Stars last night, but the Stars didn't respond to the pressure. The Stars needed to gain ground against the division leading Ducks, but they couldn't even put up a fight as the game ended quickly. The Anaheim Duck are the best team in the NHL (going for the best record in NHL history) and they pounded the Stars 4-1 last night. The Stars are playing good hockey, but they are a little banged up at the moment. If you think missing Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen could hurt, it sure did show last night.

The Stars overall had no offensive explosion against a physical team. The Stars are not physical first of all. Second they played like a tired team with no emotion. The Anaheim Ducks showed they were not overrated as they improved their record to 27-6-4 as they lead the pacific division.

As if the high-flying Anaheim Ducks really needed any good news, Corey Perry is out of his slump.

Perry scored twice in Wednesday night's 4-1 victory over Dallas, giving him six goals and three assists in his last seven games. Before that, he had just three assists in a span of 12 games.

Marty Turco was pulled quickly as he was bombarded by shots, as the Dallas defensive could not keep the Ducks away from the goal.

Dallas has another big game with huge implications tonight against their division rivals San Jose. Hopefully the Stars can get it together and put together a solid W.

- Big-D Sports

Romo to the Pro-Bowl

If Tony Romo wasn’t having the great season already, you can add a pro-bowl to his resume. In a dream come true season for Romo since becoming the Dallas Cowboys’ starting quarterback two months ago, he now has been chosen for the NFL’s all-star game to be played Feb. 10 at Honolulu.

After serving the backup to Drew Bledsoe through five games and then taking over in the second half of game six, Romo has been one of the league’s best and joins the New Orleans’ Saints Drew Brees and St. Louis Rams’ Marc Bulger as the NFC’s Pro Bowl quarterbacks.

Romo’s 98.4 passer rating leads the NFC and is second in the NFL to the Indianapolis Colts’ Peyton Manning’s 99.0.

He went three seasons without attempting a pass in a regular season NFL game but now has taken the national sports scene by storm.

I have a bit of a problem with Romo as a Pro-Bowler. He hasn’t even played a full season and has only started 8 games. He is playing fresh and hasn’t endured the grind of a full tiring NFL season. Actually I have a bigger problem with the of picking Pro-Bowlers so early. Why now??? Why not at the end of the season? The next two games are the biggest games of the season and the true “Pro Bowlers” will shine in these games. What if someone like Romo for example, who was picked, has two terrible games? Is is worth a Pro-Bowl spot? I think this is something that must change in the NFL: move the Pro-Bowl selection to the end of the regular season. We all know the biggest heroic efforts happen in the last week of the season.

Mr. Romo congratulations to you man. I still haven’t bought into the “Romo Hype” yet. Sure he is having a great year, but he has struggled a little the past three games. I hate to take away from his great season, but so far he has only played in 8 games. The playoffs will determine Romo’s true pedigree. Is he an elite QB or a one hit wonder?

Get Out Of Here

First I am so sorry for the lack of updates this week. I had exams all week and plenty of studying, but I felt like I knocked them out like Carmelo. Haha

We all witnessed the Cowboys win in Hot-lanta and it was good see another win after the pounding the Cowboys took last week. The offence looked good (nice to see Tony Romo back!) but the defense didn’t look good at all. After surrendering five touchdown passes to Drew Brees of New Orleans last Sunday night, the Cowboys allowed four scoring passes to the Falcons' Michael Vick, who has never been mistaken for a particularly accurate passer. The Cowboys did a good job of containing the speed demon, but number 7 had a 121.0 efficiency rating. Vick looked like a Pro Bowl passer against the Dallas Cowboys’ weak secondary. The big plays killed the Boys’.

The defense did play tough in the second half. After abandoning a man-to-man coverage scheme Vick shredded in the first two quarters and going to more zone looks, it made enough stops to allow the Cowboys' offense time to take command. The defense has been exposed against the passing game, but it will be hard to fix such a huge flaw in the next couple of weeks before the playoffs start.

The one bright spot was my main man Tony Romo. In connecting on 22 of 29 attempts for 278 yards, Romo completed four or more passes to four different receivers and five passes to three different players. Both of Romo's scoring passes were to Terrell Owens, who defeated Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall in their grudge match and also reportedly spat on the Falcons' star. Who really cares if T.O. really spat in his face. To DeAngelo Hall: you got burned my friend and you need to stop whining.

With the New Orleans Saints lose to the Redskins today, the Cowboys still sit in third place. Man, a win last week could have really helped the Cowboys. Based on tiebreakers, the Saints have an edge over the Cowboys because of last weeks butt-kicking. Here’s the playoff standing as of right now:

1. Chicago 12-2
2. New Orleans 9-5
3. Dallas 9-5
4. Seattle 8-6
5. Philadelphia 8-6
6. Giants 7-7

- Big-D Sports

Mavericks Make Pure Gold Out of the Nuggets

Did you know that Carmelo Anthoney is leading the league in scoring? Yeah, he's is hotter that Lebron, Dirk, D-Wade, KG, Kobe and all those other studs. He is averaging 31.7 points per game this season, but last night it just so happened he was playing the Dallas Mavericks.

Josh Howard was the all around stand out player in the 105-90 win over the Denver Nuggets. Josh Howard harassed Carmelo and stopped "Melo" from entering the paint where he makes his money all day. Well, Carmelo did score 18 points so is that considered a bad night? Heck yeah, he was 8-26 from the field and bricked majority of his shots. Actually Carmelo didn't have that bad of a night, Josh Howard just had a REALLY good night.

We all know Josh Howard played extremely well defensively by forcing Carmelo to turn the ball over 5 times, but he equaled his career high in points with 30. All of those 30 points came before the end of the 3rd quarter.

Denver beat defending NBA champion Miami Heat 123-107 in Denver the night before Friday, and then had to travel to Texas take on the Dallas Mavericks. The Nuggets were on the second leg of a tough back-to-back in less than 24 hours against the teams that played in the NBA finals last season. That probably the worst back a team can have!

The Denver Nuggets have been a high-octane scoring team this year, playing like the run and gun Phoenix Suns. They have been averaging 108.8 points per game but Dallas' defense was resilient as they held Denver to a season low 90 points.

Josh deserves a pat on the back, he is playing like a freaking All-Star this season.

- Big-D Sports

Mark Mulder a Ranger?

A second former member of the Oakland Athletics' "Big Three" will visit the Rangers on Tuesday.

The Lefty starting pitcher, Mark Mulder, will get together with Rangers officials Tuesday in Arlington, only after two weeks when his old teammate, Barry Zito, visited. The fact that Mulder is coming to Texas is a positive sign that he is very interested in the Rangers. It's possible Mulder, who is getting married next weekend, might seek to sign somewhere quickly. If this is the case all sign could be pointing to the Rangers as a perfect suitor. The Rangers offered a contract to the All-Star pitcher at the winter meeting, and Mulder’s agent has yet offered a counter offer.

Mulder pitched in only 17 games in 2006 because of severe shoulder problems. He was 6-7 with a 7.14 ERA for the St. Louis Cardinals and underwent rotator cuff surgery in September. Mulder will most likley won't be back at start of the season, though an exact return date could be around late May.

Numerous teams have expressed little interest in Mulder, including the Cardinals, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. Mulder is 103-57 with a 4.11 ERA in his career. He won at least 15 games each season from 2001-05, only once finishing with an ERA higher than 3.64.

Adding Mulder this week could be a huge step in the right direction for the Rangers. Mark Mulder WILL come at a reasonable price, and there still would be room in the budget for Barry Zito. If Mark Mulder signs with Texas, it has been said that Barry Zito would love to reconnect will he former teammate. If the Texas Rangers add both Barry Zito and Mark Mulder this off-season, wouldn’t that be the dirtiest starting rotation the Rangers have EVER had?

- Big-D Sports

Ran Over By Rasheed

Thursday’s night's game against the Detroit Pistons was a bit sluggish for the Mavericks. The Detroit Pistons made rain out of the 3-pointer all night, and ran Dallas off their own court. This Pistons defeated the Dallas Mavericks 92-82 as Dallas suffered their first double digit loss to an Eastern Conferce foe at the American Airlines Center in exactly two years and one day, when who-else but the Pisons edged the Mavericks 101-84 on December 6, 2004. (kind of creepy huh?)

The Pistons played together as a team and used excellent ball movement to their advantage. They seemed to do nothing else fancy other than pass the rock to the open man for an easy bucket.

Last year when the Pistons played the Dallas Mavericks they were blown out by 37-points early last season. The Pistons trailed 40-16 after the first quarter last year, but this year the Pistons wanted redemption.

Tayshaun Prince led all Detroit players with 20 points, "Rip" Hamilton added 15 points, Chauncey Billups scored 12 points and dished out 11 assists. The Pistons looked more like the Pistons team that recently won eight straight than a club that had fallen in its last two.

For the Mavericks it was a pretty pitiful effort all around. They had no energy the entire game and the only main contributors were Jason Terry, who scored 17 points, and Big "now consistent" Dampier, who scored 12.

The only highlight of the game was the fact that 120 military personnel sat courtside for the entire game in part of the third annual "Seats For Soldiers" event. This has been a fabulous tradition where season-ticket holders donate their seats to the soldiers. All I can say to them is I hoped they could have seen a more competitive game, because this game stunk.

- Big-D Sports

Bush is Coming to Town

Reggie Bush still might be the biggest surprise of the entire NFL season. He may not be the reason why the Saints are 8-4 and leading the NFC South, and it may not be the fact that Bush is leading the NFC in receptions with 73, but it was because last year's Heisman Trophy winner was NOT the first overall pick in the draft.

Last season the “cellar dwellers” in the league fighting for the next great running back. As all of you know this competition was dubbed the "Reggie Bush Sweepstakes." Of course, the Houston Texans were out of their minds by selecting defensive end Mario Williams, which allowed the Saints to draft the UCS standout. To no one's surprise, Reggie Bush hasn't disappointed anyone.

Bush had a HUGE game last Sunday against the 49ers, when he scored four touchdowns, three rushing and one receiving. That was not the only thing that shifty back did, but Bush totaled 168 offensive yards, including 131 receiving, a Saints franchise record for a running back.

The Saints are ready to march into Texas Stadium this Sunday where it will be a battle of 8-4 teams. The Saints already have a tremendous trio of QB Drew Brees, RB Duece McAllister, and wide receiver Joe Horn. Add Bush as the major playmaker and this offence will put up big numbers. This is exactly what the Saints have done all season.

The fact is Reggie Bush is leading the entire NFC and is second only to Houston's Andre Johnson (85 catches) in the league with his 73 receptions. He’s only averaging 7.7 yards per reception, and just 3.1 yard rush, but Reggie Bush can make the big plays when it counts.

Last week, the San Francisco defenders had a long day trying to tackle Bush, who added another play to is already electrifying highlight reel, on a play that started out as a simple screen pass from the 15-yard line. Bush broke two tackles after the catch to get inside the 10, and then bulldozed his way through five defenders, carrying nearly half the defense to the 1. Bush isn’t just a finesse RB, but he can lay a boom when plowing through a hole. Bush scored the first of his four touchdowns on the next play.

Since the Saints have serious injury concerns at wide receiver in both Horn (groin) and Colston (ankle), they are both questionable for Sunday's game. All this means is more plays for Reggie Bush. The Dallas Cowboys better watch out, and lets hope they find themselves on another one of Reggie Bush’s highlight reels!

- Big-D Sports

Who Will Get Zito?

Three teams look like they are in the running for Zito. The New York Mets, the Chicago Cubs, and the Texas Ranger all would love to land the elite starting pitcher. The Texas Rangers look like the front-runner the bidding, but you never know if the New York Mets are toying with the Texas Rangers. According to sources the Mets only want to pay at tops 5 year at $70 million. The Cubs already say that this is out of their price range and the Rangers are claiming to have posted $100 million for six years. So how much money will it take to land Zito? Lets look at the signing of Jason Schimdt today by the Dodgers.

Barry Zito is 28 years old, five years younger than Schmidt, and certainly will command a salary superior to that of Schmidt's new $15.67 million a year average. Several executives think that Zito's agent, Scott Boras, is looking for a six-year deal worth $102 million, a $17 million average.

What it might come down to for Zito is if he would rather pitch in the always-unfriendly Ameriquest Field, where he actually has a spectacular 11-1 record with a 3.75 career ERA, or agree to a less rewarding deal to pitch in the National League at pitcher-friendly Shea Stadium with the Mets.

Rick Peterson, Mets pitching coach and Zito's former pitching coach with the A's, both remain very close. On the other side the Rangers have former A’s third base coach, Ron Washington, who Zito is also close to. It sounds like the Mets do not want to go more than five years with Zito, according to major-league sources. If the Mets gave him $16 million per season, a five-year contract worth $80 million, would Zito go with the Mets?

The fact is when the Texas Ranger’s owner, Tom Hicks, REALLY wants a player he often gets what he wants. It has been a reported that Hicks REALLY wants Zito, and we all know that very few can outbid Tom Hicks.

- Big-D Sports

Marion or Julius?

This week the red hot Dallas Cowboys (8-4) will face the much improved New Orleans Saints (8-4). It will be a battle of the running games as both teams will showcase their dynamic duos of running backs in Deuce McAllister/Reggie Bush and Julius Jones/Marion Barber. We all know Deuce McAllister has the upper hand over the rookie/USC sensation Reggie Bush, but is Marion Barber a better back than Julius Jones?

If you take a look at the NFC stats you might find Marion Barber on top of the list for TDs. Marion Barber has a knack for finding the endzone this year with a career high 13 touchdowns only through 12 games. He has averaged 5.2 yards per carry, but has been primarily the 3rd down back for the Dallas Cowboys this season. You might ask why he isn’t starting over Julius Jones who only has 3.9 yards per carry and has only scored three times this season. This is why:

First off, Marion Barber is very elusive when running threw traffic and is able to dance his way for extra yards. That being said he is used in short yard situation (some near the endzone) and takes away many touchdowns from the starter Julius Jones. That’s why the touchdown numbers can be misleading.

Second, Julius Jones runs the ball on first and second down almost exclusively. This is when the defenses most likely are ready to stop the run. On third and long plays when the defense is expecting the pass and back in the nickel formation, Barber gets the call and picks up lots of yards.

Third, I feel like if their roles were reversed the Dallas Cowboys running game would suffer. Julius Jones is built to hit the holes and make big plays early in the down, while Marion Barber is a bit tougher and can get the short yardage plays when it counts.

The Dallas Cowboys have been highly successful with their position changes during the season. First it was Romo, second it was Mr. Dramatica (Martin Gramatica was Mr. Dramatica last night!), but a move in running backs wouldn’t help the Dallas Cowboys at all. Right now the combination of Julius Jones and Marion Barber are getting the job done. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, and this is why I believe the Dallas Cowboys won’t change running backs.

- Big-D Sports

Padilla is Back with the Rangers....Zito Next?

It is reported that the Texas Rangers and Vicente Padilla have reached an agreement worth 34 million over three years. Padilla was one of the few bright spots in the rotation last year as he compiled a 15-10 record with a 4.50 era and 156 strikeouts in 200 innings.

This was a very important move for the Texas Rangers who have a depleted rotation at the time. He will most likely fill the number two spot in the rotation behind the proven veteran Kevin Millwood. Was this the right signing though?

Padilla had a very solid year last year and did prove he could pitch in the Texas heat. But all of this came under his contract year though. Padilla is know to have a lackadaisical attitude and only pitches well when he needs to. He has the ability to be a great pitcher, but he lacks the will. The year that Padilla was an All-Star with the Phillies was also his contract year. After his All Star year when he resigned with the Phillies he declined dramatically. Hopefully Padilla will show the Texas Rangers that they invested wisely in him, if not it will be another huge bust for the Rangers and GM Jon Daniels.

MORE ZITO NEWS! The Texas Rangers have reporably given Zito a six-year, $102 million offer. That would be $17 million per season which no team likely will match. -according to foxsports.com

- Big-D Sports

Gramatica and the Cowboys are Automatica!

There is no doubt the Dallas Cowboys are a Superbowl ready team as they continued to impress the nation. This game was a make or break opportunity for the Dallas Cowboys to gain the upper hand in the tight division. Tonight’s game proved that the Dallas Cowboys deserve to be in the drivers seat in NFC East.

With a 23-20 Dallas Cowboys nail bitter win in the Meadowlands, the Dallas Cowboys now have a two game advantage in their division. It was the fourth straight loss for the Giants (6-6) and the fourth straight win for Dallas (8-4). This game was fun to watch and it resorted hope in the Cowboy nation.

This game went right down to the wire, as there were three scores in the final 3:33. Marion Barber III (my new favorite nickname for him: MB3) scored on a 1-yard run which gave the Dallas Cowboys a 20-13 lead, but the Giants didn’t weren’t finished. Eli Manning drove the Giants 63 yards for the tying score on the pass to Big Burress. After the Giants celebrated in wild fashion, Romo caught them off-guard when he hit TE Jason Witten on the first play after the kickoff with a strong throw to take the Dallas Cowboys to the Giants 26. That set up it up for newly signed kicker Martin Gramatica who a boomed 46-yard field goal with 1 second remaining on the clock to give the Dallas Cowboys a 23-20 win over the New York Giants.

The move to Martin Gramatica is yet another move that made Bill Parcells look like a genius. First it was Tony Romo, now its Martin Gramatica. Gramatica played a pivotal role in this win for the Cowboys. Gramatica’s first field goal as a Cowboy was missed from 40+ yards in the first quarter and things didn’t look good for the new kicker. But Gramatica showed tremendous poise as he rebounded to make three critical kicks in a row to finish the game. The Cowboys depended heavily on the kicking game and Gramatica answered the questions about the kicking game.

Tony Romo for the first time proved that he is human. He was 20/34 on completion and threw two picks. It was another classy act by Romo as he never let his head down and kept the Cowboys in the game the whole night.

As I told you guys the Giants WERE going to show up today. The Giants fought hard as a TEAM, but you have to hand it to the Cowboys for their resilient performance. HOW BOUT’ DEM COWBOYS!?!

- Big-D Sports

A Born Leader

Tony Romo has emerged into the biggest sports image in the NFL today. Romo, an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois, has put the 7-4 Dallas Cowboys atop the NFC East. His profile has soared. Nothing will ever be the same for the 26-year-old from a small Wisconsin town. Everyone in the nation now knows the story of Tony Romo and how he has restored life to America’s Team. He is even a celebrity outside of sports with the numerous rumors of him and Jessica Simpson dating. Any man who can get Jessica Simpson is probably the biggest stud on the earth. Within the past month, Tony has gone from “Tony Who?” to “Tony Romo the greatest QB EVER!”

Tony Romo is a down to earth overnight sensation. He's #1 in ratings, #1 yards per attempt, #1 in TD%, #2 in Pct, and he's already #10 in TD's. He has played extremely well but it has only been 5 GAMES. He has great vision and very quick reflexes. So far he has been playing like an elite QB, but it has only been a brief span of games. Romo plays the game effortlessly and was a born leader. I hope Romo never comes down to earth, but like any human he most likely will have a bad game sometime.

This weekend’s game will be the BIGGEST game for Tony Romo. The Dallas Cowboys have not had such a big game since the 90’s. This is the most hyped game since the Texas-USC game last year. If the Dallas Cowboys lose they are in trouble, if they win they will be on top of the world, simple as that. When the Cowboys beat the Colts three games ago, the Dallas Cowboys established themselves as Superbowl Contenders. If Romo doesn’t get the job done he might lose his title as “the Dallas Cowboys’ savoir.” If he wins this game people all over America will be picking the Dallas Cowboys to win the Superbowl.

Romo has already restored faith in Dallas Cowboys fans, but a loss this weekend may stab the hearts of many faithfuls.

- Big-D Sports

Rangers Want Piazza

The Rangers are a stern serious interest in free-agent catcher Mike Piazza, as Major League officials confirmed on Saturday. The Rangers are interested in Piazza more as a DH than a catcher. Piazza could do some catching behind Gerald Laird as well, but the Rangers are looking at him mainly as an offensive player.

Piazza hit .283 with 22 home runs and 68 RBIs in 126 games and 399 at-bats for the Padres last year. His is still producing at the old age of 38, and could give the Rangers a punch in the middle of the order. Piazza has been an All-Star 12 times, he has a .309 career batting average which is the eighth highest among active players, and he has 419 career home runs which is 12th most among active players.

I feel like the Rangers need to pursue outfielders and pitching before they go after Piazza. They still don't have a true center fielder and need to fill the hole that Gary Matthews left. Pitching is also a must. The Rangers have plenty of questions that need to be answered and I feel like a DH is not a big need for the Rangers. The Rangers should instead fill their depleted rotation before they go after a aging catcher/DH. Signing Piazza would be further convince me that the Rangers still don't understand the good pitching dominates good hitting. The Rangers need to stay away from the big bats and look for game changing starters and relievers.

- Big-D Sports

Kings Get Swatted

Will this winning thing ever end? It was yet another dominating win, 109-90 over the Sacramento Kings which increased the Mavs win streak to 12. The Dallas Mavericks wasted no time in getting the job done. It was a fun fast pased game with many three pointers drained (11-21) by the Dallas Mavericks.

Blocked shots were a common sight last night. They weren't little sissy blocked shots but HUGE violent blocked shots (8 in total last night by the Mavericks). Josh Howard sent one right off the backboard when John Salmons atempted a lay-up in the first half (yah, thats the picture of the play right above!). Haha look at his face, he doesn't know that he is about to get embarrassed!

Despite Nowitzki missing eight of his first nine shots, Dallas still showed the Sacramento how to play basketball. Josh Howard led Dallas with 24 points while shooting 10-of-14. Devin Harris and Jerry Stackhouse each scored 13 and Erick Dampier had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Anthony Johnson had 10 assists off the bench and reserve DeSagana Diop had 10 rebounds.

Overall it was yet another win. The Mavericks are like Tony Romo, both are the greatest things in sports and they NEVER have a bad day.

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

This past week there has been some bad blood brewing between the two teams. The trash talk has already started. The fact that both teams hate each other will make this a hard hitting, physical game that should be great to watch.

Hot heated New York TE Jeremy Shockey made this statements when asked if the Giants and Cowboys were headed in opposite directions. "People seen that when we played the Cowboys the first time (a 36-22 Giants win in Dallas). There is no way they have a chance in hell to beat us when we play our football. And that is the truth. No other team in this league." Jeremy Shockey needs to just SHUT UP! I hope someone lays a HUGE hit on him and he cries like the real girl he is. This game will have playoff implications all over it.

Two teams will collide on Sunday, and one team will leave with the division lead in the NFC East. Dallas is a team on the rise with a 3 game winning streak, and New York is a team on the decline. It looks like a sure win for the Cowboys, but don’t count your eggs before they hatch. It is going to be a great game and I feel like the Giants will come together and put up a fight.

For the second week in a row, a New York Giants player has publicly addressed team gripes. Defensive end Michael Strahan openly criticized wide receiver Plaxico Burress this week on a New York radio station for not giving 100% effort on a crucial play in the Tennessee Titians stunning 24-21 comeback win. Last week, Giants running back Tiki Barber publicly criticized coach Tom Coughlin over the team's offensive play-calling. This stuff doesn’t build team character.

This Giants team WILL show up in Sunday ready to take out their frustration on the Cowboys. Trust me this Giants team is good. It will not be a walk in the park and the Cowboys must be prepared.

This game has all the implications of an upset. Tony Romo hasn’t had a bad game YET and it could happen on Sunday. I take that back, Tony Romo IS the Cowboys savior and he will never have a bad game! No really, I hope he never does but there is always a SLIM chance he could have a bad game. Second, the Giants want to get back on track and they have the ability to do it. They are a good team playing bad football. All it takes is a one win against the Cowboys and they could turn things around in a hurry.

The Giants win if Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress, and Tiki Barber all have great games. Also the Giants must stop the Cowboy’s run game and make their explosive offense one-dimensional. All of these things must happen to stop a strong Cowboys team.

For the Cowboys, if Romo is his normal Godly self they win.

Zito Meets With Rangers

Guess what the wind blew in? Two good things came to Dallas yesterday, cold weather and All-Star pitcher Barry Zito.

A source said Zito and his agent Scott Boras came in to meet with Rangers owner Tom Hicks and general manager Jon Daniels. Zito has a strong relationship with new Rangers manager Ron Washington, who spent the last 11 years as a coach with the Athletics. After Washington was hired by the Rangers the two spoke and Zito told him that he was strongly interested in playing for the Rangers.

Scott Boras has worked out many deals in the past with owner Tom Hicks. This is a very encouraging sign for the Rangers who need an advantage over the other eight teams pursuing Zito. Zito was 16-10 with a 3.83 ERA in 34 starts and 221 innings with the Athletics last year. All I can say is Zito doesn’t like the Texas heat, but maybe a visit today in the frigid Dallas metroplex may have him thinking twice.

"Tic Tac Toe The Mavs Win 11 in a Row" -T. Wood

The Mavericks destroyed the Toronto Raptors 117-98 for their 11th straight win Wednesday night. Another win is just the usual for the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs win streak is the 3rd longest in team history and all of this has come after their 0-4 start. It’s almost like the terrible start has helped ignite the team to get things in gear. Its not easy winning games when every team is giving it their all to beat the “Western Conference Champs” day in and day out. You can see it in their eyes, the Mavericks want to be back in the NBA Finals THIS year.

Speaking of eyes, Dirk left the game with blurry vision and did not return. It was reported he was not poked in the eye and his condition in unclear. This could be anything from a scary situation to a minor condition. The Mavericks can’t afford to lose Dirk for a couple of games.

Last night though, other players stepped up to finish the win. Josh Howard added 26 point, Jerry Stackhouse chipped in with 23 points, and Jason Terry scored in 14.

You know who else stepped it up? My new favorite player, Erick Dampier. After years of hating on him, I am now loving his tough physical play. He has had numerous rim-rattling dunks and the Mavericks’ 11 game-winning streak would be nothing without Big Damp. Hearing all this “Tony Romo for MVP” and “Tony Romo for President,” how about “Erick Dampier for MVP.” (haha not really MVP but maybe all-star?)

Has the Offensive Line Improved?

It sure looks like the pass protection has improved, but has it really? I think they are still average and here's why:

When Drew Bledsoe was in at QB during the dark days at the beggining of the season, he was pounded by the blitz. In the Philidelphia game he took a pounding, 7 sacks and he still was in one piece! During the New York Giants game he was sacked 4 times. In his 5 1/2 games this season he was sacked 16 times for an average of about 3 sacks per game. The fingers were pointed at the offensive line, but it really wasn't their fault for all the sacks. It actually was Bledsoe's fault because he holds on to the ball for a REALLY LONG time, and he is not able to escape the pocket to make a play.

The opposite of Bledsoe is Romo. He makes his offensive line look like pro-bowlers. Romo releases the ball very quickly and even if he needs time he can evade the pocket to make the play. In his 5 games started, he has only been sacked six times. In contrast to Bledsoe, sack and turnovers have been the story of the season. The reason why the Cowboys lost early in the season was because of illadvised turnovers. Bledsoe was pressured and he forced way too many passes for interceptions. Romo is quick in his decision making and has time to make the play.

So has the offensive line improved as the season has progressed? In the statbook its says so, but in reality it is hard to tell. I think they are still average, but I may be wrong. With the play of Romo, he has eliminated the need for heavy pass protection.

Can the Mavericks Make it 10 in a-row.......

YES THEY CAN! Josh Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, and Erick Dampier all led the team in scoring with 15 points apiece. Erick Dampier continues to impress me. He had 11 rebounds and a HUGE blocked shot of a potential game tying layup by Ricky Davis with about 15 seconds left.

The Mavericks let a 20 point lead dwindle away but their defense made critical stops when it counted. They recovered in time to remain perfect since an 0-4 start, with the 10-game streak matching the fourth-longest in club history.

Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 19 points and 12 rebounds and also exchanged shoves with Josh Howard, which resulted in double technicals in the final half-minute. It was a heated game but the better team prevailed.

The Rangers Have Big Shoes To Fill

In the past couple of weeks the Rangers have lost a an all-star center fielder, an all-star left fielder, a solid starting pitcher, and one of the best utility men in the league.

1. Center Field:
I feel like the Rangers should have made a better effort in re-signing Gary Matthews Jr. before he was signed by the Angels. He hit .313 with 79 RBI, and cruised the outfield like non-other. Playing at Ameriquest Field in Arlington, it is essential to have a gold-glove centerfielder with the deep alleys. It will be hard to find someone who could replace Matthews. Brad Wilkerson may be the only answer for the time being. Coming to Texas in the blockbuster deal for Alfonso Soriano, Brad has been a huge disappointment. He hit .222 but was bothered by a nagging shoulder injury that plagued him the entire season. I actually have this feeling that he may have a big season next year because of its his last year in the contract. He played in center when he was with the Nationals and it looks like he will now rome the deep alleys at Ameriquest Field in Arlington.

Prediction: the Rangers get Jay Payton. Would be a perfect fit with newly hired Ron Washington as manager. He is a great defensive player with the ability to chase balls in center field. Batter .296 and had 59 rbi and is a solid bat at the end of the order.

2. Mr. Do it All:
Mark DeRosa was by far the biggest loss for the Rangers. It makes me mad that the Rangers let him go. The fact that he went to Chicago for pocket change puzzles me. His contract was almost the same as Frank Catalanotto and he is by far a greater player. The only benefit of Frank Catalanotto is that he is a proven lead-off hitter and will fill the spot left by Matthews. The Rangers should have kept DeRosa and should have traded Blalock. Blalock hit .266 with 16 home runs and 89 RBIs last season. I personally think Blalock sucks. Defensively, he had the 10th-best fielding percentage and was average at best. I don't think Blalock will come close to another .276 with 32 home runs and 110 RBI season, like he had in 2004. If the Rangers did re-sign DeRosa, they could to ship Blalock out of Texas. The Rangers could have received beneficial starting pitching in return. The Brewers need a third baseman and owe Ben Sheets $21 million over the next two seasons. He has won just 16 games over the past two seasons. This could have been a great risk that could have been taken. Sheets can be one of the top tier pitchers in the league. Starting pitching is hard to come by.

Prediction: They use minor leaguers to fill spots

3. Left Field:
I expected that left fielder Carlos Lee would leave due to the fact that the Rangers needed to spend money on pitching instead of a big bat. The Houston Astros, the NL's worst-hitting team, signed outfielder Carlos Lee and made a big splash that will undoubtedly help their team.

Perdiction: As far as it looks, Nelson Cruz and newly signed Frank Catalanotto will have to fill the void in left field.

4. Starting Rotation:
Adam Eaton was just signed by the Phillies, but never impacted the Rangers. Eaton underwent surgery in last April to repair the tendon in the middle finger of his right hand, and returned to post a 7-4 record with a 5.12 ERA in 13 starts for Texas. Eaton will not be missed.

One pitcher that SHOULDN”T be re-signed by the Rangers is Vicente Padilla. He had a very solid year last year and did prove he could pitch in the Texas heat. But all of this came under his contract year. I am sure if the Rangers re-sign him he will return to his terrible form. The year that Padilla was an all-star with the Phillies was also his contract year. He has the ability to be a great pitcher, but he lacks the will.

The Rangers still have a long winter ahead and they have many spots to fill. All I can say is GET BARRY ZITO!

Cowboys Release Vanderjagt

Wow, I never saw this coming. Maybe when the Cowboys were struggling at the beginning of the season but not right now when everything is rolling for Dem Boys. Vanderjagt had had a terrible season with a career low of 70% field goal completions , but has been untalked about due to the media surrounding T.O. and T.RO (Tony Romo). The Cowboys signed Martin Gramatica, “Mr. Automatica” to replace Mike Vaderjagt.

Ever since the season started, the most accurate kicker in NFL history never found a home in Dallas. He was injured during almost all of training camp and refused to take kickoff duties. All of this never settled well with the big Tuna. Bill Parcells never warmed up to Mike Vanderjagt and has constantly looked fuming mad on the sidelines when Vanderjagt whould miss one of his many failed field goal attempts. This year Vanderjagt went 13-18 and missed some critical kicks that could have won games for the Cowboys. Remember the Redskins game where all he had to do was angle the kick over the defenders from 30 yards out? Come on, it was an easy kick with little pressure, but he ended up costing the Cowboys the game. Actually that was the game when the whole team played terrible, but Vanderjagt could have saved the day. In the Indianapolis game he went 0-2 and could have easily lost the game for the Cowboys because it was such a close contest. I’m actually happy to see Vanderjagt and his $5.4 million contract leave the team.

The Cowboys recant;y haven’t needed a great kicker with the play of Romo and Marion Barber. Both of these players are able to finish out the drive and are able to keep the kicking team on the sidelines. Barber has helped the Cowboys in many 3rd down conversions and is a far better back than Julius Jones in shorts yard gains. Barber has a special ability to wiggle his was through the defenses. Romo’s ability to escape the pocket had too turned into many 3rd down conversions and long touchdown drives.

To replace Vanderjagt, the Cowboys signed the Argentinean kicker, Martin Gramatica. He is a seven year veteren with a career 76.7 % field goal percentage, but has been riding the pine in Indianapolis this season behind Adam Vinatieri. He had a great career in Tampa Bay, but since then he has declined. Hopefully he can add another element to the Cowboys offense, because Vangerjagt sure didn’t.

Romo Overrated?

I’m not saying that Tony Romo isn’t good, but I believe all the hype is a bit overblown. He has only started five games and people are already titling him as the greatest Cowboys QB ever. Sure the stats look good, but look at the receivers he is throwing to. He has Terrell Owens on his right, Terry Glenn on left, and Jason Witten as TE. That is a very good receiving core. I bet if Vinny Testiverde was the Cowboys quarterback now he would also be named the Cowboys’ savior.

Come on, he had four touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from only a few yards from the goal line. Any of those plays could have been running plays and at the end of the day Romo could have had only one TD in the stat book. Two of those touchdowns passes were so easy that even an old blind man could have thrown those passes. OK, Romo is far better than Bledsoe but he is no Peyton Manning.

Ok, Romo has been incredible these past five games. He's #1 in ratings, #1 yards per attempt, #1 in TD%, #2 in Pct, and he's already #10 in TD's. He has played extremly well but it has only been 5 GAMES. He has great vision and very quick reflexes. So far he has been playing like an elite QB, but it has only been a brief span of games. Who knows if this is the hottest he will ever be?

Romo is getting all the credit for the emergence of the Cowboys, when it is the team in whole that should be getting the credit. The defensive if SO underrated and could be one of the best in the league. They shut down Peyton Manning and the Colts. Isn’t that enough to gain the spotlight for having one of the greatest defenses in the league. The Cowboys rank #3 in the league with only 279 yard against. The 3-4 defensive scheme has caused problems for many teams including the Colts. The secondary is pretty strong with Terrance Newman at CB and Roy Williams at safety. Everyone has trouble running the ball against the Cowboys. They rank #4 in the NFL against the rush and have giving the opposing running backs little day light.

Because of the upset of the Titians over the Giants 24-21 in a thriller, the Cowboys have a slim one game lead over the Giants in the standing. Next week against the Giants is a big week for Romo to prove to me that he is an elite QB.

The Mavs Are Back

The Dallas Mavericks are HOT. The Mavericks are scary good, right now. It is a 82 game season, but this 9 game winning streak is a sign of another championship caliber team.

When the Mavs lost a key player in Josh Howard they had fallen to 0-3. Since then the Mavericks have gone 9-1. The Mavericks were able to adjust and many players stepped up in Howard’s absence.

Erick Dampier is just one of those names. Erick Dampier has added a new element to an already dynamic Mavericks team. His post presence is something new to Dallas. The Mavericks have never had a big man contribute to the offence in there 27 years of existence. Let me just read to you some of “Big Damp’s” stats. Against Chicago and Ben Wallace (Mr. All-Defensive Player of the Year) Damp had 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Against the Grizzlies Damp had 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Against the Spurs and the Hornets he had 11 points and 9 rebounds for each game. WOW! Is this REALLY Erick Dampier? Why didn’t you do this the past two years? Because of his play less double teams are placed on Dirk and what does that spell. That equals more points for Dirk and more wins for the Mavs.

Another intriguing fact is the amounts of 3-pointers the mavericks have hoisted this year. They are now averaging 19 3-point attempts this year compared to 13 3-point attempts last year. The threes are falling but this could be a trouble some note. What happens when the shooting goes cold? The Mavericks cannot rely on the 3-ball all year. The only way to consistently win in the NBA is with points in the paint and shots at the free-throw line. The Mavericks are closing in on the team record of 14 straight wins, set in 2002, but the Mavericks must keep up the pace to reach the milestone.

In Tony We Trust

With Tony Romo as the Cowboys new QB the Cowboys have been rolling. In his five starts with the Cowboys he has a 4-1 record against some tough teams. He has eliminated the Indianapolis Colt's perfect season and has brought hope to Cowboys fans.

The Cowboys have charged to the top of the NFC EAST and face a big game against the New York Giants next week. This could be regarded as the biggest game of the season. The New York Giants haven't played well after Tiki Barber distracted the team with is ill-timed plans of retiring at the end of the season. Eli Manning is playing like crap and is not helping his team in anyway. The Cowboys must be prepared because this New York team could just wake up because their rivals are coming to town. Whoever wins this game will have a huge advantage in the NFC East Standings.

It is important for the Cowboys to win the division and take home field advantage and possibly gain a bye week in the playoffs. The NFC is a very weak conference. The Cowboys could be regarded as the favorites. The Bears have the defensive but there offence is a problem. The Seattle Seahawks do not have the explosion on both sides of the ball, but might have the intangibles to win in the playoffs. The Cowboys have a underrated defense and a dangerous offense thanks to Tony Romo.

Romo has given new life to the offense. He shares the ball with all receivers and never predictable. He has a good relationship with T.O. and has taken advantage of TE Jason Witten's great hands. Tony Romo has been the Cowboys savior, but first the Cowboys need to take care of New York this Sunday before we even think about the future.

The Cowboys Walk It Out

No longer are the Indianapolis Colts undefeated. The Dallas Cowboys won 21-14 over a very VERY good Colts team. The secondary play was the key for the win for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys showed that Indianapolis' offense sometimes has problems against a 3-4 front. The only two loses that the Colts suffered against last season were against the Pittsburg Steelers and the San Diego Chargers, both 3-4 defensive teams.

Taking nothing from Romo or any of the other players who starred offensively for the Cowboys, but this was a victory earned on defense. Tony Romo basically outplayed the best quarterback in the league with 19 of 23 passes for 226 yards. Julius Jones basically had a big game. Marion Barber basically killed the Colts with 2 TDs and he was big time ballin. Basically the whole team had a monster game and they are starting to play with a swagger.

The Cowboys will now face a average Tampa Bay Buccaneers team and let’s hope they make a thanksgiving feast out of them.

Zito?

The Texas Rangers NEED my home-boi Barry Zito. Hey, Barry Zito is my favorite pitcher ever and nothing would make me happier then seeing him in a Rangers uniform This past week the Rangers bid $27 million for Matsuzaka's rights and offered Thomas $18 million in guaranteed money.

While those efforts came up empty, the Rangers justifiably put themselves in the running for free agent Barry Zito. Texas, the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels all want for Zito. After Matsuzaka's contract is completed, Zito could wind up with more than $75 million for five or six years. Zito is someone who can change the pitching staff dramatically. Having a one-two punch of Barry Zito and Kevin Millwood is pretty filthy. Zito is perfect. He is a lefty. Lefty pitchers in Ameriquest Field in Arlington eliminate the HR Porch and jet stream in a lot of cases. He has had a lot of success in Arlington. He will eat innings. That is the most valuable part about him. He keeps the bullpen rested and will be out there every fifth day.

Another intriguing possibility is signing Zito and then going after Mark Mulder. Mulder is a risk because of his rotator culf injury, but having two out of the three of the “big three” from Oakland would be pretty dirty.

Big Night for Damp

Only if Eric Dampier could play this well all the time. After a 111-99 win against a very good Chicago Bulls team, Big Damp looked like the $73 million center that the Mavericks invested in a two summers ago. Going against defensive player of the year Ben Wallace, Dampier set season highs for points and rebounds. He made 7-of-8 shots, with five thunderous dunks, and swatted three shots. Dampier made Ben Wallece work all night and outplayed him. Wallace, coming off an 18-rebound game, had only eight rebounds and six points.

But Dampier wasn't the only center with a big night, DeSagana Diop blocked five shots in 11 minutes. The Mavericks have never had one good center, but this year the Mavs have a powerful rotation of Dampier and Diop. Now a 3-4 team on the rise, the Dallas Mavericks are starting to tear it up again.

Dem Boys

How 'bout dem cowboys? After a disappointing loss to the Washington Redskins in a thrilling game, the Cowboys rebounded against the Arizona Cardinals 27-10. Romo had a monster game with 308 yards passing including a little T.RO. (Tony Romo) to T.O. connection that went for a 51 yard TD. Romo didn't have any interceptions and played a flawless game. The offensive line held up well allowing no sacks.

Marion Barber is someone we should be looking at. In my opinion he is a far better running back than Julius Jones. Barber just doesn't get as many opportunities, but he cashes in when he has the chance. So far he compiled 7 touchdowns and is averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Tell me he shouldn’t be starting!

After Terry Glenn missed the game due to injury, it is official Greg Ellis is done for the season. The ninth-year veteran pass rusher fears that his career is in jeopardy after a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the game against the Cardinals. It is expected that first-round draft choice Bobby Carpenter of Ohio State will step into the lineup for the rest of the season.

It seems like the rollercoaster season might behind them after a solid win but............guess who the Cowboys are playing next week? The 9-0 Indianapolis Colts, that who they’re playing! Dang, the Cowboys are screwed. The only way to beat them is offensively. The Cowboy’s defense has no chance of laying a boom on Peyton Manning (as much as I want them to) because of his godly offensive line. The next game will ultimately prove if the Cowboys are a championship (or even playoff) caliber team. It’s going to be interesting, and for my boi T.O. out there, I’ve got my popcorn ready.

Are the Mavs Falling?

With a disappointing loss to a hot Golden State Warriors team, the Dallas Mavericks are in a deep 0-3 hole to start the season. They are playing in the hardest division in all of sports and this poor start is not a helping cause. The Mavericks just aren't getting the job done. After watching the game last night it looked like the Mavericks were finally going to turn it around. They didn't get blown out; they just lost a close well-fought game. The Warriors played extremely well and looked incredible because of hot shooting. I am not concerned about the Mavericks at all. They have basically the same team as last year. Not one of the core players is missing. On paper this team looks like the most complete team in the league. I guaranty the Mavs will turn this around quickly. When you have Avery Johnson and Mark Cuban breathing down your throat, things are bound to turn around. The Mavericks are just in a little slump. It just so happens this slump is at the beginning of the season. In a couple of weeks the Mavericks will be the mammoth of a team that they are.

Love Him or Hate Him?

Terrell Owens will always be cocky and self-centered, but he always produces on the field. I actually am a big T.O. fan. He has his ups and downs, but he helps a team win. Where would the Cowboys be with out Terrell Owens? Probably 3-5 at best. He helps the team as a whole by gaining the attention of the opposition's secondary. Sure he has dropped some critical passes, but has he helped the team? Most definitely. When he scored that touchdown and acted like he was sleeping on the field yesterday, tell me that was not the coolest thing ever. At that second he probably gained respect from all the doubters who love to hate on him. Later when Terrell dropped the pass that could have single-handed won the game for the Cowboys, people criticize him and think he is a selfish player who can't back up his smack. Stop hating on Terrell Owens. He has helped a pathetic Cowboys team. Now all he needs to do to win the respect of the fans is to carry the Cowboys to the playoffs. Can it be done? T.O. is freak of nature, and I have no doubt in my mind he could carry the Cowboys to the playoffs.

The Roller Coaster Continues

The Cowboys lost 19-22 against a terrible Washington Redskins team. It will go down as one of the worst Cowboys game in the history of the franchise. You can always make excuses and say "they should have won" or "they could have won." This is a time THEY SOULD HAVE WON. Sloppy play killed the Cowboys. Terrell Owen should have caught a TD pass in the third quarter, but he dropped it. There were so many wasted opportunities. The biggest mistake was the decision to go for two at the end of the second quarter. The Cowboys gambled, and lost. They should have had a one-point advantage, had they opted for the extra-point that could have changed the flow of the game. Near the end of the game the score was tied 19-19. The Redskins had a chance to win the game with a 49-yard field goal from Novak with 35 seconds left. That was missed and it lead to a Cowboys field goal to seal the deal with 6 seconds to go. That field goal from Vanderjagt was blocked by T.Vincent and ran back by S.Taylor to the Dallas 44 yard line. Because of a face-mask penalty, the Redskins had the chance to win the game with a 47-yard kick from Novak with no time on the clock. It split the uprights and it split the Cowboys hopes in half. After a brilliant win in Carolina the week before, the Cowboys look now like a very average team that will miss the playoffs for the third straight year.

A Bad Texas Two Step

The Dallas Mavericks have started the season on the wrong foot against both of their Texas Rivals. After a loss against San Antonio on Thursday night, the Mavericks got whipped by the Houston Rockets. The Mavericks owned the Rockets last season when they won all four games against them. They shot poorly this time and never found a way to shut down Yao, who sank 12 of 16 shots and went 12-for-12 from the stripe. The Mavs couldn't recover from the Rockets' opening 12-0 run. The Mavs' sloppy play basically dug the Mavericks into an early hole. In a strong Western Conference, these two loses could determine the playoff positions at the end of the season. The Mavericks better wake up before they are left behind. Dallas is 0-2 for the first time since the 1993-94 season.

How To Fix The Rangers

I am a huge Texas Rangers fan. I know the Rangers suck. They are probably the worst franchise in all of sports with only one playoff win in their 45 years of existence, but for some reason I still love them. The Texas Rangers had another average year after finishing 3rd with a 80-82 record in the weak American League West. It was the same old story of a dominating offence and a pathetic starting rotation. To change the face of this organization it will take a lot of off-season moves to mold the Rangers into a playoff team. Here are my thoughts on what the Rangers should do.

1. Get an Ace
The Rangers need to pick up a number #1 starter this off-season. Pitching is the key to winning. Look at the $2 million New York Yankees, they had the most dynamic offence in the history of baseball, but there starting pitching was worse than the freaking Arizona D-Backs. You cannot rely on your offence to win the game every night. Pitching can keep you in the game and is the most valuable assets in today's league. This said the Rangers need to look at Barry Zito, Daisuke Matsuzaka (premier Japanese pitcher), or Jason Schmidt. Even taking a risk on Andy Pettitte or Mark Mulder is something the Rangers need to do. Anyone of these pitchers can win 15 games for a team in the season and push the Rangers into the playoffs. The Rangers need to make this investment even if the price is blotted. These pitchers can change the face of a team.

2. Re-signings
Adam Eaton, Rod Barajas, Mark DeRosa, Eric Young, Vicente Padilla, Kip Wells, Jerry Hairston Jr, Gary Matthews Jr, and Carlos Lee are all going to be free agents this winter. I believe that the Rangers should re-sign Gary Matthews Jr, DeRosa, and Vicente Padilla. If the Rangers don't re-sign my boi GMJ I will be very sad. He hit .313 with 79 RBI, and cruised the outfield like non-other. Playing at Ameriquest Field in Arlington, it is essential to have a gold-glove centerfielder with the deep alleys. I have to say Mark DeRosa was amazing for the Rangers last season. He hit .296 and had 74 RBI, and showed signs that he could become an elite play. Vicente Padilla was at times crazy good. He showed he could pitch in Texas and has some of the nastiest stuff in the league. With ace like stuff he could come at a reasonable price and polish out the Rangers rotation.

3. Trade Hank Blalock
Blalock hit .266 with 16 home runs and 89 RBIs last season. I personally think Blalock sucks. Defensively, he had the 10th-best fielding percentage and was average at best. I don't think Blalock will come close to another .276 with 32 home runs and 110 RBI season, like he had in 2004. If the Rangers re-sign DeRosa, they need to ship Blalock out of Texas. The Rangers could receive beneficial starting pitching in return. The Brewers need a third baseman and owe Ben Sheets $21 million over the next two seasons. He has won just 16 games over the past two seasons. This could be a great risk to take. Sheets can be one of the top tier pitchers in the league. This is a scenario to take a risk on. Starting pitching is hard to come by.

Dallas Mavericks Season Preview

The Dallas Mavericks still have a bad taste in their mouth's after a NBA final's let down against the Miami Heat last year. The Mavericks have retooled for another finals run. They signed veteran swingman Devean George, who has three championship rings with the Lakers, and they traded my favorite player (Marquis Daniels) for Austin Croshere, another veteran forward who can stretch defenses. Dallas' first-round draft pick, Maurice Ager of Michigan State, has looked outstanding in the pre-season and has some mad hops. The Mavericks have revamped their team while keeping the same great core of players consisting of Dirk, JET, Howard, Diop, Harris, and Stackhouse. But it is not going to be an easy ticket to the finals again. The Spurs are ready to dethrone the Mavericks and the Suns look unstoppable. With the addition of Amare Stoudemire the Suns could run away with the western conference. The Mavericks have the makings of a championship team, but the truth will be told as they open against San Antonio on Thursday November 2nd at the AAC.

The Move To Tony Romo Pays Off

Last night after a 35-14 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night, the Dallas Cowboys looked more like that playoff team that everyone was predicting at the beginning of the season. The move to Tony Romo looked like a move that may propel the Cowboys into the playoffs. Romo rallied the Cowboys from a 14-point first-quarter deficit, throwing for 270 yards and a touchdown. Tony Romo's ability to be more mobile in the pocket made the difference in the game against a fast Carolina defense. From the start Tony Romo looked confident and poised in the pocket. His quick release kept him being ratted by Julius Pepper, and allowed the Cowboy offence to move explode in this game. A little T.RO. to T.O. looks like it could carry the Cowboys to the playoffs.