The Last Time the NFL Shut Down …

It was different in 1987 because it was the players striking, not the owners locking out. But still, it’s always ugly in America without football. And 24 years ago was no different. Any guesses to who Peter Jennings’ “Person of the Week” might have been?…

The NFL Lockout: My Top 10 Observer-ations

10. Barring a last-minute agreement, the NFL will cease operations as we know them tonight at 11 when the league’s current collective bargaining agreement expires. The owners and players have met via mediation the last nine days with no significant movement. The owners, dealt a significant blow this week when a…

Covering the Dallas Texans, Beautifully

Good Friend of Unfair Park PeterK directs our rapt attention to yesterday’s installment of Paul Lukas’s UniWatch, which provides a rare glimpse into the inaugural 1960 season of Lamar Hunt’s Dallas Texans. Long story short: Bob Halford, the Texans’ PR man, loaned a longtime UniWatch-er named Billy Quinton his Mayo…

A Lively Stand-Up Bit About Super Bowl Sunday

At this very moment, something called the 8th Annual Texas ACG Capital Connection is taking place at the Fairmont Hotel; long story short, suits and ties and private equity and Ben Stein as the lunchtime speaker (ah, but will he do this for an hour?). Bill Lively kicked off the…

Cowboys Covet Doug Free. Gerald Sensabaugh? Notsamuch.

A year ago Doug Free was a question mark. Now he’s an exclamation point. The Dallas Cowboys professed their love for their left tackle yesterday, placing the highest possible tender on him as the NFL prepares for unchartered and unsettling free agency in the midst of a labor lockout. Under…

Mavs Win Again, Inch Closer to Best in West

When Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry boldly claimed last week that his team was going to catch the San Antonio Spurs, we rolled our eyes. Because, one, it wasn’t possible. And, two, it didn’t really matter. After further review, watch out. Terry scored 30 points last night on sizzling 13-of-18 shooting and the…

In Light of Bissinger vs. Cuban, I Present the NBA’s All-White Team

Buzz Bissinger is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. His Friday Night Lights captured high-school football in Texas, spawned a network TV series and afforded him writing immortality. Buzz Bissinger is also an idiot. At least when it comes to the NBA. His “White Men Can’t Root” column for TheDailyBeast.com is horrible. No research. Generic…

Rick Barnes’ Longhorns Fading Down the Stretch. Again?

Welcome to March. The madness can’t be far behind. Been getting into college basketball the last few weeks. Some quick thoughts: Kansas is the best team I’ve seen. BYU is more than just Jimmer Fredette. The Big East is the best conference. And, uh oh, Texas is hinting at another…

Stars Keep Brad Richards, and their Playoff Hopes

The Dallas Stars have been falling, from the top of the NHL’s Western Conference down to eighth place. But as yesterday’s trade deadline came and went without any deals, the message is clear: The Stars aren’t giving up. It’s not only a bold move. It’s the right move. Leading scorer and…

Mavs Rally Past Raptors. Again.

Yesterday I flipped on the Mavericks and they trailed the lowly Toronto Raptors — playing without leading scorer Andrea Bargnani — and they trailed 22-3. 22-3! I couldn’t believe it. I was worried. I was…soothed when I realized it was the Raptors. By the third quarter the Mavs led en route to another…

UFC 127: Fitch Over Penn. Wait, That Was a Draw?

Ties are for Troy Dungan or calf ropin’ or Oscar night or Mila Kunis’ brother (cuz kissin’ his sister would be bueno). But UFC? Watched UFC 127 with some buddies Saturday night and was entertained, but confused. Always figured in this manliest sports featuring bloody knockouts and tap-out surrenders they’d fight…

Dallas Cowboys’ Draft Needs: How About a Safe(ty) Pick

Enough of this asinine stuff about “best player available.” What if, somehow, at No. 9 in April’s NFL Draft that player happens to be a tight end? A weakside linebacker? A punter? Or, God and Tim Cowlishaw forbid, a quarterback? Under that premise, the Cowboys — 6-10 and desperate for…

The Best Trade in the History of Your Dallas Mavericks

Yep, pretty much the easiest list I’ve ever put together. On June 24, 1998 the Dallas Mavericks drafted robust, rotund — let’s face it, fat — Michigan forward Robert “Tractor” Traylor with the No. 6 pick in the draft. Three picks later the Milwaukee Bucks drafted a German teen named…

At the NBA Trade Deadline, Mavs are All Good. No … Thanks?

I don’t expect a Dallas Mavericks’ deal before this afternoon’s 2 o’clock NBA trade deadline. Couple of reasons. First and foremost, the Mavs are 41-16 after last night’s thumping of the short-handed Utah Jazz and have won 14 of 15 since Dirk Nowitzki’s sprained knee healed. With the additions of Peja Stojakovic and…

Devin Harris Back From New Jersey? Fuhgeddaboudit

And you don’t either. Unless, that is, you think he’s the missing piece that will help this version of the Mavs beat the Lakers and Spurs and win the West right here, right now. The Mavs begin their regular-season stretch run tonight against the Jazz with a chance to improve…