Falling Stars: Dallas Earns Its Early Vacation

So who crumbled worse Sunday: Rory McIlroy at Augusta or your Dallas Stars in Minnesota? Hours after McIlroy ruined a four-shot lead with an 80 at The Masters, the hockey team fanned on a tap-in and missed the NHL Playoffs. After the Chicago Blackhawks lost at home to Detroit earlier…

NASCAR in Texas: Gentlemen, Start Your Hormones

As you guys have probably figured out, I’m not a big fan of NASCAR the sport. But I dig NASCAR the scene. During this weekend’s annual spring visit to Fort Worth — capped by Saturday night’s Samsung Mobile 500 — there will be female roller derby, pig races, white trash, blue…

Rangers Finish Perfect Homestand, With Help From Their Shiny New Toy

The weather. The ring ceremony. The attendance. And oh, by the way, the results.When the Rangers beat reigning AL Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez 7-3 yesterday, it capped the perfect start to their encore season.They’re now 6-0, joining the Cincinnati Reds as the only undefeated teams in baseball. Texas has…

If the Texas Rangers Pitch Like This They’ll Go 162-0

I don’t trust Mark Lowe. Mason Tobin doesn’t yet belong on a Major League mound. And Julio Borbon makes me a little nervous in center field.But that’s it, the extent of my minuscule Texas Rangers concerns through five games. 5-0, headed to 6-0 and beyond?Reigning AL Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez…

Martellus Bennett Ruins Texas A&M’s One Shining Moment

And you thought I was actually going to blab about women’s basketball? Okay, here goes: Texas A&M beat Notre Dame for the National Championship last night. Love coach Gary Blair, who cut his coaching teeth at South Oak Cliff High School. But, let’s be honest, their star player — Danielle…

Dennis Rodman = Hall of Fame. Wait, Is It Still April 1?

When Dennis Rodman graduated South Oak Cliff High School he was 5-foot-8 and he’d never really played organized basketball. Years later he wore a wedding dress to marry himself. And he was once suspended for kicking a photographer in the crotch. Throw in two Defensive Player of the Year awards, five…

UConn 53, Butler 41: My Top 10 Observer-ations

10. March Badness: Butler shot 18.8 percent, lowest ever in a National Championship game. Eighteen percent. That’s 12 of 64, including an unfathomable 3 of 31 on two-pointers. 9. I for one am happy. Butler’s will-over-skill routine might have been efficient, but it isn’t a tad entertaining. And, yes, I’m…

With Three Consecutive Losses, Dallas Mavericks Going Nowhere Fast

And over here — in the opposite corner from your red-hot Texas Rangers — sit your Dallas Mavericks. Bruised. Bloodied. Slump-shouldered. Ready for the NBA Playoffs? At a time when they should peaking, the Mavs are pratfalling. After winning the first three games on their western road trip they lost the…

Rangers 26, Red Sox 11: My Top 10 Observer-ations

10. That, my friends, was about as thorough a three-game sweep as you can produce. The Rangers out-scored Boston by 15 runs and slugged 11 homers. And that wasn’t the Royals, remember — it came against the team most experts predict will represent the AL in the 2011 World Series. 9…

Now Seems Like As Good a Time As Any To Re-Visit Dez Bryant’s Story

Last September I penned a cover story in the Observer about you-know-who, better known as Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant. Looking back at it now, there are some interesting, relevant points that may shed some light on the receiver’s current “dark place,’ according to adviser David Wells. My lead to…

Mavericks v. Lakers: Who’s No. 2?

The Dallas Mavericks say tonight’s showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers isn’t a statement game. The Dallas Mavericks are lying. Beating the Timberwolves, Warriors, Jazz, Suns and — last night — the Clippers doesn’t mean diddly poo. If the Mavs don’t beat the Lakers tonight at 9:30 in Staples Center…

Remember That Time You Went to a Fight and a Hockey Game Broke Out?

  With last night’s shootout loss to the Phoenix Coyotes, the Dallas Stars remain on the outside looking in at the NHL’s Western Conference playoffs. Nonetheless, everyone is watching hockey in Texas today. Reason? The ugly brawl between Arlington Martin and Keller High School in the closing minute of their…

Dallas Mavericks in L.A.: Tonight the Salad; Tomorrow the Steak

Over the past decade the Dallas Mavericks have been the NBA’s best team at winning games they were supposed to win. In building a legacy of 11 consecutive seasons with 50+ wins and playoff appearances, the Mavericks rarely lose against inferior opponents. It’s the toss-up games or underdog ventures in which…