Their are two truly great sports stories in the past two years.   They are the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Mavericks.  My two favorite teams in their particular sports since I was a kid and they both have spent much of their seasons as the bad news bears of sorts.  The Rangers haven’t quite done it yet , losing in the last two World Series and coming within a strike-twice- of winning it all.  They will get there.  They have a great leader in Nolan Ryan and he is a fierce competitor and knows what it takes to win.  The Dallas Mavericks came from nowhere to beat the “Dream  Team”  Miami Heat in 6 games and that was a very proud moment that I will look on fondly for years to come.  They don’t seem to be the kind of dynasty team that can do that again so I feel like that was probably lightning in a bottle.

Dallas looks like a team that can win their division but football is a game where everything can change real fast.  My highschool team of the year is my great friend Daniel Bristo’s team- the Ouachita Christian School Eagles who I predict will win a state championship in Lousiana and I will be there and it was great to see Daniel last month and his son Braden and also Daniels wife and daughter. 

Lastly, I love my children and 2012 is going to be a great year for us.  Thank you!!

Tiger Woods throws away a marriage and kids.   Mark McGwire throws away his  dignity and character by using steroids(yes, he admitted it, with excuses).  Texas Tech throwing away their coach without due process(and most of his assistants thrown away too).Lane Kiffin leaves Tennessee after one year to go to USC.   Is their no such thing as loyalty any more?

What makes a society lose all sense of loyalty?  It’s no rocket science.  It can be summed up by a famous mouth named Terrell Owens who has said  ”I love me some me!”  Isn’t that what it is?  We love us.  There’s no one we’d like to see do well more than ourselves.  If you can find a happy person in this world- you have found someone that cares about others more than they care about themselves.   I don’t see many good examples for young people to look up to.  Do  you?

And isn’t it all about money?  And acquiring stuff?  It’s been that way for a long time.  It hasn’t always been that way.  What changed it so much?  When money became more important than anything else to our society as a whole- then it changed.   When it became more important that a family has stuff- that mom and dad had to both work themselves to death for stuff- that was detrimental to our society.  When families let others raise their kids so they could work more- that hurt.  That tells kids they’re not the most important thing.  That no one is loyal to them.  And they grow up and all they see is selfish, unloyal people.  And the cycle repeats itself with fewer and fewer loyal people until there were none……

Coach Leach made his boss Gerald Myers mad a long time ago.  Myers waited for his opportunity.  It was a small thing.  But the funny thing is you can make something small into something very large if you want to.  The bottom line is our coach was fired and we’re looking for a new one.  Texas Tech looks pretty foolish right now.  They will be sued and they will settle for about 6million.  I hope Ruffin McNeil is the new coach but rumor has it that last January Tech administrators wanted to fire Leach and hire Art Briles..  My source says Briles is in Lubbock today interviewing for the job.  In 10 days we will know.  I predict Tech will obliterate Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl.  As in “Remember the Leach” Bowl??  But I won’t be there and most of you won’t either.  I work too hard for my money to waste it on folly…..

Dallas has looked good the last three games and it is no coincidence that Tony Romo hasn’t thrown an interception in each of those games. Miles Austin has turned into the number one receiver. The only problem is Roy Williams. Roy Williams thinks he is the number one receiver but I hate to bear bad news for him but he is the number 4 receiver on the team. Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Patrick Crayton and then maybe Roy Williams. Dallas probably has better receivers on the practice squad. Roy Williams is like some other players I know that whine….that went to UTexas…..like Vince Young. These players were coddled and told that they were the best thing since melted cheese……while at Texas….In college, and HS, these players were just better than the rest without having to work much. Now that they are with great players that know how to work….they look below average and they can’t deal with it. Roy Williams was paid millions and Dallas sent draft picks to Detroit for him. What needs to happen is the best players play and the one’s that can’t get the job done sit. Dallas just needs to admit they made a mistake and sit him and get rid of him…..He is a distraction and a problem and that is recently a fast way out of Dallas and I like that new attitude. No more Terrells, Pacmen, Tanks, etc……Fewer thugs equal more wins……

Ummmmm that’s enough for now…..

Predictions…..Philly spanks Dallas and OSU beats Texas Tech about like the Aggies did…..49-31.

That being said, this years game has lost some it its luster. Last year it was #1 against #4. This year it is #2 against #29. Last year there were 3 Heisman Trophy candidates on the field….this year only one.

It will be exciting. It’s the first Big 12 game of the year. It’s the first big test for Texas Tech and the first road game of the year also. There will be over 103,000 fans mostly wearing orange, who paid at least 200 bones for a ticket and up to 1000(See Craigslist). I probably won’t go cause I figured I could buy a plasma TV for what a pair of tickets would cost.

My prediction is posted below in my previous blog…..I don’t blame you for not checking on the blog as I haven’t been on here enough lately. But, honestly, last year was Tech’s year and we didn’t quite get it done. This year is Texas’ year so I hope you don’t leave anything to chance this year. I expect great things for Texas but Texas Tech is a mysterious team. I don’t know who will show up. I think Mike Leach likes it that way. Kinda goes along with his piraty, quirky, I’m smarter than you image……

2009-2010 SCHEDULE
09/05/09 vs. North Dakota Lubbock, Texas 6:00 p.m. CT
09/12/09 vs. Rice Lubbock, Texas 6:00 p.m. CT Tech 34 Rice 17
09/19/09 at Texas Austin, Texas 7:00 p.m. CT Tech 21 Texas 55
09/26/09 at Houston Houston, Texas 8:15 p.m. CT Tech 45 Houston 24
10/03/09 vs. New Mexico Lubbock, Texas 6:00 p.m. CT Tech 42 New Mexico 17
10/10/09 vs. Kansas State Lubbock, Texas TBA Tech 39 KState 20
10/17/09 at Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska TBA Tech 27 Nebraska 35
10/24/09 vs. Texas A&M Lubbock, Texas TBA Tech 42 Aggie 19
10/31/09 vs. Kansas Lubbock, Texas TBA Tech 55 Kansas 42
11/14/09 at Oklahoma State Stillwater, Oklahoma TBA Tech 35 OSU 49
11/21/09 vs. Oklahoma Lubbock, Texas
Tech 34 OU 31
11/28/09 Vs. Baylor Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Tx TBA
Tech 28 Baylor 35
So, you can see that I have Texas Tech at an 8-4 record and I predict an Alamo Bowl appearance. Against Illinois.

I really see very few games that could be different. I have an upset of OU and an upset by Baylor. That could flip flop. Other than that I think Tech will have a good season. Taylor Potts will throw for about 3500 yards. Datron Lewis will be this years Michael Crabtree and Barron Batch will have a spectacular year. Texas Tech will have a better defese and a more balanced offense. It should be fun. Next week….Big 12 predictions……Tell me what your picks are to these games……

1. The Texas Rangers are playing great.  Theyve won 5 in a row and have a 53-41 record.  The problem is the Angels have won 9 of 10 and stretched their lead to 3.5 games.  Go Rangers……you actually have pitching this year so you have a chance……like one in a million.

2. Lance Armstrong is not going to win the Tour De France.  That tells you he is a.  too old for performance enhancing drugs to help or    b. not using performance enhancing drugs  this year

3. The Lakers won the NBA Title…..ummmmmm who cares.?

4. Tom Watson nearly won the British Open…..An 8 foot putt away for a 59 year old crusty.  You didn’t choke.  You just over achieved on the other 71 holes.

5. Graham Harrell signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.  Hmmmmm.  good luck with that…..but  who knows.  Warren Moon of the old Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans started in the CFL. 

6. They played tennis in Wimbledon and one of the Williams sisters won (I think Serena) and Austin’s Andy Roddick lost.  Woo hoo.

7. Football starts in August and you know we will be talking some Texas Tech, Texas Longhorns, Dallas Cowboys and I’m going to start to focus on the Houston Texans who will this year become Texas’ Team.  Mark my words…..Dallas is DOA.

Next week is the football predictions page….everyone be ready.  Big 12, NFL, and college football champion ……

OK.  I let it sink in a little before I made a comment…..Graham Harrell wasn’t taken last weekend in the seven rounds of the NFL Draft, despite owning the NCAA record with 134 career touchdown passes and holding the second spot with 15,793 career yards. As a senior, he threw 45 touchdown passes, completed 71 percent of his passes and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting., and led Texas Tech to it’s best season ever.   OK.  That was a possibility. A slight one.  As in Dumb and Dumber- “One in a million chance”.  Even more infinitely impossible was this- which no one is talking about…..Graham Harrell was not even offered a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns.  He is an unsigned, unpaid, invitee to try out.  Like a homeless guy under the overpass has nearly the same oppurtunity to try out.  It’s the ultimate slap in the face.  And the QB’s the went in the draft?  Utterly terrible projects got drafted.  I could comment but this was the best article I found on the whole deal and so read this and you’ll feel better….

Tech’s Harrell too productive, experienced to get drafted

You don’t understand, but then, you wouldn’t. All-American quarterback Graham Harrell of Texas Tech wasn’t picked during the NFL Draft over the weekend, not early or late or ever, and you don’t get it. But that’s you. Me, I get it. Because that’s me. So I’ll break it down for you in seven different ways, one for every round that went by without a team picking Harrell. Eleven quarterbacks were taken this weekend, so it’s not like NFL teams don’t like quarterbacks. They do. They just don’t like Graham Harrell. And here’s why:   Graham Harrell’s combine didn’t wow scouts, who apparently weren’t impressed by his impressive college career. (Getty Images)   1. Combine and private workouts are everything: Unless you’re Andre Smith of Alabama. He skipped out early at the scouting combine and then huffed and puffed through a disastrous private workout on campus, and still went No. 6 overall to the Bengals. Harrell isn’t a workout guy, either. He’s not terribly strong or fast for a quarterback, and in fact he might have a hard time outrunning flabby offensive tackle Andre Smith. But while Smith was saved by his strong body of work at Alabama, where he won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best lineman, Harrell wasn’t saved by his senior stats of 5,111 passing yards, 45 touchdowns and nine interceptions. 2. No, I take that back. Production is everything: Unless you’re Kansas State’s Josh Freeman, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound specimen who looks like a future Hall of Fame quarterback until he actually starts throwing the ball. Freeman was 10th in the Big 12 this past season in pass efficiency. Not 10th in the country — 10th in his (12-team) league. And that impressed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers so much that they picked him in the first round, 17th overall. Meanwhile, playing in the same league as Freeman, Harrell finished his college career with more touchdown passes (134) than anyone, ever, and with the No. 2 total in passing yards (15,793). That’s after finishing his high school career with the most passing yards (12,532) and touchdowns (167) in Texas schoolboy history. He breaks records in high school. Breaks more in college. Of course he can’t play in the NFL. 3. It’s neither workouts nor production. The NFL values experience: Which is why the Jets pulled a mini-Mike Ditka by trading five players just to draft Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez — with 16 career college starts — fifth overall. Harrell played in 41 games for Texas Tech. He’s probably burned out after all that work. Good thinking, NFL. 4. The NFL also wants a winner: So of course the Indianapolis Colts took a flyer in the sixth round on Curtis Painter of Purdue, which went 4-8 last season. Not that Painter was responsible for all of those games. He was injured and missed the game when, um, Purdue beat Michigan. Never mind about that. And never mind that Harrell led Texas Tech to 28 wins in three years, including an 11-2 mark as a senior, when the Red Raiders were 7-1 to tie for first place in the Big 12. And never mind that the Big 12 is five levels above the Big Ten. •  Harrell invited to Browns’ rookie camp | Draft Tracker | Dodd: Tech’s track record 5. Injuries scare NFL teams: And so the Dallas Cowboys, in need of a backup for Tony Romo, stayed in-state and made a sentimental pick of Harrell Stephen McGee of Texas A&M. McGee made just three starts as a senior because of a torn labrum, which is located in the shoulder. And in McGee’s case, the throwing shoulder. Relevant? Not at all. Meanwhile, Harrell stayed upright despite throwing almost 2,000 passes in college. Didn’t hurt his shoulder, either. Probably a fluke. 6. Quality of competition matters: The defenses in the Big 12 were suspect. That’s one reason league quarterbacks had such good passing numbers. So how can an NFL team trust what Harrell was able to do? Better to draft someone safer, someone from a known background, like Keith Null of Texas A&M. Sorry. Null played for West Texas A&M, which is in Division II, where his quality coaching included position coach Ryan Leaf. At least until Leaf was forced to resign amid an investigation that he had asked a player for a pain pill. Anyway, St. Louis picked Null in the sixth round. 7. And character really counts: Harrell has never been a problem, but if you’re going to play quarterback in the NFL, you must be able to make good decisions. Like the one Rhett Bomar made at Oklahoma, when he chose to accept payment for work he didn’t do at a car dealership owned by a major OU booster. That cost Oklahoma some points with the NCAA and it cost Bomar his starting job, which is why he ended up at someplace called Sam Houston State, where he led his small-school team to a 4-6 record. With all of that he was drafted in the fifth round by the New York Giants, which makes you wonder how much sooner he would have been picked if Ryan Leaf had been his position coach. Meanwhile, West Virginia quarterback Pat White went in the second round to Miami and everyone knows he can’t pass in the NFL. Fresno State’s Tom Brandstater went in the sixth round to Denver and no one knows who he is. Ball State’s Nate Davis was picked by San Francisco in the fifth round despite a learning disability that some NFL scouts say will affect his ability to master a massive NFL playbook. All Harrell has done, since he was the son of his coach in high school, is throw for nearly 30,000 yards and more than 300 touchdowns. If he can’t play quarterback in the NFL, goodness, that league must be full of incredible football players. Or stupid general managers.

There are four teams left in the men’s tournament.  They are UCONN, North Carolina, Villanova and Michigan State.  Personal favorite is Michigan State because they play tough defense and play great as a team and the Final Four is in Detroit so they could have a home court advantage and that is huge……

In the women’s side UCONN is 37-0 and should win it.  Tennessee and Texas lost in the first round for the first time since dirt. 

HMMMMMMMM.  Baseball has started in college.  Tech came to Austin over the weekend and did manage to win one of three.  Lowlights were a four error inning on Friday when they lost 9-5.  Highlights were a 4-2 win on Saturday.  I think the teams are tied with a 6-6 record in the conference. 

Pro Baseball starts this month.  I love the Texas Rangers and the local flavor- the Round Rock Express- owned by Nolan Ryan and is the AAA team for the Houston Astros.  I went to a bunch of those games last summer and had a blast.  Next topic will be the Rangers and the Express…..I know you can’t wait. 

Numbnut of the week s past goes to Terrell Owens of the Buffalo Bills (Yea!) who managed to disrupt the Cowboys so much that they paid 9 million just to get rid of him and got nothing in return.  ‘Cept maybe peace.  And Jay Cutler of the Broncos has managed to do the same thing.  He will go to the 49ers so they can suck for another 10 years.  Good luck guys.  Hire me.  I can fix that mess.

(CNN) — A monster truck show promoter, George Eisenhart, who days earlier touted his event’s safety record, died after being crushed by one of the trucks during a show in Madison, Wisconsin, Saturday night.

Ironically, Eisenhart talked about the safety of his shows, put on by Monster Truck Nationals, in an interview with a Madison television station before the weekend event.

This is our 16th year,” Eisenhart told CNN affiliate WKOW. “I wish I had a big piece of wood to knock on right now, but we have not had an incident besides a gal slipping in the aisleway at another location.”

See, that “knock on wood” thing really works!  And just how many times can you watch monster trucks?  One time and I was pretty much done with it.  I felt like I knew the sport after that.