Cowboys - Draft and the future

So the draft has come to a close, and the pundits are screaming for the heads of Jerry Jones and his Dallas Cowboys. Many criticize Jones pick of Arkansas running back Felix Jones - and for what? The Cowboys moved well during draft day, gathering up some extra picks while addressing needs in the secondary and the backfield. While some say the Illinois running back we passed on may turn out to be a slam dunk in the NFL, the fact is he was a mirror image of Dallas' own Marion Barber - a tough nosed runner without breakaway speed. Jones brings instant speed to a team that, for all its offensive output in 2007, lacked just that down the stretch. Barber is a great runner, who can be the #1 guy in Dallas, but the reality is he never breaks out into the open field. Felix Jones did this continuosly in Fayettville, finishing in the top 5 in yards per carry in NCAA history last year (8.7 y/carry). The potential for a potent one-two punch with Barber breaking down the D with his pounding style and Jones running away from a worn down defense should excite any Cowboys fan.

Further, through trades, the Cowboys have positioned themselves to make a run at a veteran reciever who can be ready to contribute to the team this year. Folks screamed bloody murder that Dallas didn't address the need for a compliment to T.O. in this year's draft. However, if you look at the pool of candidates, there didn't appear to be a breakout star readly to come in and start right away who could outdo the performance of even Patrick Crayton last year (50 catches with 7 TDs). No doubt armed with this knowledge, Jerry and Co. went out to stockpile a few extra picks in next year's 2009 draft in what appears an attempt to make a run at eiher Roy Williams, Chad Johnson, or Anquan Boldin.

For me, I'm all about Williams. This is the tall reciever who has shown he can go up and get it in the red zone, which would be a welcome addition to a team stuck on finding only Jason Witten when they get close to the endzone. However, any of the three would vault the Cowboys to Patriots level insofar as talent alone goes. There are those out there who are terrified of Chad Johnson. Based on my previous post regarding Pacman Jones, you can safely assume I am not one of them.

So back off national media. The Cowboys may have pulled off the coup of the offseason, should we find out that Jones and his boys have been able to add speed in the backfield, speed in the return and special teams play, a top tier corner in the secondary, and perhaps a top 5 elite reciever to line up alongside T.O.

"We make free throws when we need them"

Sitting here, as Kansas just made their OT steal for the first points of the extra frame, I'm reminded of what Memphis head coach John Calipari said heading into this year's NCAA basketball tourney. Regarding his Tigers apparent inability to make free throws, Calipari claimed his boys would make them when they needed them. Well, with about 2 minutes to go tonight in the most important game of their careers, the Tigers needed them, and hardly made any. Down the stretch, Memphis missed 4 of their last 5 important shots from the charity stripe. Apparently, Coach Cal, you needed them tonight...

P.S. Kansas just dunked all over the thugs from Memphis. And white guys from Kansas celebrate really funny.

Check in tomorrow to make sure the Jayhawks stay ahead...

UT vs. Memphis 1st Half Observations

First and foremost, I can't stand Billy Packer. I know, I know, no one can. But the fact that this "college sports institution" remains on the dominant team for the NCAA tourney with the great Jim Nantz still pisses me off. Take, for example, today's UT vs Memphis game. I know it is not expected that national commentators can know the in and outs of every team they call, especially during tourney times when guys can call anywhere up to 12 games in a two week span. However, the fact that Packer does not know that Longhorns guard Justin Mason spends 1/2 of the game running the point while DJ Augustin works to get open shots shocks me. This is supposed to be the color man, the guy with "inside knowledge" of the game who can explain these oddities to fans. Instead, we get such outstanding insight as "I don't know why Rick Barnes has pulled DJ from the point, and put his little used Mason there. Perhaps he's trying to shake things up" Moron.

Second, the referees are terrible. Did anyone see the alleyoop late in the first half, where Memphis F James Dorsey slammed home a thunderous jam against UT's Dexter Pittman? It looked like Dexter tried to punch Dorsey in the face with his elbow, and in fact he succeeded quite well in doing so. And 3 seconds in the lane? Don't ask these guys what the hell that is. Memphis has been able to penetrate the Texas zone because they flash a player to the top of the key, who stands just inside the free throw line for around, oh 7 - 10 seconds, until he gets a pass. Hey, Mr Ref, the top of the key is still considered inside the lane. Jackass.

Still, for Texas to win, they must make shots. After shooting under 40% in the first half, being down 11 might not be as bad as it could be.

Bring on the Pac!

Adam “PacMan” Jones to Dallas seems to have fired up the sports world, especially here in Dallas. Folks seem disgusted at the prospect of bringing in a player many consider nothing more than a common criminal with extraordinary talent.

These statements are true. Pacman is nothing more than an overgrown and extra-talented street thug, made rich by his excellent abilities to run fast. To be frank, when he is off the field, he’s a bad dude. He’s got no character, no class, no brains. He’s the reason a person lives in Las Vegas, paralyzed, as the result of a shooting incident incited by Pacman’s now infamous “make it rain” behavior. Repeat - a man was shot because he was in the vicinity of Pacman.

Initial reaction from Cowboys fans - DO NOT BRING THIS GUY IN! He’s a thug, a punk, a loser, a troublemaker, a common criminal. He brings nothing to the community and the city he represents. He left his teammates high and dry in Tennessee by getting himself arrested and booted from the league. Is this the kind of person that we want to represent the long and storied tradition built here with America’s Team?

I, for one, am all for bringing in the Pacman. Simply put, it’s a microcosm of the state of professional sports. He’s a criminal. So what. How many criminals do the Cowboys have in their illustrious history? Nate Newton carted 600 pounds of marijuana across the country, and spent hard time in jail for it. Ring of Honor member and legend of the 90’s receiver Michael Irvin snorted cocaine off a prostitute and went to jail for it.

The Cowboys are not some community service driven organization. Their purpose is not to save the community of Dallas and represent Texas on the highest plane. This is a professional football team. This is not a college program representing an institution of higher learning. This is, repeat, a PROFESSIONAL sports team. The goal of professional teams? Money. Make money. Sure, teams want to win the Super Bowl, but let’s be honest - teams want to win to make money. The more you win, the more ticket prices can go up, the more merchandise you sell. People should have no emotional ties to any professional sports teams, including one of the country’s most beloved.

College sports provide an emotional tie between fan and players. Many fans attended the University for which they cheer, and continue to provide money to the place they remember fondly from their college years, either through alumni associations or direct payment to the athletic department. No one attended the University of Dallas Cowboys.

Why are these people so up in arms about having Pacman come into town? What, do we think he’ll give the Cowboys a bad image? So what? What ties do we have to the Cowboys? If they win the Super Bowl, great! But remember this people, to win, you need the best available people on the field. Pacman is a top 5 corner in this league. Line him up next to Terrance Newmann, and you likely have the top cornerback tandem in the NFL. So what if he wants to stare at naked chicks dancing on the stage. So what if he runs with the wrong crowd? Show up on Sundays and perform, and the fans will love you. Just ask T.O. So as a Cowboys fan, don’t sit there and tell me bringing in this thug would embarrass the team and organization, when the reality is, if he helps shore up a shaky secondary and keeps himself out of jail, you’ll forgive him in a month.

It’s not about 2nd chances. It’s not about whether Pacman was wronged by the NFL in receiving his year long suspension. It’s about putting the best players you can onto the playing field in order to win the Super Bowl. Worst case, Jones shoots someone else, and the Cowboys cut him. That’s the beauty of the NFL. No guaranteed contracts, just cut him when you want.

I’m all for it. Bring in the Pac!

Public Enemy #1

Saturday night, I spent around 30 minutes on the phone trying to convince an Aggie friend of mine that they had showed heart and guts to play #1 seed UCLA to a hell of a game, and the fact of the matter is the better team won. He'd hear nothing of it, claiming they were robbed, mugged, screwed - all the verbs you can picture under the sun. I assumed he was being Angry Aggie. I was wrong.

Heading into this weekend's Sweet 16, aside from my beloved Longhorns, I will be cheering for whatever team plays UCLA. I know there is a media bias towards the liberal leftcoast, and have come to terms with this. However, the blatant refusal of NCAA officials to call a foul on what was an obvious attempt at rape blows my mind. Cleary, the Aggies were fouled as they drove the lane with under 10 seconds to go in an attempt to tie the game.

Furhering my disgust of UCLA (aside from the obvious) was the "exclamation point" slammed home by some hommo from the Bruins. Congrats kid. The refs just handed you the game, and you dunked the ball after the final horn sounded. I hope you enjoy Kevin Love's weiner in your butt.

My only hope is that upon being bounced in the next few rounds, UCLA will learn the heartache of being screwed out of a chance at greatness. Perhaps when a group of honkeys from Western Kentucky knocks them off, vengence will be ours. Of course, what could be sweeter than UCLA eeking into the Final Four to perhaps meet the Aggies biggest rival, Texas, and having the Longhorns enact revenge for our Texan bretheren.

So as we head into this weekend....Texas Fight! Go -insert team playing UCLA-

SIRIUS-XM

Finally!

The deal has passed the Department of Justice today - Sirius Satellite Radio's purchase of XM Satellite Radio has leaped one boundary, and awaits only the approval of the FCC (which many feel is a foregone conclusion) to finish the deal, which would combine the country's only satellite radio providers under one company.

For folks like me, who have held onto shares of Sirius for over 5 years, the deal comes as a great relief. I am a subscriber to the service, and own around 170 shares of its stock. The product itself is outstanding, especially when you are a hearty traveler. While the FM wireless devices leave something to be desired, radios that are hardwired into new car purchases are outstanding luxury additions.

Commercial free music? Outstanding. But as a sports fan, this passage warms my heart the most. Currently, one must choose between aligning with Sirius or XM, each with their own exclusive broadcast rights for a vareity of sports and leagues. For example, Sirius carries NASCAR and NBA radio, and broadcasts a wide variety of program and live events for each. XM has an exclusive deal to broadcast every MLB game. Sirius has a similar deal with the NFL. Each has exclusive rights to certain big time colleges (for example, Texas is exclusive with XM).

Now, if they can come under one roof, the hope is that programming will be available to provide the excessive sportsfan (say, for example, ME) with the widest variety of sports available. So the next time my wife wants to drive to see an old friend, I can carry my trusty radio with me and never miss the big game.

And oh yeah, my stock soared 10% in the past 20 minutes, which is a rather nice feeling too.

Verney Poo

Verne Lundquist. Those of you who are sports fans know the name, but what you might not know is that Mr. Verne has a disease. This ailment is called Oh My-ess. In essence, it forces Verne to say, "Oh My" within every 2 minutes of a sporting event that he is commentating. I noticed it especially on a day like today, when my wife is asleep and I can actually here these commentators calling the OU vs. Louisville game. As of 12:04 to go in the 1st half, we have 7 "Oh My's"

Oh My, that is quite a feat Verne. Oh My.