My Hair is in Jeopardy and other Thoughts

1.  The Mavericks keep winning.  My on-air promise to shave my head if they win the title is 5 wins away.  I am in a pickle here.  It would be great if they won the title.  The city of Dallas deserves a payoff.  It's been a long time.  But on the other hand, I don't think the bald thing is good for me.  I went a long time with a buzz cut.  Looking back, I really cheated myself out of some glorious locks.  Hindsight is 20-20.  I also think the Heat are starting to look locked in.  We'll see.  I am confident. 

2.    The Rangers are starting to click a little.  I am still a little nervous about them.  They need to stay healthy.  The division is not that great.  They could make a move soon to separate themselves.  Bullpen depth is an issue they need to address.  And Ian Kinsler needs to start hitting. Boy does he.

3.   Don't look now but the AL East could be very interesting all year.  The Red Sox have rebounded from a terrible April, the Evil Empire is going to win regardless, and the Rays are coming together.  Not to mention that the Jays and Orioles aren't ready to become the Jays and Orioles just yet.  Once again it looks like the Wild Card comes out of the East. 

4.  I saw Pirates 4 and Thor.  Can't wait for Hangover 2 this week.  Liked both films.  Didn't love them, but I had a good time watching them. I'll post a review of Hangover 2 after I see it this week.

5.  There's a new date for the rapture.  October 21st.  Really bro?  Really?  You are like 0-5 at this point.  Why would anyone believe this yahoo?

6.   Is there a dumber ownership group in the league than the Wilpons?  They are caught up in the Madoff scandal, they have made terrible contractual decisions over the years (they are still paying Bobby Bonilla 13 years after he played for them), and they are sitting on a goldmine if they sold the team.  Just do it fellas.  The Mets and their fans don't deserve this madness.

7.  I am going to say it right now.  No one can change my mind.  I am dead set.  There are too many singing/dancing competitions on TV.  They are all the same to me. And for what?  You aren't buying albums from these people.  You're not.  Don't pretend like you are.  Stop wasting your time.

8.  If you aren't watching Sports Show with Norm MacDonald.  You need to start.   Seriously. 

9.  Rest in peace Macho Man Randy Savage.  Even though I am not a fan of wrestling, I always enjoyed your enthusiastic demeanor.  You were great in Spiderman as well.

10.  Happy Birthday to my nephew, Leo.  The Tater Tot turned 2.   That's him above.  So sweet, so innocent.  So ready to tear apart my sister's house now that he is 2.  

That is all.

P.S.  Email me with your info, and you will be entered in the drawing to win 2 Schlitterbahn tickets. 

Mavericks and Cowboys are Painfully Similar

We talked about this on the show yesterday but I wanted to elaborate more on it.  The Mavs and Cowboys are eerily similar.  Maybe it’s the city of Dallas.  Maybe it’s just me.  But I just think that when you boil it down the parallels are too big to ignore.  And I think it’s these parallels that have driven me to the edge as a fan.  So here you go. 

1. Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones are two peas in a pod.  Both of them are the face of the franchise, no matter who their superstar might be.  They are out in front all the time.  Both of them love the spotlight.  They are a far cry from the Rooneys and Maras of the world.  Heck, both have appeared on Entourage.  I doubt we’ll see Dan Rooney or Jeff Lurie hanging with Turtle and Ari.
2. Both teams’ rosters are often filled with all sizzle and no steak.  Jerry Jones loves flash (Terrell Owens).  So does Mark Cuban (Jason Kidd).  But the bottom line is, not only do you need superstars, you need worker bees.  Lunch pail guys.  The post Jimmy Johnson Cowboys have been fairly devoid of these types.  The Mavs are often criticized for “being soft.”  Most recently by their own head coach.  While you need studs to win the race, you need some mudders.  Year in and year out, this seems to be the case.
3. Both superstar players produce like crazy until it gets down to brass tacks.  Tony Romo has tons of regular season success.  But when it comes to the postseason, he has yet to yank the Cowboys out of their current seat in playoff Hell.  Dirk Nowitzki had the Mavs knocking on the door of a 3-0 lead on the Heat in 2006, but the Mavs lost game 3.  And then Games 4, 5, and 6.  After that point until the sweep of the Lakers, their postseasons have been full of huge embarrassing failures.  Fair or not, Dirk and Tony are the leaders of these teams.  They’ll get too much credit for wins and too much blame for losses; it’s like being the President.  But superstars drive the ship.  And these two have been ramming their ships into rocks for years. 
4. Anytime either team achieves the smallest bit of success, DFW goes bonkers.  Maybe this is because they are longing for a title again.  Maybe it’s just the way the fans are.  But the bottom line is, and I as a media member am guilty of this too, we put the cart before the horse.  In 2007 the Cowboys went 13-3.  I was polishing the trophy.  I was only scared of Tom Brady and the Pats.  How foolish I was.  The Mavs beat a Lakers team last week that was imploding.  And now I am hearing that they are the favorites to win it all.  Really?  Is this just by default?  Come on!!  Let’s let things play out. 
5. Both teams were actually almost ripped apart by a pop singer.  The Mavs famously had 2 players dating Toni Braxton.  Jessica Simpson is blamed by a host of idiots for being the reason those 2007 Cowboys lost to the Giants.  Not real reasons for failure.  But an eerie parallel none the less.
6. Both owners and fan bases love the conspiracy theories.   When the Mavs lose, it’s always the refs.  Never the fact that they may have played poorly.  The Cowboys never lose.  They were always screwed by a bad call.  Sometimes you have to look into your heart, and just try to get better.
7. No one can seem to hire a coach that everyone gets on board with.  Jerry had Bill Parcells in the building and that didn’t last.  Although Bill’s track record says he wouldn’t have stayed much longer anyway.  He replaced him with Wade Phillips.  A coach who has won nothing.  Avery Johnson was the Mavs coach, he had to go.  And replaced with a coach. Rick Carlisle, who has won nothing.  Am I being hard on Rick? Maybe.  But where’s the ring?

I am sure there are even more that I didn’t go into, but you see my point.  I am sending this out as a plea.  Jerry, Mark, Dirk, Tony please listen.  Please get us some titles.  Please stop the excuse train.  Get it done.  I have faith in you.  I do.  For the most part.  Make it so that I can’t write or talk about this anymore. 

That is all.

P.S.  Email me at paul@1660espn.com with your name, address, and telephone number and I'll enter you in the drawing for 2 free tickets to Schlitterbahn.