Gig to Attend (weekend of 4/1-4/3)

The greatness of Swan Song will be playing at the 6th Street Bar & Grill this Saturday (Apr. 2nd) at 9:00! If you haven't checked 'em out before, they're only the greatest Led Zeppelin cover band eva...

The Big Cat Retires

My favorite baseball player decides to retire, bummer. Gally was only 1 homer shy from the 400 club, had 1500+ RBIs, won 2 golden gloves at first base and was a 5 time all-star. I was 14 when I received an autographed picture in the mail from his Expos days. I had a book with about 30 of his cards and I lost the sucker. No, it probably wouldn't be very valuable today and he won't go to the hall of fame, but he was always a class act.

Chris Young earns rotation spot, Mavs beat NBA Champs away

Chris Young has impressed Rangers coaches beating out Ricardo Rodriguez for the last rotation spot. According to T.R. Sullivan of the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, "Young will leave Arizona with a 3.86 ERA, having held opponents to a .232 batting average. Club officials are saying he'll be on the team. He's expected to start Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Albuquerque, N.M., and then face the Los Angeles Angels in the third game of the regular season in Anaheim, Calif."

Ah yes, opening day approaches. Most experts picking Texas to be 2nd or 3rd in the A.L. West. What do they know???

The Mavs pull off a nice 95-88 road win against the Pistons last night in grand style. Am I beginning to believe Dirk when he said yesterday that this team could legitimately win the championship? I don't know. Sometimes I question their heart, other times I see it overfloweth...yeah.

Recap

Bank One Tower

I never deliberately try to jinx things but I really have a bad feeling that another tornado will come down on the tower again in the near future. It looks nice now folks but enjoy it while you can. Whether or not $140k+ is reasonable for units is certainly a topic for debate...

Shows this weekend

My brother's buddy Stephen Pointer will be playing at the Moon Bar in Fort Worth off of Berry St. tonight around 10:00. I'm not much into country music but this guy's pretty good. Come and check it out...

The Ridglea Theater is throwing their 7th Birthday Party tomorrow (Sat. 26th). Check out a few good bands and tell the owner Wesley hi; she always treated me well during my playing days.

Cheers

A&M bounced from NIT, Texas Tech to play tonight in Big Dance

A record crowd showed up to Reed to see if the Aggies could fend off St. Joe's for a birth to NYC and the NIT finals. With only Antoine Wright scoring in double figures, it just wasn't meant to be. So long Antoine, your faithful will miss you. Recap

Texas Tech will match up against West Virginia tonight at 8:40 on KTVT/Ch.11 with Oklahoma St. v. Arizona soon after. Get your guns up Red Raiders and Cowboys!

The Ticket's Charity Challenge on Ice VIII is at the Ft. Worth Convention Center tonight at 7:30. If you've never been before I highly recommend doing so. I'd go but I really want to watch that Tech game tonight and have limited funds. Peace...

Can't give Soriano away for his $$$?

Per CNNSI and DMN:

"Right now, Alfonso Soriano's trade value is at an all-time low. The flaws in his game have been exposed over the last two seasons. He's not looked good in the field or at the plate this spring, partly due to lingering concerns over a hamstring injury he suffered last year. He's going to earn $7.5 million this year, which would make teams reluctant to add him. The Rangers would love to be able to trade Soriano, add depth to the pitching staff and break in another young, inexpensive infielder. That situation won't happen before the All-Star break -- if at all."

The whole Soriano trade issue is puzzling to me. I agree that $7.5 mil for this upcoming season is high. Some blame his lack of production in spring-training due to 'overexposure' and injury, both of which I believe are half-truths for lack of a better word. The thing it boils down to, I believe, is that this team REALLY NEEDS his bat in the lineup. Why is he looked at as the #1 second baseman in many fantasy leagues? Run production, speed. Is his defense vanilla/not up to par with his counterparts? Sure. If his lingering injury becomes a bigger problem, throw everything I said out the window. Get out your crystal ball...

Adam's got more on his Rangers blog: Check it out

Horned Frogs hold on in OT, A&M will face St. Joes, New book

Horned Frogs edge Western Michigan in OT, 78-76...

St. Joes beats Holy Cross to battle A&M Wednesday at 7:00 in College Station...

I think TCU will get spanked by Maryland but wouldn't it be sweet for an old Southwest Conference duel with TCU and A&M playing for the NIT marbles???




I just started reading Gene Wilder's autobiography 'Kiss Me Like a Stranger' (kinda fufu title admittedly) and I like it so far. Definitely a little dark in some places but the guy just had a certain natural talent and ability to act on an elite level. From Summer Stock to being accepted into The Actors Studio, it's an interesting read.

Late afternoon post re: Nellie, NCAA hoops

3 Big 12 teams still in respective tournaments:

Texas Tech and Oklahoma State survive and enter the Sweet 16 with games Thursday, A&M stays alive for Wednesday and will face St. Joe's/Holy Cross winner for a trip to NYC.

TCU and Western Michigan square off tonight to see who stays in the NIT, who goes home.


Nellie out as Mavs Coach, Avery Johnson in: This really didn't come as a shock to me. I'm sure his exodus was a combination of many things: 1) His wife's declining health, 2) His contract would have been up next year anyway, 3) His continued lack of motivation in regard to his players (even he admitted it was tough to reach certain players), 4) general Cuban factors. Many people will be happy, many will be sad, but I'm actually indifferent right now...but I may change my mind about it.

Steroids bag, the weekend and ladies

What a whipping...and was anything gonna be put to rest about the steroids in baseball issue? No.



No doubt Mac was juiced, Sosa too, but Palmeiro? If he's on roids I'm on crack...


Drama Tiki is playing at The Axis tonight around 11:00, check 'em out. Whatever band employs Vance as the percussionist and not the drummer must be good. This show could be equivocated to an Outhouse Critic show in summer 2010. Probably won't happen but ya never know. Ya never know...

Meanwhile, tomorrow night (Sat.), John Nitzinger is playing at the 6th Street Grill. Show up and I guarantee 'Where She Goes I Go' will be played...greatness.

Have a nice weekend, especially my new lady friends...

Kitos Corner : Gas Gas Gas

"The legislature better approve the drilling for oil in the section of the ANWR that was actually set aside for oil drilling. It looks like the senate has approved it and now it is on to the House. This would add some great opportunities for the US industry to expand our national infrastructure while reducing our dependency on foreign oil."

At $2.00/gallon for the worst of unleaded, we need to seek and approve alternatives to the $56/barrel oil price. My next ride is gonna be a hybrid for shizzle...

Drama Tiki for a night...

When I heard of this I about shat myself. Drama Tiki is bustin' out a reunion this Friday at The Axis. The percussion greatness that is Vance Van Donselaar returns to Funkytown! I've actually jammed out with this guy and know him from way back, I'm there...

Poker DVD Update:

I've been kinda slacking as far as poker news and stuff recently but a new dvd hit the streets today. High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story steps into the light of a multi-world series of poker champion and his eventual downfall. I saw this on cable 6 months ago and its an interesting story to say the least.

(btw Morris, you'll get Boiler Room back eventually, I promise)

Great Evan Grant article with essential 2005 questions...

2005 Rangers

If for some reason DMN wants you to signup before you can read the article, use BugMeNot and cut and paste the above link...

Get them brackets ready...

Everyone becomes a college basketball expert around this time. Both the NIT and NCAA Tournaments start this week. For Texas schools this means:

NIT: (both games Wednesday)
TCU v. Miami (OH) - 6:00 P.M.

Texas A&M v. Clemson - 7:30 P.M. (not televised)

-----------------------------------------------

NCAA: (games begin Thursday)

Texas v. Nevada - 6:10 P.M. on CBS

TTU v. UCLA - 9:55 P.M.

Kito's Corner this week re: Jacko

"Why is this news? Why are all the newscasts covering this? Nobody cares about this man anymore. Just let me see a 50 word article in the back ofthe paper saying he was vindicated or convicted. There is a show on E! every evening covering the trial. I saw an article this morning claiming that he is on suicide watch. The only people concerned are the reporters because if he did kill himself, they'd only get to write one more article about him and that would be it. No need to cover this story from trial to jailtime to release."

(Jackson's father screwed that guy up. In Jacko's mind he probably doesn't see anything wrong with what he did and that's kinda sad.)

Rangers tidbits, Big 12 tourney underway tonight:

From the Newberg Report:

"Jerry Crasnick writes in his ESPN.com column that Orel Hershiser turned down the Rangers' off-season proposal of a long-term deal to remain as the club's pitching coach because he aspires ultimately to be a manager or a general manager."

"[Evan] Grant (Dallas Morning News) proposes offering Mark Teixeira a 10-year, $126 million contract right now. The figure is half of what Alex Rodriguez signed with Texas for."

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Big 12 Tournament is happening tonight, second round games tomorrow should be more exciting to watch though...scroll down and hit the Big 12 tourney link from Tuesday the 8th to see what teams play when.

A Country Legend has left us.

I'll be the first one to tell you that I'm not into country music at all anymore but Chris Ledoux was true greatness. Feel free to mention his name with the likes of Charlie Daniels, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, he deserves it...RIP Mr. Ledoux

I still vividly recall seeing him live at Six Flags with a group of buddies in high school. I'll never forget that and I'm sure Theo and Clint won't either.

Chris Ledoux passing

Tex, Gillespie and Colonial RSVP's

Colonial is coming up people, committments already added to site...

Baseball:

Randy Galloway, aka Grandpa Urine, fires off some quickhits about what he thinks went wrong with the Rangers season last year, notably pitching:

Galloway Article

I don't even want to hear talks of a forthcoming Mark Teixeira deal. The guy's going to be a fabulous player no doubt, but his recent comments regarding Tom Hicks spending habits reflect types of comments made by another great player but sorry individual, A-Rod...

Check out the NewbergReport for all happening with the Rangers.


College Hoops:

A&M's Billy Clyde Gillespie win's Coach of the Year honors in the Big 12 for his remarkable turnaround:

Gillespie

Big 12 Tournament bracket:

if you care. It does have serious implications for Iowa State and Texas A&M though...

Big 12 Tournament

Acoustic Alchemy, new cd cover-art is up

Acoustic Alchemy's American/English will hit stores on Tuesday, March 29th. It'll be their first release since 2003's Radio Contact. If you dig laid back but not quite 'smooth jazz', you'll love them. Supposedly this release will have a more loose feel to it than previous releases. BTW, they'll be touring Texas in June so check them out!

Cowboys most improved team during offseason thus far?

SI's Peter King thinks so, I agree:

Cowboys Up

A lot of this team's success will ultimately fall in the hands of Bledsoe/Henson, but adding these difference makers on D will help tremendously.

Christmas Beach-Style

Spoke with my sister last night and she said she was leaving town today with her fiance to the great Cabo San Lucas to decide whether they wanted their December wedding there. Please pull the plug guys, I haven't been there in close to 15 years!

Cabo's Palmilla

Live Music this Weekend (really solid shows)

Friday Night:

Tonight I'm going to occupy a chair at the 6th Street Grill and watch one of my favorite bands, Swan Song. They're a great Led Zeppelin cover band that supposedly has a new lead singer. They go on about 9:30 tonight. Come on by and say hello to my favorite barkeep Angie!

I think I also might have to swing by the Wreck Room on 7th Street to hear me a little Goodwin as well.

Saturday Night:





This very good band is playing the Wreck Room with Chatterton for a Tsunami Benefit show, cover is a measley $8. Check 'em out.

Hicks Blames the Fans, Jerry is the Man...

Jerry spends when he has cap-room, Hicks addresses virtually none of Rangers empty holes during the offseason...

"For where we are with our fan support, we're where we need to be [with payroll]," Hicks said. "If we get our attendance up around 3 million, things could change."

Don't tell me you're going to pawn off your failures on the fans buddy. I'm sorry you have to pay A-Rod $8 mil this season because you outbid everyone at the winter meetings. It's called a sunken ship. Take a loss like a man. This owner and many in the organization take no accountability for their actions at all. My wallet would close for Hicks if I didn't love the great game so much.


Meanwhile, Cowboy owner Jerry Jones spends and doesn't mind if it comes to a winning product:

Rivera also added


Live-music post to come...

My Favorite Frost Employees...

Hats off to Debbie and Arden at Frost for making my backup tape deposits the highlight of my day. Even after I insult Arden's hair color or bring Charlie Robinson to Debbie's Halloween party they always forgive me...

Kitos Corner this week re: Sheen, SS Reform and Bananas

I jokingly wrote in an e-mail to Kitos that Charlie Sheen would whack Denise Richards Scott Peterson-style after their divorce.

Kitos Opinion: “Sheen won't wax Denise ala Peterson. She's pregnant and already the mother of his first kid. I see this as: Publicity Stunt Part Deux. The first stunt is to get married, that makes him popular for his show about 2.5 men. Then, she divorces him to get sympathy from all the housewives that will further attract them to watch his show. It's also a good move for Denise because now that she's single again she can pursue her next big film, Wild Things 4. They made WT 2 and 3 but with B-rated hotties - I kid you not. I saw WT 3 on cable a few days ago but I didn't have time to watch it.”

On to politics (slow week in sports):

“Social Security reform won't happen soon. Some politicians and AARP are using scare tactics and making people afraid of change, saying they'll lose benefits.. Also, the supreme court is trying a case regarding religion on public property. You can debate this up and down, but the answer lies in the constitution. It states that the government shall not endorse any particular religion nor create any laws mandating religion. This means that we cannot have an official U.S. religion or a national church and that the government cannot punish you for having certain personal religious beliefs. We're not going around murdering hindus or imprisoning atheists. It doesn't state that the government shall make no reference to any divine being and shall prohibit the display of any religion on public property - and that if some religious material is on display, than equal space shall be given to all other religions. The greatest hoax of the 20th century was the propaganda regarding the separation of church and state. It is not there nor was it ever suppose to be there. The government should be able to display the 10 Commandments - the reason is because these are sound morals to live by and what our laws are based upon. If we based our legal system on the Hammurabi code, then I'm sure we'd be displaying that historic document as well. Hopefully the court will put an end to all of this for good - however, based upon the last ruling of the supreme court, I'm very worried. They ruled last week that juveniles between the ages of 15 and 17 cannot receive the death penalty. The basis of that ruling was not because it went against the US constitution - rather that it went against the popular opinions in this country and others around the world. I guess the supreme court will have to start taking polls before making any more decisions rather than basing their rulings on law.

In other news: this sounds like a story from TheOnion.com. There's some lady in Georgia or Florida somewhere that got offended when some police officers working at a civil rights parade ate bananas. Apparently this is offensive because it is an indirect way of telling black people that they look like apes - by eating food that apes eat. Nevermind that a banana is very healthy and beneficial to someone working in a parade and it comes perfectly packaged. The odd thing is that the city is trying to apologize and inquire why the lady was so offended, but she is not saying. She says that we should all know already - and if we don't know, we should find out. Unfortunately, the only person who does know why she is so offended is her. I don't remember that article of the constitution that states that no living person or thing shall not be offended.” Here here, brotha...

Mavs and A&M both lose in hoops...

The Mavs came out last night with no heart and they got spanked by the Clippers:

I was listening to Dunham and Miller this morning and they said putting Van Horn in Don Nelson's face is like putting a bottle of Jack Daniels in front of an alcoholic. They might be right to a degree but the absence of Dampier is killing this team. I hope they'll be playoff-healthy.

Dallas can't complete comeback


Meanwhile, A&M impresses but OSU is too strong at home with 20+ straight wins:

OSU 69, A&M 63 in Stillwater


Oh yeah, does anyone else think ESPN's Lee Pasquarelli looks like Don Vito from MTV's Viva La Bam?...and yes, I will watch that show if nothing else is on...

Coakley cut, Jason Ferguson added?

Coakley seemed to be one of the nicest guys around in the Cowboys lockeroom...sad to see him go:

Coakley Cut


Cowboys reportedly interested in nose-tackle Jason Ferguson. I always get suspicious of athletes right after career years, call me a cynic:

Jason Ferguson



I won't even get into the great Fort Worth shows this weekend yet: Swan Song, Confusatron, Horses...will let you know tomorrow.

Sickness = Not Good

So yeah, I had a real fun time in Dallas last Saturday night...until Sunday morning. I was really feeling ok on the drive back but when I hit the house it was a spiral-down from there. My bad for the lack of updates yesterday...

Mavs beat Hornets, Dirk gets haircut


Lots of teams on the brink of the NCAA/NIT College Hoops Tourneys:

Big 12 Teams


TV: The Amazing Race 7 Starts Tonight

(btw, I watched some of the Oscars. I admit I only saw one of the movies nominated for best picture - Sideways, but it really seemed that this was a big down year as far as really good, innovative films went.)