Face-Off

 3/29

For young hockey players struggling with feelings of athletic ineptitude, there's no greater confidence booster than seeing two teams of untalented aging radio personalities decked out in full gear, staggering across the ice like Bambi on a particularly clumsy day. To boost the self-perception of those within viewing distance, the bodies that produce the voices of sports radio station KTCK-AM 1310 "The Ticket" will don pads for Charity Challenge on Ice VII, a hockey game benefiting the Dallas Stars Foundation. It's bad hockey on bad ice for a good cause. Subway Team Hardline will face off against SpeeDee Oil Change Team Musers--team names sure to strike terror into the hearts of every man, woman and child--Monday at the American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave. Tickets are $15 for lower bowl seats and $10 for upper bowl. Call 214-GO-STARS or visit www.theticket.com. --Mary Monigold

Rough Stuff
The Riders have a charitable start to the season
3/27

I have a secret to share. It's something you won't hear anywhere else. The Texas Rangers are gonna blow this year. Bad. I know, I know, it's a shocker, but there it is. For those of you who consider yourselves baseball junkies, you have a few options. You can go out to the Ballpark in Arlington and watch them blow (which I don't recommend). You can skip baseball altogether (which I do recommend). Or--and this might be the middle ground you're looking for--you can head to Frisco and catch the opening-day ceremonies of the Frisco Rough Riders (even though that team won't be playing that day). Instead, you'll see the Frisco Firefighters Association vs. the Frisco Police Officers Association, plus a bunch of other activities such as auctions, giveaways and clowns. (But not a clown giveaway, thank goodness.) Gates open at 1 p.m. Saturday. Visit www.fbsa.org. --John Gonzalez

Rock the Walk
3/28

Besides all the free eats, participants in this weekend's Tenet MS Walks will get something else--a nice buzz from doing more than filling their tummies. The walks will help benefit those with multiple sclerosis, a chronic, often progressive and possibly disabling disease of the central nervous system. Participants will be treated to food and beverages along the route (there are 5-mile, 5K, 10K and 15K options) as well as lunch and entertainment at the post-walk celebration. The Plano-area walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at Plano West High School. The Dallas/Park Cities walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday at Bank One Preston Center. Call 1-800-FIGHT MS or visit www.MSWalkLoneStar.org. --John Gonzalez