Calendar

Ho, Ho, Vroom

Bikers saddle up with Christmas spirit

A A A Comments Thursday, Dec 16 2004

12/19

Alvaro Diaz-Rubio

More About

Hmm, let's see. He has longish hair and a full beard. He wears black leather boots and a distinctive jacket. He hangs around with a posse of like-minded individuals. How about that? Give him a few tattoos and Santa could easily pass for a biker. So it's only fair then that a bunch of Dallas and Fort Worth motorcyclists will be playing Santa this Sunday during The Big Texas Toy Run. Tens of thousands of bikers will gather at 1 p.m. at Dallas' West End and Fort Worth's Sundance Square before tooling down Interstate 30 for a concert at Arlington's convention center. "Santa puts on the run," says Tigger Liddell, the ride's vice chairman for Dallas. There are no corporate sponsors, just people who like two wheels and Christmas. "We don't believe in selling out," Liddell says. Nevertheless, last year the ride--one of the largest of its kind in the country--raised about $900,000 in cash and toys. This year it benefits MHMR of Tarrant County and Dallas Metrocare Inc. To take part, all you need to do is show up at one of the starting points with a wrapped toy or five bucks. And if all you have is a little 250cc rice burner, don't fret. "I've got people showing up on Vespas," Liddell says. Harleys traveling next to Vespas. And the lion will lie down with the lamb. It doesn't get more Christmas-y than that. Visit www.thebigtexastoyrun.com. --Patrick Williams

See Hawks
12/18

So what if they didn't get Shaq and lost Steve Nash. Big deal. The Dallas Mavericks actually look stronger than last year, proving Mark Cuban might yet be a better owner than he is host of a reality show. Of course, the Mavs' proclivity to draft men more than 7 feet tall who see less court time than we do doesn't hold Cuban's case much. But still there the Mavs are, playing defense (sometimes), passing the rock around (sometimes), with Dirk pouring in 53 on a mending ankle when that's what it takes to win the game. On Saturday, the Mavs play the Atlanta Hawks, a team so awful words often fail to describe the Hawks' awfulness. So we'll make one up: Gawfulosers. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. at the American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave. Call 214-747-MAVS. --Paul Kix