The MLS Cup gets fans to show up
Alvaro Diaz-Rubio
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11/13
Pizza Hut Park, the new home of FC Dallas, should be filled to its capacity of 21,000-plus for the 2005 MLS Cup. Too bad FC Dallas won't be playing--it would have been a nice change for a team that finished the year second-to-last in attendance at 11,189 per game. But you can't blame the stadium itself. Though, astonishingly, it still isn't finished, there isn't a bad seat in the house, and for veterans of Texas Stadium gridlock, access and parking are cake. Sure, FCD collapsed down the stretch and limped into the playoffs with one injured star (Eddie Johnson) and another (Carlos Ruiz) who prefers to collect his paycheck in Guatemala, but the team's final game on October 29 deserved a full house. The overtime playoff loss against Colorado was hard-fought and dramatic--and played in a half-empty stadium. With the astronomical level of soccer participation in Dallas, this city ought to be ashamed. Maybe a sold-out MLS cup will show Dallas how great pro soccer can be if you just show up. The game starts at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Pizza Hut Park, Main St. in Frisco. Tickets are $30 to $120. Call 214-373-8000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. --Rick Kennedy
Bronc-Bustin' Tunes
11/11
Since the Texas Stampede brought its rodeo to the American Airlines Center, ticket sales have benefited from throwing some top country music into the package. This year's rodeo weekend follows that formula o' success with Dierks Bentley and Cross Canadian Ragweed on Friday, and Nashville power ballad queen Martina McBride on Saturday. Sunday's entertainment, however, is Christian rock band MercyMe. Somebody must have decided Sunday was the Lord's Day and rodeo-goers are going to get some spiritual uplifting whether they went to church that morning or not. The Texas Stampede muddies up the American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave., Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $19 to $55. Call Ticketmaster or visit www.texasstampede.org. --Jay WebbFlag, You're It
11/12
Our favorite part of elementary school flag football wasn't the chance to hang out with friends or even to "accidentally" tackle the stuffing out of that jerk Lou Nickleson--it was to figure out the best ways of counting down before rushing the quarterback for a flag-grabbing sack. The typical countdown shout of "one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi" was too boring, so we upped the ante with weird phrases that could confuse the quarterback before our five seconds were up. Quips like "one-brontosaurus," "two-Michael Jackson" and "three-sit-on-your-mama" seemed like the funniest things in the world back then, and perhaps they'll regain their humor again at Saturday and Sunday's Let It Fly Flag Football Tournament at Five Star Sports Complex, 4100 Blair Oaks in The Colony. Kids (and kids at heart) ages 8 and up are encouraged to come up with good phrases starting 9 a.m. both days. Four-member team registration starts at $150. Call 1-888-997-PLAY. --Sam Machkovech
