Best record in the league. Home cookin’. Mediocre opponent, orchestrated by a familiar face. Shocking upset. Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Except Saturday night it wasn’t your Dallas Mavericks choking away a red-carpet post-season, but instead the Dallas Desperados.
Led by the greatest quarterback in the history of indoor football, Clint Dolezel, Dallas breezed to a record-setting 15-1 regular season, including two wins over the Columbus Destroyers. All looked well in the Arena Football League playoff game when Dallas led, 38-28, at the half. Two botched kickoffs and 58 seconds later, the Desperados trailed. I don’t know much about the arena game, but I’m guessing it’s suicidal to go scoreless in an entire quarter.
After a 13-3 season evaporated in a home playoff loss last summer, this time Dallas crashed out, 66-59, to a team part-owned by former Cowboys receiver Joey Galloway. Let’s see, in 2007 the Cowboys, Stars, Mavs and Desperados have each suffered early playoff exits. Conclusion: Oh, screw it, NFL training camps open in T-minus 16 days. --Richie Whitt