*If the Mavericks lose in the first round to the Trail Blazers, Rick Carlisle should be fired. The window propped open by 33-year-old Dirk Nowitzki is closing, and 50-something wins without a hint of even the NBA Western Conference Finals is just not acceptable.
*I recognize that Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton is a five-tool player. I just wish he'd develop a sixth tool: Durability.
*This scene will be played out countless times in the Mavs-Blazers series: Dirk with the ball, double-teamed, passes out of it and the ball lands in the hands of an open Jason Kidd at the 3-point line. What he does at that point will go a long way in determining if the Mavs lose in the first round or the second.
*You know what I think of Dirk, but Mark Cuban says he's a Top 10 player ... of all time? Can't go there with him. Not that far.
*I know I can be an arrogant a-hole, but even I shed a tear at this story. A Lewisville boy is rapidly losing his sight and will soon be totally blind. What would you want to see if you knew your sight was fading? He wanted to see three things -- SpongeBob SquarePants' Atlantis resort in The Bahamas, a redwood forest in California and the Statue of Liberty -- and last weekend one of his dream visions came true. Cool. Very cool. Again, just when we're about to give up there's hope for this cold, cruel world after all.
*With a handicap around 10, I'm not real good at golf. But I've never carded a 16 on a hole. Wow. Congratulations, Kevin Nawww?
*Hot.
*Not.
*The NHL Playoffs are underway. Without the Stars included, my interest level on 1-10 is 0. Yours?
*You can't click on an NFL mock draft these days without seeing the Dallas Cowboys selecting either USC OL Tyron Smith or Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara. Give me defense over offense. Please.
*In the age of the $15 Appletini, I can't believe the 25-cent margarita still exists. It does. Trust me. Yep, a quarter. I had a couple of 'em last night at Gloria's in Frisco. Part of some special that, I think, continues at all locations tonight. I'd double-check for you, but my head hurts too much for intricate research.
*Seems like just last week that the Big 12 was crumbling, doomed to disband. Now -- in the wake of a lucrative new TV deal -- it may be one of the strongest conferences in the country. And let me get this straight: The Big XII has 10 teams, the Big 10 has 12 teams and the Fiesta Bowl is going to be allowed to remain a vital part of the BCS. I got that right?
*I don't love dogs, especially the entitled ones who believe -- even though you provide them a nice, soft doggie bed -- they too should be on the human couch. I rank cats well below them, especially the ones who "meowwwwww" in heat outside my window or leave paw prints on my freshly washed car. But this -- this is disgusting. Still, I don't believe the myth that cruelty to animals is a gateway to cruetly to humans. If so, I would've kicked a couple of my buddies long ago.
*Baseball is considering using more instant replay next season. I say: What are we waiting for?! I predict there'll be a day -- in our lifetime -- when all of our sports are officiated perfectly and instantly. I never understood the doofuses who say "human error is a part of the game" after a bad call. We'll some day look back at human officials and shake our heads in disbelief that we left the results of important games in the hands of human judgment.
*Michael Vick says he wouldn't change a thing about his life. I can't even begin to comprehend the absurdity of that statement.
*Happy April 15th. For most of my life as a Rangers fan this day meant filing my taxes and writing off my baseball team.
*Maybe it's just me, but I'm more offended at Seattle turning "Easter eggs" into "Spring spheres" than I am Kobe Bryant calling a ref a "fucking faggot."
*This weekend? Might rally and grab a drink or three tonight at a place that could be known as Covert Sampras' situated on a body of water, then tomorrow night of course we'll all be at AAC for Mavs-Blazers. Don't be a stranger.
