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Best Texas Ranger

Josh Hamilton

Despite an often maddening kamikaze style that keeps him hovering around the disabled list and his preposterous claim, er, excuse that he struggles in day games because of his blue eyes — Cal Ripken Jr., anyone? — there is no doubt that the reigning AL MVP is the most talented and mesmerizing baseball player in town. When Hamilton was gone for five weeks with a broken shoulder, the Rangers were the model of mediocrity. With him in the lineup saving runs with his arm and generating them with his bat, Texas again looks like a team capable of going to the World Series.

Best Dallas Cowboy

Jason Witten

Whether running routes for old friend Tony Romo or backup quarterback Jon Kitna, the best tight end in the history of the Cowboys does nothing except produce consistent results. He's the $28 million man with the 28-cent ego. With his team in turmoil via Romo's injury and the midseason firing of Wade Phillips, Witten kept on keeping on. With a subtle agility and pillowy mitts for hands, Witten caught 94 passes for 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns and did it all with nary a chest bump or "look at me" celebration. The Cowboys were a disappointing 6-10 in 2010, but Witten, as usual, exceeded expectations.

Best Sports Moment

Mavericks Beat Heat in NBA Finals Game 5

Tons of indelible memories from the Mavs' playoff run. The big comeback in Oklahoma City. The bigger comeback in Game 2 of the finals in Miami. The sweep of the hated Lakers. But never has American Airlines Center been rowdier, louder or prouder than Game 5 of the finals. With the series tied at 2-2 the Mavs clawed out of a nine-point, fourth-quarter hole, capped by a dramatic long 3-pointer by Jason Terry right in LeBron James' mug in the final minute. James responded with a quizzical shrug, while Terry sprinted down court with his trademark wings out for a runway takeoff. The joint went bonkers, and fans left knowing that after 31 years their Mavs were only 48 minutes from a championship. Cue the chill bumps.

Best Dallas Star

Loui Eriksson

In a lackluster, playoff-less season in which Mike Modano and Marty Turco left, it was the spunky left-winger who arrived. Despite playing in Brad Richards' shadow, Eriksson was Dallas' second-leading scorer with 73 points on 27 goals (including six game-winners) and 46 assists and produced a team-high plus/minus of plus-10. The losing season cost head coach Marc Crawford his job and prompted Richards to leave via free agency, but at least the Stars have young players like Eriksson and Jamie Benn to liven up the future. Oh, who are we kidding? Hockey has never been worse or less relevant in this town.

Best FC Dallas Player

David Ferreira

Just when we were wrapping our hearts and minds around Dallas-bred soccer idol Kenny Cooper, he up and went overseas to play real fútbol. Like my grandma used to say, "Nothing wrong with leftovers." And so it is with Colombia-born midfielder David Ferreira. In just his second season playing up at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Ferreira earned Major League Soccer's MVP and led the surprising team to the MLS Cup. With him out of their lineup because of a broken ankle, FC Dallas was merely an average side early in 2011. Professional soccer still isn't popular out in the 'burbs, but with Ferreira, FC Dallas has a chance to again do something that transcends sports and cities — win.

Best Pro Coach

Rick Carlisle, Mavericks

In light of Ron Washington guiding the Rangers to their first World Series, this wasn't a no-brainer. But Rick Carlisle pushed all the right buttons in leading the Mavericks to their first NBA championship. After he shaved his head to honor his dad, Preston, and then it kinda didn't grow back, he looked like a scary Jim Carrey. But whether it was inserting DeShawn Stevenson into the lineup, believing in J.J. Barea or knowing when to throw a zone defense or even Ian Mahinmi at the Miami Heat, Carlisle was as valuable to Dallas' title run as anyone this side of the giant German. And to think, he was this close to being fired had the Mavs lost in the first round to Portland.

Best Owner

Mark Cuban, Mavericks

Has any owner ever enjoyed a championship more? Considering the decade, cash and passion invested into his Mavericks, he deserved it. After Dallas' first pro basketball title, Mark Cuban took the Larry O'Brien trophy to the urinal, took a cheap shot at sorta partner/definitely enemy Ross Perot Jr. and got the last laugh on his critics. Whether it's keeping the faith in Dirk Nowitzki, sticking with Jason Kidd or shelling out the big bucks to sign Tyson Chandler, Cuban is nothing if not determined to put himself and his team in the best position to win. As if that's not enough, every week he jumps into ABC's Shark Tank. Impressive.

Best TV Sports Anchor

Mike Doocy

Channel 8's Dale Hansen may have pushed our policy on term limits had his banter with weatherman Pete Delkus not deteriorated from witty to warped. Mike Doocy has the advantage of batting first in the sports wrap-up show game each Sunday night, and more often than not he takes advantage with a solid, often spectacular Sports Sunday on Fox 4. His highlights are comprehensive. His graphics are by far the best on local television. He provides one-on-one interviews. And his popular "Open Mike" segment gives a voice to everyone from Steve Busby to Tony Casillas to RJ Choppy. Furthermore, we know Hansen is secretly jealous of Doocy's perfectly coiffed hair. Actually, that's not a secret.

Best Cheap Seats

Frisco RoughRiders

Other than naked on a water bed with Kate Upton, the best place to watch a baseball game has to be Frisco. More specifically, at a RoughRiders game. For a whopping $9. In the swimming pool. Doubt you can watch quality baseball while sipping a beer in a floatie and you're probably still in denial over the fact we have alligator gar in our lakes and orange-barrel construction zones all over our highways. Ring a bell? If you're tired of IKEA, Highway 121's traffic or the world's largest population of SUVs and DDs, slip into your Speedo, munch on a hot dog and take in some Double-A baseball from the Dr Pepper Ballpark's right-field cool pool. And when you get water wrinkled, take a tour of the ballpark's bathrooms, the only stadium restrooms in America designed by an interior decorator. Swear.

Best Alligator Gar-Watching

The Trinity River from Corinth Bridge To Interstate 20

Atractosteus spatula, the alligator gar (which actually has a head like a spatula), is the largest exclusively freshwater fish species in North America, and we have tons of these strange prehistoric-looking monsters of the shallows right here in the city. A slow float down the Trinity River through the Great Trinity Forest can turn up lots of these dinosaur-looking deals cruising with their broad backs just above the surface. They can grow to 10 feet and 300 pounds, so watch out when they slap water next to your canoe. The state will let you take one of them per day without a size limit, but you know what? Just looking at them and leaving them alone can be even more satisfying.

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