Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End:
*Don't understand why some folks around here can't stand Mark Cuban. And that includes you, Ross Perot Jr. In Thursday night's NBA Draft the Dallas Mavericks owner wrote a check for $3 million to move halfway up the board - from 50th to 25th - so his team could get South Florida shooting guard Dominique Jones. Hey Ross, what part of that sounds "insolvent," as you say? Cuban spends money in an attempt to make his team better. How does that sound right about now Texas Rangers fans?
*Ho-hum, Rangers won again last night. Actually, it was anything but routine. Vladimir Guerrero's 9th-inning, two-out hit capped a rally from down 4-0 in a 6-5 win. That's 11 in a row, three short of the club record set back in '91. That team, somehow, only won 85 games. Don't look now, but if the Rangers play .500 from here on out they win 97.
*I don't have a specific start date for you yet (July 12 is a good guess), but Russ Martin fans - those of you that are left, anyway - prepare to be giddy. As I wrote a couple weeks back, the Russ Martin Show will be on 97.1 The Eagle doing mornings in July. I know one of his show's cast members, and he's quitting his current job on June 30 to pave the way for his imminent return back to RMS. I hear it'll be the old crew, minus of course, J.D. Ryan. Perhaps a lesson here in burning your bridges?
*It was just one of those quickies, but the Cowboys this week cut kicker Connor Hughes. That means, again, that the job entering training camp belongs to David Buehler. We cool with that?
*Don't remember a day quite like Wednesday: The U.S. soccer team scores in injury time to advance in the World Cup, the TCU baseball team scores eight in the 8th to beat Florida State in the College World Series. And, best of 'em all, American John Isner outlasts some dude named Nicolas Mahut, 70-68, in the 5th set at Wimbledon. The 11-hour match was twice as long as any tennis match ever played. Think of it this way, it's the equivalent of a 72-inning baseball game.
*I'm sure it's just because his team is hot and I'm actually paying more attention to what he's saying, but does Rangers manager Ron Washington sometimes tread toward Emmitt Smith-land when trying to speak English? Yesterday I coulda swore I heard him construct this sentence: "The worst thing is when a guy go out there and get hurts." I've given Wash props for his managing - is it too early to start talking long-term contract extension? - but sometimes he just makes me giggle.
*Hot.
*Not.
*Dave Tippett gets fired by the Dallas Stars and then gets named NHL Coach of the Year with the Phoenix Coyotes. I'm no hockey guy, but that's funny.
*I like dogs. Like them I said. Not Richard Hunter like, but I like them. But if a dog digs a hole in my back yard and creates a big mud pit, then tramples muddy paws on my white couch and now eats - that's right, totally destroys - my radio headphones, am I still obligated to like him? Now, what if the dog's female owner is smoking hot and single? Change the equation?
*One of the coolest events of the year takes place Saturday in Frisco at Dr Pepper Ballpark. This year's 9th Annual Reebok Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game includes Mike Modano, Jason Kidd, DeMarcus Ware, Drew Pearson and Daryl Johnston. All for a great cause.
*Something that should be added to the extinct list: Photo albums. You know, the hardbound kind you lay on your coffee table. Got tons of photos on my computer (go ahead, insert your punch lines here), but it's not like I hand my laptop to guests in my house and say, "Check out this vacation."
*Can't make up my mind on whether Lady Gaga is freaky hot or nasty gross.
*Speaking of the Mavs and the draft, I went to American Airlines Center last night and didn't really see that flash mob in support of LeBron James. Man, what a fizzle that whole idea turned out to be.
*This weekend? I'm going to a pool party Saturday afternoon. Sunday night is the return of HBO's Entourage. I heard Jerry Jones is going to be in one of the early episodes. Don't be a stranger.
