AFC South

The Power of Kolaches and Support for West Extends to New York City

One should never underestimate the power of kolaches. When the fertilizer plant in West exploded a couple of weeks ago, for many, the soft round pastry that put West on the map sprung quickly to mind as a way to raise money to help the blast's victims. Last weekend, when a few local restaurants and ... More >>

Meet Texas' Six Newest Billionaires

Yesterday, Forbes released the billionaires list, its annual parade of the ridiculously, absurdly super-rich. This year, the list stretches to some 1,426 names worth a combined $5.4 trillion. Texas claims a small if significant portion of that, counting 50 billionaires among its 26 million resident ... More >>

Texas Conservative Groups Are Dismissing a Republican-Backed School Safety Plan as "Just Another Tax"

On Tuesday, the same day two men opened fire at Houston's Lone Star Community College, a bipartisan trio of state lawmakers unveiled a plan aimed at reducing school violence. Dubbed the Texas School District Safety Act, the measure would allow voters to approve special taxing districts that would p ... More >>

30 Essential Texas Restaurants to Visit Before You Die

NFC/AFC Championships 2013: Predictions Based on The Football Albums

This weekend, the NFC and AFC Championship rounds will pit such heavyweights as the Baltimore Ravens against the Peyton Mannings, The Green Bay Packers against the San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Blinding Highlights against the Atlanta Falcons and a game I won't mention for obvious reasons. We're h ... More >>

Examining the NFL Playoffs Through Food

It's that time of year again. Every January my food-perverse mind converts professional football teams into dishes as a way to explore great food from around the country. Last year we enjoyed a lively discussion as different teams jockeyed for a chance to play in the Superbowl, and I'm hoping this y ... More >>

An Englishman Provides Our Final Word on the State Fair: One Hero Passes, Another Enters

I chose the saddest day of all to go the State Fair. The death of Big Tex (flame-grilled is the way he'd have wanted to go) cast a shadow over the whole event, which had Big Tex's now non-existent face on every piece of merchandise, every map, every stall, every advert, every building. When the twit ... More >>

Screw the White House: Let's Focus on Keeping Texas from Becoming Teabagistan

There's a danger in getting too invested in presidential debates and the whole national political saga, gripping as it may be. By turning our faces to bright lights far away, we risk forgetting just how dark things could get here at home in November. The Tea Party is poised to make its ultimate as ... More >>

Texas' Biggest Power Supplier Wants to Blame the EPA for Future Blackouts

Top Chef Texas (Canada): Judges Whittle the Final Competition to Two Texans

via Bravo... that damn lonely sliver of arugula.​Just think, this episode's elimination could have come down to a piece of arugula -- a wisp of a flavor dose so tiny it contributed almost nothing to the dish, which was the root of the problem. In the final elimination episode before next week' ... More >>

The Super Bowl Prostitution Hoax Returns

Indianapolis mobilizes for an epic battle with an urban legend.

The Wild Cards Are Finished: Watching the NFL Through Food

What a weird weekend in football. While I'm glad New Orleans trumped Detroit (what do people in D-town eat besides sadness?), I'm devastated by Pittsburgh's loss to Denver, another town whose culinary culture is difficult to define. What Would Tebow Cook? Pittsburgh, however, gave rise to the glory ... More >>

A Starr is Born: North Texas' Other Entry in MasterChef is a Globetrotting Pumpkin Fan

Ben Starr of MasterChef.​With all the publicity swirling around Polyphonic Spree singer Jennie Kelley's participation in the current run of MasterChef on Fox, it's perhaps understandable that the other North Texan, Ben Starr, still in the running for the $250,000 first prize, should have gone ... More >>

With Tyron Smith, Jerry Jones Finally Resisted the Glitz

If there's less post-draft buzz than usual, it's because the Cowboys for once went substance over style.

Welcome, Cheeseheads and Towlettes! Let Us Show You How to Get the True Big D Experience

Look Who's NOT Coming to Dallas for Super Bowl XLV

After a wildly entertaining weekend of the NFL playoffs, the following will not be playing in Arlington on February 6: *Michael Vick *Peyton Manning *Who Dat?! *The Dallas-born Kansas City Chiefs Despite intriguing story lines being buried, that was some damn skippy football. Three wins by ro ... More >>

Accountability, Shame and Wealth: A Review of My 2010 NFL Predictions

​You can say I botched my 2010 NFL prognostications. But you can't say I ran and hid from my errors. There's hope for me surviving this thing, as I have Big Ten Buffoonery dough coming in, tonight's Megamillions jackpot is up to $330 million and I actually sneaked by with a profit b ... More >>

Whitt's Merten's End: 12.31.10

One of Sports Pickle's best photos of 2010​It's been a fun two weeks, sports fans. Richie's back on Monday, but before I give him back his blog, here are some week-end thoughts before I go. *Sunday's Cowboys-Eagles game looks like it might be the first NFL start for Stephen McGee as Jon Kitna ... More >>

NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 15

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 14

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

Cowboys 38, Colts 35: My Top 10 Observer-ations

​10. Been saying Marion Barber's done for a while. If he gets another carry over Tashard Choice this season it will be criminal. I know the Colts' run defense is putrid, but you can't deny that Choice is a much better running back than Barber at this point. Maybe even better than Felix Jones. ... More >>

5 Things That Have Actually Gone Right for Your Dallas Cowboys This Season

​The season is a disaster. When it's "Super Bowl or Bust" and at the halfway point you fire the head coach with a record of 1-7, "or Bust" wins. All is lost. But not all. When the Dallas Cowboys play the Colts in Indianapolis this Sunday they'll be playing for pride and respect and 2011 ... More >>

NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 13

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 12

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 11

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 10

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

MyPlates Probably Picked the Wrong Day (Or Season) To Debut Two New Cowboys Plates

​A year ago the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles bowed the do-it-yourself personalized-plates-maker known as MyPlates, and only a few weeks it rolled out some proposed plates that include one for Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas. Well, just this morning MyPlates sent word that it's in ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 7

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 6

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

On An Unprecedented Sports Sunday in Arlington, It's Not Just The Rangers Who Go Down Swinging.

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 5

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a tradema ... More >>

Titans 34, Cowboys 27: My Top 10 Observations

​10. No two ways around it, your Dallas Cowboys are not a good football team. They are a collection of talented football players. But together they are not a good team. In linebacker Keith Brooking's words, "We play really stupid football at crucial times in the game." 9. Tony Romo was ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 4

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings -- if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademark ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 3

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings - if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademarke ... More >>

Cowboys 27, Texans 13: My Top 10 Observations

​10. Oh ye of little faith. If you listened to me or read me last week I toldja this was coming. Negate some penalties, some missed field goals and some turnovers - tweak things - and the Cowboys would be fine. Way I remember it, I called for more Dez Bryant (check), more blitzing (check) and ... More >>

Dallas Cowboy Fans: Be patient. Your winless team is about to come to life.

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 2

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback ratings. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings - if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademarke ... More >>

2010 NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 1

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback rating. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings - if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademarked ... More >>

Prediction: Dallas Cowboys Will End The NFL Season In Their Own Backyard (With A Little Luck And A Lot Of Health).

BET Honors Dallas' Mr. Boomtown With A Video Director of the Year Nomination

There are, it seems, three roads to travel if you're a hip-hop artist in North Texas trying to make it big and looking to shoot a music video. Got little-to-no budget? You hit up Kangbear. Got enough money to make something that looks good, but a little cheesy? Dr. Teeth is your man. Got serious mon ... More >>

Patrick "Car-Free" Kennedy Talks to Texas Observer About His Idealized Dallas

Texas FreewayAsk Patrick how he feels about the highways around downtown, like the Mixmaster, seen here under construction in 1963​Texas Observer Forrest Wilder has been doing an occasional chat-with series featuring homegrowns "involved in issues of the environment and energy," and for his latest ... More >>

Super Bowl XLV: New York Jets Over Dallas Cowboys

Super Bowl XLV preview?​Good news: Your Dallas Cowboys will play in Super Bowl XLV right here in our back yard, Feb. 6, 2011 in Arlington. Bad news: They'll lose to the New York Jets and - giggle - quarterback Mark Sanchez. So sayeth The Sporting News in its 2010 Pro Football Yearbook, whic ... More >>

And With the 27th Pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys Select ...

The next Dallas Cowboy?​The NFL Draft gets cocky tonight. It goes prime time, up against the networks' lineup of must-see CSIs and Grey's Anatomy and such, and against the NBA's LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. I'll be at Cowboys Stadium from 6 p.m. until? ... at the 105.3 The Fan Miller ... More >>

Dallas Cowboys' Pre-Season Schedule is All Over the Map

​Five games. Three time zones. Two training camps. Your Dallas Cowboys are certainly expanding their brand as America's Team. But is such nomadic pre-season good for them? The Cowboys will travel almost 5,000 miles this summer, compared to only 852 for the New York Giants. I think jet lag is ... More >>

JumboJerry Staying Put

​On the agenda at the NFL owners meetings this week in Orlando: *Marquee TV games, including the Cowboys' 2010 Thanksgiving opponent. *Further discussion of how to share annual $8 billion in revenue with players. *New rules changes. Maybe overtime. Possibly eliminating the three-point stance. ... More >>

NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 9

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback rating. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings - if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademarked ... More >>

NFL Quarterback Rankings: Week 9

​Like the BCS, style points count. So do geeky, black-and-white stats such as touchdowns and quarterback rating. Wins and losses? Definitely. Leadership? Uh-huh. When it comes to my weekly NFL Quarterback Rankings - if I had one of those little encircled R's to signify a trademarked ... More >>

The 'Boys Are Back In Town

Lone Star Face

Chili Bowl

The Cowboys host the Texans