When ESPN debuted in the early 1980s, one of the network’s time-filling staples was Australian Rules Football. I was obsessed. The giant, oval field. The fans with gigantic pom poms. The four – that’s right, four – goal posts. The referees that signaled points by seemingly drawing six-shooters from their holsters and by resuming play…

Bill Parcells considered him a closer. Jerry Jones gave him a ton of money. At one point we called him “The Barbarian.” But at this point, Dallas Cowboys’ running back Marion Barber is just a minimal role player. Right? Barber went to the Pro Bowl as a backup in 2007,…

If only Fritz Von Erich was around to see this. The old Dallas-based professional wrestler used to mesmerize me and paralyze opponents in the 1970s – down at The Sportatorium, no less – with his signature move, “The Iron Claw.” He’d basically take his powerful right hand and squeeze the life…

This season the Dallas Cowboys will play on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the day after New Year’s. Despite the lack of a holiday tie-in, they’d like to climax their schedule with an unprecedented event in the franchise’s 50-year history: A February game. “You can’t help but know it’s out there,”…

Ain’t what it used to be.   To me the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants rank ahead of the Washington Redskins as the Dallas Cowboys’ most fierce rival these days. While the Cowboys have played the Eagles and Giants in playoffs games the last couple years, I don’t recall…

I got some thoughts on the Cowboys this season. And I’m willing to put some mythical money where my piehole is. Over at Bodog.com they’ve got up their propositions for the 2010 season. Let’s cut-and-save and maybe I’ll share the wealth come February 2011. Team Odds to win the 2011…

10. Even for cup-runneth-over-in-red-flavored-optimism fans, this ain’t good. Your Texas Rangers have lost five in a row (outscored 37-19) and eight of 10, and in the last two nights in Toronto have surrendered a whopping seven homers. Looks more like a slow-pitch softball game with all the dingers. Vernon Wells…

Haven’t thought about Dan Hampton in a while. Some of you may not have ever heard of him. Hampton, a defensive tackle, played at Arkansas and then was a member of the famed 1985 Chicago Bears and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’s always had a…

The Texas Rangers haven’t won a game since last Wednesday. They’ve dropped four in a row – including a 7-2 Labor Day thrashing at the hands of the Blue Jays in Toronto and one of the wildest, worst endings to a game you ever did see on Sunday in Minnesota…

Been telling anyone who would listen all summer that – stop the insanity – Sam Hurd would make the Dallas Cowboys’ final roster over Jesse Holley. Reasoning? Holley did nothing better than Hurd and owner Jerry Jones, in this “all in” season, would not let financial implications dilute his team’s talent. So there…

Cliff Lee received a trigger-point injection for the knot in his back. Josh Hamilton got a shot of jelly in his knee. And to this, Texas Rangers fans, I say “rejoice.” Better now than later. The Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-3, to extend their lead in the AL West to 9.5…

Tonight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington the home team “regulars” won’t play. The Miami Dolphins will use their starters. Other than a juicy wagering opportunity, here are a couple things to keep your eye on as the Cowboys mercifully end the longest preseason in the history of professional sports: *Stephen McGee…

Home runs. RBI. Slugging percentage. Batting average. Fielding percentage. The best player on the best team. Seems everyone in baseball has a varying criterion on how to choose the most valuable player. Texas Rangers hitting coach Clint Hurdle’s standards are simple, yet a tad more subjective. “The MVP should be…

Sean Lee is good. But not good enough. Drafted in the second round to be a better Bobby Carpenter, the Penn State rookie has looked good in the preseason. But not good enough to earn the job as the Dallas Cowboys’ nickel linebacker. Spin it any way you want, this…

More importantly, you ever coming back? I said yesterday I’d give the playoff ball to C.J. Wilson over Cliff Lee. Saw nothing in last night’s 10-9 loss to Kansas City Royals that changed my mind. You? Thought I’d never write this: The Texas Rangers lost a game started by Cliff Lee in which…

In advance of this week’s Observer column on Texas Rangers’ outfielder Josh Hamilton I asked new owner Chuck Greenberg about signing his star to a new, long-term deal next winter. “With his bat and glove and legs and arm and heart, he’s our MVP and I think the best player…