Nelson Cruz’ Departure = the Arrival of the Rangers’ Future

First line of my Observer column from May 19: He’ll be here before you know it. Sooner than we all expected. He is Leonys Martin. And the future of Texas Rangers’ center field is now. Trying to remain calm. And I know Martin — though he’ll take the Rangers’ roster spot…

With A&M Gone, the Big 12 Might Set Its Sights on … Dallas?

The Aggies are a joke. After a 15-year marriage, they want a divorce. Greener pastures they say, failing to camouflage their hissy-fit jealousy of Texas. Their long-time spouse, the Big 12 Conference, shrugs and begins courting other attractive partners. And now, almost three weeks after we’d all deemed the Aggies…

2011 MTV Video Music Awards: My Top 10 Observer-ations

Best performance of the night, by far, was Chris Brown’s dancing melody which included him grooving to Nirvana and flipping and flying in the air on wires hooked to his back. Very cool. 9. Upon receiving a Moon Man trophy for Best New Artist, a dude named Tyler, The Creator’s…

Cowboys 23, Vikings 17: My Top 10 Observer-ations

[jump] 5. David Buehler better get healthy. Fast. Not only did Dan Bailey make field goals of 37 and 41 yards against the Vikings, veteran Shayne Graham made a 38-yarder and sent three of his six kickoffs into the end zone. And, remember, 2009 Lou Groza Award winner Kai Forbath should…

Rangers 9, Angels 5: My Top 10 Observer-ations

10. Love ESPN’s on-screen strike zone and other unique camera angles and, for the most part, I dig Bobby Valentine’s analysis. But when he says a change-up low and away will get David Murphy out “every single at-bat” it’s just makes him sound silly. 9. Down 4-1 and facing Jered…

Whitt’s End: 8.26.11

[jump] *No matter what you think of the Rangers planned Stone Monument, the tribulations of Shannon Stone and his family are gut-wrenching. *I’d like soccer better if goalies couldn’t use their hands. I’d like dogs better if they didn’t have tongues. *Excited about UFC 134 Saturday night from Rio de Janeiro,…

Cowboys’ 2011 Silver ‘n Blue Debut: My Top 10 Observer-ations

10. If Wednesday night’s crowd at Rangers Ballpark was 30,000 it killed Cowboys’ practice across the street. I’d say there was 15,000 inside Cowboys Stadium, tops. I guess $1 Hot Dogs > $10 Parking. 9. Early in camp in San Antonio linebacker Keith Brooking intercepted a pass and began sprinting down…

A Fan’s Legacy

Long before the baseball that was the catalyst to his accidental death at Rangers Ballpark, Shannon Stone grabbed another souvenir in Arlington. This one — a foul ball caught in 1983 off the bat of his favorite player, Buddy Bell — perished when his parents’ house in Johnson County burned…

Texas Motor Speedway Announces 2012 Schedule. In Style.

As I’ve written before, nobody throws a party like Texas Motor Speedway grand poobah Eddie Gossage. He added to his legacy again Tuesday night at Gilley’s south of downtown Dallas, unveiling his track’s 2012 schedule with a party featuring Kurt Busch, Kyle Petty, Matt Kenseth, sword swallowers, stilt-walkers, Stoney LaRue…

The Top 10 Kickers in the History of Your Dallas Cowboys

Already with company in training camp in the form of free agents Dan Bailey and Kai Forbath, David Buehler’s job as Cowboys’ kicker became more tenuous Tuesday when the team signed veteran Shayne Graham. Graham made his name with the Bengals from 2003-09, and last year was 12 of 12 for…

My Rangers Fantasy Finish

Sure, let’s get greedy. In June, Mavericks fans were presented with a utopian climax: Sweep the hated Lakers and then rally to beat the even-more-despised Dwyane Wade and the Heat in the NBA Finals behind an MVP performance from long underrated, underappreciated star Dirk Nowitzki. I’ve pretty much given up…

Rangers Lose Big For the First Time in a Long Time

What started so promising … ended with a whimper. The Rangers won the first six games of the 10-game road trip. Late last Thursday night they were three outs from an eight-game lead in the AL West. Then Mark Trumbo took Mike Adams deep, Texas’ offense evaporated in Chicago and,…

Chargers 20, Cowboys 7: My Top 10 Observer-ations

[jump] 5. Talked to head coach Jason Garrett in the locker room about Tony Romo’s interception. Sure enough, it was half-bad read (he thought Eric Weddle was latching onto Bryant and not Kevin Ogletree) and half-bad throw (too flat to get over the safety). 4. Bryant dropped a first down…

Whitt’s End: 8.19.11

[jump] A&M to the SEC? To me it’s a joke. Notre Dame to the Big 12? You heard it first right here last week … and it’s gaining momentum. Had my first experience with a red-light camera last week. Got a ticket in the mail from the city of Plano…

What Exactly Do the Cowboys Have in Running Back Felix Jones?

Is Felix Jones the man? Or just the man until DeMarco Murray becomes the man? Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said this week on his weekly radio show that he considers the fourth-year running back one of the keys to Dallas’ season. “I expect Felix to have a really good season,” Jones…