As I’ve written before, I fell in love with the game of baseball in 1986 — the first year I watched every inning of the World Series. Although I had no rooting interest in the match-up between Boston and New York, I couldn’t help but feel absolutely heartbroken for Red…
The intellect of one of the best managers and greatest players in baseball history short-circuited at the worst possible times for the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the World Series, but Monday night’s match-up wasn’t won or lost on brain farts by Tony La Russa and Albert Pujols…
His face is on the one-dollar bill, the quarter and Mount Rushmore, and he may or may not have chopped down the cherry tree as a child. You know George Washington, but it’s unlikely you know the real George Washington. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History offers you…
I expected Derek Holland to finally realize his potential as a top-of-the-rotation arm in the American League Championship Series. That, of course, didn’t happen. But it turned out the Rangers didn’t need him to be great to win his Game 2 and Game 6 starts, as the Texas offense racked…
Well, that didn’t last long. One day, the Texas Rangers and their fans are basking in the glow of a dramatic ninth-inning comeback win against the St. Louis Cardinals to tie the World Series at 1-1, with the next three games to be played at home in Arlington. The next…
If you’ve read my piece about St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, you know that the first time I had a really good, strong sports cry was Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. As a fan of La Russa and the Oakland A’s at the time, Kirk Gibson’s…
Sometimes the worst managerial moves are the ones that weren’t made, but the focus tends to be on the ones that were. The vast majority of media and fans across the country agree that Tony La Russa out-managed Ron Washington in Game 1 of the World Series last night, which…
Upon arrival at the Kessler last year for the inaugural Blues, Bandits & BBQ shindig, there was little doubt it would become an annual event. Sure enough, it’s back, this time at Lake Cliff Park (1200 N. Zang Blvd.). Enter the barbecue competition ($100 entry fee per team) to compete…
It’s finally here. Pinch yourself. Your Texas Rangers are back in the World Series, and this time feels much different than last year’s playoff run. There’s a confidence flowing through my body that just wasn’t there before, and I suspect the players feel the same way. Don’t get me wrong…
For whatever reason, my relationship with baseball went from casual to deeply committed bordering on obsessive during the 1986 baseball season. Like most kids growing up in North Texas, my father taught me to love the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers and Dallas Mavericks (in that order) — if for no…
If you missed last night’s CNN Western Republican debate in Nevada, the clip above is the best example of why the GOP is seriously screwed no matter who they choose. The two supposed front-runners — Mitt Romney and Rick Perry — acted like a couple of high schoolers, barking and…
Not so long ago, Minnesota Twins backstop Joe Mauer was the consensus pick as baseball’s best catcher. But the 2009 American League MVP, four-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and .323 career hitter had another injury-plagued season in 2011 (missing significant time for “leg weakness” of all things) and in…
After the Texas Rangers fired Buck Showalter following the 2006 season, general manager Jon Daniels interviewed five candidates. Of course, there was Ron Washington, a longtime third base and infield coach for the American League West rival A’s who wasn’t interviewed for Oakland’s managerial vacancy. Then-Rangers bench coach Don Wakamatsu,…
As the trade deadline approached in July 2006, it seemed inevitable that Jon Daniels would make a bold move to bolster a mediocre offense in his first season as general manager. He targeted the best hitter on the market — Carlos Lee, an established 30-HR, 100-RBI slugger. And Lee was…
As depressing as it was, I believe Game 3 of the American League Championship Series was an anomaly, much like Game 1 of the ALDS. Nothing seemed right. And while Wash’s decision to keep Colby Lewis on the mound when he was obviously out of gas was the turning point…
Wow. What an amazing start to the American League Championship Series for Your Texas Rangers. Two close games. Two incredible wins. Now Detroit has to win four of the next five games to get back to the World Series for the first time since they fell to St. Louis in…
Back in February 2009, I penned a cover story about the Texas Rangers’ new philosophy of relying on kiddos from their farm system instead of throwing big money at the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Chan Ho Park and Kevin Millwood. The youth movement was in full swing that spring as…
[Editor’s note: At the request of a few regulars, we’re going with a rare weekend-night open thread to celebrate the Rangers’ second straight appearance in the American League Championship Series. Will we do this again tomorrow? Hard to say. Let’s see how tonight goes. I’ll be in and out, but…
Recent census data tells us what we already know: Hispanics outnumber non-Hispanic whites in Dallas by a sizeable margin — more than 150,000, in fact. And because the 500,000-plus residents who immigrated here from south of our border or have roots in Latin American countries haven’t left their cultures behind,…
If you hadn’t noticed, boot camps have been among the hottest fitness trends for years, which is why Camp Gladiator — one of the state’s most popular boot camps — holds its annual Gladiator Games in cities throughout Texas. As opposed to a week-long boot camp where intense training is…
Just how watered-down is the Cowboys-Redskins rivalry these days? It certainly doesn’t help that Washington has posted a winning record just twice in the last 11 seasons, with a whopping seven different head coaches roaming the sidelines during that span. And Dallas has dominated the match-up recently, winning four of…
Wade Emmert’s no longer on the fence about attempting to succeed Jonathan Neerman as Dallas County Republican Party chair. After telling us last week that he was interested in the position, he’s now committed to running against current vice chair Debbie Georgatos (pronounced Jor-jah-tos). Precinct chairs will choose between the…
