For the last month we've all been - gladly, of course - buried up to here in the Texas Rangers.
Don't look now, but the other sports in our city didn't shut down. Let's play some catch up, shall we?
FC DALLAS - In the Major League Soccer's Western Conference semifinals, they have a 2-1 aggregate lead heading into Saturday's second-leg game in Utah against Real Salt Lake. Apparently Jeff Cunningham and David Ferreira (voted MLS Player of the Year) are FC Dallas' most potent offensive players. Last time I paid attention it was guys like Eddie Johnson and then Kenny Cooper. If they make it to the West Finals, I just might make the trek to Frisco. This playoff thing is kinda fun. And, after all, according to FC Dallas' video, yours truly - along with Shawn Marion and Kim Fischer and Nancy Lieberman and Rick Carlisle and Michael Johnson and Bob Sturm and even Big Tex - is "Dallas 'Til I Die."
DALLAS STARS - No Modano. No Turco. No buzz. No ... problem? The Stars are off to 7-4 start, punctuated by last night's impressive 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at American Airlines Center. Loui Eriksson had two goals and an assist and apparently the Stars stood up and - literally - fought the Pens. Maybe all isn't lost after all?
DALLAS MAVERICKS - With the usual suspects - Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, et al - performing their normal duties, they are off to a 3-1 start. That includes, however, an ugly home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies and a fortunate 102-101 road win in Denver last night when Carmelo Anthony in-and-outted a potential game-winning jumper at the buzzer. Roddy Beaubois still isn't back from a broken foot, rookie Dominique Jones isn't a quality-minutes guy yet and Dirk's hair is still ridiculously shaggy. In other words, it's way early. Nothing to suggest, however, that the Mavs won't win another 50 games and earn yet another playoff berth come April.
DALLAS COWBOYS - Just when we (at least some of us) thought they had this thing figured out, they came off the bye week and rallied to tie the Tennessee Titans late only to cough up the momentum immediately with an excessive celebration penalty by an offensive lineman and an ensuing 73-yard kickoff return. When quarterback Tony Romo went down with a broken collarbone on an awful Monday night against the New York Giants the defense quit and the season imploded. At 1-6, the next meaningful play won't be until when - not if - head coach Wade Phillips is fired.
