Sean Avery Just Got The Gap a Free Ad on Unfair Park, Genius

This full-page ad, featuring Star Sean Avery, will appear in the September Details Alas, let us now consider our latest and greatest Dallas Star, Sean Avery, who this morning was branded “considerably less recognizable” than John Mayer and Sarah Silverman, poor baby. True enough, but the unidentifiable one is in…

Dallas-Based Texas Syndicate Leader Gets Life in Prison

For a man about to spend at least the next 40 years of his life in prison, Roy Arredondo hardly seemed nervous. Arredondo, the reputed leader of a Dallas-based cell of the Texas Syndicate prison gang, was sentenced this morning in Dallas federal court to life for his role in…

Ben & Skin to do their new Radio Show in Spanish (Sólo bromeaba)

Skin has cash and, apparently, safety goggles. Ben’s the other guy. I’ve always loved, er, at least really liked Ben & Skin. The dudes are fast, funny, fresh, friendly, finicky and, best of all, freaky fans of friggin’ alliteration. But in the ramp-up to them taking over middays 11 a.m.-3…

Former Cowboy Mark Stepnoski Is a Pro-Bowl Conspiracy Theorist

Mark Stepnoski Yesterday, one Edward Rynearson — no, not Ned Ryerson — directed our attention to his blog and this lengthy interview with former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Mark Stepnoski, who, as we noted, is among those trying to launch a privately financed 9/11 commission in New York City. Turns…

Dickey’s Not Dicking Around

The original Dickey’s barbecue, founded in Dallas in 1941 Back in October, Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey’s son Roland Dickey Jr. told the St. Louis Post Dispatch he expects to open 60 brand-new Dickey’s Barbecue Pits by the end of 2012. Now comes this announcement from the eatery’s president: He…

Red Sox 19, Rangers 17

Artist’s rendering of Scott Feldman. You know how you know when you really, really suck? When you score two touchdowns and a field goal and still find a way to lose. Oh yeah, and you’re a baseball team! The Rangers’ horrific pitching sank to historic depths Tuesday night, turning the…

Dallas Opera’s Very Hip, Very Happening New Man of Steel

Whitney Lawson George Steel Dallas Opera’s announcement yesterday that, after a yearlong search, it has decided to go with George Steel as its general director has them mighty disappointed in New York City, where, for the past 11 years, Steel has been executive director of the Miller Theater at Columbia…

If You Thought Things Were Bad at State Schools, It’s Probably Worse

Mark Graham Last week’s cover story on abuse at state-run institutions for the mentally retarded generated both positive and negative feedback. Cecilia Fedorov, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (the agency that oversees state schools) called me last week to tell me she was “disappointed”…

At SMU, Apparently, Sarah Shahi Was “Walking Blue Balls”

The September issue of Esquire — due on stands shortly with, I believe, that flashing “E Ink” cover — profiles a “Woman We Love” with distinctly local ties: Euless-born, SMU-educated Sarah Shahi. And from the sound of the piece, which isn’t yet online, Joel Stein’s very, very much smitten with…

Your New Live 105.3 Midday Hosts: Ben & Skin

Bob and Dan vs. Ben and Skin. Delicious. Another radio industry source tells me just now that Live 105.3 is indeed shifting its midday focus toward sports and former Ticket hosts. But instead of Greg Williams and Mike Fisher, Ben & Skin have landed the gig. Commencing 8.25.08. — Richie…

Minding the House: Recollections from Stanley Marcus’ Family

From DeGolyer Library Collection, SMU Billie Marcus, left, and Stanley Marcus with Coco Chanel before the first Neiman Marcus Fortnight in 1957 Swear, I will not turn Unfair Park into a 24-7 Marcus House drive-thru; in fact, this will likely be our last posting on the subject as it moves…

“Big Dick” to, um, Enlarge

Careful Romo, next thing you know Jessica might leave you for a syndicated star. Back to sports after this short break for your weekly breaking radio news: Richard “Big Dick” Hunter, host of the always innovative and usually intoxicating Wild Ass Circus on Live 105.3, is going big time. I…

The DPD Could Use Your Eyeballs

The Dallas Police Department, riding high off the arrests made from this YouTubed video, has posted two more — including this freshly baked footage of four men burglarizing a residence in broad daylight. (It appears to have been shot by a neighbor, who, one would hope, was dialing 911 with…

No, No, I Said, “Matzo Balls.”

View Larger Map Interesting note in my morning in-box, courtesy Avi Adelman’s Daily Crime Report service. Turns out, at around 11 p.m. Sunday night, cops arrested someone for masturbating in public in good ol’ Northwest Dallas. Weird. Only, weirder still, it occurred in the rather busy 3600 block of Forest…

So, How’re Those Convention Center Hotel Negotiations Going, Anyhow?

Developer Jack Matthews has till August 18 to finalize his negotiations with the city to build Mayor Tom’s convention center hotel project. So with the deadline fast approaching, we figured it was time to see how the deal was doing. Turns out, the council’s Economic Development Committee is meeting Friday…

Chargers 31, Cowboys 17 vs. Terrell Owens Hearts Kenny G

He’s on T.O.’s iPod? Who knew? Aw, come on. You didn’t really think I was going to dissect a preseason game didja? Okay, maybe just a little. Felix Jones has an intriguing burst. Mike Jenkins is instinctive, if not technically polished. Pacman Jones’ performance better be his worst of the…

Mark Stepnoski, Lou Grant Looking to Smoke Out 9/11 Conspiracy

Mark Stepnoski About six years back, Our Boss Man wrote about former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Mark Stepnoski’s efforts to play on grass as the then-newly installed president of Texas NORML — you know, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Which, turns out, was only the tip…