Mark Teixeira: Grade the Trade.

Somehow, the Rangers don’t miss this guy’s big bat. The Rangers have trotted out Ben Broussard, Chris Shelton and maybe soon even Hank Blalock to his old position. And in last month’s draft they picked the next him. But dig a little deeper – just a level or two down…

Sooner or Later You Knew I’d Get Around to Pro Rasslin’

Now, and only now, I’ve earned the right to call this joint The Sportatorium. Just got my grubby little hands on Gentleman’s Choice, a new documentary by Dallas film producer Mickey Grant. Better late than never, those of you who stumbled onto this site looking for professional wrestling vignettes will…

The Texas Rangers’ “Dead Money”

A $4-Million Frank That’d be one Frank Catalanotto, says Forbes today on its list of sports’ “Best-Paid Bench Warmers.” Why come? Well, first off: He’s making $4 million this year. And he’s had all of 144 at-bats. And, notes Forbes, “Catalanotto has never reached 500 at-bats in a season during…

Jessica Simpson Likes Her Meat

Mike Fuentes for Unfair Park A mid-afternoon breather after a morning full of actual news: We now direct your attention to this suitable-for-framing Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo photo, which apparently is being taken as a right cross to the jaw of one of Tony Romo’s exes, “sexy vegetarian” Carrie…

Update: Star-Telegram Has Already Laid Off 17 Newsroom Staffers

An addendum to the downsizing at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: According to several sources, 17 staffers in the newsroom were let go this morning, among them managing editor Gary Hardee, science writer Carolyn Poirot, arts writer Todd Camp, Lifestyles columnist Mary Rogers, travel editor Judy Wiley and three librarians. Writers…

NASCAR = Nincompoops And Scoundrels Carousing Amidst Racism?

See here, I been to a race or two. I’ve been to the Daytona 500, attended several races out at Texas Motor Speedway and even penned one of my first Dallas Observer columns about racin’. It’s always been a little fascinating/unsettling seeing all the white faces, red necks and confederate…

South Side on Lamar Developer Gets First Crack at Convention Center Hotel

Wow, we were way off: Woodbine Development ain’t getting the convention center hotel after all. Matter of fact, it finished dead last among the three contenders being considered today by the city council’s Economic Development Committee during its closed-door executive session. The top choice: Matthews Southwest, which, as we noted…

Ross for Boss! And He’s Got Charts!

“The Return of Ross Perot?” asks a The New York Times blog post this morning — which means, awesome, it’s time to whip out my ironically purchased Ross for Boss T-shirt that’s held up remarkably well 16 years later. The Times site actually links to David Broder’s Washington Post column…

Dimming at the Star-Telegram, As 130 Staffers Are About to Lose a Job

As mentioned below, The McClatchy Company this morning announced it’s laying off and buying out some 1,400 employees amongst the dozens of papers that make up the newspaper chain. Moments ago, the McClatchy-owned Fort Worth Star-Telegram announced precisely how many of its employees will be excised during the coming days:…

North Dallas is Good for the Jews

Shalom, Y’all Good thing I didn’t let my subscription to Jewish Living lapse (got it for my bar mitzvah, along with a bunch of savings bonds and fountain pens). Because now I know that North Dallas is No. 5 on the list of the Chosen People’s top 10 neighborhoods in…

Father’s Day: The Extended Re-Mix

The U.S. Open trophy will reside in Dallas. Sorta. Since Father’s Day is all about eating and sleeping and not mowing the lawn and eating some more – oh yeah, and watching golf – doesn’t it officially spill over into today? Thought so. No one in sports delivers more dramatic…

A Peek Inside the Ugly Convention Center Hotel Bidding Process

Ray Garfield As mentioned earlier this morning, the city council’s Economic Development Committee will name the convention center hotel developer today — behind closed doors in executive session, the Dallas way. And, yes, odds are it’ll be Woodbine Development emerging from those closed doors as Your Convention Center Hotel Developer,…

The Ghost Town Inside Downtown Dallas And How to Deal With It

Snapshots from an abandoned downtown: water damage in an unspecified hotel and exposed wiring. Another interesting item on the council’s Economic Development Committee agenda: discussion of a pilot program aimed at dealing with the vacant and abandoned buildings downtown, 10 of which were inspected from June 5-13 in preparation of…