Cowboys Injury Update

Roy Williams said today that he will play with three bruised ribs this weekend against Kansas City. Both Marion Barber (quadriceps) and Andre Gurode (knee) are expected to play as well. Unfortunately for Cowboys fans, Wade Phillips is also expected to coach.

Really? Romo…

The story is coming out that Romo didn’t realize what down it was when he threw consecutive passes to Sam Hurd during the Cowboys final drive against the Broncos.

I’ve been a staunch supporter of Romo, but he’s making it increasingly more difficult to defend him…

The Dime Bag: Why Do I Feel This Way Edition

Last night, after landscaping my front yard, cooking dinner and giving my eldest son a bath, I turned on the Mavs/Rockets game. Mavs were down two. Then JET hit a jumper, then Dirk, then JET, then JET, then JET again.

Why God Why? Why do I feel excited watching the Mavs again? Why do I let myself get sucked into what I know will end up as colossal disappointment again? It’s a paradox. Unexplainable. Kinda like how my buddy Chris can continue to cheer for the Astros, when I think they just started using negative numbers in the win column. But, I digress. Back to the Mavs. 

I’m not naive enough (at least at the moment) to think the Mavs have any shot at the championship, but I do think they can beat the depleted Spurs. They’ve won seven of their last nine and are the first Dallas sports team in a decade to end the season playing their best ball. My biggest concern is that Cuban will see this as justification for adding one more piece to the puzzle instead of blowing the whole thing up like I believe he needs to. 

Here’s some other ‘feelings’ I need explained:
* Why do I feel like I could beat JJ Barea out for the point guard spot?
* Why do I feel like hiring Tanya Harding to clip Dirk in the knee everytime he tugs at the left side of his jersey?
* Why do I feel like Shaq to the Mavs would be a good move?
* Why do I feel like Josh Howard has improved his trade value but will still play for the Mavs next year?
* Why do I feel like Rick Carlisle should legitimately be considered for Coach of the Year?

If you have any answers, I’m listening…

Sad.

This is almost unbelievable and is already seeing national attention. And not in a good way for the Dallas Police Department.

Great TV…

If you don’t get the golf channel or been disinterested in golf, then this is for you. The Haney Project with Charles Barkley. Brilliant.

Parts 2, 3, and 4 after the jump…

The Dime Bag: Cowboys Offseason Review Edition

The landscape of the Cowboys roster has gone through some pretty dramatic changes, so let’s review:

• Pacman Jones showed he could catch six punted footballs at one time during HBO’s Hard Knocks. That was his only highlight last year. He proceeded to get in a fight with his own handler. Suspended. Returned. Sucked. Released. 
• Tank Johnson was cheering that he was a free agent in the locker room following the embarrasing loss to the Eagles 44-6. Not re-signed. He’ll be missed about as much as Steve’s case of the crabs.
• Bye-bye Zach Thomas.
• Chris Canty signed with the Giants for $42 million. Couldn’t keep him and hope to renew Demarcus Ware’s contract so he tested free agency. The Giants defense is solid.
• Kevin Burnett is currently testing free agency and has yet to sign, but I’m sure he will. The Cowboys will miss him more than we know.
• Anthony Henry was traded for backup QB Jon Kitna. Last season showed Henry’s inadequacy and the importance of the quarterback role if Romo were to go down again.
• Tony Curtis was released. Third tight end after Martellus Bennett took over the second spot. See ya Tony.
• Keith Davis is also testing free agency. With a bullet still in his leg, I don’t know that he’ll draw much interest.
• Cowboys picked up veteran LB Keith Brooking. From all reports, a quality locker room guy and adequate LB to put alongside Bradie James.
• Cowboys released safety Roy Williams. Stats for 2008: 9 tackles, 2 broken arms. Good riddance. It’s been a long time coming.
• Cowboys lead every news story by releasing Terrell Owens. Read Steve’s post below…ditto

I don’t know what it is, but I’m a little excited again about the Cowboys. I’m sure it’ll end up being misplaced emotion, but the butterflies are fluttering none-the-less.

What’s Grosser Than Gross?

The sheer thought that this will happen?

Tees & Ace: He’s Back…

Tiger Woods announced last week that he is ready to begin on the road to the Masters with his first tournament coming this week in the Match Play. Let’s review: he’s had a complete knee reconstruction since winning in dramatic fashion at the US Open and had another baby with his supermodel wife. So even though he hasn’t played competetively in quite some time, Tiger has been plenty busy. 

And let’s face it, the PGA Tour needs Tiger back. The golf purist may sit there in front of his TV cheering for Fred Couples or Kenny Perry. The junior golfer may watch to see what Ian Poulter or Sergio Garcia are wearing. And the novice fan may tune in to see how Hefty Lefty Phil Mickelson will blow another 5 stroke lead. But it’s Tiger that draws the crowd. And the ratings. And the sponsors. Love him or hate him, most everyone has an opinion. Tiger, the Dallas Cowboys, and the NY Yankees have a lot in common that way. He is paid the most. He wins the most. It’s like we are watching history on his every swing. When he’s missing from the field, we’re looking for the “next” Tiger. Or mowing the yard.

Shaq-Fu & The King

Rumors are swirling that the Cavs are wanting to trade Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic for Shaquille O’Neal. I do this trade if I’m both teams. Phoenix would be better off with cap relief and guys that can run the court in the rejuvenated “seven seconds or less” offense under new coach Alvin Gentry. The Cavs are already awesome and it doesn’t matter who you really put with Lebron, but adding arguably the best center of all time wouldn’t be bad.

Top 5: President’s Day Edition

In honor of some historians recognizing Abraham Lincoln as the best president ever, this Top 5 will pay amige to Mr. Lincoln with the Best Sports Beards of all time. 

5. Johnny Damon

4. Baron Davis

3. Bruce Sutter

2.Token Hockey Player

1. Kimbo Slice

Top 5: NBA All-Star Edition

Here’s the Top 5 Things We Loved:

1. Shaq’s dance with the Jabbawokees.
2. Allen Iverson’s expulsion of the corn rows.
3. Lebron (tentatively) entering the 2010 Dunk Contest in Dallas.
4. The fact that Dirk didn’t dance.
5. Chis Paul. 14 points, 14 dimes, 7 boards, 3 steals and an alley-oop dunk from Tony Parker. 

Here’s the Top 5 Things We Hated:

1. The Dunk Contest
2. The 3-Point Contest
3. The HORSE Game
4. Allen Iverson as the starting guard
5. All the “how many rings would Shaq and Kobe have won if they stayed together” talk that we knew we’d hear today.

Today Is A Big Day?

If you are a baseball purist or just a fan of the game, it’s a big day for you. The season is officially getting underway with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training today. The rest of the players can report on February 17th. Wake me up in October.

Bizarre???

Joaquin Phoenix (Commodus from Gladiator) is pursuing a career as a rapper. And a yetti. And wow, is he high. 

The Dime Bag: Top 5 Edition

Here’s a laundry list of Top 5′s that have been on my mind for some time now…please comment with your (dis)agreements or your own Top 5:

Top 5 Most Overrated Players in the NBA
1. Allen Iverson DET
2. Tracy McGrady HOU
3. Marcus Camby LAC
4. Jermaine O’Neal TOR
5. David West NO

Top 5 Most Underrated Players in the NBA
1. Chauncey Billups DEN
2. Danny Granger IND
3. Antawn Jamison WAS
4. Jameer Nelson ORL
5. David Lee NY

Top 5 Current Places To Play – Any Sport (If I were a player)
1. Cameron Indoor Stadium
2. Fenway Park
3. Lambeau Field
4. The LA Coliseum
5. Wrigley Field

Top 5 All Time Best Uniforms
1. Houston Oilers
2. Michigan Wolverines
3. New England Patriots
4. Houston Astros
5. Dallas Cowboys

The Dime Bag: Kobe v. Lebron

The MVP race is perceived to be a tight one in the Association. I beg to differ. I wrote a while back that Lebron is currently doing something that Kobe has failed to do at this point. Transcending the game. But for this edition, let’s keep it on the court. Forget endorsements, commercials, rape charges, baby powder and let’s ask the big question: Who’s better? Kobe or Lebron?

2008-2009 Averages for this year: 
Kobe – 27.5 ppg – 5.6 rpg – 5.0 apg – 47% field – 35% 3 pts
Lebron – 28.6 ppg – 7.5 rpg – 7.1 apg – 49% field – 31 % 3 pts

My driver’s education teacher in high school always said, “keep up with the flow of  traffic, act and react to every situation around you.” It’s really a great school of thought that applies to this very discussion. You see, this is how Lebron plays. He leads the league in scoring right now, but does it in the flow of each and every game. Kobe on the other hand, puts the blinders on and hits the gas. And don’t get me wrong, that’s the way I play pick-up basketball. But who does Kobe make better by doing that? Lebron is basically leading sloth and the rest of the Goonies to one of the league’s best records and his team has improved each and every year.

When Kobe won three titles, he had arguably the best big man of all time. And it’s taken adding Pau Gasol to really get the Lakers back into contention. Kobe has always competed with the ghost of Michael Jordan. I still remember Kobe calling off a screen from Karl Malone in an all-star game to play one-on-one with MJ. Shaq made Kobe better. Not the other way around. And we all know the state of the Lakers after Shaq left and Kobe finally got his wish of it being “his” team. They sucked.

Lebron leads his team. You see his guys running the floor after a defensive rebound because they realize they might actually see the ball on the other end. The Cavs play FOR Lebron and not simply WITH him. There’s a funny eyeroll of “there he goes again” from many of the Lakers supporting cast once the ball gets in Kobe’s hands. That’s why they are different. That’s why Lebron is better.

T.O. To Join The Crypt Keeper

A rumor is being passed around by SI.com that T.O. could possibly be traded to the Raiders and will undoubtedly not be a Cowboy in either case. To Raider Fan: Please take him. He fits in perfectly to your completely disfunctional scheme. He will keep your team in the news much to your owner’s delight. And is still a serviceable talent. Kinda.

The Dime Bag: All Sports & Nude Girls Edition

Ok, so there aren’t any pics of nude girls. Just trying to get more web traffic. So since you found us, put your privates back in your pants, try to stop sweating and read on…

• Alex Rodriguez got caught with his pants down and a syringe in his ass. While he was a Texas Ranger no less. There is no doubt in my mind that steroids are as rampant in baseball as weed is in the NBA. Purely for medicinal purposes in both cases I’m sure.
• New York Knicks just finished a week in which they faced the Lakers, Cavs, and Celtics. Arguably the three best teams in the NBA. They lost. All  three games. I bet the Knicks still wish they had the “Jordan Stopper” Gerald Wilkins to deal with the likes of Kobe and Lebron. 
• Tony Romo talked to a Babe. Laufenberg that is. See it here. Same ‘ole, same ‘ole. My favorite part of the interview is when he completely side steps the question about wanting T.O. back on the team next year.
• The Mavs are 30-20. Dirk dropped 44 in their latest against Chicago. They are only 4.5 games out of first. I still don’t think they will make the playoffs. But in true Dallas sports fashion, they will leave us hanging until the last possible second….and then we’ll pull the trigger. Brains. Everywhere.
• The Dallas Stars are good??? Well, they’ve won 7 of their last 8. Tied for 2nd in the Pacific Division. Go Steve Ott. That’s the only thing I know about the Stars. And he’s my favorite player. Since he’s the only one I know. 
• The Texas Rangers signed Andruw Jones. That’s just what we needed. We’ve had three pitchers suffer season ending injuries before the season has even started. So let’s go get a washed up superstar. And I use the term superstar very, very loosely. Jones ’08 stats: .158 AVG, 3 HR, 14 RBI. Nolan Ryan needs to go Robin Ventura on the wonderboy GM John Daniels very soon. 

Rob Dyrdek is Back!

Rob & Big is minus the Big Black bodyguard/roommate and has created the ultimate place that is a dream for just about any guy. Check it out. This was my favorite show on TV for a while and now I can’t wait for this to premier!

The Dime Bag: I’m Not Impressed Edition

• I’m not impressed that the Mavericks beat the Nellie St. Warriors 117-93. They finally beat a team they should have instead of losing by 35 like they did to Milwaukee’s Best earlier this month. It’s time. It’s time Mr. Cuban to blow this thing up. With Jason Kidd’s 20 mil coming off the books this year, the Mavs need to get younger. It’s also overdue to build this thing around someone besides Dirk. While I’ve always thought Dirk is a great player, I’d much rather have the likes of Kobe or Lebron.
• I’m not impressed that the Charlotte Bobcats are 3 games out of a playoff spot currently. Larry Brown is a great coach but will not be loyal to this team. Even with MJ sitting in the luxury suite, Larry Brown will some how figure out a way to leave after this year AND collect the entire amount of his contract. MJ also needs to stick to making shoes instead of running a franchise. It’s not working.
• I’m not impressed with Greg Oden. Yet. Maybe not ever be. Despite the last couple of weeks that he’s starting to turn in consistent double-doubles, he’s still averaging 9 points, 7 rebounds and 1 block a game. I do believe he was the right pick for Portland, but this 50 year old kid should be dominating at least on the boards and defensive end of the floor.
• I’m not impressed that Tracy McGrady come back from yet another injury. I would be impressed if he didn’t get injured in the next 10 games though.
• I’m not impressed that Eddie House made 8 3′s and scored 28 points against the Kings. This guy shoots the ball as soon as he gets it. Whenever he gets it. Where ever he is on the court. He’s not a shoot first pass second kinda guy. He’s a shoot first, and second, and third. If you can’t shoot it, just kick it out of bounds kinda guy. Much like the early and mid 90′s Georgetown High School basketball teams.

Mom Jeans Jessica

As I saw on GordonKeith.com, Jessica Simpson looks like she put on a few pounds or had an allergic reaction to everything. The biggest travesty are the mom jeans she tried to squeeze into. Can Tony Romo do anything right anymore?