Mavs

Dwight Howard is not coming to Dallas. I, for one, am relieved. The size and talent is undeniable. A big man with his skill set is the type of player you can build a franchise around. His most valuable asset is that presence to deter opponents that have navigated to the basket. We saw first-hand how important that is with Tyson Chandler. With Chandler we also saw want, leadership, and a willingness to be part of the machine. Yep, that team game. I'll be the fuddy-duddy that values the team concept over isolation offense. Howard wants the offense tailored to him, but at the same time seems to shy away from being the man.

The gathering of stars has worked in Miami for one reason, Lebron is the best player on the planet. He can isolate all he wants, he can also distribute for those open jumpers when teams collapse on him. One, I don't know that Howard's game provides anywhere close to that with his low post game, and two, I ain't sure about his kick-out ability. Once again, his strength is his size, much like Shaq. But Shaq had Kobe. That ain't Dirk's game. I want a big man that compliments Dirk, not one that wants to be the core. And yeah, Dirk ain't gonna be forever...

But I don't want to put all my eggs in the future Dwight basket. He's a flake. We've all seen the last couple years. Running Van Gundy outta town and brazenly mocking it at SVG's press conference. The odd opting back in with Orlando after basically saying goodbye. The guy who couldn't handle Kobe and his desire to win. He only got comfortable when Kobe got injured, giving us that silly pep talk from the movie 300. I dunno, seemed really stupid to me. I guess I see a line between being loose and free, and being silly. I want my superstar to want to carry the team at that moment. After Kobe went down, that's when he shoulda demanded the ball and been a force. Instead it was a forgone conclusion. Whereas, Durant went balls out when Westbrook went down. That dude wants it. Not just living a comfortable, rich, celebrity life but also wanting to win. Some people just ain't got that gene.

I've seen and heard a shitload about the Mavs "losing" in their pursuit of Howard. He just didn't choose here, it wasn't for a lack of effort. They didn't lowball him. Hell, for all we know this was decided long ago between Howard and Harden. We've all heard how confident Houston was the entire time. Would it shock you to think Howard just enjoyed the attention while already knowing where he'd end up? And on the flip side, I don't begrudge him for listening to others. Hell, something mighta persuaded him. I seriously doubt the Mavs did anything wrong.

The one complaint that can be made towards the Mavs is how they've constructed their roster to deal with attracting big names to come here. i.e. Should they have kept Chandler, not so much to keep the band together, but as an asset for trades and such? I don't know enough about the CBA to figure that shit out. Chandler is still owed another $28 million for the next 2 years, which would seemingly be what the Mavs would have had to pay to keep him. Lets be clear, we weren't winning it bringing everyone back. So, it comes down to the assets portion.

Well, we ain't got the assets because we put together an older team that gelled perfectly. We weren't developing younger players, because we had a group of veterans determined to win the title. Who doesn't make that trade every time? The Mavs have the 2nd highest winning percentage of the 21st century, behind only the Spurs. And now it's time to pay, but they're still trying to put something together for the Dirk twilight. It's not for lack of effort. Deron took more money, and Howard chose the team with the younger star. That's it. Hell, I bet OKC woulda loved to get Dirk when they decided to get rid of Harden. Anyone wanna get rid of Dirk?

Now lets see what kinda roster they can construct. Step 1 was signing point guard Jose Calderon. Always been a fan of this guy. An unselfish player always amongst the leaders in assist-turnover ratio. He's a dead-eye shooter that led the league in 3 point percentage last year. Twice he's just barely, and I mean barely, missed becoming a member of the 50-40-90 club(50%FG-40%3FG-90%FT). Six guys have done it in NBA history- Larry Bird, Mark Price, Reggie Miller, Steve Nash, Kevin Durant, and the great Dirk. One time he didn't have enough FT attempts, and another year he finished with a .497 FG%(the club doesn't round up)...One year he shot 98% from the free throw line(I could take a cheap shot at Howard here...I guess I did). I can't wait to see the pick-and-roll game with Dirk. Deadly.

Now we need to get that aforementioned guy in the middle to deter driving opponents, and provide a low post game to compliment Dirk and Calderon's outside one. I think it's basically down to 2 guys, barring any unforeseen trades(which shouldn't be discounted). That would be Nikola Pekovic and Andrew Bynum. My preference would be Pek. 27 years old, 6'11", and a bull. Last year went 16 and 9, shooting 52% from the field. He's restricted, and I don't know if Minnesota has a ceiling on what they would match. I think I'd be cool with 4/48...I actually wished death on Bynum after his cheap, pussy-ass foul on Barea during the Mother's Day Massacre. I still don't like him, but if healthy, he's a great talent. Still just 25, his last year in the league he went for 19 and 12, 56%FG. He's gotta lot of that Howard flakiness, too. Very risky long-term investment because of those knees. If you can get him on 1-2 year make-good deal, all the better. If it takes 3-4, shit I dunno. Lets get Pek.

Obviously, this doesn't complete a roster. I haven't thought enough on how that will shake out, still so much time. Vince, Crowder, and Larkin are likely on the bench. I hope we can retain Wright. I love Trix, but he may become a valuable trade asset. Like I said, I dunno enough about the CBA and whatnot, but if they get Pek and can work in Monta Ellis, I wouldn't be mad. Ellis on his own would be disappointing, but with Dirk, Pek, and Calderon........Oh shit, that defense would suck. Fuck it, I'm still excited....2011 forever, mofos.

I have something I need to get off my chest...For 2 years, before I moved to Dallas, I liked the San Antonio Spurs. Forgive me, I was young and lived there. The young mind is easily impressionable and malleable, hell before that I lived in Northern California and rooted for the A's(Rickey rules).

They were a middle of the road team, without an obnoxious fan base. A former ABA team that had never done shit in the NBA, there was nothing to boast about. The great George "Iceman" Gervin was on his last legs, but it was really cool to watch him play. He still put in 21 PPG that last season in SA, but the recently deceased Mike Mitchell led the team with 22 PPG. Man, I loved Mitchell. The point guard was UT's own Johnny Moore. He was a real solid dude, averaged a double/double and real easy to root for. He came down with a life-threatening case of meningitis, it was some scary shit in the local news back then. He made it, and is currently coaching Corpus Christi in something called the American Basketball League. The center was the great Artis Gilmore, talk about a cool motherfucker. 7'2" with an afro that averaged 19 and 10, shooting 62% from the field...Looking back it's surprising they weren't better.

The real joy was going to those games at the Hemisphere Arena, on the Riverwalk, and watching the big names come to town. Such great memories, saw Magic and Larry and Jordan. Malone and Barkley and Kareem, etc...Get there early, watch shootaround, and get autographs. And root for the Spurs against them. The nite I saw Jordan, Spurs put up something like a 28 point halftime lead on them. Jordan led a crazy 2nd half comeback to win the game for the Bulls. At one point he got a wide open steal and did the 'rock-a-bye-baby' dunk. Place went nuts and I'll always remember the cat in front of me jumping in the aisle, yelling "That's what I came to see". Yeah, same here...First playoff game in person was there vs. the Nuggets. It was during Fiesta, huge party, great times. And I'll be damned, I really liked those teams.

With that being said, I will take no joy in watching them raise the trophy if they beat the Heat. I'm a firmly entrenched MFMFFL(Motherfuckin' Mavs Fan For Life), have been for a quarter century. The Spurs, and their fans, are the enemy. Duncan and Parker annoy me to no end. I take Joey Crawford's side vs. Timmy. The Mavs' Game 7 win in '06 is one of my favorite sports' moments. Bruce Bowen sucks. Finley in black and silver was disgusting. I like Pop, but who doesn't?

But motherfuck, I'll be rooting for them against the Heat. Floppin' mofos are bad for basketball. Having a 'bad guy' to root against is good for sports. I embrace it, but fuck this floppin' shit. Really Lebron, you're a top 5 talent all-time in this league, be a fuckin' man. You're a fuckin' bull, stop acting like a gnat....Wade, ha, no point in asking you to man up. Bitch. Bosh has turned into a joke with his screaming. Weirdo. Chalmers reminds me of Nick Cannon, but that's an insult to Nick. Birdman, you showed your colors with that shit on Hansbrough. Really dude? Used to be okay with Udonis because of the UF connection, but his shit on Hansbrough last year was even more pussy than Birdman. Fuck, I hate this team...

So I'ma just pretend it's the Iceman, Mitchell, Moore, and the A-Train...Go Spurs, fuck the fuckin' Heat.

The NBA Draft Lottery went pretty much as expected for the Mavericks. With a 98% chance of getting the 13th pick, they got the 13th pick. Cleveland won it, and is expected to take Kentucky's Nerlens Noel. I dunno 'bout that guy, barely got a chance to watch him this year...but, meh. I really don't know who I'd take, 'cause I ain't big on Kansas' Ben Macklemore, either. I like Indiana's Victor Oladipo and Michigan's Trey Burke, but they ain't first overall types. Anyways, I'm basically interested in what the Mavs do. The mocks are all over the place..I've seen Georgia's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, San Diego St.'s Jamaal Franklin, UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad, Miami's Shane Larkin(been skyrocketing since a big combine), and Syracuse's  Michael Carter-Williams... Lehigh's CJ McCollum probably doesn't fall far enough..Dario Saric is probably a name to keep an eye on due to Donnie Nelson's history.

I don't want Shabazz, never saw one impressive game from him last year. Lotta high school hype...Larkin's big strength is supposedly the pick n roll, which is always intriguing when you have Dirk. But he's only 5'11" and I don't think big combine stats justify a lottery selection. The name helps too- he was a good, competitive player for the Hurricanes, but no thanks...Franklin is interesting, led his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals last year. But his shooting percentage leaves a lot to be desired, especially from 3 point range. Caldwell-Pope is a similar player to Franklin, roughly the same 6'5" frame that can score and rebound. Caldwell-Pope has better range and would be my choice between the two.

The really intriguing guy here is Michael Carter-Williams. I dunno if it's the similar names or the similar builds, but he makes me think of one of the NBA's most talented, wasted careers- Michael Ray Richardson. Carter-Williams isn't as flashy, and at this point, not as talented. But then again, neither was Richardson at this stage in his development. He was coming off his sophomore campaign at the University of Montana, the only school to recruit him. His coach, the great Jud Heathcote, was leaving to take the same position at Michigan St. and coach Magic Johnson.

Richardson, a shy, country kid at the time, considered Heathcote his father figure. But he stayed, grew into his talent, and after his senior season became a first round pick of the Knicks. He struggled a bit his rookie season, but in year two led the league in assists and steals while also putting in 15 points and nearly 7 rebounds a game. He also discovered the New York nightlife and all that comes with that. Studio 54 and the heyday of cocaine. After four seasons and three all-star appearances he was shipped off to Golden State for the great Bernard King. The drugs and erratic behavior were just too much for the Knicks.

His Golden State career only lasted 33 games, as he found the same troubles in the San Francisco night scene. He was shipped to the New Jersey Nets. Around this same time is when David Stern instituted the three-strike drug policy in the NBA. Richardson was constantly having one month stays in drug rehabs. Checking himself in and out, Larry Brown even took him in once. The talent was still there, in the '84-'85 season he put up 20 PPG, 8 APG, 5 RPG, and 3 SPG, playing in all 82 games. He was once again an All-Star but it all came crumbling down the next year. Strike three came, and Stern banned him for life...Richardson eventually got clean and played into his forties in Europe, but we'll never know just how great he coulda been. Hall of Fame talent, Magic said they had the same game. Isaiah said he was the only guy that scared him on the court.

I don't know if Michael Carter-Williams will ever develop into a Richardson-type on the court, but the numbers and size are strikingly similar. Part of Richardson's greatness was his confidence, considered a league leader in trash talking. Not sure Carter-Williams has that vibe, seems like a real nice kid. Which isn't a bad thing at all, it's just an asset that is almost needed at the elite level. These guys have to know they can't be stopped.

Actually I'm kinda surprised by the mocks that have Carter-Williams lasting 'til the Mavs pick. I think he'll go before then, and this comparison will quickly become moot(at least from a Mavs' perspective). But if he does last, he's the guy I'd go for.

The heat is here. Took a while, been a tame year. I like the changing of the seasons, and I identify certain music with the weather. Fall and Winter are classic country and deep soul seasons for me. Al Green singin' bout love, Merle Haggard about loss, and Ray Charles combining the two. The heat brings out styles for the day- doing yard work, chillin' by the pool or sittin' on a beach, etc.. and for the nite- in the back yard relaxing or sitting on a patio drinking beer...Figured I'd throw out some good Spring/Summer tunes for your listening pleasure:

Hot Fun in the Summertime by Sly and the Family Stone: This is the ultimate summer tune, hell it's in the lyrics. Jerry Martini and Cynthia Robinson provide a chill horn section, and Sly brings the laid-back vocals. Sly throws a little jab at Motown, at the time Motown was trying to keep up with the times and started making some music with the more psychadelic touches that Sly was already incorporating. One of those was Cloud Nine by the Temptations. So if you ever wondered what the hell the lyric, "I cloud nine when I want to" means, it's Sly's friendly little poke.

I Saw the Light by Todd Rundgren: Not to be confused with the Hank Williams Sr. song with the same title, this song is just super chill. It's the perfect road trip, windows and/or top down, cruising tune. Rundgren, an under-recognized musical genius wrote, produced, played every instrument, and provided all the vocals on this, along with every other song on his great album Something/Anything?. He's an interesting cat- he kinda had a feud with John Lennon, was reportedly part of a coin flip on who to kill between the two for assassin Mark David Chapman, and the actress Liv Tyler spent most of her childhood believing he was her father. Him and Steven Tyler both had relationships with Playboy Playmate Bebe Buell around the time of her birth.

The 'In' Crowd by Ramsey Lewis: This was originally a song with lyrics performed by Dobie Gray. One nite a waitress asked the jazz-pianist Ramsey to play a version of it. So he did, and this instrumental take on the song became a hit. This is perfect for chilling in the backyard at nite, and drinking a cold one.

Blue Sky by The Allman Bros: The great Dickey Betts wrote this for his Native-American girlfriend Sandy "Bluesky" Wabegijig. It's just a beautiful song with Betts and the late, great Duane Allman playing dual lead guitars. Dickey also sings the lead vocals usually reserved for Gregg Allman. The three minutes or so guitar bridge just weaves its way perfectly for some backyard times.

Blue Bayou by Linda Ronstadt: The greatest female vocalist of all time gives her take on this Roy Orbison song. Listen on a beach, on a patio, sweating or with a fan cooling you. Right when you hear that opening bass line it's relax time. She just has the purest, most perfect tone to her voice and Don Henley provides nice backing vocals.

It's All Right by Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions: Much like Rundgren, I feel Mayfield is an under-appreciated genius. He wrote civil rights and feel-good songs with the Impressions, and then in his solo career put out some of the sweetest soul and funkiest tunes. And most all of it with a message. He was a brilliant composer, multi-instrumentalist, and sweet singer. This particular song just puts you in a good place, it's great for any time of day when you just wanna "listen to the beat, kinda pat your feet...'cause you got soul, and everybody knows that it's all right".

Start out with those, there's multitudes more. Of course the Beach Boys are perfect for the season, really any album. Put in Stevie Wonder's under-the-radar classic album Music of My Mind, catch some rays, and let Steve paint a picture for you. Neil Young's Harvest or After the Goldrush chillin' on a hot summer nite. The Shangra-Las, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, or the Chiffons for some classic girl-group harmonies and relaxation. And when you have some laid-back company over, you can't go wrong with a huge jazz playlist filled with Coltrane, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, Jimmy 'Pork Chop' Smith etc. The girls just kinda flow along in those summer dresses to the vibe, sippin' on Chardonnay...

I've been re-arranging my house, because I get tired of seeing the same old shit in the same places every day.  Anyways, I started working on my office room, looking at my sports memorabilia, and it made me start thinking back how I acquired some of it. Man, when I was a kid  I loved collecting autographs. I mean autographs personally obtained, not purchasing them. Mainly at games and sometimes thru the mail. I started realizing the impact athletes can have on kids as I was reminiscing on where this shit came from. These guys have remained some of my all-time favorites, probably largely due to my personal experiences with them. So I figured I'd write about a few of them.

Mike Schmidt- The greatest third baseman of all time. When I was about 10-11 years old  I took to sending baseball cards out to players at the their stadium's address. Real simple shit, just a short note with the card and a self addressed stamped returned envelope. I got tons of replies, and a lot of stuff never returned. The replies usually came back within a month, so after about 4 months of no answer I figured no luck with Schmidt. I mean, hell, he's a 3 time MVP, he probably gets way too much crap. But then one day I get home and there it is, an envelope from Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Open it up, and there's my autographed Mike Schmidt card. But I'll be damned, there's more- this guy added a personal letter. And the shit was detailed- "Dear Mike,..thanks for taking an interest in the Phillies...I was happy to sign what you sent....Sorry I wasn't prompt as I like to read each letter personally..." and so on. And it too was signed, not facsimile or stamped, but the real ink deal. A quarter century later that letter is sitting framed on my office desk.

Charles Barkley- I lived in Montgomery, Alabama for one year as a little kid. Barkley was at Auburn then, and I went to a few games and saved the programs. A few years later, he's in the NBA and I'm living in San Antonio, so I go check out a Sixers-Spurs game with my Auburn program in hand. Get there early and approach Sir Charles for an autograph while he's taking pre-game shots. He starts acting all impressed that I got an Auburn program with him on the cover. Next thing I know he's going to spots on the court- at the elbow, the low post, behind the arc- and passing the ball to me for me to set him up. That was the shit for a little kid, I'll always love Chuck.

Bob Feller- Yeah, pretty crazy- a HOFer from the 30s and 40s. There was this little sports card shop I used to go to in San Antonio, and one day the owner tells me he's gonna have Feller in the store in a couple weeks signing autographs. He tells me to come over before they open, so I can talk to Feller. So I did, and sure enough it's just me and the owner and fuckin' Bob Feller shootin' the shit about old time baseball for about an hour. There was a donut shop next door, I got Rapid Robert some coffee. Still have that autographed baseball on my book shelf.

Chet Lemon- Lemon was a hard-nosed cat that was usually in the league leaders in hit-by-pitch and running into the wall. He was usually good for 20 homers and an .800 or so OPS. Not a star, but a really solid player. One year my dad took me to Spring Training down in Florida, and we made the rounds. So I'm at a Detroit game and here comes Lemon towards the dugout. Lots of calls of  "Hey Lemon" or "Hey Chet". By then I'd learned that using "Mr." really helped. Sure enough he's ignoring everyone, but hears "Mr. Lemon" and looks at me and says, "I gotta go shag some flies, I'll get you when I'm done".  So I wait, and when he's finished he runs back into the dugout, seemingly ignoring me. But a few seconds later, he pops out with a baseball. A fuckin' real major league baseball, and signs it for me. Then he goes back in the dugout without signing for anybody else. Me and Chet, lifetime bros. It's sitting on my bookshelf.

Al Oliver- My favorite athlete of all time, probably my favorite human being of all time. I've completely frozen around someone twice in my life. One of those times was in Denton. There was this girl named Paige that I just was lightning-struck by. You know the scene in the Godfather when Michael sees Apollonia? That was me with Paige. One nite I'm at an outdoor party out in the country, one of those 'Dazed and Confused' type parties. I'm refilling at a keg, by myself, and here comes Paige batting those doe eyes with her bee-stung lips. She says, "Hi", and I say nothing. I just grab her cup and refill it. She says, "Thanks, see you later?". I say nothing. Fuck me...I met Al Oliver before a Braves-Expos game one day, and did the same thing for much different reasons. Man, I just couldn't speak around Scoop. The best...Paige and AO, my silencers.

Man, there's so many more...Dominique Wilkins is the nicest superstar, Stan Musial-I met Stan the Man, Ruben Sierra signing a foul ball I caught off the bat of Jose Canseco...I met the Mick, the Mantle autographed ball is probably up there with the aforementioned...and so on and so on... It's kinda fun being a kid.

The great Kevin Johnson retired after the '99-'00 season. Along with Larry Bird, KJ is my favorite non-Maverick NBAer of all time. Dude was special, went 20 PPG and 10 APG four years in a row. He also had two 19/10 seasons. He was 6'1", but has three of the greatest dunks of all time. Check 'em out on YouTube- over Hakeem(yeah, Hakeem Olujawon), Hot Rod Williams, and 7'5" Mark Eaton. You know how Chris Paul just takes over games with that mid-range jumper? That was KJ, you had to give him space or he'd cross you over and drive the rim...'92-'93 was the year KJ and Barkley shoulda won a title. They lost the first two to Jordan's Bulls, and then won Game 3 in triple OT behind KJ's 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in 62 of a possible 63 minutes. Bulls took it in six, winning that last one 99-98. John Paxson hit a three with 4 seconds left to win it. That was the only Bulls' points scored by someone other than Jordan in the entire 4th quarter. Game 7 woulda been in Phoenix...oh well.

Anyways, my modern-day KJ is Joakim Noah. Holy shit, I love watching this guy play. The 2 national titles at Florida were just a primer for how much I'd like this guy. I remember after one title, when they went to the White House, Noah showed up wearing a dashiki and sandals...Fuck stupid protocol. Now in the NBA he's just a fuckin' warrior on the court. Dirk tweeted last nite that he was a beast. I once worked a Mavs-Bulls game doing some audio/video for FSSW. Anyways, there was like 4 hours down time between setup and game time, so I sat in the arena and watched the Bulls early shootaround. An assistant had Noah running sprints and he seemed to be doing them at the slowest, laziest pace possible. He was crackin' me up, bitchin' about the tedious task. Come game time, dude had more energy than anyone. Must be those tennis bloodlines.

Last nite he went for 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 blocks in the Game 7 victory over the Nets. The entire second half I just isolated on him. The help defense, switching, boxing out, offensive cuts, etc. were just a joy to watch. Try it out in this Heat series, it's something. LeBron is probably gonna play the role of Jordan and end Joakim's run, but Noah gonna bring it...

I had to add this because it's just incredible. Simply the best.

Secretariat was the baddest muthafucka...I thoroughly enjoy living in modern times with modern technology, modern conveniences, and modern women. But there's something really romantic about the '30s, '40s, '50s-sportswise. The big three were baseball, boxing, and horse racing. Baseball, obviously, is still a major player but the other two are far back...I can't really see boxing ever making it even close to back. It's been 2 decades since heavyweights had a face with Tyson and Holyfield. The '90s and early '00s had a good run with the lower classes- Roy Jones Jr., Felix Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins(still doing it, bad man), Oscar DeLaHoya, Shane Mosely, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arturo Gatti, Micky Ward, Erik Morales, Pernell Whitaker, etc..I miss it, the sweet science-brutality juxtaposed with grace.

My childhood sports' memories were heavily seeped in the great bouts of the '80s. Hagler, Hearns, Duran, Mugabi, Mancini, Arguello, Pryor..Great fights, and they were on free TV, or at worst, HBO. There's something so pure about the mano y mano, enclosed in a ring, spotlighted for spectators spectacle that the big fights produced. It's not just some brutal battle, but a beautiful dance of defense and striking. And endurance and heart... MMA has overtaken boxing in popularity, and while I can appreciate the skill that they possess, it will never capture my imagination like the great pugilists once did.

Today is the one day a year when horse racing gets the spotlight, not like in the past, but still forces its way into the public consciousness. And if today's winner captures the Preakness, then the attention grows chasing that elusive Triple Crown. Its only happened 11 times in over a century, the last time in 1978 by Affirmed. I've never seen one, but I never saw one in baseball, either...until Miggy Cabrera last year. We've come close, the most disappointing for me was Silver Charm losing the Belmont by a nose. Love that gray horse. Gray horses are the best, I remember going out to Trinity Meadows in Weatherford. It was before they built Lone Star, and we'd always bet on the grays. Selective memory tells me they came thru. My first big Derby win was out there, as well. They simulcast the Derby, and the joint was packed, I bet $10 across the board on Lil E. Tee at 17-1 odds. As he hit the final turn, some random stranger next to me was going crazy, jumpin' up and down and grabbin' my shoulder. Turns out he had Lil E. Tee for $100 across the board. Good times.

The first time I ever booked any bets was my freshman year in the dorm at UNT. It was for the Derby, and I just took random $2-$20 bets from other cats in the dorm. About everyone bet on the favorite, and he came in 11th, I think. Made a quick $200 and was hooked... I guess it's in the blood, I remember going to Expo Raceway in Sacramento with my parents as a child. We'd go on the weekends and my dad would let me place some $2 bets with my chore money. It was harness racing- some crazy shit. One nite my mom hit the Pick 6(the winner in six races in a row), paid $15,000. Brought her out on the track and presented her one of those golf-sized checks. Good times.

I tend to lean towards the Arkansas Derby winner when handicapping Kentucky, and this year's no different. I'm going with Overanalyze for the win. The Arkansas race was slow this year, but he wasn't really challenged. He's going off at 15-1 right now. I'll go with the Orb, the favorite, to take the place. And Rick Pitino's horse, Goldencents, for the show. 

It's the most exciting 2 minutes in sports, so check it out.

The ultimate Texan turned 80 today.
Smoked a joint on the roof of the White House, and lost at chess to Ray Charles.

If you wanna hear a great take on standard classics, check out Willie's Stardust album.
If you wanna hear the genesis of true outlaw country, check out The Red Headed Stranger and The Willie Way.

A great life lived on his terms.

Shawn Bradley is tall.
Jerry Seinfeld is Jewish.
Karen Borta is female.
Ruben Sierra is Puerto Rican.
Travis Roy is paralyzed.
Usain Bolt is fast.
Bill Clinton is liberal.
Condoleeza Rice is black.
Jason Collins is gay.
James Garner is old.
Prince is short.
Jamaal Wilkes is Muslim.
Brad Pitt is white.
Stanley Tucci is bald.
Kate Moss is skinny.
Tim Tebow is Christian.
Mitt Romney is conservative.
Ron Washington is male.
Bill Gates is rich.
Richard Gere is Buddhist.
Michelle Wie is Asian.
Jennifer Aniston is straight.
Elvis Andrus is handsome.
CJ Wilson is straight edge.
KRS-One is Hindu.
Shakira is hot.....

This shit ain't that difficult, yo.

OTs make for a boring first round. Lets be honest, none of us really know what we're talking about when it comes to grading offensive linemen. Yeah, I've seen Luke Joekel plenty but I didn't concentrate on him. Eric Fisher? Ain't nobody knows nothin' 'bout him. He's big, quick, and athletic. At least that's what the numbers say. I can't really blame the Chiefs or Jags, as there were no impact skill position players or absolute defensive studs in the top of this draft...This leads me to the Cowboys. Of course, I wanna laugh at their pick and I'd probably be justified in doing it. I can't tell you anything about Travis Frederick outside of his measurables. The two glaring negatives with this pick are the questionable return Dallas got from SF to move down, and the fact they likely coulda got Frederick with their second pick. Otherwise, at least they addressed the OL. The guy comes from a quality program, is big, and intelligent. It doesn't address the outer edges, the places that cause Tony Romo to turn into the Tasmanian Devil, but it does potentially provide a smart anchor that can make the correct reads and form a cohesive unit.

Seems like a lot of Dallas fans were upset they didn't stay at 18 and select DT Sharrif Floyd from Florida. I've seen most all of his games, and I dunno why he was so highly touted. I wouldn't sweat it...Bjoern Werner, DE from FSU, was a guy I was afraid the Pokes might take. Dude brings it, I think the Colts made out just fine...Sylvester Williams, DT from UNC, is the guy I think most Dallas fans will look back on with regret. Probably coulda got him at 18, and still got Frederick in the 2nd. Instead he'll team up with Von Miller in Denver.

My favorite picks of the first round were Tyler Eifert, ND TE to Cincy, Jarvis Jones, UGA OLB to Pittsburgh, and for personal reasons, Eric Reid LSU S to SF...I think Eifert will be the best player in this draft at his position. Guy is a solid blocker with great hands. If opponents have to engage a safety on him, Andy Dalton could have a field day throwing to AJ Green. And of course the inverse is true, Green could open up Eifert to be a star...Jones was probably the best defensive player I saw a lot of from this draft. He's a havoc-maker in the backfield, and he did it in the best conference in the country. I don't get why he wasn't considered a top 10 player. I guess there's questions about his work ethic, but you don't naturally-gifted fall into 14.5 sacks. I bet Tomlin turns him into a star...Reid was really the guy I wanted for the Niners. After losing Dashon Goldson to free agency(TB), safety became a position of need. Reid first really caught my eye in the Alabama game last year. That interception at the goal line was the difference maker, and it was all about desire. A defensive version of Steve Smith, i.e. want the ball more than the other guy.

Tonite should be more interesting, the second and third rounds will bring more skill position players and we'll see which teams are filling needs, which ones are loading up on athletes, and which ones are accumulating more draft picks for the future. There's still plenty of names out there, where will Geno Smith go? The league seems to think he's a product of Tavon Austin. I tend to agree. Who will finally grab Manti T'eo? He was overhyped all year, probably wasn't ever really a first round talent, and Alabama exposed him. Add in the girlfriend hoax, and I don't know why you'd even bother. I guess eventually he becomes a value pick, but I wouldn't wanna deal with it.

Frank Gore is probably my favorite current Niner. But Father Time has gotta be right around the corner, and it seems like a good time to groom a replacement. Kendall Hunter is recovering from an Achille's injury and LeMichael James doesn't have the size to be an every down back. I'd love to see SF take Alabama RB Eddie Lacy with its second round pick. Lacy is a stout 5'11", 230 pounder with 4.45 speed. He possesses a wonderful twirl move and is coming off a 1,300 yard 19 TD season with the Tide. If they decide to go another direction I wouldn't mind seeing them take a flyer on South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore, late. Coming off a terrible knee injury, he'd be a good guy to stash as Gore surely has a few more solid years left.

The Cowboys really need to look for bigs and nastys. When your best defensive player is such a sweet guy like DeMarcus Ware it's time to bring in some attitude. Ware is a future HOFer that can still get to the QB with frequency, but he doesn't really seem to inspire. Spencer and Lee seem like real swell fellas, as well. The nastiest guy is probably Ratliff, but he really ain't shit, has a bitch attitude, and made a really dumb decision following the Jerry Brown tragedy...OL/DL is obviously what Dallas should be looking at. I'd be looking at Barrett Jones from Alabama and Johnathan Jenkins from Georgia. I'm partial to SEC players in the high rounds, and wouldn't look to get cute with smaller school 'sleepers'. Really, if they went OL with their first 3 picks and revamped the line, it would make the Frederick pick more palatable. You invested in Romo, now give him a young, massive unit to operate behind. Then maybe we'll see if Romo is an antsy gun-slinger or a guy who can pick apart defenses with time. Personally, I hope they go S, RB and continue doing what they do...makes for great radio.

Mavs Report Card. Frustrating season from close/OT losses to Dirk missing a third of the season to Delonte being dismissed before the season started to a .500 season...

Dirk Nowitzki(B): Fewest games played and lowest PPG since rookie season. It took a while for the big guy to fit into this hodgepodge of teammates. Towards the end of the season he started showing some of the brilliance that has him sitting at 17th on the all-time scoring list. Health permitting, he should move into the top 10 next year, passing Jerry West, Reggie Miller, Alex English, John Havlicek, Dominique Wilkins, Oscar Robertson, and Hakeem Olajuwon. He's on pace to finish in the top 5. Simply the greatest athlete in DFW history. Dirk sounds upbeat about the future and what Cuban is gonna do to bring the team back to prominence. He wants to stay in Dallas forever, is about to be a father, and is ready to recruit for the team. He turns 35 in two months, but still is one of the most impossible guys to guard in the league and with the right mix can be a cog on a championship contender.

Shawn Marion(B): Along with Dirk, the last of the major players of the greatest team ever. He missed 15 games this year, but was otherwise typical Marion. 12 points, 8 rebounds, and glue defense. The defense didn't seem as stifling as in years past, but it's still there. Could be because there weren't as many important moments this year. He keeps himself in tremendous shape, and I feel more than comfortable having him back. He is currently 90th all-time in points, 47th in rebounds, 57th in blocks, and 24th in steals. Quite a career he's carved out.

Vince Carter(B+): I think Vinsanity was the team's best player this year. It's kinda faint praise considering the year the Mavs had, but Carter only missed one game and was a consistent scorer off the bench. He shot 40% from 3 and showed solid defense. He was really the only guy that could create his own shot, and seems to have fit into the veteran leadership mold. Vince is 32nd all-time in points scored, and is under contract with the team for next year. Considering the team wasn't really going anywhere this season, I'm glad we didn't do the proposed trade for Jose Calderon.

OJ Mayo(C-): I dunno, I almost gave him a D because by the end of the year he was so frustrating. But he was second on the team in PPG, shot 40% from 3, and 82% from the free throw line. He showed flashes early with a 40 point outing in Houston and a big late 3 v. OKC. He made a clutch, creative basket to send the Clipper game into OT that seemed to give the team hope. But he was generally poor against the top teams in the West, and showed awful ball control for most of the season. Really bad late in games. He pissed Rick off in the next to last game, and opted out with his player option. I doubt he returns.

Darren Collison(C): I had high hopes, but after a full season of viewing it's pretty obvious he's a backup PG in this league. His decision making, especially late in games, really makes you appreciate Jason Kidd. He's extremely quick, can hit the open jumper, a tremendous free throw shooter, and seems to be a dedicated worker. He never developed a solid pick and roll with Dirk, but I'd like to keep him around in a backup role.

Chris Kaman(D+): The guy really has a decent post game and can consistently hit the 10-12 foot jumper. But he's oft injured, doesn't provide defense, and never seemed to gain Rick's trust. Seems destined to be an NBA vagabond from this point forward, he won't be back next year. Can't even blame the BaD Radio Curse, it just wasn't meant to be. That was a hard show to listen to, props to Sturm for always having to keep it somewhat structured. I don't think Chris is a bad guy, but he was all over the place talking over questions.

Elton Brand(C-): I liked his work ethic, and at times he was productive. But he's just a shell of the player he once was. Too often the elbow jumper wasn't falling, and many times I don't even remember him being on the court. But he played in 72 games? He was just filler on a team trying to fill out a roster, and won't be back next year. It's been a solid career, 64th all-time in rebounds and 26th in blocks.

Brandan Wright(B): The most productive season for the 25 year old, former lottery pick. He's long, has quick hops, and a nice touch. Shot 60% from the field this year. Had a difficult time gaining Rick's trust, as his frame and strength doesn't fit against the stronger players in the league. I really like his potential, and hope the Mavs have him in future plans.

Mike James(C): Brought in because of Collison's late game futility. The 37 year old has carved out a long career with hard work, decent 3 point shooting, and the willingness to drive to the basket. He won't be back, but I like the guy and he gave us solid effort.

Jae Crowder(C+): The rookie 2nd round draft pick is a keeper as a solid role guy off the bench. He showed nice potential, but seemed to wear down as the season progressed. He's not afraid to take a shot, and seems like a jack-of-all-trades type. He's expressed a desire to trim down some so he can be a better and quicker defender.. Cutting the hair would help.

Bernard James(D): I love the Air Force, ergo I love James. But he's just not much more than an end of the bench type that could provide some blocks and rebounds. His service time makes him already a ripe 28 years old. I hope he can bounce around long enough to make enough money for a comfortable life, and no doubt he'll be a hard worker, but he's not a future building block.

Dahntay Jones(D): Came over in the Collison trade, giving up lifetime passer Ian Mahini. He didn't do much and was traded to Atlanta for Anthony Morrow at the trade deadline. His biggest contribution to Dallas was in Atlanta, with Kobe landing on his foot and giving the Mavs a glimmer of hope late in the season.

Rodrigue Beaubois(D): Oh Roddy, such an inconsistent, disappointing talent. Rick never has trusted him. Flashes of brilliance are outweighed by a beguiling lack of game smarts and injuries. When he finally started showing something this year, he got hurt. Roddy's a free agent this year, and it's probably time to move on. Au revoir, Roddy...we'll always have the Golden State game.

Jared Cunningham(F): 1st round pick looks like he has nothing. A supposed defensive stalwart who played 8 games in the NBA, spending most of the season in Frisco. He's under contract for next year, so lets see what an offseason brings.

Derek Fisher(D-): I was always ambivalent with my feelings toward Fisher. Never hated him or anything, despite being a Laker. But his stunt with the Mavs was ridiculous. I'll give him a little benefit of the doubt, as I know he's had some tough times with his daughter. But the 'family issues' kinda ring hollow this time, as he went to OKC shortly after. As the prez of the player's union, I expect a little more accountability.

Eddy Curry(F): Made 56K for 2 games. Dude has no want.

Chris Douglas-Roberts(D): 6 games, 17 points. We hardly knew you. Guys shouldn't have hyphenated last names.

Anthony Morrow(D): Came over in the deadline deal for Dahntay Jones. A 3 point specialist that hardly played. He did tweet about Dirk's greatness after the Chicago game. Cool...He made one 3 as a Mav.

Troy Murphy(D): Ha, yeah he was here...for a bit. His career has gotta be over. Props for carving out a nice living as a solid rebounder with a nice touch.

Dominique Jones(D+): Got to start a few games, I think one was decent. He scored 42 total points in 2010-11, so he gets a lifetime pass...Released.

Josh Akognon, Justin Dentmon, Chris Wright(I): PGs brought in on 10 day contracts. Garbage time, no future with the Mavs. Props to Wright, becoming the first NBA player ever with multiple sclerosis. Rooting for the kid in life.

So that's it. A tough season for the Mavs, really weird not being in the playoffs. I still have high hopes for the future, as I think Dirk can be really good for the next 2-3 years. Gonna be an interesting offseason with guys like Al Jefferson, Nikola Pekovic, and Monta Ellis being on the market. Of course there's also Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. Paul is a pipe dream, and I just don't want Howard. I get it, he's potentially a dominating force in the middle, but I just don't like him. I question his desire, his flakiness, and his back...Who knows what the trade market will bring? I'm dreaming of Pek, Dirk, Marion, Monta, Vince, BWright...

Takin' a look at the start of the year...Joe Ortiz is the man, he really looks like one of those cartoon bulldogs. In 8 2/3 IPs he's sporting a 0.692 WHIP, the only walk being intentional. A stable, consistent bullpen is really looking like the key to the season. It's a pitching/defense team, last nite they won without an extra base hit, something they did twice all of last season...The A's are legit, but the great Yo Enis! is on the 15 day DL after an awkward slide messed up his fingers. Seth Smith is just a professional hitter...Angels have been awful. Josh has been pressing and swingin' at everything, but he did park one last nite. Him and Trout have yet to get going, but that pitching is so mediocre at best that it might not matter. If they can't hold on 'til Weaver gets back, they'll be buried.

The AL Central has been so blah. Detroit will win it because they have Miggy, Prince, and JV. They have no idea how they're gonna close games at this point, but hey there's only 150 games left...KC is playing decent with a combined ZERO HRs from Hosmer, Moustakas, Gordon, and Perez. Perez is one of the handful of guys I'd consider trading Profar for, and I'd hate it but then love it. He's like a Pudge/Charles Johnson combo...Everyone's favorite announcer, Terry Francona, has the Tribe a half game back. They're getting nothing from Asdrubal, but Mark Reynolds is pounding it and Masterson has been pitching like an ace. Bourn and Swisher have been as advertised, and Stubbs has been K'ing at an alarming rate.

The East is kinda playing in reverse, so far, with Tampa and Toronto sitting on the bottom. But it's all so close and so early that nothing is really standing out. Chris Davis has started the year with a bang, carrying Baltimore along with Adam Jones. The thing with CD is that pitch recognition, so far he's got 7 BBs. If he can stay selective, he can be a star. That Oriole rotation, though looks like shit...Yanks'll probably stick around all year despite injuries to Teixeira, Granderson, and A-Rod. The division is that meh...Boston sits atop the division, getting 2 bombs from Napoli but not much else. Koji has been near perfect in 4 1/3 IPs, and Lester and Bucholz are carrying the staff...Toronto was a heavy preseason pick, but Jose Reyes gonna be out for a while messin' up his ankle.

The NL has been fun. The Braves are rollin', off to a 10-1 start behind the bop of  Justin Upton and the NL's version of Josh Hamilton, Evan Gattis. Gattis is a local guy, growing up in Forney and playing ball there, Carrollton R.L. Turner, and Dallas Bishop Lynch. He was supposed to play at A&M, but got anxiety and self-medicated with drugs and alcohol. From there he went all over the place, working at a pizza joint in Colorado, janitorial work in Dallas, and Yellowstone Park in Wyoming. Got back into ball in 2010 at UT-Permian Basin, managed to get selected in the 23rd round, and with Brian McCann being injured made the big club outta Spring Training this year. In his second big league AB, he homered off of Roy Halladay...Bryce Harper been carrying Washington with 5 HRs and a 1.157 OPS, dude is a beast. Such a violent swing...The Mets are hanging tough behind phenom Matt Harvey, 3-0 0.82 ERA 10.2 K/9 0.545 WHIP. John Buch has 6 HRs, carrying the offense...Phillies being led by Ranger legend Michael Young's .368/.442/.553...Stupid, fuckin' Cardinals are, shocker here, leading the Central. Hate them. Wainwright's good...The West is jam-packed with the Giants holding a half game lead over 3 teams.

Yoga pants.
Norah Jones.
Spring dresses.

On December 21, 2007 Rangers G.M. Jon Daniels made the most important move in the history of the Texas Rangers. He traded the promising, if inconsistent, Edinson Volquez and little reliever Danny Herrera to the Reds for one Josh Hamilton. Hamilton was the #1 overall pick of the 1999 amateur draft by Tampa Bay, as a rare, true 5-tool player. After a few years in the Tampa system, he was involved in an automobile accident that injured his back. During his down time he started hanging out at tattoo parlors, and in his boredom took up with drugs and alcohol. He was suspended by baseball and hit rock bottom, blowing all his bonus money and ending up on his grandmother's porch looking for help.

After his suspension and rehab from drugs, that lasted 3 years, Hamilton was left unprotected by Tampa in the Rule 5 draft. The Cubs selected him and sold him to the Reds on the same day. Per Rule 5 rules, Hamilton had to be on the Reds major league roster. In 90 games that year he slugged 19 homers along with an OPS of .922. He received rousing ovations as fans applauded his comeback story.

I can't explain why the Reds traded him that offseason, but whatever the reason it changed Rangers history. The long-suffering franchise had a grand total of one playoff win in its 35 year history. Not a series, one game. The new nucleus of the Rangers was starting to take form. Ian Kinsler was establishing himself as a top second baseman. Longtime IF Michael Young was still cranking out 200 hits a year. Ron Washington was brought on as manager, and soon they would be joined by the haul from the Mark Teixeira trade- notably SS Elvis Andrus and P's Neftali Feliz and Matt Harrison.

Hamilton's first year in Texas didn't disappoint, as he put up an OPS of .901 and led the league in RBIs. At the All-Star game he was the talk of the sports world as he put on an exhibition at Yankee Stadium, hitting 28 homers in Round 2 alone. The New York fans were abuzz, as was every player in attendance. With teammates Young, Kinsler, and mercurial DH Milton Bradley cheereing him on, Hamilton and the Rangers were on the map. He finished the year 7th in the MVP voting.

2009 was a disappointment, as Josh got injured and only played in 89 games, still making the All-Star team due to his popularity. The Rangers started showing they were a team on the horizon, finishing 87-75.

2010 was a magical year for Hamilton, the Rangers, and fans of the team. Building off the momentum of the previous year, the Rangers won the division. Hamilton led the league in hitting at .359, slugging at .633, and OPS at 1.044. He captured the MVP, his third straight All-Star start, and second Silver Slugger award. In a midseason game v. Boston he did everything a baseball player can do with his bat, spectacular fielding, and scoring the winning run from 2nd base...on an infield single. The Rangers, bolstered by the acquisition of ace pitcher Cliff Lee, won their first playoff series ever, knocking out Tampa. In the ALCS they faced the Evil Empire New York Yankees. Hamilton put up a line of .350/.536/1.536, slugging 4 homers with 5 intentional walks from the frightened Bombers. Josh won the ALCS MVP as the Rangers knocked out the Yanks in 6 games, bringing Texas its first ever pennant. The Rangers would go on to lose the World Series to the Giants, but it was a new era in Texas as the Rangers went into the next season as a favorite.

2011 saw Hamilton miss time due to injury again, yet he still hit 25 homers and OPS'd .882 in 121 games. Once again, Hamilton made the All-Star team, the Rangers won the division, and won the ALCS to advance to the World Series...One strike...The Rangers were one strike away from being world champions in the bottom of the 9th inning v. St. Louis...One strike...David Fuckin' Freese tied the game before that last strike or out would come. Never had elation become depression so quickly, it was a bad dream. The Rangers had blown their chance...One fuckin' strike...But in extra innings Josh Hamilton turned into the Natural. Playing on one leg, he deposited a pitch into the rightfield bleachers to recapture the lead for the Rangers. As he nonchalantly circled the bases, the dugout went crazy. The DFW Metroplex went crazy. I scared my dog. It was the happiest I've ever been....and then sports ended.

Josh returns to Arlington tomorrow as a member of the rival Angels. His last year with the Rangers brought back-to-back Player of the Month awards to start the year. One nite in Baltimore he tied the major league record with 4 homers. He also hit a double that nite for a record 18 total bases. He made the cover of Sports Illustrated where the accompanying article had less than cryptic words from his wife about where free agency would take them. He gave up Copenhagen and looked lost and unresponsive at the plate. His body language was frustrating, and on the last day of the regular season he dropped a routine pop-up that would repel the A's to the title. He'd finish the year 5th in MVP voting with a 3rd Silver Slugger award, and a large contingent of fans that were ready to see him leave.

No doubt Josh will get booed tomorrow. Many will remember that drop, the poor second half of 2012, the continuous God cards, the 2 relapses, the parting words, etc...My lasting memory of Josh will be that wondrous clout he hit right before sports ended.

Mavs sit one game back in the loss column taking on the Lakers tonite. It's pretty much a must-win to even up with LA, and we'll probably need some help to overtake Utah. The Jazz have been really tough lately, led by NBA Player of the Week, Al Jefferson, and Randy Foye's crazy 8-9 3 point shooting the other nite. Utah has the tiebreaker over both the Mavs and LA...LA will be without Steve Nash and Metta. The game will be on TNT @ 9:30PM.

Elvis Andrus and the Rangers have reportedly agreed on a contract extension of 8 years/$120M with a player opt-out option after 2018. This is great news, but leaves top prospect Jurickson Profar in limbo. With Andrus and Ian Kinsler occupying the middle infield, it's gonna take Kinsler either being traded or switching positions for Profar to crack the major league lineup. The other alternative is for Profar to be dealt. Unless it's a deal that's just too good to be true, I really hate the thought of losing Profar. This kid has it- the skill, make-up, and confidence to be a star.

Yoga pants.

American League West Preview: It's gonna be the toughest division in the league, despite having the putrid Astros. I can see any one of the Rangers, Angels, or A's winning it, and I think both wild cards are gonna come from here.

Texas: The biggest news is the great Josh Hamilton left in free agency to join the rival Angels. Josh left a sour taste in a lot of fans' mouths with his second half production, questionable body language, poor plate appearances, and pointing out that Dallas is a football town first. With that being said, he can be the most talented, dynamic player in the game at any point. There is no more exciting play in baseball than a Josh Hamilton triple...Also gone are Michael Young, coming off the worst season of his career, and Mike Napoli, two huge staples to the greatest team in Rangers history(2011). But that was 2 years ago, and you move on. Replacing that production will be up to Lance Berkman, who got talked out of retirement for some more dough. Berkman has had a fantastic career, compiling a lifetime OPS of .953. That's 21st in the history of baseball, yeah he's been that good. Berkman's patient approach at the plate is the inverse of Hamilton's free-swinging PAs. However, Berkman is coming off an injury-plagued 2012 that saw him only rack up 97 PAs. It is imperative for the Rangers that Lance stay healthy and give the type of production that his past seasons have provided...AJ Pierzynski will be the new starting catcher. Throughout his career he's been hated by rival players and fans alike. But AJ calls a good game, is a solid competitor, and is coming off a career high season in OPS of .827. He is also a Florida Gators fan...A platoon of speedy outfielders Craig Gentry and Leonys Martin will take over CF duties. The defense will be improved but it's still to be seen if Martin can come close to replicating his offensive numbers from AAA. The double play combo of Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus are, to quote manager Ron Washington, "Proven". Expect them to be among the best in the league at their respective positions...David Murphy and Nelson Cruz are what they are, solid players that could reasonably be among the top corner OFs in the league...Adrian Beltre, along with Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria, is the best third baseman in the league. He provides pop, stellar defense, and locker room leadership, especially amongst the Latin contingent.

The starting rotation looks very good with the top 3. Yu Darvish is a legitimate Cy Young candidate, Matt Harrison has now compiled back-to-back all star type seasons, and Derek Holland has great, if sometimes inconsistent, stuff. Alexi Ogando is a question mark in the 4th spot. He's been a great set-up man, and even made the All Star team as a starter 2 years ago. However, his long term durability and lack of a plus 3rd pitch leaves some question marks. The 5th spot will be Nick Tepesch's to start the season. The 24 year old compiled a 3.67 ERA and 1.290 WHIP in 162 innings last year, splitting time between High A and AA. The Rangers are counting on Colby Lewis to return by early June, and take this spot in the rotation. But who knows how he'll perform, this could be an Achille's heel for the Rangers...The bullpen lost stalwarts Koji Uehera and Mike Adams. Closer Joe Nathan and lefty Robbie Ross return. Ross is more than just a LOOGY, and the Rangers will be looking at him, Jason Frasor, and Michael Kirkman to provide set-up innings.

Overall, the Rangers will be in the hunt for the division crown. A healthy Berkman, consistent Holland, and solid work from the revamped bullpen will be the keys.

Los Angeles: The Angels have 3 guys that could potentially be the best player in the league. Mike Trout is coming off of one the best seasons in decades, not just by a rookie but any player. It's hard to imagine he could repeat his 2012, but he could still be the best player even with regression. Albert Pujols is, of course, one of the best hitters of all time. After a horrid first 2 months, Phat Albert provided his normal production in the last 4, last year. No one knows how old he really is, and it's painful to watch him run but I imagine he's still got a few great seasons left. Josh Hamilton, when on, is the most dynamic player in the game. A massive man that can destroy a baseball(4 times in a game, even) and also turn a gapper into a triple, rounding the bases like an Olympic 200 meter runner. The noggin' is his biggest concern...The rest of the lineup doesn't really provide much to worry about. Mark Trumbo could be the key as the potential 4th big bat...CF Peter Bourjous and SS Erick Aybar will provide great up-the-middle defense, 2B Howie Kendrick line drive gap offense, and C Chris Ianetta the occasional pop.

On the mound, the Angels will be led by the competitive and great Jered Weaver. CJ Wilson will be the number 2 man, and expect him to bounce back from a mediocre 2012. Joe Blanton, innings eater Jason Vargas, and former uber-prospect Tommy Hanson will round out the rotation. The Angels season really depends on what these 3-5 guys can provide. They have the potential to be solid, and the unpredictability to make it a long season.

Expect a season full of grimaces from manager Mike Sciosca due to the back end of the rotation. However, those 3 star players on offense, along with Weaver and Wilson, should have the Angels in the thick of it all season.

Oakland: The defending AL West champs have my pick for AL MVP, Yoenis Cespedes. I could see Cuban Bo carrying them like Miguel Tejada did a decade ago(As an aside, Tejada made the Royals squad this year)...It's hard to imagine Josh Reddick and Brandon Moss matching their 2012 campaigns, but if they do, look out. C John Jaso and 3B Jed Lowrie were solid offseason pickups that fit into that Oakland A's mold.

The pitching staff is looking for a full season out of the talented, but oft injured, Brett Anderson. Anderson has the potential to be one of the league's better aces. Jarrod Parker looks to be a great #2, and Tommy Milone can provide better than quality innings from the 3rd spot. AJ Griffin and prospect Dan Straily look to round out the rotation, with veteran Bartolo Colon on the horizon once his PED suspension ends.

The A's are more than just a pesky team Moneyballin' their way into contention. They have a lot of talent both in the field and on the mound.

Seattle: The Mariners are probably the division's biggest question mark. Offseason acquisitions Kendrys Morales and Mike Morse will fill the 3 and 4 spots in the lineup. They both have good pop and the fences will be moved in this year at Safeco. However, they're not the kind of guys you expect to carry a playoff contending team. Former second overall pick Dustin Ackley needs to live up to his potential, and this might be former prospect Justin Smoak's last shot. Another former top prospect, Jesus Montero could still be a solid offensive major leaguer. The M's will get great defense up the middle from slick-fielding SS Brendan Ryan and CF Franklin Gutierrez, but don't expect much offense. RF Michael Saunders and 3B Kyle Seager will be the keys on offense. Expected to occupy the top two spots in the lineup, if they can produce the Mariners could cause problems.

Pitching in Seattle always revolves around ace Felix Hernandez. The cocky pitcher makes the Mariners favorites in all of his starts. The rest of the rotation is a hodgepodge of guys like Joe Saunders, Blake Beavan, and Brandon Maurer...Down on the farm, the M's have big time pitching prospects in Tajuan Walker, Danny Hultzen, and James Paxton. This team could be dangerous soon.

There just doesn't seem to be enough here to make a real threat this year. However, I do think the division rides on how the other contenders fare against the M's. They could really throw a wrench in the playoff chances of the big boys.

Houston: I don't know what to say here. A complete rebuilding team, I feel bad for manager Bo Porter.  They have a group of former prospects like the over-matched Chris Carter, Fernando Martinez, and former high pick Matt Dominguez. Brett Wallace is a big old boy that could provide some pop, and CF Justin Maxwell could be an interesting kid. Little man Jose Altuve is a legit major-leaguer, and the likely Astros representative in the All Star game.

The rotation is a bunch of meh. Lucas Harrell is the only guy I find interesting. They have perfect game thrower Philip Humber and former good pitcher Erik Bedard.

The only impact the 'Stros will have is if one of the top 3 teams can't have at least a .667 winning percentage against them.
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I think Oakland will repeat as division champs. Just love Cespedes, and I think their rotation will carry them thru the year. I expect Texas and Los Angeles to be the Wild Card teams in the AL, challenging the runner up in the East between Toronto and Tampa Bay.
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DIRK IS THE GREATEST HUMAN BEING EVER...What a fantastic performance from the Big German, keeping hope alive. Still one game back in the loss column, with a huge game in LA on Tuesday. The Jazz are really starting to be worrisome.  Randy Foye, 8-9 from three..come on.

Classic Album Review: must-have music.
Innervisions by Stevie Wonder, 1973.

Stevie followed up his smash album, Talking Book, with this masterpiece.

Track 1: "Too High"- A cautionary tale about drug usage, it features a bridge w/ Stevie killing it on the harmonica. Jim Gilstrap, who previously sang on "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", provides backing vocals.

Track 2: "Visions"- Least favorite song on the album. The theme of equality is fine, but it's just too slow-paced without a real hook.

Track 3: "Living For the City"- The greatest song of all time. Stevie plays every instrument and provides all the vocals. The tale of a young boy growing up in Mississippi, trying to escape poverty and racism to make it to the big city. When he grows up and makes it to NYC, he finds things are no better. The bridge is a spoken interlude voiced by Stevie's real-life brother. He is arrested and thrown in jail for 10 years, for a crime he didn't commit. The outro is a haunting, angry Steve disillusioned by the society he lives in. The radio version omits the bridge and outro, presumably for the use of the 'n word'. You have to get the full studio version to fully appreciate this gem.

Track 4: "Golden Lady"- A beautiful, soft-funk jam of Stevie professing his love for some fine fox. Steve paints images in this jam that belie his blindness.

Track 5: "Higher Ground"- Why is this song not played on classic rock stations? It fuckin' rocks, as evidenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers cover a decade and a half later. The clavinet is just stanky funk in this tune. Shortly after the release of  Innervisions, Steve was injured as a passenger in a car. It left him in a coma. Reportedly, this song was continually played in his hospital room as it got the most reaction from the comatose Wonder. Thankfully, as we know, Steve recovered and continued his wonderful career.

Track 6: "Jesus Children of America"- A funky tune calling out believers and non-believers alike. Once again, Steve is playing every instrument. Check out the dirty funk of the clavinet at 1:44 of this jam, makes you recognize.

Track 7: "All in Love Is Fair"- A ballad of heartache, with a building crescendo. Obviously, it's Ryin's favorite track, as he loves when Stevie sings about love and heartache.

Track 8: "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing"- Funky, Latin-inspired track with shakers, bongos, and the Latin gourd. Starts off with Steve riffing, 'Cause like I been to, y'know, Paris, Beirut, y'know, I mean, uh, Iraq, Iran, Eurasia... y'know I speak very, very, um fluent Spanish -- 'Todo 'stá bien chévere' -- you got that? ", and then boom, get down to this infectious number.

Track 9: "He's Misstra Know-It-All"- Second favorite song on the album. A scathing commentary about con men with a funky, gospel-infused background. Many believe the song was about Nixon. The bridge will make you holla "Preach!".

If you don't add this album to your collection, you're not very smart.

I'm gonna miss the beard.

Top 4 beards of all time:
1. Dirk
2. Abe Lincoln
3. Katie Holmes
4. Ryin A.

Get to know your LSBer...19 Q&A's with Ben aka benjihana. Thanks to Ben for his honest and prompt response.

1.      Do you find Manhattan overwhelming?  Would you rather visit than live there?

Sometimes… not overwhelming as much as frustrating. So many amazing things are available to me here and within such proximity, but normal everyday things… getting groceries, running out for a bite to eat, deciding to have a car and go somewhere, or go somewhere without a car – are all drastically more difficult, and it can be grating.

2.      Was an Ivy League school a goal over a state university? Did you consider UT w/ your bro?

Never cared about the Ivy League inclusion – I wanted to go to the best undergraduate business program I could get into. Wharton was #1 – so I went. I had already been accepted to BHP at McCombs at UT, but opted for Wharton. If Stanford had had a true undergraduate business program, I would have gone there over UT or Penn in a heartbeat.

3.      What is the biggest positive and negative of being a twin?

This is a tough one, since I don’t really know what it’s like to NOT be a twin.  The positives are that I basically have one other person that I can defer things to and trust implicitly. We all know that deep down, if we want something done right, we do it ourselves. I honestly have someone else that is an extension of my own capacity – which is, I think, the coolest part of being a twin.  Negatives? Non really. Honestly.

4.      Biggest fear, physical and/or emotional?

Death. Oh that death.

5.      Would you rather have $1,000,000,000 and no power, or $10,000,000 and power/influence?

Easily the $10M. I’d take power/influence with no cash over $1B.

6.      Who is the most fascinating, but notorious, person in US history?

Andrew Jackson

7.      Would you rather be a great musician, athlete, or artist?

Musician

8.      How do you feel about Dr. Kevorkian?

I’m not a fan of assisted suicide. I feel like a lot of proper processes need to be in place to determine the mental capacity and health probabilities of individuals IF something of that nature were ever common.  Cowboy’ing it like he did isn’t the answer.

9.      Do you feel emotional behavior or rational behavior is more healthy?

Depends on the context… I’ve long preached about passion being integral to life. Without passion for the activities and people in our lives – what’s the point?  That being said, a rational understanding of the purpose of the passion is just as important.

10.  How in touch were Penn students with the hoi polloi?

Notably detached.  To put it into perspective, I was considered down to earth or grounded within the Penn student body. The detachment from reality persists even after graduation for many, unfortunately.

11.  How many people would you entrust your deepest thoughts with(non-family)?

I’m very accessible all the way until my biggest sources of anxiety/worry/thoughts; more than most. However, those deepest thoughts are restricted to about 2-3 people outside of family and significant others.

12.  What physical attribute do you wish was better?

Height. 4’11” mother. Dangit.

13.  What is your worst trait?

Pride

14.  What trait do you take pride in?

Pride

15.  Last meal?

Sufficient helpings of soppressata, finnochiona, prosciutto di san daniele, a Cuban sandwich from Café Habana, a filet mignon with a compound butter, white truffles shaven over a spicy pasta dish, some Central Texas bbq, and a slice from Gino’s East. If I’m going to die anyway, might as well kill myself eating.

16.  Would you rather converse with a book-smart person or street-smart person?

Assuming they lack the contrasting quality? Book-smart, still.

17.  What is the biggest misconception of Ben?

The arrogance… I have a lot of confidence, and the bravado is entertaining to me – simply because of how many people react so strongly in a negative direction. Confidence pisses a ton of people off, and I thoroughly enjoy that… but I’m really just a pretty loving, caring, and passionate person who wants a wife I can love, a family I can raise, and the means/capacity to give them a life that exceeds my own.  I take care of those that I love and care about with an abundance of loyalty and support – very often in unselfish ways.

18.  Amy Winehouse or Etta James?

Damn. Winehouse. By an eightball

19.  Favorite Ranger of all time?

Will Clark! He was the reason I started playing first base and wearing number #22 when I was about eight.  I played for another 10 years, and still wear that number to this day.

The Mavericks took down the Clippers in OT last nite, 109-102. The Big German led the way with 33 points and 9 rebounds, helping to offset Chris Paul's 33 points on a ridiculous 12-15 shooting nite...Former Mavs Caron Butler(lifetime pass), Ryan Hollins, and super-bitch Lamar Odom were a combined 8-21 from the field. Odom sat out most of the 3rd quarter changing tampons. Matt Barnes airballed a potential game-tying wide open three. Ha.

The Mavs are now tied with Utah, one game behind the Lakers for the 8th and final playoff spot. The final 11 games are v. Indiana, v. Chi., @LAL, @Den, @Sac, @Port, v. Pho., v. Den, @N.O., v. Memp., v. N.O.
I think they need to go 8-3 in this final stretch to secure the playoffs. The Jazz and Lakers have the tiebreakers, so we need to finish a game up.

Eddy Curry was a Mav this year, Ain't that crazy? He played 2 games and pocketed $55,678. Think about that when you're punching that time clock.

The pride of Duquense University, Mike James, went to high school in Amityville, NY.  You know the movie Amityville Horror? Follow Mike on Twitter @mikejames7. Dude's busting his ass every nite out there for us, lets show him some support.

I think Amity would be a nice name for a girl. Amity means friendly.

The Rangers have announced Leury Garcia has made the big league club as the utility infielder. The diminutive Dominican just turned 22 years old, last week. He spent the 2012 season in AA Frisco, mainly splitting time between 2B and SS with a few games in center. He has very little bat, more of good-field and speed guy. He put up a .756 OPS this spring in 31 plate appearances.  If he could do that in 120-150 PAs with the big club, well that would just be fantastic.

Our leader here at RVoB, Ryin, has given this roster move his 'stamp of approval'...Leury is a lucky guy.

I don't really know how to pronounce his first name.  I've heard 'Lurey' and 'Larry'.  Larry would be pretty cool..Larry Bird is great. Larry Fine gets no respect. I bet he eventually gets called 'Chipper'.

Lakers lost again last nite.  Mavs within a game and a half with a big one v. the Clippers, tonite.

This is the anniversary of Eazy-E dying, so put in some NWA and pour one out.

Steve McQueen woulda been 83, yesterday....Here are his 5 best movies:

5. "The Blob"- Made before Steve ever became a star. It's a cult classic,sci-fi, so crazy that it's cool.

4. "The Cincinatti Kid"- Great poker flick w/ the hottest woman ever, Ann-Margaret.

3."Papillon"- That's 'butterfly' for you suckas that don't speak French. McQueen is a prisoner on an island
    where he befriends a fellow prisoner played by the great Dustin Hoffman. I think Hoffman is
    the least pretensious person to ever come outta Hollywood. Seems like a great dude.

2."Bullitt"- Great chase scene and a young Jacqueline Bisset. If that ain't enough, Norman Fell aka Mr.
    Roper is in it.

1."The Great Escape"- Based on the true story of a massive escape from a German POW camp by
   Allied soldiers. McQueen is the loner who wants to plan his own smaller escape,
   but actions of the Germans cause him to join in on the big one. The movie stars
   other big names such as James Garner, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, and
   Richard Attenborough, but it's McQueen who shines as the biggest star...A must
   watch for any man worth a damn.


Derek Holland had a decent outing for the Rangers today, punching out 7...Lewis Brinson went deep in
a minor league game...Kyle Lohse signed a 3-year deal with the Brewers, proving once again that Scott Boras always gets the job done. He might be the best person in the world at his job.

Lakers v. Warriors on NBAtv tonite. Mavs can get within a game and a half with a Laker loss

Coach Izzo seems primed to get Michigan St. to another Final Four. Ever since Joe DiMaggio and Frank Sinatra took over the country, Italians been dominating. I mean, they were treated like second-class citizens and then Sinatra and Joe D are sleeping with Ava Gardner and Maryiln Monroe, respectively...Changed the whole landscape.

The biggest home run in Rangers' history before Benjie Molina's blast in the 2010 ALCS had to be Geno Petralli's pinch-hit game winner v. Roger Clemens on national TV....those were the days.