http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/ Fair play, foul opinions on a variety of sports topics from Jeff Andrews and Adam Boedeker en Copyright 2008 Sun, 11 May 2008 17:34:54 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Fellow Stars fans, it may be time to pack up the tent for the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 2-0 hole Dallas has dug itself is likely too much to overcome, especially against a team as deep as Detroit. I'm not saying they can't do it, but the Stars will likely have to win both home games to stay in the series. Earn a split at home and it's essentially over. But let me tell you what's really irking me: "Nobody cares about hockey and the only reason the Stars are getting attention is because Dallas is desperate for a winning team." I've heard that about 100 times from various local media outlets in the last few weeks. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/05/perception_of_hockey_continues.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/05/perception_of_hockey_continues.html Sun, 11 May 2008 17:34:54 -0600 Here is the latest article proving that Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach is possibly the most interesting coach in any sport anywhere. It really makes me wonder how it's possible for anyone to not like the guy. He once had me trapped in his office talking about surfing for an hour and a half because really...who was I to walk out on a Mike Leach-led conversation? I think I was late for a class because of it...]]> http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/05/the_most_interesting_man_in_sp.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/05/the_most_interesting_man_in_sp.html Thu, 08 May 2008 09:46:09 -0600 Carmelo Anthony gets a speeding ticket. Really, Yahoo!? Really? This is the top sports news of the day? I turned on ESPN radio today while I was in the shower, just in time to catch a few gems from Kevin Kiley, who apparently has decided he should be the moral voice of America.]]> http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/05/i_dont_want_to_know_when_playe.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/05/i_dont_want_to_know_when_playe.html Wed, 07 May 2008 13:00:54 -0600 For those of you who had to get up and go to work today, I am sorry. You missed a dandy of a game last night. Brenden Morrow’s power play goal in the fourth overtime of Game 6 against San Jose capped one of the best games in Stars playoff history and finally vaulted embattled goalie Marty Turco into the NHL’s final four. More importantly, though, the win validates the interest of casual hockey fans that have jumped on the Stars’ bandwagon. Dallas avoided blowing a 3-0 lead on the Sharks, which would have been crippling to the team for years. Can you imagine what would have happened to this franchise had it blown a 3-0 lead in the series? It may have never recovered. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/05/win_validates_interest_in_star.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/05/win_validates_interest_in_star.html Mon, 05 May 2008 14:20:36 -0600 The Stars loss to San Jose on Wednesday was certainly disappointing, especially for the home crowd, which included me, but there's certainly no need to panic. Dallas was just dead tired in the third period. The frame the Stars have dominated throughout the playoffs was the undoing of Dallas' dreams of a sweep. Even warriors like Brenden Morrow were noticeably exhausted by the end of the game. It was pretty obvious midway through the third that Dallas didn’t have the energy to pull that one out. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/05/dont_fret_stars_fans.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/05/dont_fret_stars_fans.html Thu, 01 May 2008 17:31:08 -0600 Well, I've been saying it for a while now around the office, and people (most notably my boss, Todd Jorgenson) have scoffed at the idea, but it was time for Avery Johnson to go, and today he and Mark Cuban parted ways after just 3 1/2 seasons, and two seasons after he was anointed as the next Red Auerbach. The Mavericks' fall from grace has been well-documented and in last night's Game 5 loss to New Orleans it was completed after they failed to get out of the first round for the second straight year. Many fingers can be pointed in many different directions. There was the controversial Jason Kidd trade (which I still stand behind by the way), there's Josh Howard and his ill-timed, best-left-unsaid admission to having an affinity for the wacky tobacky, and many other things that could be blamed for what's happened. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/it_was_inevitable_and_now_its.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/it_was_inevitable_and_now_its.html Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:09:57 -0600 Despite dominating in three straight playoff series, a friend of mine still isn't sold on Stars goalie Marty Turco. Are you kidding me? Take a look at his numbers. In the first round against Vancouver last year, the Stars some how found a way to lose despite Turco throwing three shutouts in the series. THREE SHUTOUTS in one series. This year, he's third in the league in playoffs goals against at 1.99. He leads the league in playoff wins. He out played former Conn Smythe winner J.S. Giguere against the Ducks. He's owning Vezina finalist Evgeni Nabokov in the second around against the Sharks. The worst part is I know my friend isn't alone. What does he have to do to earn your approval? Poop Stanley Cups? I will say Turco occasionally makes a goofy play. He's made a few in the playoffs. But when it's all said and done, he's been awesome. The best part is he's leading the Stars in clutch moments. The Stars have won four of their six playoff games in the third period or later. That also means Turco has been solid in the third period and overtime. When they announced Turco would take over for Eddie Belfour, I was all for it. Turco was an elite minor league goalie and he won two NCAA titles with Michigan in college. He's always been a winner, and after a few playoff hiccups, he's winning at the highest level. Maybe four shutouts in a series would silence the rest of the critics. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/turco_deserves_anointment.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/turco_deserves_anointment.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:56:49 -0600 And while we're talking about how to improve the production of the NFL draft -- tell teams not to call the player four minutes before the pick comes in. When Matt Ryan opens his phone and is all happy and hugging his family, we know what happened. I WANT TO HEAR WHO IS PICKED WHEN IT COMES OUT OF ROGER GOODELL'S MOUTH. That's it. Not two days before, not when the kid is extatic on the phone with a good chunk of change on the clock. Maybe I'll just flip over to NFL Network. You've really been annoying me lately, ESPN. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/stop_with_the_phone_calls.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/stop_with_the_phone_calls.html Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:22:09 -0600 “Pacman” Jones’ arrival in Dallas gives the Cowboys an elite shutdown corner to go along with Terrance Newman, a game-breaking punt returner the team hasn’t had since the days of Deion Sanders, and tremendous flexibility in the upcoming draft as the Cows already have two first-round picks and one less glaring need. The Cows could take a receiver to groom for a future without T.O. They could take a top-notch running back to complement Marion Barber. They could take an offensive lineman to add depth to an aging and important unit. But let’s get down to what really matters with Pacman. He immediately has the tightest medallion on the team – the giant diamond Pacman medallion he wore on draft day. I can’t help but hear Lil’ Wayne in my head while looking at it. But he brings a number of off-the-field skills as well. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/pacman_gives_cows_many_options.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/pacman_gives_cows_many_options.html Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:30:13 -0600 I’m going to take a page from comedian and raging liberal Bill Maher for this one. New rule No more signing the No. 1 pick in the draft before the actual draft. I want to know who the No. 1 pick in the draft is going to be at one time, and one time only – when Roger Goodell goes to the podium and announces the pick. I know the NFL isn’t exactly hurting for ratings when it comes to the draft, and the draft is one of my favorite sporting events, sometimes more entertaining to me than the Super Bowl. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/new_rule_no_more_early_draft_a.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/new_rule_no_more_early_draft_a.html Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:32:56 -0600 It's amazing how quickly life changes. One minute, I'm coming up with saxophone licks over a 2-5-1 cord progression in a tiny practice room at UNT. The next minute, I'm a low-rent sports writer breaking down 2A softball playoffs. How in the world did that happen? I'm asking the same question of the Dallas Stars. One day, they were limping to the playoffs after a failed trade for Brad Richards. The next, they are dumping the defending champs and position themselves for a legitimate run at the Stanley Cup. I'm not going to pretend I know what clicked for them between playing the Sharks in a meaningless regular season finale and Game 1 of their series with Anaheim. All I know is they were playing like the Dallas Stars of February, not March. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/oh_the_places_the_stars_go.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/oh_the_places_the_stars_go.html Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:32:28 -0600 Week 1 at Cleveland -- The Browns made some great strides last year and have one of the younger, more up-and-coming teams in the league. If this was in Dallas it'd be a blowout, but it will be a close game. As of now, I've got to go with the Cowboys. Week 2 Philadelphia (Monday night) -- Home opener, Texas Stadium, Monday Night Football, Eagles, so on and so forth. Philly will struggle this year and has been on the decline for the last few years, plus T.O. always likes to play the Eagles. Cowboys 2-0. Week 3 at Green Bay (Sunday night) -- The Aaron Rodgers era will begin in 2008 and the Packers returns a quality bunch of players that are extremely young and extremely talented. If Rodgers plays like he did in relief of Brett Favre last November, the Packers will win this game. Cowboys 2-1. ]]> http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/cowboys_schedule_released.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/cowboys_schedule_released.html Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:54:54 -0600 It's time for the North Dallas Beautiful People to step up. First of all, I realize I am stealing that phrase from Randy Galloway, but no moniker fits the residents of the American Airlines Center's lower bowl better than "North Dallas Beautiful People." What do they need to do? Help the Stars solve their home playoff woes. The American Airlines Center hasn't been the coziest confines for the Dallas Stars in the playoffs, or so their post-season record in the AAC suggests. Dallas has a home post-season record of 7-22 since the 2000 Western Conference Finals. That means Dallas' surprising 2-0 lead on the Ducks won't mean much until we see how the Stars play at home tonight. A win would all but sink the Ducks. A loss gives a dangerous Anaheim team a chance to get back in. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/exorcizing_aac_demons.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/exorcizing_aac_demons.html Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:05:52 -0600 More like Bristol doesn't care about hockey. ESPN has a monopoly on sports journalism. They do not, however, have anything invested in hockey anymore. Since the television deal between the two expired when the lockout began, it is not financially beneficial for people to watch hockey. Lo and behold, right about when the lockout starts and ESPN stops getting paid by hockey, it replaces its hockey coverage with a loop of "Nobody cares about hockey." You could even say it's a financial liability to Bristol for people to watch hockey. If people are watching hockey, they aren't watching nauseating amounts of coverage of the X Games and the Little World League Series on ESPN. That coverage is really just a gratuitous advertisement for ESPN's own programming. And advertising for hockey doesn't put ice in Bristol's grill anymore. So hope you're ready for a lot more "Nobody cares about hockey." How does Linda Cohn sleep at night. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/nobody_cares_about_hockey.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/nobody_cares_about_hockey.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:27:16 -0600 The Dallas Stars haven't proved they are a better team than the Ducks. They just proved they were more will to hustle on Thursday night. The Stars ran Anaheim out of its own building with a 4-0 plucking of the Ducks, but let's not start patting ourselves on the back yet. The Ducks didn't show up for this one, and Pronger's play was a perfect example. He simply watched Brenden Morrow skate around him and score late in the game. He regularly gave up space to Jere Lehtinen up the middle. For Dallas, it was literally like hunt dead ducks, and it won't come this easy in the coming contests. http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/hustlin_hustlin_everyday_the_s.html http://cheapseats.beloblog.com/archives/2008/04/hustlin_hustlin_everyday_the_s.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:50:47 -0600