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Sports

by Mike Fisher

Fri, Feb 24, 2006, 08:13 PM

The sports Weekend WrapUp -- presented, thanks to the miracle of modern technology, in advance of the actual start of the weekend!. ...

* Mavs coach Avery Johnson was asked this week about the change in the team's style of play from previous years. He said the franchise has come to the realization that it's not just about all-offense-all-the-time.
"It's no more 'Shootout Out In The OK Corral,'' AJ told the assembled media.
"Shootout Out In The OK Corral''?
I cornered Johnson later -- and I mean cornered -- because as soon as he made the reference, I made a bet with myself that Avery Johnson has no idea what "Gunfight At The OK Corral'' is.
"Mike, you're right,'' he said later. "No idea. You got me.''

Clearly, while AJ watches a lot of "film,'' he doesn't get much time to watch a lot of "films.''

* How out-of-the-mix were the usually trade-happy Mavs this year? Keith Van Horn, the last Mav to be involved in a swap, way back 12 months ago, swears he wasn't even aware that Thursday was the NBA Trade Deadline Day.

* My sources tell me there is a good chance the Cowboys will sign a big-time kicker this year. (Adam V, Vanderjagt or Bryant?) My instincts tell me there is a decent chance InfalliBill will be forced to actually remember the kicker's name.

* The Sixers are doing a Guns-for-Tickets exchange deal. No word on whether Iverson will be in the Guns Receivable Line or the Guns Giveable Line.

* Did Tim Cowlishaw lose a bet? Was this like a high-school debate class project, where one kid gets the "pro'' and you're forced to argue the "con''? Is he trying to kiss up to someone in power who is anti-Don Nelson? How else to explain Tim's column scoffing at Nellie's qualifications for the Basketball Hall of Fame? Read Cowlishaw here, and my man Larry Legend's here.

And then you decide: Isn't being against Don Nelson for the Basketball Hall of Fame like being against the flowers in May?

* Thursday night. 8:26 p.m. I'm at the Mavs game, but I've got a TV remote-control in my hand. The Big Four Networks offer me:

1) On Fox, "Skating With Celebrities.'' You know, dancing on ice.

2) On NBC, "Olympic Figure Skating.'' You know, dancing on ice.

3) On ABC, "Dancing With The Stars.'' You know, more dancing.

I was afraid to turn it to CBS. For fear of seeing, I dunno. ... "Dances With Wolves''?

* As I reported earlier this week, Rocket Ismail -- I swear to God -- is telling friends he wants to come back with the Cowboys. That's not exactly the Rocket signing DFW sports fans were hoping for.

* I know the national commentators are still stuck in a time warp and figuring the Mavs don't play D. But check this out: Over the past 30 games, Mavs opponents are averaging just 20.1 points in the fourth quarter and are doing it on just 35.9-percent shooting. Kids, that's defense. And it's defense in the clutch.

* Mike Modano's post-Olympics dig at USA Hockey's rinky-dink lack of organization is being portrayed as "sour grapes,'' and the "whinings of a spoiled athlete.'' All of which is fine. ... except it skips past the point: What if Modano is right?

* Mavs guard Marquis Daniels has Psalm 91, in its entirety, tatooed along the side of his torso. (For the record, your Psalm 91.) Which takes up a lot of ink, given that it comes in 16 parts. And that it is just a portion of 'Quis' body art, which also include fists that read "God's Gift,'' assorted guns and knives and stuff, the phrase "Look Through The Eyes Of A Killer'' and, covering almost his entire back, a somewhat detailed map of his native Florida. Which comes in handy. If you're every traveling, or whatever.

* Thursday vs. Memphis marked the 13th straight home victory for Dallas -- the longest streak in franchise history -- and Avery says the conduct of the home crowd was instrumental here.
"The reason why we won this game was one word: fans," Johnson said. "Thank you, fans. Our fans stayed with us the whole game. Nobody was booing or questioning the players or any foolishness like that. Our fans stuck with us for 48 minutes."
My take: I've often said that while you as a fan have every right to hoot and holler and boo, it makes more sense (as long as your team is giving effort) to be encouraging. I mean, if you work as a doctor or lawyer or widget salesman, does it increase YOUR productivity (again, as long as you're TRYING to peddle those widgets) to hear boos?

Do I get credit for being right yet?

* Next year's NBA All-Star Game is in Las Vegas. AND, the league is coming out with NBA Poker Chips. But otherwise, the NBA is completely against gambling.

* TV commentator Bryant Gumbel says he can't watch the Winter Olympics because it's "too white.'' Which is the same reason black people can't watch Bryant Gumbel.

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The Jets Are Having a Garage Sale: Are the Cowboys Shopping?

by Norm Hitzges

Fri, Feb 24, 2006, 01:24 PM

Something that happened in New York on Wednesday that may have a direct effect on the Cowboys. The Jets got together and decided to part ways with several key players. Just a couple of years ago, the Jets were a terrific team that was very close to advancing through the playoffs. Well, in the course of one year, they’ve completely collapsed.

The Jets are $26 million over the cap. So, Wednesday they made several moves. They told their QB Chad Pennington that he was going to have to take a substantial paycut. They said goodbye to key veterans Ty Law, Jay Fiedler and Jason Fabini.

Jason Fabini is a man that I think the Cowboys will immediately go after once the free agent season begins. Fabini is going to be 32 years old…Red Flag!….Coming off an injury and limited to 9 starts last year…Another Red Flag!

I know that you are asking yourself, “…why should we consider this guy?”

The Cowboys will be able to get this guy cheaply because of the age and because of his injury. Parcells drafted this guy while he was with the Jets. Parcells made him a starter in his rookie season. Parcells obviously likes this guy.

Now, why would you want to take on yet another 30+ offensive lineman? When you look at the age of this offensive line it is scary. Regardless of what the Cowboys do in free agency, they will be drafting offensive linemen.

But do you really want another season of starting a rookie offensive lineman? And hearing every week that he has not quite yet developed to the proper NFL level. I think the Cowboys want to draft linemen and let them ease into the lineup. The last thing you want to do is force the issue.

And, if you are looking for cheap, pretty good talent on the offensive line while your rookies develop, Jason Fabini may be your man.

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Athletes at job fair:NFL combine

by Dave McNabb

Fri, Feb 24, 2006, 01:49 AM

Texas OT Jonathan Scott of Carter, Houston FB Ryan Gilbert of Hillcrest and Texas State QB Barrick Nealy of Adamson are among the 300 invitees to the NFL Combine that started Thursday in Indianapolis. They're hoping their number of 225-pound bench presses, 40-yard dashes, vertical jumps and personal interviews raise their stock for the April draft. Scott and Nealy are consensus Top 10 at their positions. Gilbert, a QB and hurdler at Hillcrest, has made the transition of trying for the NFL as a 225-pound fullback.

Local players invited to the Combine:

DL Dusty Dvoracek Oklahoma/Lake Dallas

FB Ryan Gilbert Houston/Hillcrest

RB Taurean Henderson Texas Tech/Gatesville

DB Michael Huff Texas/Irving

LB Clint Ingram Oklahoma/Hallsville

DB Danieal Manning Abilene Christian/Corsicana

DB Vincent Meeks Texas Tech/Rockwall

QB Barrick Nealy Texas State/Adamson

DB Charlie Peprah Alabama/Plano East

LB Anthony Schlegel Ohio State/Highland Park

WR Travis Wilson Oklahoma/Carrollton Creekview

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THE COWBOYS' PERSONNEL WISH LIST by The Fish

by Mike Fisher

Thu, Feb 23, 2006, 08:22 PM

NFL free agency opens up March 3. And then there is the April 29-30 draft, just two months away.

Do the Cowboys make a big splash? Or use a wide net to snatch a bunch of little splashes?

To paraphrase Deion Sanders from that old pizza commercial, I say, "Both.''

You'll be happy to learn below that the Cowboys aren't playing dumb regarding their weak spots. I'll throw out some names here, to see if they stick (you clip-and-save, to see if I turned out to be right):

OFFENSIVE LINE: I said then and say now: the Cowboys will be haunted by the decision to not go bigger-fish last year for Mike Wahl, who is younger and better (though more expensive) than fellow ex-Packer Marco Rivera. And look at Dallas' guard situation now: Rivera and Larry Allen, both just good enough to keep winning the job, both just old enough to always be on the verge of replacement. But do cut Allen? Do you spend more money there on the primo FA, Seattle guard Steve Hutchinson? No, you just can't.
I said then and say now: the Cowboys will be haunted by the decision to not go bigger-fish last year for Mike Wahl, who is younger and better (though more expensive) than fellow ex-Packer Marco Rivera. And look at Dallas' guard situation now: Rivera and Larry Allen, both just good enough to keep winning the job, both just old enough to always be on the verge of replacement. But do cut Allen? Do you spend more money there on the primo FA, Seattle guard Steve Hutchinson? No, you just can't.

Dallas also won't get its hands on Detroit tackle Jeff Backus. The Cowboys, a source tells me, "are in love with Backus.

Too bad. He's staying married to the Lions.

You can help yourself elsewhere, though. You can use a No. 1 pick on an offensive lineman, a tackle. And you can spend money on center LeCharles Bentley from New Orleans. He's 26, and, not to be too blood-thirsty here, but what do you think are the chances he wants to re-up with the troubled Saints? Oh, a speaking of trouble: how much do the Bills now dislike Mike Williams? The massive Texas product isn't even projected as a Buffalo starter. Dallas ought to do some research here.

The best bet: Jets' Jason Fabini is a casualty cut, a legit starter and an old Parcells Guy.

None of this, by the way, means the Cowboys suddenly dislike Rob Pettiti. Or for that matter, are giving up on Torrin Tucker and even Jacob Rogers. And they are happy about Flozell Adams' return from injury to man right tackle. What it does mean is that they recognize a problem spot and aren't trying to Band-Aid it.

WIDE RECEIVER: Start with a big swing for Terrell Owens (who may be Denver-bound). End with a plan to use a mid-round pick on somebody like (one Valley Ranch whisperer tells me) Auburn wide receiver Ben Obomanu.
Start with a big swing for Terrell Owens (who may be Denver-bound). End with a plan to use a mid-round pick on somebody like (one Valley Ranch whisperer tells me) Auburn wide receiver Ben Obomanu.

Seriously, Dallas may get shut out in terms of chasing an in-his-prime WR in free agency. Which will be unfortunate. So I'd better come up with a wild-card here. Wonder if Issac Bruce is ready for a change of scenery from St. Louis?

Want a goofy one? Ex-Cowboy Raghib Ismail is in town right now, telling friends he's ready to make an NFL comeback -- and that the Cowboys are interested. Listen, we want to sign Rocket in D/FW. ... but we were hoping it would be the baseball Rocket.

QUARTERBACK: Behind Drew Bledsoe, Dallas has nothing but question marks. If San Diego deems starter Drew Brees healthy and retainable, backup Phillip Rivers goes on the block. Dallas makes that inquiring phone call. Does Patrick Ramsey still want out of Washington? Ramsey represents a semi-proven upgrade over the Cowboys' existing backups, and also has an upside. And in the draft? I don't know if the Cowboys take one, but I have an educated guess which one they sort of like: Put me down for guessing that eventually, word will leak that the Cowboys give good grades to Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle, projected as the fourth best QB in this draft.
Behind Drew Bledsoe, Dallas has nothing but question marks. If San Diego deems starter Drew Brees healthy and retainable, backup Phillip Rivers goes on the block. Dallas makes that inquiring phone call. Does Patrick Ramsey still want out of Washington? Ramsey represents a semi-proven upgrade over the Cowboys' existing backups, and also has an upside. And in the draft? I don't know if the Cowboys take one, but I have an educated guess which one they sort of like: Put me down for guessing that eventually, word will leak that the Cowboys give good grades to Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle, projected as the fourth best QB in this draft.
DEFENSE: One big fish, one medium fish, one not so big fish: Jets DE John Abraham has been a sometimes-headache in New York. If the Cowboys really decide to dump someone like Greg Ellis, replacing him with someone like Abraham makes grand sense. Abraham had 10.5 sacks and six forced fumbles last year and is only 28. AND he has Parcells connections. Alas, it looks like the Jets will franchise him. Again. So he's out -- unless his dissatisfaction with the Jets leads to trade talk. In which case, Dallas is absolutely involved in discussions.
One big fish, one medium fish, one not so big fish: Jets DE John Abraham has been a sometimes-headache in New York. If the Cowboys really decide to dump someone like Greg Ellis, replacing him with someone like Abraham makes grand sense. Abraham had 10.5 sacks and six forced fumbles last year and is only 28. AND he has Parcells connections. Alas, it looks like the Jets will franchise him. Again. So he's out -- unless his dissatisfaction with the Jets leads to trade talk. In which case, Dallas is absolutely involved in discussions.

Easier to do: remember Darren Howard? The Cowboys gave chase to him in trade last May. Now he's free -- and coming off a bad year. He'd be a decent consolation prize behind Abraham, ready to bounce back from a 3.5-sack season for the Saints. Yes, the Saints. Not to be too blood-thirsty again, but. ...

I'll give a quick mention to DBs Chris Hope of the Steelers and the Rams' Adam Archuleta (who might end up in Chicago instead of Dallas, so desperate for safety help that they almost pulled ol' Darren Woodson out of retirement last winter). And this: another NFL team's guy tells me Dallas MUST sign a linebacker to replace Dat. Panthers linebacker Will Witherspoon is a budding star who might be beyond Carolina's price range, but also might be too slight for Dallas).

Now, a smaller fish:

Forgive me if this name has slipped so far under the radar that he's been quietly gobbled up, but I was told to check on ex-Packer Cletidus Hunt. Now, he will earn no screaming headlines. But Hunt is 6-4, 310 pounds, is only 30, and put up some sack numbers as a defensive tackle. Now the bad news: He injured his shoulder and both knees last summer, tried to return to action in the final preseason game, and then got cut. Now, Green Bay folks would tell you he's a problem guy, too. And all things considered, his career might be done. But as small fish go -- he's so small now he was considered a "street free agent,'' as opposed to a coveted one -- he's worth casting a line. (Unless, again, he's been part of a transaction I can't locate.)

KICKER: Spending big bucks on a kicker has never been Jerry Jones' thing. Acknowledging that there is a kicker even on the team has never been Bill Parcells' thing (while in Dallas). But have they both seen enough of Cundiff-Suisham-Cortez-Suisham-Cundiff?
Spending big bucks on a kicker has never been Jerry Jones' thing. Acknowledging that there is a kicker even on the team has never been Bill Parcells' thing (while in Dallas). But have they both seen enough of Cundiff-Suisham-Cortez-Suisham-Cundiff?

Yup.

I've been informed of Dallas' ranking of FA kickers. A source tells me that ranking behind New England's Adam Vinatieri and Indy's Mike Vanderjagt, and right alongside the rest, is none other than Tampa Bay's Matt Bryant, who had a fine season with the Bucs and is now available again.

"My bet,'' a source tells us, is that (Dallas) will get one of those three: Vinatieri, Vanderjagt or Bryant.''

Bryant is a logical bet for a few reasons. He's been in the Cowboys camp before. His agent is Dallas-based Jordan Woy, who has worked well with the Cowboys for years. And Bryant is a Baylor kid, as is Cowboys personnel boss Jeff Ireland.

Vinatieri. Or Vanderjagt. Or Bryant. Big-time kickers. No Band-Aids there, either.

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Another Big Mac for Dallas

by Dave McNabb

Thu, Feb 23, 2006, 04:31 PM

South Oak Cliff’s Darrell Arthur was named as a McDonald’s All-American basketball player and joins a prestigious list of local players who have been named since the game went national in 1977. The 6-9 Arthur, who hasn’t committed to a college yet, will play for the West in the March 29 game in San Diego. Texas signee 6-9 Kevin Durant also was named to the West. Durant’s Montrose (Md.) Christian played against Arthur last Saturday in a playoff warmup game at Ellis Davis Field House.

The McDonald’s All-American game was played in Dallas in 1985 with future stars Danny Ferry, Purvis Ellison and Sean Elliott on the teams. A look at previous Dallas area selections:

2006

Darrell Arthur South Oak Cliff

2005

Calvin Miles Skyline

Byron Eaton Lincoln

2004

LaMarcus Aldridge Seagoville

2002

Chris Bosh Lincoln

Daniel Horton Cedar Hill

Bracey Wright The Colony

2000

Brian Boddicker Duncanville

1996

Glendon Alexander Carr. Newman Smith

1991

Jimmy King Plano East

1987

Larry Johnson Skyline

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