Jerry, Dirk,and DOPE

Ehsan Azad

Jerry, Dirk, and Dope

                A lot has happened for the metroplex sports scene since we entered the year 2013. From coaching shakeups to a floundering Mavs team, the Dallas media is having a field day with every dramatic storyline. So I guess it’s my turn to give my two cents on all the latest drama involving DFW.

                Jerry Jones wasn’t blowing smoke when he mentioned he would make this uncomfortable at Valley Ranch. He fired running back coach Skip Peete and then fired Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Then he pulled a fast one on us and hired Defensive guru Monte Kiffin to be Ryan’s replacement. Now the Cowboys are switching to a 4-3 and installing the Tampa 2 defense that helped make Kiffin a legendary defensive mind. I love the move to go to a 4-3 and having Kiffin just makes it sweeter. But do they have the right personnel to make the defense work is still a big question for me. We will have to wait and see but a lot of questions are still up in the air with this defense.  It doesn't help that the Eagles just hired Chip Kelley, who‘s offenses at Oregon averaged 601 yards and 50 points versus Kiffin’s Trojans.

                In the Basketball world, things look even worse with the Mavericks as one of the worst teams in the league. Constant fourth quarter meltdowns and inefficient chemistry has led to this terrible record of 16 and 23. Dirk Nowitzki is back, but he isn't helping this team full of expiring contracts.  Now rumors are saying that Mavs might want to trade Dirk for some young players and a lot of draft picks. This would be the worse idea the Mavs could ever think about doing. Right now only the top teams would want a player like Dirk to help them get the edge in the playoffs. They will give you players that won’t help the Mavs and draft picks that most likely would be in the later rounds. The best move is to keep your franchise player and keep financial flexibility for the summer. It’s the team’s best option for a better future.  As long as you have Dirk, this team has a chance to compete for a title. The second he is gone, it’s back to contending for the lottery picks.

                Finally, a lot of controversy is being made about Lance Armstrong admitting in an interview with Oprah that he did in fact take PED’s while winning those titles in his career. Some people say that he is a disgrace and everyone should stop supporting his efforts to raise money to beat cancer. They think since it was built on a lie, that they should demand their money or stop wearing his bracelets. First, what he did was cheating and that he should be punished by the US doping agency and be banned from the sport. But, what he did for cancer should not be forgotten. Lie or not, he did help raise money for a cure to cancer. Let’s not stop supporting his charity and his efforts to help out humanity. He is still a hero for those suffering from cancer. What he did as an athlete really has nothing of relevance to our everyday lives then what he did as a humanitarian.

                This has been a crazy year so far, and it will only get crazier. With the Super Bowl, free agency, NBA trade deadlines, coaching changed and even the draft, there is plenty of more drama heading for DFW.  Drama does help when your teams are pretty mediocre.