D2 in Dalls?

Ehsan Azad

D2 in Dallas?

                There was once a time when Mark Cuban envisioned an elite team surrounding Dirk. It was supposed to be Deron Williams, Dirk Nowitzki, and Dwight Howard and a supporting cast leading the Mavs into the future. Sadly, it looks like the only thing in the Mavericks future is playing the lottery.

                Remember when Mark Cuban dismantled that title team two summers ago and claimed that it was for financial flexibility? Cuban lost some credibility with the fans because he didn’t keep that team together, but he was actually right in a way. That team was older and signing them all would keep them from making moves in the future under the CBA. But, Mark had a different reason for dismantling the team, a reason that he will never admit too. That next summer, he knew that Dwight and Deron would be free agents and that he wanted to use his first time with cap space to his full advantage. Bringing Deron and Dwight to Dallas would not only create a super team, but ensure you have Dirk’s successor as face of the franchise. Things didn’t work out like he had planned. While Dwight was traded to the Lakers and has to wait one more summer till he begins his free agency tour, Deron was ready to come to Dallas. The Nets were the only competition, and everyone was split on who would win out in the end. Then Mark Cuban went to shoot his TV show “Shark Tank”, and things fell apart. Apparently, Deron didn’t like Cuban not being there to talk to him and he chose the Nets. The Mavericks had to give the fans mediocrity this year instead.

                Now, with the Mavs in position to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2000, fans are looking to Dwight Howard to be their savior. With Chris Paul saying he will stay with the Clippers, Howard now becomes the big fish to catch. Some speculate that Dallas is the favorite, because the Lakers environment is causing a lot of problems for Dwight and the only other choice would be the Nets who can’t sign him. But, I disagree greatly with these people. Why would he want to come here? Though the Lakers are struggling this year, they still are the most attractive team to contend. Kobe will retire soon and that gives Dwight full control of that team. That team historically is always good and Dwight would know that they will build around him. In free agency he could go back home to Atlanta, where they already have a big man cornerstone in Al Horford, which could give Atlanta the best 4-5 duo in the NBA. Houston is also attractive as they not only have Jeremy Lin and James Harden, but some good young players to help support Dwight.

                Dallas has an aging roster with washed up veterans. The only player on the team that is guaranteed to be here next year is Dirk, and god knows I love him, but he is at the end of his career. It doesn't seem like Dwight really would come here of all places. Mark would have to offer him a lot more than what he has. They might have to do a trade like the Nets did to attract Deron. Right now, it seems like Dwight will team up with Kobe, set aside their differences and make them a legit threat in the West again. The Mavs need to blow this team up, and start from scratch. With an Owner like Cuban, we know that he will let the MFFLs down. We can only hope.

An Angel with Horns

Ehsan Azad

An Angel with Horns

                Josh Hamilton led the Texas Rangers to back to back World Series appearances and brought home a 2010 AL MVP award. For five years he was the face of the Rangers, and the team along with the metroplex did everything in their power to make him feel comfortable. Maybe they even spoiled Prince Hambone. They dealt with his weird problems that only Josh could have, and they managed to win games in spite of the constant distraction he brought.  He was sold to us a recovering saint here to lead us to Baseball paradise. What a shame we couldn't see past the halo and notice his horns.

                As we know now, Josh Hamilton is now a member of the Los Angeles Angels and good for him. I personally thought he was a huge distraction and you could find easier ways to get the same production without the hassle. Face it, it was exhausting as a fan or a teammate or a manager of Josh to help and support him.  Every day there was a new issue either dealing with his addiction, faith, or his simple approach to the game. It was detrimental to the team and a cancer to that locker room.  I am not angry he didn't let the Rangers match the offer from the Angels or that he said he didn't owe the team anything. That is fine and dandy, because Josh is his own person and he had the right to choose to find a better place for him and his family. What I am upset about is that he decides to shoot criticism back at the entire DFW baseball fandom.

                In an interview with Gina Miller of TXA 21, Josh Hamilton was asked about how he will be perceived when he returns to play the Rangers this season. Hamilton said it won’t bother him either way and that those who boo him don’t really understand baseball. He went on to say that the reason for that was that Arlington and the metroplex as a whole really isn't a baseball town and it is more of a football town. He says that the fans were “spoiled a bit”, and knows the true baseball fans will cheer him.

                What a load of crap! Josh is entitled to his opinion and he is partially right. True, this is a big football town, and the Cowboys have a lot of attention in the metroplex.  But, look what this city has done for Josh and the Rangers. Fans continued to support Josh when he was caught off the wagon twice, once in an Arizona hot tub and a bathroom at Sherlock’s bar in Arlington. The team would celebrate with ginger-ale instead of alcohol to help support their teammate who was a former addict. The front office made sure he was coddled and his ever request was fulfilled.  The city came out in droves and broke the 3 million mark for attendance for last year. Josh was loved in this city. Then like the devil he is, he threw the Rangers fans under the bus.

I wonder what bible verse covers that.

Field of Nightmares

Ehsan Azad

Field of Nightmares

                Three years ago the Rangers entered spring training with a loaded roster and hopes of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. They not only made the playoffs, they climbed to the height of the baseball world by winning back to back American League Pennants and being runner ups for the World Series twice. Now, they enter spring training with more question marks than talent as they try to prepare for the 2013 season after a nightmare off season.

                The Texas Rangers could be given the award for the best teasers in all of sports. They have back to back World Series appearances, their last one being a pitch away from winning it all, and starting last season as the best team in baseball, but loosing the division crown on the final day. It must be frustrating for a Rangers fan to witness this after years of irrelevance for their team. But the hope was in the winter offsetting. Media and fans alike were a buzz about how the Rangers were in so many conversations in free agency and could control how things would fall. There was at one point a chance that the Rangers would sign ace pitcher Zach Greinke and Josh Hamilton. Then trade for excellent Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton.  The Rangers would have been the overwhelming favorite to return to the World Series if they just got one of those players.  In the end, the trade for Upton was nixed, Greinke signed with the Dodgers, and Josh Hamilton left the Rangers for the division rival LA Angels. The nightmare scenario had happened.

                Now, I give Jon Daniels, general manager of the Rangers, some credit for putting a band-aid on the roster.  Though they lost Hamilton, Michael Young, and Mike Napoli, he replaced them with veterans such as A.J. Perzynski and Lance Berkman to help shoulder the offense. Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison still lead a solid pitching unit that still has some power in it. But overall this team is much weaker than previous Ranger teams. They lost a lot on offense and might lose more as Nelson Cruz’s name was found on a report alleging that he bought performance enhancing drugs. He could face a 50 game suspension.  The real problem however may not be the team, but the higher competition in the division.

                The AL West is much stronger now than it was the last few years. The Angels now have an elite pitching staff, and Josh Hamilton will join a high powered offense with players like Albert Pujols and Mike Trout. The Oakland A’s still are the defending division champs with their amazing pitching, which helped propelled them to that unlikely run in the playoffs.  The Rangers simply didn't make enough moves to compete in the division let alone in the American League.

                I could be wrong and the Rangers will pick it up from where they ended and coast to a division title and maybe an AL title. But, this team doesn't excite me. Jon Daniels was caught without a good back up plan and the fans are going to have to deal with the Rangers returning back to irrelevance. 

Paying the Piper

Ehsan Azad

Paying the Piper

                With the division title on the line and a chance to return to the playoffs hung in the balance, Tony Romo made a simple check down throw to Demarco Murray, the rest was history. It was picked off, crushing the hopes of all Cowboys fans alike.  Now, the offseason is here and the team faces a decision on re signing the most polarizing player in sports history.

I admittedly went on this blog and cried out my disdain of Romo for the first time and that I felt like we won’t win a title with him at the helm of the Quarterback position.  I was probably a little too angry to be reasonable there. A few months removed will help you see the picture more analytically and not as a fan. Well the time has come for Romo to begin to re-negotiate his contract. The Jones family is in a sticky situation with their cap situation and Romo could hinder their offseason plans. Currently, the team is $20 million dollars over the salary cap. They will have to restructure a lot of contracts to help them get below the cap and try to lure some cheap free agents. That’s where Romo can help or ruin their plans. If they can re-sign Romo to an extension, his cap value will be cut in half and allow the team to breathe easier. If not, the team will have a 16 million dollar cap hit. The problem lies in whether it’s worth the risk to re-sign him long term or force him to play out the final year of his contract. It’s risky either way, but here is way it’s better to stick with Romo long term.

                First of all Tony is the best option for the team overall. Tell me where you’re going to get another player that has top ten talents in the league.  Some who point out that they can draft one should note that this year’s draft class isn’t like last year’s class. You aren’t going to find phenoms like RGIII, Luck, or Wilson. Free agent wise is a washed up argument because well as mentioned above, the Cowboys have no money.  Tony is the best option to have right now who can play at an elite level. He gives you the best option at winning in the playoffs and a chance to compete for a title.

                Tony Romo isn’t one of the top quarterbacks in the league.  He might never win a championship and lacks that killer instinct. But, for how the team is constructed now, he is the best man for the job. Re-signing him will help bring the team cap relief and you know you  are stable at the QB position for the foreseeable future. 

Fork in the Road

Ehsan Azad

Fork in the Road

                It was just 20-months-ago when the Dallas Mavericks were crowned the champions of the basketball world. They made a magical run that few predicted and it helped solidify Dirk Nowitzki as a true NBA star. Oh how things have changed since that magical summer.

                The Dallas Mavericks are in a unique fork in the road. Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson made a move to dismantle the championship team to create cap space to make easier movies in the new CBA, and also pursue another big star to feature next to Nowitzki. This past summer, they put all their eggs in a basket and tried to nab the summer’s biggest prize, Deron Williams. Unfortunately for them, Williams choose the Nets, and it cost them veterans Jason Terry and Jason Kidd to free agency. They made quick adjustments and brought in a rag tag collection of veterans. Former lottery pick O.J. Mayo was brought in with Elton Brand, Darren Collison, and Chris Kaman. This team was supposed to compete for the playoffs, while the Mavs still maintained a cap room for the summer.  So far the results have been disastrous for the team as they continue to fall down the Western Conference standings.

                Currently, the Mavericks set at 21-28 and are currently five games out of the 8^th spot for the playoffs.  The trade deadline is fast approaching and the team has a question to answer. Can they compete for the playoffs? If the answer is yes, then the team would be buyers at trade time, bring in some good pieces and try to make a run at continuing the 12 year playoff streak. Or, if the answer is no, then be sellers at the deadline and look for more expiring contracts and draft picks.  The answer is simple. Sell the team away.

                The Mavericks are a sorry team. It is a bunch of pieces that were forced to play together for one year and that is not a way to build chemistry. Also, your superstar is hurt for the first real time in his career; this should be a time to shut him down for the season and start to evaluate who you have on this team. Trade away Marion and Carter, bring in some draft picks and find out who on the team can contribute. Build a young, fast, tall, athletic team around Dirk for his last few years and compete for the title. Because once Dirk is gone, the Mavericks will return to irrelevance and futility.