Mavs return with a breath of fresh air!

Ehsan Azad

Mavs return with a breath of fresh air

It feels good to be updating my personal sports blog after such a long delay. Though I have been busy with other writing gigs, this is where I started, so I am trying to make a conscious effort to re establish my blog. I will try to update this blog daily with all sports facets and everyday life. The inspiration is from my writing muse himself, Richie Whitt. So hopefully this is as successful as his blog has worked out.  You will find anything Mavericks, Texas Rangers, College football, or any other sport featured on my blog. If you want Dallas Cowboys content, find me at thelandryhat.com for all the best Cowboys news and views.

For my first article back, it is fitting that we cover something that has been put on the back shelf for a long time as well, Mavericks basketball.  Today marks the return of the Dallas Mavericks season and I couldn't be more excited for a season than I have in years. I am usually a big fan of basketball as soon as the Cowboys have been eliminated from playoff contention, so around November-December usually.  But this year, with so many new faces on the roster and with some intriguing performances during the pre-season, this could be a fun season for the MavsFansForLife.

The biggest news is that it looks like Dirk Nowitzki is back to his championship form.  The guy is finally fully healthy, has some new teammates to refresh his outlook on the game, and a new sense of proving doubters wrong. For awhile now, the NBA world had thought Dirk had gotten too old and lost a step or two after the championship run. It seems that is fueling this new–look dirk and the Association better be ready for a Dirk that is going to put up some MVP numbers this year.

The other big story-lines is the new-look back court of Jose Calderon and Monta Ellis. Since Jason Kidd and Jason Terry left, the Mavs struggled to find suitable replacements to fill the void at the guard spots. This year, they may have found the best options at both positions. In Calderon, they have a savvy veteran point guard who knows the game very well and can efficiently run the offense without turning the ball over. He also can shoot from the outside, which is one big asset to have in your point guard.  Monta Ellis, who has been trying to shed his reputation as a volume shooter, has really changed his game during the pre-season. He is taken higher percentage shots than he has in the past, he can get to the basket and finish at the rim, and his two-man game with Dirk is absolutely fantastic to watch on the court. Look for the Mavericks offense to be one of the best in the league because of these three men working together.

The bad news is that their defense has been shot to hell! With only Shawn Marion and foul-prone center Samuel Dalembert as the only true defensive players, look for a lot of 114-112 games from the Mavs this season.

So that brings me to my annual season prediction for the Dallas Mavericks, and it is much better than it was last year. The Mavericks will win 50 games at least and make it to the playoffs with the 6^th seed in the Western conference. Sadly, that is as far as they go, since the West is very good this year.

So let’s get ready for a fun and exciting Mavs season and root for the return of Dirk!

Fourth of July Mash-Up

Ehsan Azad

Fourth of July Mash-Up

                So it has been awhile since I last updated my blog, and I know you are all just dying to hear my thought on the world of sports. Ok, maybe not, but I am still going to tell you because a lot has happened since I last wrote.  So since today is a holiday, I thought it was time for another mash up.

·         The Dwightmare is almost over as he begins to announce his decision on Friday. I personally can’t wait until this is over. I just know he will take that extra 30 million that the Lakers are offering and try to make it work with Dantoni and Kobe. If he comes to the Mavs, Great, but I am not going to get my hopes up. Honestly, I rather have LA get him than the Rockets, because as you may know, Houston sucks. Plus, we can focus on Lebron coming here next year, am I right?

·         The last time I wrote, Aaron Hernandez was looking to be the starting tight end going into training camp with Gronk recovering from injury. Now, he is the starting wide out in a Boston area prison.  So apparently, Hernandez is some thug from Florida that has an anger problem, kills two people and kills his close friend for supposedly ratting on him. All of this is alleged and he is innocent until proven guilty, but damn the evidence is sure piling up against him. Seriously, Hernandez, if you are going to delete the video at your house, delete the part where you are holding a gun and saying you can trust people.  But, it doesn’t matter, because this was all in God’s plan. God wanted Gronk hurt, Hernandez to become a killer, and then Tebow will become the starting tight end. True story.

·         The Rangers have rebounded from their abysmal June and have reclaimed first place. They still need a trade for a big time hitter, because their offense is still dragging around. It’s embarrassing to only score 2 runs at the ballpark where you have a jet stream. Maybe their July will give us a hitter than can actually hit the ball.

·         Cowboys training camp is coming up soon and I cant wait. Best time of the year because it means football is almost here. Time for my early pre training camp prediction, Cowboys will go 18-0 into the Super Bowl and Romo will throw a last second pick to seal the doom for the Boys. Or not. Maybe they go 0-16?

·         Quick reminders, the EA Sports Show will be back July 16^th, don’t miss it. IF you want to hear previous episodes, tweet me at @easportsdfw  and ill give yall the links.

Everyone have a safe and fun fourth of July, and Dwight Howard please come to Dallas!

Pick your Poison

Ehsan Azad

Pick your Poison

                It finally happened! The evil, unthinkable act of horror will be showcased at the NBA Finals. The San Antonio Spurs will face off against the Miami Heat. If you are a Mavs fan, this must be painful to watch. But, if you had to pick, who do you pick?

                If you are a sports fan, you will always look for person to root for if your team isn’t playing. That is just human nature and it won’t change. But, this year is that one rare example of wishing for the option of killing yourself. On one corner is the Maverick’s arch rival and in-state nemesis the San Antonio Spurs. Not only have the Spurs won four championships and have been a thorn for the Mavs in the playoffs, they continue to show how much more better their front office is after being so consistent at winning for 13 years.  On the other side, you have their Finals rival, the Miami Heat who “beat” the Mavs with help from the Refs and the epic revenge in 2011 when they beat the star studded big Three of the Heat. So who will I root for?

                Simple answer, I will be rooting for the Heat. The Spurs for years have made me sick. They have won four championships in 13 years and they never seem to get old. Gregg Popovich must have installed the fountain of youth in the locker room. They also find players you never hear d of and put them in positions that make them stars. I might respect them but I sure do I hate their guts!

                So it’s a simple, go root for the Heat. It was inevitable and you can say they only won because they colluded and built a super team. You don’t need Spurs fans throwing in Mavs fan’s faces their 5 championships, that plain just hurts. 

Dwightmare

Ehsan Azad

Dwightmare

                Remember around this time last year, Mark Cuban sold us on the chances of reuniting Dallas with its hometown kid Deron William. Cuban told us grand stories of how Williams, and soon Dwight were going to join Dirk and create D3! The entire metroplex was excited that they would soon have the team to catapult them back into contention. Then Shark Tank happened, Williams went to the Nets, Dwight got traded to LA, and the Mavs missed the playoffs for the first time in 13 years.  So why are we excited this year?

                Oh right, the chance of getting Dwight or Chris Paul this time. The exact same situation has happened and the odds are not in our favor but Cubes continues to preach about making a splash this summer. It’s good that he delayed taping of Shark Tank, but what are you going to do about the fact that Dallas is not a favorable option now.

                If you are Howard or Paul, you know that this could be one of the last times you sign a huge max extension and you want to get all the money you can sucker out. Both players can re-sign with their current teams and get an extra year and 25 million right in their pocket. Both teams are playoff teams with chances to build off last year, so it would be hard to leave such a great situation.

                Second, if the rumors are true and it seems like both would want to leave, why Dallas? Look at the teams competing with the Mavericks in free agency. The Houston Rockets can make some big moves and get cap space to sign Dwight Howard. Howard would love to play alongside YOUNG superstar James Harden. That team would be in title contention for years to come.  The other team on the list is the Atlanta Hawks, who are the only team with the space to sign both.  I think they could be the leader to get them both since the players have always wanted to play together. It doesn’t hurt that Atlanta is Dwight’s hometown. Atlanta would have to work on signing some good supporting guys, but Dwight and Paul on a team together is scary good.

                Now, what can Dallas offer that can beat all that? Well the only thing either player would love is that they would have one of the best coaches in the league right now in Rick Carlisle. They would get to be the face of the franchise as Dirk would be more than happy to give it up and they would have a great owner. That is about it though for the Mavs. Both players would be coming here and playing with an aging Dirk and he isn’t the same one we saw in the title run. The team isn’t as good surrounding them and it wouldn’t be likely they would be title contenders for long.

                In the end, the Mavs should focus on getting younger and getting exciting dynamic free agents that don’t cost a lot and then move in for the kill next year when a new batch of superstars are ready for free agency. 

Yu got to be Kidding me!

Ehsan Azad

Yu got to be kidding me!

                When the Texas Rangers were revealed to be the winners of the secret bid for the rights to negotiate for star Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish, I was a little skeptical. Sure at the time he was considered one hell of a prospect and some say the best foreign player in the world. Yu was a legend in Japan and many thought he would bring that here. But, I looked at previous over-hyped sensations that came to MLB, like Chan Ho Park, and how little they did in the majors. I wanted people to tap the brakes a bit with this new star. Today, I give you permission to hit the gas on Yu mania.

                Tonight, Yu will face an incredible test as the Rangers face off against the Detroit Tigers. Justin Verlander will get the start opposite Darvish, so you know that this will be a low scoring affair. It’s up to Yu to step up and bring his best game. So far that hasn’t been a problem for Darvish.  This is a pitcher that in his first start of the season was just an out away in the bottom of the ninth from a perfect game. The man is averaging almost eight strikeouts a game and he is on pace to break Nolan Ryan’s single season record for strikeouts. He has a 2.73 E.R.A., has a 6-1 record and isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

                What makes Darvish such a feat to watch is that he overpowers a hitter every time, which is rare to see by pitchers these days. Most pitchers don’t try to overpower their throws in fear of hurting their elbow, for Yu it seems like his elbow is the last thing on his mind. This for the time being makes Darvish one of the most feared pitchers in the league right now. But, there has to be some caution on his health. He is risking it every time he gets on the mound the way he is pitching and it could cost him a long career in the majors.  Others will tell you though that Darvish is fine and his amazing stamina allows him to continue on this torrid pace. I tend to think that the unique way he throws the ball allows him to overcome any elbow or arm injury. He will play for a long time in the league.

                I was wrong on the kid. This can flat out play baseball at a high level and gives the Rangers an ace to an already emerging rotation. Now it’s time for the Rangers offense to flourish and give some run support for their ace, as Yu leads them back to top of the baseball world.

Cold Draft

Ehsan Azad

Cold Draft

                Wow was I wrong about the NFL draft, as was every other person covering the event. Going back, I don’t remember a draft so unpredictable and confusing than this one. The Dallas Cowboys especially confused the hell out of me with their crazy strategies and confounding draft picks. None the less, they were made and I have to say I was pleasantly ok with it. I mean after I was screaming for Jerry’s head, I calmed down and was open to the strategy he had put in an effect. 

                The night started out with three players on the board for the Boys. At 18, it was hard to get Jonathan Cooper or Chance Warmack. These guys are too good to drop, especially in a draft with no elite quarterbacks. The only option was the safety out of Texas, Kenny Vaccaro. But, the Saints ruined that plan. At that moment, Jerry admitted that they began to try to trade down to get out of the first round. That would have been fine if the number 5 overall prospect on the board, Shariff Floyd, DT out of Florida, wasn’t falling down the charts. This guy was good and would have been a great steal for the team. But, strangely they passed on him and traded with San Francisco to get the 31^st pick and just an additional 3^rd round pick. That’s another problem I had with this draft. According to the draft trade chart, that was made famous by the Cowboys, it wasn’t a fair deal to get just a 3^rd round pick to go down from the 18^th to the 31^st selection.  The more appropriate trade would have been at least an extra second round pick. But, the front office continues to stand by their trade. Now for the selections and my grade for each pick.

1^st round- Travis Frederick, C/G from Wisconsin.- I love this pick for the need, but not necessarily for the best overall player at the time. You could have got this guy in the third round and focused on better players. But, still it’s a solid addition to a raggedy offensive line. He’s strong, big, and will be a great cornerstone to an offensive line that lacks strength.  His athleticism is my concern as he slow as hell. Ran a 40 in the high 5s and lacks the necessary skills to play versus fast pass rushers. But, at the center position there is none better. Instant upgrade over Phil Costa and makes your guards look better.  Grade B+

2^nd round- Gavin Escobar, TE from San Diego State University- Talk about a reach people.  This was a guy nobody was talking about and it wasn’t really a need for the team.  They needed a blocking tight end, and this guy can’t do it. But, he is one of the best pass catchers in this draft. Great hands, pretty good size and speed and will be a dangerous addition to the passing game for Romo who already has Witten and Hanna. This is more of a luxury pick than a need, but still adds weapons to a dangerous offense. Don’t like the pick at all, but maybe it will pay off.  Grade C-

3^rd Round- Terrance Williams, WR out of Baylor- Wow, Talk about a hit. This guy has my giddy about the Cowboys offense. Now that they got a center and most likely a tackle in free agency, they add this speedy wide out to an already dangerous Receiving core. This guy has great hands, runs good routes, and has been described as a burner.  Miles Austin be scared, we might have found your replacement. It is too early to tell, but this guy could eventually be the number 2 receiver on the team.  Grade A+

3^rd Round- J.J. Wilcox, S out of Georgia Southern-Now I really don’t know much about this guy but he is being described as one of the best safeties in the draft.  Only has played the position for a year, the converted receiver has great ball skills and loves to hit. Makes a perfect addition to the Tampa 2, and will compete with Matt Johnson for the starting spot.  Grade- B

4^th Round- B.W. Webb, DB out of William and Mary- I was really shocked that they would go for a corner in this pick, but I understand why now. Orlando Scandrick’s play is getting worse and it’s time to upgrade on that end. Plus, you can never have too many corners. This guy was average, but built a good reputation at the senior bowl. He is pretty quick and can make plays on the ball. I like it, don’t love it but he is a good wait and see project. Grade C.

5^th Round- Joseph Randall, RB out of Oklahoma State- Now here is a player that fit the need and best player available need. This guy can flat out play. Some say he could be the second coming of Barry Sanders, no I am kidding but they have similar backgrounds. He is just a good running back, nothing too flashy. The best part is that he is durable. This kid did not miss a game in his college career and you will need that as Demarco Murray has not shown to be a reliable healthy player. Watch for this kid to compete for the starting job very soon. Grade A+

6^th Round- DeVontee Holloman, OLB from South Carolina- This convert from safety to linebacker is one intriguing prospect.  He gained weight to his frame to play OLB, and has 19% body fat now. According to his agent he has been working on his fat issues.  This kid is one hell of a run defender has pretty good speed and can shed blocks well.  He lacks coverage skills, but won’t need it as much because he will compete for the strong side linebacker job which deals with the run and not the pass. Expect him to add depth to the linebackers and on special teams. With how fragile Lee and Carter are, this is a great pick up.

                This draft was confusing and nauseating. It’s not sexy and it’s unconventional. But, it’s what they need and it helps secure the depth on a team that sorely needed it last year. Now the task is to sign a free agent tackle to replace Free and we might have things settled for the season.

                

NFL Draft Preview

Ehsan Azad

NFL Draft Preview

                It’s finally here! The NFL draft is upon us and how nervous are fans all over the nation. All 32 teams will be making selections that either puts them a step closer to a Super Bowl or a step closer to getting the number one overall pick next year.  The Dallas Cowboys will have the 18^th pick in this year’s draft and this will be one of the hardest drafts to predict. This is not top heavy with premier skill players and has a lot of depth on the defensive and offensive linemen. So where will the Cowboys go? Here are my predictions for this year for the Cowboys.

                I think the Cowboys will trade out of the first round. I could be totally wrong on this, but it seems like the most likely outcome. The Cowboys need an offensive lineman but it seems like the top options like Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper will be gone by the time the Cowboys are on the clock. Now, there is a chance they could trade up to get those players but with only 6 picks in this draft, this seems unlikely as well. The best option is to trade down and get multiple picks in the second round. This draft is deep and you can find quality starters for your team in later rounds.  If this trade happens, here are a few players the Cowboys could get.

Eric Reid-S from LSU- If the Boys trade out of the first round, look for this player to be their top pick. They need a safety and Reid is the second best safety in the draft.  Also, with his athleticism, I really think he could fit well into the new Tampa-2 defense.

Kyle Long-OG Oregon- I’m thinking that with their second pick in the second round will be O-linemen and it will be the mauler Kyle Long.  Son of Hall of Famer player Howie Long, this kid can play and I really think the one time DUI charge is why he falls this low. He can be day one starter to help infuse youth into the line.

Joseph Randall- RB Oklahoma State- The team really needs a backup running back because Demarco Murray has proven he can’t stay healthy all year long. Randall is the player for the team in the either the third or fourth round. He has speed, athleticism, and I think he would be the perfect complement to Murray.

Other positions that they need to fill is on the defensive line.  If they don’t trade out and no offensive linemen are available, pick Sheldon Richardson, Defensive Tackle from Missouri at 18. This guy is big, athletic, and will step in and become the force in the middle for the D line. I’m sure Monte Kiffin will be licking his chops to get his hands on this type of player.  Along with Ratliff, Ware, and Spencer look for the sack numbers to start to rise.

                Well, have fun tonight, don’t get too excited or depressed and let’s see if the Cowboys continue their recent successes in the Draft.

Sports Suicide

Ehsan Azad

Sports Suicide

                If you have noticed my blog hasn’t been updating in awhile, the reason be it is that I am clearly depressed by the sports world right now. It’s the end of April and I am usually prepping for the Dallas Mavericks to begin their playoff run. Sadly, no such run will begin this year as the Mavs will watch the playoffs from home for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. Bummer. But, a little mash up of the week’s topics could lighten the mood.

·         The Texas Rangers were a team that I written off as a failure before the season started. Loosing Josh Hamilton was too big of a blow on offense to let this franchise build its way back to a title, or so I thought. This team is playing on all cylinders and winning in multiple ways. This team can play small ball or long ball, and the pitching is superb. Not only are the expected starters like Darvish and Holland stepping up, but new guys like Nick Tepesch and an active bullpen are helping the Rangers stay on top of the division. Now with Matt Harrison hurt, things might get dicey, but no worries yet as the Rangers look very good going into the second month of the season.

·         The NFL Draft is fast approaching and be on the lookout for a draft preview soon before the big night Thursday. The Cowboys have the 18^th pick, and I think that a trade is imminent. There are a lot of holes to fill this year and I can see Jerry wanting to trade down and get an extra pick.  But, I do see an offensive lineman in the first round and it maybe a certain Jonathon Cooper. More on that later this week.

·         While it’s depressing for the Mavs not to be in the playoffs, good news is you can root for a spoiler. If they Mavericks want any chance at landing Dwight Howard this summer, you better hope the arch rival Spurs take care of business versus a Kobe-less Lakers squad. A first round exit will surely spill disaster for Howard’s west coast plans.

·         The NBA playoff has started and I’m yawning already. Not that the teams are boring, but it’s clear to me and everyone who knows sports that the inevitable will happen. The Heat will repeat. Only the Spurs and Thunder have a small shot to win it against them and that’s still a pretty low chance. The Heat is clearly the best team and will steam roll its way to a second consecutive title.

·         Happy Birthday to the Quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, Tony Romo. Hopefully, that alone will inspire you on a playoff run?

Eh, while it didn’t totally make me feel better; it still was better than nothing.  Hopefully, things will look up, like maybe the Mavericks landing some big fish this summer and not chilling in the shark Tank. I’ll be watching Mark!

Easter Mash up

Ehsan Azad

Easter Mashup

                What an exciting Easter weekend for sports!  On a weekend where March Madness was supposed to be the center of the world, DFW sports stole the show with its very dramatic results.

·         Tony Romo’s new contract was the first big domino to fall this weekend and it created the most buzz. Sure the public knew a new contract was coming, but now that it finally arrived, it seems like fan reaction wasn’t too pleasing. Romo got a six-year 108 million dollar extension with 55 million guaranteed. That would come out to a total seven-year 119 million dollar contract.  Cowboy fans don’t worry about this being a robbery done by Romo. This is actually a great deal for both sides. It essentially is a 4 year deal worth 55 million. After that the team can then release, restructure, or let Romo retire without feeling any major impact on the cap. Pretty much, Romo has four years to get to the Promised Land or the Cowboys will end all ties. The only reason the contract is so long is that it helps spread out the cap hit, so again don’t worry.

·         While the Cowboys stole the show, The Dallas Mavericks quietly have found themselves very much alive in the chase for the final playoff spot. After a demoralizing loss vs. the Pacers, The Mavs had to win Saturday against the Chicago Bulls in order to keep pace with the Lakers and the Jazz. Midway through the fourth quarter, that looked very bleak. Nate Robinson looked like he was playing NBA2k13 hitting big threes and putting doubt into Dallas.  I guess the beards felt really itchy, because the Mavs go on a 15-1 run that included a dagger three by Dirk with just two seconds to go. Chicago frustrated that they lost a 12 point lead twice, hurried one final shot and the game was over. 100-98 was the final and Dirk looks like he has returned. The German Moses finished with 35 points and now has his team just a game and half behind the Jazz and the Lakers. They aren’t in yet, but they are making it very fun to watch.

·         So how do you cap off a wonderful Easter sports weekend? Oh that’s right, welcome Baseball back. The Texas Rangers opened the Season Sunday night against new AL west opponent the Houston Astros.  Questions about the Rangers ability to compete in the division were put on hold before the game because most thought that Rangers were still better than the raggedy Astros. The Astros, being new to the American League and all thought the best way to say hello was a thrashing of their in state rivals. 8-2 was the final and Matt Harrison and the Rangers bullpen could not last. The Rangers offense would have helped hit in more runs, but Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli don’t play here anymore. Anyone who thinks this team is still capable of winning the division still needs to get off the ganja.

I would mention the Stars, but I rather not.  But they did loose Sunday as well.  So there was your Easter mash up, and boy was it delicious.  Till next time.

Spring Break Mashup

Ehsan Azad

Spring Break Mash-Up

                Well it’s been awhile since my last article; spring break had me relaxing a little too much. Well I am back, and it’s time for a little mash up of hot sports opinion.

·         Is there any sports even that is more hyped than March Madness?  I mean every March, the entire nation becomes engrossed into the NCAA tournament and I swear every person I run into is filling a bracket.  President Obama even has his bracket televised by ESPN.  What gets me is that it makes everyone a college basketball expert around this time of the year. They all of a sudden care about who wins or loses or they tell others how to pick your bracket. Where were these guys in the regular season?  In reality the tournament itself is overblown. In recent years, the teams have become so evenly matched that the whole draw of the Cinderella has worn out. Plus, with the best players leaving so early now to the NBA, the draw of the superstar also has vanished from the tournament. But, I will admit, it still has my attention somehow and I did fill out a bracket, so I guess March Madness won’t go away.

·         The Miami Heat are proving that they are the best team in basketball led by the greatest player on the planet right now. We can debate Lebron vs. Kobe vs. Jordan another day, but right now no one is playing better basketball than King James.  He is averaging 26.6 points a game, 7.3 assists per game, and 8.2 rebounds per game. Numbers aside, he has total chemistry with his team right now and he is leading the Heat’s historical win streak currently at 25. But, you need to look closer to see how Lebron James is taking control of his team. Multiple times in this win streak, the Heat have found themselves down by inferior opponents and in the 4^th quarter every time, it’s James leading the charge and putting the game into his hands. He single handily pulls the team out of their funk and gets them back to playing lights out. I think it’s going to break 33 wins and they will have the longest win streak in NBA History. Oh and add in another title for the King. The pressure is off; this is just purely fun now for Wade and himself.

·         Cowboys fans don’t worry about the lack of moves by Jerry Jones. Remember, the cap situation isn’t so suitable with only five figures below the cap number. But, I think this will be a good thing for the team. Now, with certainty that the team can’t go spending crazy on guys on the market, this forces them to make their impact through the draft. Meaning there won’t be crazy Jerry moves in the draft, it will be take the best available person on the board. That is the only way to bring in fresh talent to the team and help it get over their mediocrity curse.

·         Rangers announced that Matt Harrison will be the Opening Day starter.  Yay! Who cares about that? Wake me up when it’s August and we will analyze the team then.

·         I will go into full length on my next column about this subject but I thought it be a good time for a little preview. Soccer vs. American Football has been a great debate among the international sports scene for years. Clearly, Americans love their football and deem it the best sport on the planet. The rest of the world thinks Americans are stupid and want them to start calling soccer by its real name, futbol.  So which sport really is better? I am a big football fan, but I can see why soccer has such a passionate fan base. More on that next time, but I will be asking fellow sports fans which is better and why.

 Well I hope you enjoyed this little mash up and enjoy March Madness.

The Ryan Express Out Of Town

Ehsan Azad

The Ryan Express out of Town

                Ranger fans just love Nolan Ryan and what he brings to their team. I mean its Nolan freaking Ryan.  He is a hall of fame pitcher, a former Ranger great, a hot dog guy, and a Texas legend. It’s just badass to see him sit right behind home plate and watch his team kick ass. I mean he is Nolan Ryan, the smartest baseball guy on the planet and he is the reason why the Rangers become the contender they are today. Give me a break people. Ryan is nothing but an over blown fraud.

                Don’t get me wrong, I think he is an ok guy. Definite hall of fame pitcher that was tough son of a gun that won Texas Rangers over with his amazing personality. I mean that fight with Ventura was awesome to watch, he really kicked that guy’s ass.  But let’s not get carried away with the notion he is the driving force behind the Ranger’s recent success.

                As many people know now, Ryan is supposedly either being forced out or contemplating leaving the organization because of General Manager Jon Daniel’s recent promotion to President of Baseball Operations, a title used to have. Also, they promoted another man to run the business side of the team as well. Ryan still has the title of CEO and is a part owner of the team, but clearly has lost a lot of power. Now the debate has been raging on  in the DFW about who would you rather have running the team, Daniels or Ryan.  The answer is pretty simple here. Jon Daniels is the answer.

                Look, Nolan has done a lot for this team since he took over as President. He has hired some great guy, shown leadership to the public and helped save the franchise when it fell into bankruptcy. But, honestly the team we have today has nothing to do with Ryan.  Jon Daniels has been the real man orchestrating the building of the team even before Nolan was even a part of the Rangers Organization.

                Since the youngest GM in baseball arrived in Arlington, he has built one of the most impressive farm systems in the game, has done trades to bring in impact players like Nellie Cruz, Elvis Andrus, and Colby Lewis. He brought in Josh Hamilton, Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison and even Ron Washington. Daniels is the key reason the Rangers have done so well in the last few years. Ryan really had no part in building this team.  Jon Daniels is the future and will most likely help continue to play smart and not get carried away with idiotic decisions.

                Look, I hope Nolan Ryan stays and contributes to this team with strong leadership and a business sense. He easily will bring the fans in who adore him and we will have a face for the franchise for years to come. But, we know who runs the show behind the curtains.  So a little advice for the great Nolan, sit down, smile and don’t get in Jon Daniel’s way. 

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.

                

Read Option Gone

Ehsan Azad

Read Option Gone

                The NFL from time to time starts to fall in love with new ways to play the game. Sometimes these innovations to the game stay and become a fixture in professional football. Other times they are just unique fads that quickly lose steam and popularity. Currently, the read option/pistol offenses are taking over the league this year. Some think this will be the way offenses are structured for years to come, while I think this is just another fad that will quickly become just a footnote in the league’s history.

                The read option/pistol offenses aren’t new to the NFL. They have had popped up many times before but no coach had really utilized it well enough to make it effective in the NFL. College is where the offense really flourished and it was used at variety of programs. Then last year, when Cam Newton entered the league, the Carolina Panthers installed the read option offense and Newton became an instant star breaking Peyton Manning’s rookie record. Noting this, teams thought they could risk bringing in quarterbacks who had speed and agility and install the read option to make them more successful. Washington brought in Robert Griffin, Seattle brought in Russell Wilson, and San Francisco mid season started speedy backup Colin Kapernick. The results? All three made the playoffs, with Kapernick in the Super Bowl.  So it’s settled then, the read option is the best offense innovation since the vertical passing game.  Let’s not get carried away and let’s slow down on demanding your team switches to this popular offense.

                First, let’s examine what exactly happens in the read option. The offense allows the quarterback to quickly decide on whether to pass, handoff to a running back, or keep it himself.  The offense is known to be quick and confusing to the opposing defense. Defenses have to rely on their instincts on where the ball is going to go. This leads to big gains by the offense and quick scores.  Sounds like a great offense right? It was this year, as it led the three quarterbacks mentioned above to their first ever playoff runs. Now, people are obsessed with this offense.  They really think this could takeoff and that it will be a watershed moment in the NFL. I hate to be the one to burst their bubble, but the read option is a fad that won’t last long in the NFL.

 My main problem with this offense is that it is too simple. Sure, you can teach it very well to anyone and they will perfect it, but if it’s easy to learn then it must be easy to beat. Defensive Coordinators are spending the offseason studying how to beat it and will effectively shut down those offenses in the next few years.  One weakness is that the offense is ineffective when playing late in the game from behind. It is better to throw the ball a lot when playing from a deficit in late game situations and if the offense is built around the read option then those teams are going to see a lot of games end unfavorably.  Another big weakness is that the offense needs a certain type of quarterback.  The quarterback in a read option has to be fast and can quickly think on their feet. They need to have insanely high amounts of quick twitch fibers in their body to be able to masterfully outwit the defense. Only 5 % of Qbs in the NFL possess that talent and only handful of that 5 percent can throw the ball effectively. That is the big thing right there, throwing the ball. What makes Robert Griffin and Kapernick so dangerous is that they can throw the ball very well.  It maybe be an offense that I based on the run, but you still need a good accurate arm.  And my last reason on why to abandon this popular offense is that defensive players are only getting faster.  If you look back, players on defense historically have been slower than their offensive counterparts. Especially looking at defensive line men, these guys were slow but powerful beasts that relied on their strength. Today, they are not anything like those behemoths. They are incredibly fast and have a lot of quick movements that match up to the offense.  Eventually, you will see that defenses will have the speed to counter any kind of run that the offense tries to throw at them.

In the end, the good old pocket passer quarterback and the pass happy spread offense will still dominate the NFL.  Enjoy the read option while you can, it will soon join the wildcat and the wishbone as the dinosaurs of the football world.

Catfishing

Ehsan Azad

Catfishing

                Yesterday’s news cycle was pretty boring in the sports world. Yeah Lance Armstrong was admitting to something we all know by now he did, the Cowboys were in the process of hiring a new coaching staff, the Mavs won four games in a terrible season for them, and the Rangers keep getting AARP members to their lineup. Then the biggest hoax/scandal of 2013 was unraveled to the nation surrounding the most decorated college football player in history.

                Manti Teo, the all-American linebacker out of Notre Dame, was having a storybook season that was being eaten up by the national media. He was leading a storied program to a national championship all while dealing with tragedy of epic proportions. Losing his grandmother and then losing his girlfriend six hours later was tragic for anyone to endure. The media reported emotional interviews that Manti gave describing this beautiful girl that was his love of his life. They talked on the phone for hours while she dealt with chemotherapy and she asked him to continue to play if anything happened to her. It was all too good to be true. And it was.

                Reports by the website Deadspin.com confirm that his girlfriend Lennay Kekua did not die, and in fact was a complete fabrication. Now, Manti Teo has come out and said he was duped by a cruel hoax. I’m not buying this guy’s story. The facts just don’t add up. All the evidence points out that on multiple occasions he said he met the girl and then he retracted those statements saying he never met her. Then common sense comes and says how you couldn’t meet a girl that you describe as the love of your life just once. The story just seemed too good to be true. Another rumor is that in fact Manti Teo is gay and is using the fake girlfriend to hide his sexual orientation. That could be true, but I am not going to care if that is the case. The logical answer is that Manti Teo was a part of a conspiracy to create publicity in his Heisman candidacy.

                Regardless of what happens, the truth will come out. Manti Teo will become a NFL superstar and people will forget this will happen. Enjoy the media circus for another week and we will get back to Lance Armstrong and Jerry Jones.