It's the most wonderful time of the year

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

It might be the best time for sports fans here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. You have the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars back in the playoffs, the Texas Rangers have started their season and the Dallas Cowboys are about to start the draft process. Too bad it might end badly for all the teams involved.

Dallas Mavericks:

The Mavs made it back to the playoffs, but they unfortunately drew the most dangerous San Antonio Spurs team that I have ever seen. I seriously think Tim Duncan brought some voodoo magic back from the Virgin Islands and that is why they have been so good for so long. We saw that magic happen again in Game 1 Sunday afternoon. For most of the game the Mavs had control of game, they even led by 10 points with about eight minutes left in the game. Then the Spurs went on a 15-0 run and eventually took the lead and the win. During that stretch, Dirk and Monta combined for two points and a whole bunch of misses. Dirk, your leader and top offensive weapon, finished with only 11 points. He had 30 points in the regular season finale against Memphis.  Dirk and Monta need to be better! They have their chance at redemption tonight. Bad news is that the Spurts might be on their A-game as well.

Dallas Stars:

What a time for Stars fans in the Metroplex. A young team on the rise, the Stars returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Like the Mavs, they got stuck playing the number one seeded Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks took the first two games in California, but the Stars kept it close. Now back in Dallas, they dominated Ducks from the start, taking game 3 with a 3-0 win. The franchise should be happy and the fans should be proud. This team can be the shining light for a city that is full of heartbreaking sports teams.  The bad part is that the Stars are going to lose this series because the Ducks are just better. The Stars are too young to win this series. I could be very wrong and I want to be wrong. Regardless, with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin leading this team, there could be another Stanley Cup coming to Dallas.

Texas Rangers:

This team really has broken my heart. All the potential with Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo joining the offense really had me thinking World Series. Then the injuries happened and then my hopes went down the drain. Then Prince Fielder all of a sudden couldn’t hit the ball and the pitching became insanely terrible. While I do believe this team is going to get healthy and be competitive, there are things that worry me, especially when Matt Harrison rejoins the rotation. It is still early to tell how good or bad this team can be, but it will be fun to watch.

Dallas Cowboys:

Well usually there is no good news with this team, so all I will say is this. They need to hit on some quality picks in this draft, or they will be missing the playoffs once again. For more Cowboys coverage, go read my articles at www.thelandryhat.com.

Let’s just hope the sun shines again on the Metroplex.

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.