Daily Ticket: The Blog

Separated at birth

Cowtown Marathon winner Keith Pierce and Willem Dafoe

Checking the climate

ON FIRE
Alex Rodriguez’s decision to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic seems like an odd choice since he was born in New York and played for the United States in the first tournament. But given that it now appears that most of A-Rod’s muscles are from the Dominican Republic, it makes more sense.

WARMING UP
Because the Cowboys already have great team chemistry, GM Jerry Jones should have no worries about bringing in Jon Kitna. Maybe Kitna will get the locker between Bradie James and Terence Newman. (Listen to this. About 3:40 in it gets good)

Not to be out-crazied by Jerry Jones, Redskins owner Daniel Synder spent $154 million ($61.5 million guaranteed) on two free agents Friday. To be fair, though, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth will give the Redskins a leg up. Just ask Andre Gurode.

COLD STREAK
The Yankees told A-Rod to keep his cousin away from ballparks. A cousin hasn’t been this unwelcome since Cousin Eddie pulled up in his RV at Clark Griswold’s fun, old-fashioned family Christmas.

FROZEN TUNDRA
Safety Roy Williams days as a Cowboy could be over. Cowboys fans will have to get used to seeing him get burned in another uniform.

Maybe Quincy Carter’s plan is to get arrested so many times that Jerry Jones won’t be able to control himself and re-sign him as another reclamation project.

The greatest Ranger bracket: Johnny Oates Region

It’s a great time for sports fans. Spring training is underway and March Madness is right around the corner. We here at the Daily Ticket decided to combine the spirit of the two. It’s our field of the 64 greatest players in Texas Rangers history. Our selection committee considered such qualities as longevity, production and popularity in the seeding process. The field is set, now it’s up to you to decide the winner. Voting for each round will last a week.

Click on the links below to vote on the other regions.
Doug Rader Region
Bobby Valentine Region
Billy Martin Region

The greatest Ranger bracket: Bobby Valentine Region

It’s our field of the 64 greatest players in Texas Rangers history. Our selection committee considered such qualities as longevity, production and popularity in the seeding process. The field is set, now it’s up to you to decide the winner. Voting for each round will last a week.

Click on the links below to vote on the other regions.
Doug Rader Region
Billy Martin Region
Johnny Oates Region

The greatest Ranger bracket: Doug Rader Region

It’s our field of the 64 greatest players in Texas Rangers history. Our selection committee considered such qualities as longevity, production and popularity in the seeding process. The field is set, now it’s up to you to decide the winner. Voting for each round will last a week.

Click on the links below to vote on the other regions.
Billy Martin Region
Johnny Oates Region
Bobby Valentine Region

The greatest Ranger bracket: Billy Martin Region

It’s our field of the 64 greatest players in Texas Rangers history. Our selection committee considered such qualities as longevity, production and popularity in the seeding process. The field is set, now it’s up to you to decide the winner. Voting for each round will last a week.

Click on the links below to vote on the other regions.
Johnny Oates Region
Bobby Valentine Region
Doug Rader Region

Breakfast Crumbs: Friday

Notes and thoughts compiled at the breakfast table ...

* The Dallas Cowboys officially need a backup quarterback, after cutting loose Brad Johnson. Is safety Roy Williams the next to go?

* St. Louis Blues 3, Dallas Stars 1: Talk about a clunker -- the Stars had five shots clang off the pipe and now the Stars are in a four-way tie for seventh place in the Western Conference.

* For some reason, I can't get enough Josh Hamilton stories. Today, it's Randy Galloway talking about baseball's cleanest power hitter.

* Speaking of clean, former Texas Rangers pitcher Rick Helling made Time magazine, with this excerpt from Joe Torre's book that tells how Helling did his part to clean up baseball. Too bad more people didn't have Helling's guts.

* Imagine reading the ticker on your television screen and reading that you have a new employer. That's how the Dallas Mavericks' Antoine Wright learned he was coming here.

* NBC has to be hating Tiger Woods' second-round exit, courtesy Tim Clark, from the Accenture Match Play Championship. Our Ray Buck tell us that Nielsen unearthed a 47-percent difference in viewership from tournaments Tiger played in in 2007-08 to those same tournaments he missed last season while injured.

* Thursday's NBA highlight: Houston Rockets 93, Cleveland Cavaliers 74 -- For the first time in his career, LeBron James did not have an assist. Yao Ming scored 28 points to lead the Rockets. James had 21 points. He had recorded at least one assist in his previous 493 games, regular season and postseason.

* Thursday's NHL highlight: New Jersey Devils 4, Colorado Avalanche 0 -- Martin Brodeur blanked the Avs in his first game since returning from surgery for a torn biceps. Brodeur, who had missed 50 games, made 24 saves in his 99th career regular-season shutout.

* Our special 1980s musical guest on the CrumbsLand stage today is Corey Hart. Not this Corey Hart, although that is a pretty good video. But the Corey Hart who had us '80s survivors experimenting with a new, if not impractical, look with "Sunglasses at Night."

* Today is International Polar Bear Day. So here's a tip of the hat to one of Texas' great high school nicknames -- the Frost Polar Bears.

TUBE TOPPER

The best of what to watch today ...

* Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs host Texas-ex Kevin Durant, the league's fourth-leading scorer at 26.3 points per game. The Mavs have won seven consecutive home games and 14 of 15 overall against the Thunder/Seattle Supersonics. 7:30 p.m., FSN Southwest.

DISCUSSION QUESTION OF THE DAY

What is your favorite Texas high school nickname? Sorry, Polar Bears, but my favorite is the Hamlin Pied Pipers.

-- David Thomas

Six degrees of Omar Vizquel: Part III

President Barack Obama, in U.S. Senate with Jim Bunning ('04-08)
Jim Bunning, teammate of Oscar Gamble (PHI, '70-71)
Oscar Gamble, teammate of Harold Baines (CHW, '85)
Harold Baines, teammate of Omar Vizquel (CLE, '99)

 

Mr. T, in The A-Team with Dirk Benedict
Dirk Benedict, in Walker, Texas Ranger episode with Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris, in Walker, Texas Ranger episode with Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders, teammate of Sean Casey (CIN, '01)
Sean Casey, teammate of Omar Vizquel (CLE, '97)
 

William Shatner, in T.J. Hooker with Adrian Zmed
Adrian Zmed, in Bachelor Party with Tawny Kitaen
Tawny Kitaen, was married to Chuck Finley ('97-02)
Chuck Finley, teammate of Mark Langston (ANA, '90-97)
Mark Langston, teammate of Omar Vizquel (SEA, '89)

 

ALF, in ALF with Liz Sheridan (she played the next door neighbor)
Liz Sheridan, in Seinfeld (played Seinfeld’s mom) with Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld, in three episodes of Seinfeld with Keith Hernandez
Keith Hernandez, teammate of Dwight Gooden (NYM, '84-89)
Dwight Gooden, teammate of Omar Vizquel (CLE, '98)

Tattoo (Herve Villechaize), in Fantasy Island with Richardo Montalban
Richardo Montalban, in The Naked Gun with Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson, teammate of Dennis Eckersley (OAK, '87)
Dennis Eckersley, teammate of Mark Sweeney (STL, '97)
Mark Sweeney, teammate of Omar Vizquel (SF, '06-07)



Chewbacca, in The Empire Strikes Back with John Ratzenberger
John Ratzenberger, in Cheers with Ted Danson
Ted Danson, in Three Men And A Baby with Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck, in Mr. Baseball with Frank Thomas
Frank Thomas, teammate of Roberto Alomar (CHW, '03-04)
Roberto Alomar, teammate of Omar Vizquel (CLE, '99-01)



The Joker, played by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger, in Monster’s Ball with Halle Berry
Halle Berry, was married to David Justice ('93-97)
David Justice, teammate of Omar Vizquel (CLE, '97-00)



Peter Griffin (voiced by Seth MacFarlane), in an episode of Family Guy with Tom Brady
Tom Brady, teammate of Adam Vinatieri (NE, '00-05)
Adam Vinatieri, teammate of Peyton Manning (IND, '06-08)
Peyton Manning, teammate of Todd Helton (University of Tennessee)
Todd Helton, teammate of Jose Mesa (COL, '06)
Jose Mesa, teammate of Omar Vizquel (CLE, '94-98)


 
Mr. Belvedere (Christopher Hewett), in Mr. Belvedere with Bob Uecker
Bob Uecker, teammate of Phil Niekro (ATL, '67)
Phil Niekro, teammate of Tom Glavine (ATL, '87)
Tom Glavine, teammate of Ryan Klesko (ATL, '92-99)
Ryan Klesko, teammate of Omar Vizquel (SF, '07)
 

For more of Six Degrees of Omar Vizquel, click here.

Breakfast Crumbs: Thursday

Notes and thoughts compiled at the breakfast table ...

* Tiger Woods is back! Now that Brendan Jones has been dispatched of at the Accenture Match Play Championship, it's on to play Tim Clark today. Tiger's match starts at 1:02 p.m. The Golf Channel's coverage starts at 1 p.m. It is so incredible how that just happened to work out!

* Dallas Mavericks 119, Milwaukee Bucks 96: An 18-2 run to end the first half enabled us to forget about the previous night's loss in San Antonio. Well, almost.

* Since Tony Stewart became a car owner and driver, I've been wondering if he does something not nice as a driver, would he suspend himself? I guess the answer is that it depends on what day of the week it is.

* Texas Rangers 12, Kansas City Royals 7: One game into the exhibition schedule and the Rangers are in mid-season form with a 12-7 game.

* Rangers soon-to-be new utility infielder Omar Vizquel: snake hunter, but not a cowboy.

* Wednesday's NBA highlight: Los Angeles Clippers 93, Boston Celtics 91 -- The Clippers now have 15 wins, and the Celtics now have 13 losses. Zach Randolph scored 30 points for the Clips, including a go-ahead layup with 20 seconds remaining.

* Wednesday's NHL highlight: Detroit Red Wings 4, San Jose Sharks 1 -- The Red Wings are three points behind the Sharks in the race for home-ice advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. Henrik Zetterberg lit the lamp twice for Detroit, including a short-handed goal. Ty Conklin made 34 saves to run his home winning streak to 12 games.

* Left: Because we're not tired of Tiger Woods' return. Yet.

* Today is National Pistachio Day.

TUBE TOPPERS

The best of what to watch today ...

* St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars. The 13th-place Blues have won four of six to climb into playoff contention. The Stars are one of four teams tied for seventh place with 65 points. St. Louis is five points back. 7:30 p.m., FSN Southwest.

* NEWBOs: The Rise of the Americas New Black Overclass. This is believed to be CNBC's first appearance in Tube Toppers. Terrell Owens will be one of the athletes and celebrities featured tonight. 8 p.m., CNBC.

DISCUSSION QUESTION OF THE DAY

Muhammad Ali tops our list of sports' biggest intimidators. Who is No. 1 on your list?

-- David Thomas

Breakfast Crumbs: Wednesday

Notes and thoughts compiled at the breakfast table ...

* San Antonio Spurs 93, Dallas Mavericks 76: No Tim Duncan, no Manu Ginobili and way too much Tony Parker for the Mavs' taste.

* Think back to before the NBA season. Did you think that you would read that because of J.J. Barea, the Mavs don't need Stephon Marbury?

* Man, yet another Dallas Stars injury. This one's to Toby Petersen, and he'll be out at least four weeks with a broken foot. Are injuries contagious?

* Tuesday's NBA highlight: Miami Heat 103, Detroit Pistons 91 -- Dwyane Wade scored 31 points and dished out a career-high 16 assists for the Heat. Detroit lost its seventh consecutive game for its longest losing streak in more than seven years. The Pistons also dropped to a game below .500.

* Tuesday's NHL highlight: Philadelphia Flyers 4, Washington Capitals 2 -- The Flyers scored three goals in a 3 1/2-minute span midway through the third period. Alex Ovechkin scored for the Caps and assisted on their other goal.

* Gil LeBreton thinks Jerry Jones is wearing at least one too many hats, and I don't think the one he's wearing in that picture is the problem.

* Today is Pistol Patent Day, celebrating the 1835 day on which Samuel Colt received the U.S. patent for the first revolver.

TUBE TOPPERS

The best of what to watch today ...

* Accenture Match Play Championship. The first round has 32 matches today, and I'm sure the cameras will find a shot of two of Tiger Woods' return. 1 p.m., Golf Network.

* Milwaukee Bucks at Dallas Mavericks. OK, so the Mavs can't beat playoff contenders on the road (no wins since Christmas), but they have a good chance to move up from their eighth-place spot with three consecutive home games against sub-.500 teams. After the Bucks (28-31), who have lost five straight here, come the Oklahoma City Thunder (13-44) and Toronto Raptors (23-36).

DISCUSSION QUESTION OF THE DAY

Here are our five things to watch as the Texas Rangers open their exhibition schedule today. What do you think is the most important thing to watch with the Rangers during spring training?

-- David Thomas