Daily Ticket: The Blog

Friday's Pick 6

Six links you should click before you go to the water cooler:

1. The happy-go-lucky Tony Romo is back after back-to-back solid weeks.

2. New York Yankees 3, Philadelphia Phillies 1: Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui hit solo home runs as the Yankees evened the World Series at a game each. Games 3-5 are Saturday-Monday in Philly.

3. Rusty Greer is one of four finalists for the Texas Rangers' hitting coach opening, along with Thad Bosley, Clint Hurdle and Gerald Perry.

4. Dallas Mavericks notes: The Mavs play the first of back-to-back games in Los Angeles tonight, going up against the Lakers (9:30 p.m., KTXA/Channel 21) before facing the Clippers on Saturday. The Mavs are 3-13 all-time in eight LA doubles.

5. Randy Galloway: Jerry Jones deserves credit for DeMarcus Ware's contract and Miles Austin's emergence.

6. Dallas Cowboys notes: With Julius Jones returning to town with the Seattle Seahawks, this is a good week to consider how the Cowboys have been able to use a committee approach at running back.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links you should click before you go to the water cooler:

1. Philadelphia Phillies 6, New York Yankees 1: Cliff Lee allowed only an unearned run in pitching a complete game and Chase Utley homered twice as the Phillies rolled into Yankee Stadium and snatched the first game of the World Series.

2. Randy Galloway: Forget about a national championship game. What would happen if Texas and TCU played a state championship game?

3. Dallas Cowboys notes: Roy Williams is coming off what he calls the worst game of his life.

4. Jennifer Floyd Engel: DeMarcus Ware should tip his defensive linemen.

5. Dallas Stars 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 3 (OT): Jamie Neal scored with 2:03 left in overtime and the Stars are one point behind the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks in the Pacific Division.

6. Dallas Mavericks notes: With so many new players, the early part of the Mavs' season could feature a lot of lineup shuffling and experimenting.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links you should click before you go to the water cooler:

1. Washington Wizards 102, Dallas Mavericks 91: Dirk Nowitzki scored 34 points to start the regular season, but the Mavs struggled with their shooting (39.5 percent) and the Wizards led most of the night.

2. Gil LeBreton: Eight new players made this team the new-look Mavs, but some of the same old nasty habits showed up in the season opener.

3. The Texas Rangers have talked with Rusty Greer about their vacant hitting coach position.

4. The World Series begins tonight (6:57 p.m., KDFW/Channel 4) at Yankee Stadium.

5. Gary Patterson wants Horned Frogs fans to step up and do their part in helping TCU make a run at the national championship game.

6. Dallas Cowboys notes: Wade Phillips on Miles Austin's game Sunday: "It wasn't an OK game or a good game. It was a great game -- again."

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links you should click before you go to the water cooler:

1. The Dallas Mavericks tip off their season against the Washington Wizards tonight (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest), and our Jan Hubbard predicts them to finish third in the Western Conference.

2. The Dallas Cowboys signed DeMarcus Ware to a six-year, $78 million contract extension, including $40 million guaranteed.

3. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Eight suggestions to help TCU work its way into the BCS championship game.

4. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Redskins 27-17 on Monday Night Football, but: 1.) the Eagles' offense didn't look that good except for receiver DeSean Jackson; 2.) the 17 points the Eagles' defense allowed matched the most points that Redskins' pathetic offense has scored in a game this season.

5. Beginning next year, all UIL state championship football games will be played at predetermined sites. The UIL says it has yet to decide whether all games will be played at the same site.

6. Mark McGwire is back in baseball, joining the St. Louis Cardinals as hitting coach. McGwire was not at the news conference to announce his hiring, and Cardinals' officials said they will not attempt to shield McGwire from steroids questions.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links you should click before you go to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Cowboys 37, Atlanta Falcons 21: Jerry Jones said a win would give his team credibility as a playoff contender. The Cowboys looked like more than a playoff contender in their most complete game of the season.

2. Randy Galloway: After another big day, Miles Austin could be the playmaker the Cowboys have been needing.

3. New York Yankees 5, Los Angeles Angels 2: The Yankees are in the World Series for the first time since 2001. Pitcher CC Sabathia was voted the series MVP, but Alex Rodriguez is hitting .438 with five home runs and 12 RBI in the postseason.

4. TCU moved ahead of Boise State and into the No. 6 spot in the latest BCS rankings.

5. Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford says he'll have shoulder surgery, then enter the next NFL Draft.

6. With the Dallas Mavericks opening their regular season Tuesday night, coach Rick Carlisle and his players seem to be in a comfort zone with each other.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links you should click before you go to the water cooler:

1. Roy Williams has 30 catches for 412 yards and two touchdowns in the 14 games since he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. All sides involved are disappointed with those numbers, but all also are happy with Williams' play.

2. Randy Galloway: This week's situation with Patrick Crayton shows a lack of leadership and a lack of accountability within the Dallas Cowboys.

3. Los Angeles Angels 7, New York Yankees 6: The Angels blew an early 4-0 lead, but came back with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to extend the series to a Game 6 Saturday in New York.

4. Cowboys notes: DeMarcus Ware said the stress fracture in his left foot -- with which he has played the past three games -- will not hinder him.

5. TCU notes: The Horned Frogs defense faces a big challenge Saturday against BYU quarterback Max Hall, who has the third-most passing yards in the nation.

6. Gil LeBreton: New Chicago Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo is no longer with the Texas Rangers because his players let him down.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links you should click before you go to the water cooler:

1. Jerry Jones claimed a win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday will bring "real credibility" to his team's playoff chances. Jones also said he rejected a "significant" trade offer that would have landed "a key player" and that he still likes last year's Roy Williams trade.

2. Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton wishes someone (other than the media, presumably) that he had been demoted from his starting receiver spot in favor of Miles Austin.

3. Philadelphia Phillies 10, Los Angeles Dodgers 4: Former Ranger Vicente Padilla got lit up, giving up six runs in three innings, as the Phillies became the first team to reach back-to-back World Series since 2000-01.

4. Jan Hubbard: BCS expert Jerry Palm says it would take a tremendous series of events -- "Armageddon" was his exact word -- to give TCU a chance to play in the national championship game.

5. Chris Del Conte, who has a strong background in fundraising, is TCU's new athletic director. Del Conte is coming from Rice.

6. The Southeastern Conference suspended the officiating crew that incorrectly called a huge personal foul penalty against Arkansas in its loss to Florida. The refs are in trouble, but Florida's national championship hopes aren't.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links you should click before you go to the water cooler:

1. New York Yankees 10, Los Angeles Angels 1: Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-4, scored three runs and homered in his third consecutive postseason game. The Pinstripers lead the series 3-1, with Game 5 Thursday night in Los Angeles.

2. Dallas Cowboys Quick Hits: As a sign of the Cowboys' red-zone woes, they have the league's second-best offense in terms of yards per game, but are only 11th in scoring. Also, the Cowboys are 15-5 the week after a bye, and other nuggets that will make you sound smart.

3. Gil LeBreton: No. 10 TCU and No. 16 BYU, who meet Saturday in Utah, have a rivalry built on respect and friendship between the coaches.

4. Texas Rangers pitcher Derek Holland has returned from a visit to Japan, where he helped team officials make a recruiting pitch to 18-year-old lefthander Yusei Kikuchi.

5. Dallas Stars captain Brenden Morrow is feeling good in his return from reconstructive knee surgery.

6. It's called "flocking," and students in the TCU Athletic Training Association are using it to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Educate yourself here before the pink flamingos show up in your front yard.

-- David Thomas

Breakfast Crumbs: Tuesday

Notes and thoughts compiled at the breakfast table ...

* Los Angeles Kings 4, Dallas Stars 1: A three-goal second period provided the Kings with an easy win.

* Stars notes: Mike Modano's setback adds to the team's injury problems.

* During the bye week, the Dallas Cowboys got healthier physically and in the NFC East.

* Cowboys notes: Miles Austin practiced with the first team Monday.

* Jim Reeves: The Atlanta Falcons offer a serious test for the Cowboys.

* Drew Pearson is pitching Cowboys Stadium as a part of a Super Bowl rotation of host sites.

* Los Angeles Angels 5, New York Yankees 4 (11): Backup catcher Jeff Mathis' two-out double in the bottom of the 11th prevented the Angels from falling behind 3-0 in the series.

* Philadelphia Phillies 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 4: Jimmy Rollins' two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead in the series.

* Dallas Mavericks notes: After actually taking an off-season off, Dirk Nowitzki is shooting 63 percent over the past four exhibition games.

* Texas notes: Colt McCoy says he'll be good to go for Saturday's Missouri game despite a thumb injury.

* Texas Tech notes: Quarterback Steven Sheffield is out with a foot injury suffered against Nebraska.

* College football notes: Sam Bradford suffered no further damage to his throwing shoulder, but we still know nothing about his status beyond missing Saturday's game against Kansas.

* Jennifer Floyd Engel: The NFL rushed into a poor decision in rejecting Rush Limbaugh's bid to become part-owner of the St. Louis Rams.

* Kasey Kahne visited Texas Motor Speedway on Monday and said he hopes to finish the Chase in the top five.

* High school football 2-Minute Drill: Arlington Bowie's big test against Arlington is among this week's highlights with the end of the regular season fast approaching.

* High School Volleyball Insider: Changes made after the first round of district play has Azle in the playoff hunt.

* Rodeo Insider: The Fort Worth area will be well represented at season-ending events.

* Today is National Brandied Fruit Day. 'Nuf said. (But only because I don't know what else could be said.)

TUBE TOPPER

The best of what to watch today ...

* ALCS: New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels. With the Angels threatening to tie the series at 2, the Pinstripers send ace CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.37) to the mound. Sabathia allowed one run and four hits over eight inning in the Yanks' Game 1 win. The Angels start Scott Kazmir (10-9, 4.89), who hasn't pitched since a no-decision in Game 3 of the ALDS. 6:30 p.m., KDFW/Channel 4.

-- David Thomas

Breakfast Crumbs: Monday

Notes and thoughts compiled at the breakfast table ...

* Jimmy Burch: Florida, Alabama and Texas top the first BCS rankings. This year, No. 3 is a great spot for the Texas Longhorns.

* TCU notes: The Horned Frogs are eighth in the BCS, but once again, coach Gary Patterson isn't too much into talking about rankings.

* Dallas Cowboys leader Keith Brooking is excited about facing his old team, the Atlanta Falcons.

* Dallas Mavericks notes: Rick Carlisle went to the film to emphasize energy level to Kris Humphries.

* Dallas Stars notes: Enforcer Krys Barch knows he has to do more than brawl to earn playing time.

* Philadelphia Phillies 11, Los Angeles Dodgers 0: Cliff Lee was dominant again as the Phillies took a 2-1 lead in the NLCS with their most lopsided postseason victory in team history.

* National college football notes: Virginia Tech's 0-2 record in Atlanta this season may be what keeps the Hokies out of the national title picture.

* Today is Evaluate Your Life Day. After the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles both lost yesterday, Wade Phillips' self-evaluation will look a little rosier.

TUBE TOPPERS

The best of what to watch today ...

* ALCS: New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels. The only thing worse than than the New York weather these teams have left behind is the spot the Angels are in down 2-0 in the series. Jered Weaver (16-8, 3.75) draws the important start for LA. The Pinstripers' Andy Pettitte (14-8, 4.16) is going for his major league-record 16th postseason victory. 3 p.m., KDFW/Channel 4.

* NLCS: Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies. Trailing 2-1, the Dodgers send former Phil Randy Wolf (11-7, 3.23) to the mound in this hinge game. Joe Blanton (12-8, 4.05), who hasn't started since Oct. 2, toes the rubber for Philly. 7 p.m., TBS.

* Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars. The Kings are 2-3-0 with three consecutive losses entering their final game of a six-game road trip. They are 4-4-0 overall and one point behind the Stars, who are 8-2-1 at home against Los Angeles the past three seasons. 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest.

* Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers. San Diego figured to be the team that would run away with the AFC West, but with a victory tonight, the unbeaten Broncos would open up a three-game lead over the Chargers. 7:30 p.m., ESPN.

-- David Thomas