Daily Ticket: The Blog

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before you head to the water cooler:

1. Randy Galloway: Tom Hicks certainly did it his way as owner of the Texas Rangers, and that is why it is such a good thing to see him leave.

2. Phoenix Suns 112, Dallas Mavericks 106: The Mavs scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, with only one missed shot for Dirk Nowitzki, and the Suns ended their 18-game losing streak on TNT.

3. Nowitzki was selected as a reserve for the All-Star Game, giving him his ninth appearance in the game.

4. Tony Romo is having fun at the Pro Bowl, but he has already been back at serious work on the things he thinks it will take to lead the Dallas Cowboys into next year's Super Bowl.

5. Danica Patrick's schedule of races in NASCAR's Nationwide Series includes the Nov. 6 race at Texas Motor Speedway.

6. In what could be his final season, 39-year-old Mike Modano continues to show the adaptability and instinct that have served him well throughout his career. The Dallas Stars host the Colorado Avalanche tonight (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before you head to the water cooler:

1. Family and friends gathered in downtown Fort Worth to remember Bobby Bragan with a funeral service he planned 10 years ago.

2. Randy Galloway: Avery Johnson has served an inspiring role with his hometown New Orleans Saints, and he says observing Sean Payton will make him a better coach for his next NBA job.

3. Dallas Stars 4, Calgary Flames 3 (SO): Defenseman Mark Fistric was ejected in the first period, the Stars fell behind 3-1, Brad Richards tied the score in the third period, then Alex Auld was perfect in the shootout.

4. Dallas Cowboys notes: Wade Phillips would rather be coaching in Miami next weekend instead of this one, but he is viewing the Pro Bowl as a reward for his staff and players selected.

5. Dallas Mavericks notes: Jason Terry's move into the starting lineup has forced adjustments for other players, but the change is showing early benefits in the standings.

6. The Lewisville-based Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing team is set to challenge for the Rolex 24 at Daytona championship with NASCAR points Jimmie Johnson again among its drivers.

- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before you head to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Mavericks 108, Milwaukee Bucks 107: From a 50-point margin Sunday to one point Tuesday, all wins count the same. This one was the Mavs' 10th consecutive one-point victory, tying the NBA record the St. Louis Hawks set in 1959-60.

2. Nolan Ryan revealed some of the limitations the Texas Rangers have been under because of the team's financial problems. Ryan and Chuck Greenberg said those limitations will end when the sale is approved.

3. Rangers notes: Adding Colby Lewis to the rotation means that Derek Holland will have to compete for a spot in the rotation and a spot on the major-league roster.

4. A Q&A with TCU football coach Gary Patterson on how the Horned Frogs will build on their 2009 success.

5. Gil LeBreton: Brett Favre's style of play has had a polarizing effect in Minnesota, and the talk from Vikings fans this week sounds like the talk from Dallas Cowboys fans about Tony Romo.

6. Dallas Stars coach Marc Crawford is holding true to his transition from fewer emotional outbursts into maintaining a more upbeat approach. The Stars host the Calgary Flames tonight (7:30, Fox Sports Southwest).

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before you head to the water cooler:

1. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Tom Hicks deserves credit for how he is leaving the Texas Rangers and will be missed.

2. Hicks says the Rangers' sale probably will not result in the Dallas Stars spending more money this season.

3. Dallas Mavericks notes: Jerry Stackhouse, in town with the Milwaukee Bucks, has a special place in his heart for Dallas, but still plays the "what-if" game over the 2006 NBA Finals. (Mavs vs. Bucks, 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest.)

4. Tony Romo and Mike Jenkins have been added to the NFC's Pro Bowl roster. They are the eighth and ninth Dallas Cowboys selected.

5. The Fort Worth Western Hills girls basketball team is on the verge of reaching the postseason for the first time in at least 27 years.

6. Baylor guard LaceDarius Dunn is my kind of basketball player: "I don't think I've ever found a shot that I didn't like and felt I couldn't make."

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before you head to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Mavericks 128, New York Knicks 78: Even without Jason Kidd and Erick Dampier, the Mavs broke the franchise record for largest margin of victory.

2. New Orleans Saints 31, Minnesota Vikings 28 (OT): Southlake Carroll's Garrett Hartley kicked a 40-yard field goal to send the Saints to their first Super Bowl.

3. Gil LeBreton: Fittingly, New Orleans is in the Super Bowl because it survived.

4. Indianapolis Colts 30, New York Jets 17: Peyton Manning's three touchdown passes brought the Colts back from an 11-point first-half deficit.

5. Randy Galloway: Finally, Nolan Ryan can truly call a major-league franchise his, and he says whether the Texas Rangers succeed or fail is on him. Rangers fans are going to like hearing that.

6. Colorado Avalanche 4, Dallas Stars 0: The Avs dominated in handing the Stars their third shutout in their past 11 games.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before you head to the water cooler:

1. Bobby Bragan, "Mr. Baseball" of Fort Worth, died Thursday night at age 92.

2. Jerry Jones extended Wade Phillips' contract, but only through 2011 instead of through 2012 as had been expected and, in some places, reported.

3. Gil LeBreton: The length of Phillips' contract is Jones' way of sending an urgent message to Phillips and his players.

4. Dallas Cowboys notes: Jones and Phillips both say receiver Roy Williams will remain with the team despite his high salary and low output.

5. Dirk Nowitzki was not selected by fans to start the NBA All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium.

6. The Texas Rangers signed Khalil Greene to be their utility infielder. This could be the final move of the off-season and has Rangers officials excited about their roster heading into the 2010 season.

-- David Thomas

Off-season surgeries

Linebacker Bobby Carpenter (shoulder), center Andre Gurode (knee) and punter Mat McBriar (knee) have had arthroscopic surgeries this week to clean out what was ailing them. McBriar was walking around Valley Ranch on Thursday.

"It delays the golf game a bit," McBriar said. He said he would be back on the links in about a month.

-- Charean Williams

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before you head to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Mavericks 94, Washington Wizards 93: Shawn Marion blocked Caron Butler's jumper in the final seconds and the Mavs won their ninth consecutive one-point game -- the second-longest streak in NBA history.

2. Randy Galloway: Because of the Dallas Cowboys' unusual coaching arrangement, if Jerry Jones wants to keep Wade Phillips around he should get rid of Jason Garrett even though Garrett is coming off his best season as offensive coordinator.

3. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Having two first-year head coaches in the AFC Championship Game seems to go against Jones' repeated emphasis on continuity.

4. An agreement on the sale of the Texas Rangers could be completed today and the new ownership group could be in place by Opening Day.

5. Back-to-back games in Vancouver and Edmonton will be like a double homecoming for Dallas Stars defenseman Mark Fistric. It starts tonight in Vancouver (9 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

6. Southlake Carroll sophomore Alred Koroma, a native of Sierra Leone, becomes eligible today to play for the Dragons after spending two years at an elite soccer academy in Florida. Koroma could decide to turn pro as early as this summer.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before you head to the water cooler:

1. Although nothing has been announced, Wade Phillips seems certain to return to the Dallas Cowboys next season. The question is whether he'll be back on his one-year option or with an extended contract.

2. Starting pitcher Colby Lewis is returning to the Rangers, and he is coming back as the type of pitcher they had hoped he would become when he was a top prospect. In two seasons in Japan, Lewis was 26-17 with a 2.82 ERA.

3. Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey will stage the first of what could be many boxing matches at Cowboys Stadium.

4. Dallas Mavericks notes: The Mavs are 27-14 and second in the Western Conference at the halfway point of the season. They are in Washington tonight to face the Wizards (6 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

5. Tony Stewart, Brian Vickers, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch spent Tuesday at Texas Motor Speedway testing a rear spoiler that NASCAR could use this season.

6. Dallas Stars notes: Back-to-back wins have the Stars confident as the head out a three-game road trip that begins Thursday night in Vancouver. The Stars are 1-9-3 in their past 13 road games.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before you head to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Mavericks 99, Boston Celtics 90: One night after laying an egg in Toronto, the Mavs picked up a big road win against the second-best team in the Eastern Conference. Dirk Nowitzki scored 37 points and Jason Kidd had 17 assists.

2. Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips didn't talk to the media Monday, but Dallas Cowboys players did. They do not expect much change personnel-wise for next season.

3. Jennifer Floyd Engel: The quarterback always gets the blame for losses like Sunday's, but Tony Romo is the reason the Cowboys reached the second round -- and their best chance of reaching the Super Bowl next season.

4. Cowboys notes: Although no announcement has been made, all signs point to Phillips returning next season.

5. Dallas Stars 4, Minnesota Wild 3: Alex Auld won his second consecutive game in goal, and that could lead to a third straight start.

6. Mike Jones: An 11-1 second-half run helped 10th-ranked Kansas State pin the first loss of the season on No. 1 Texas, 71-62.

-- David Thomas