Daily Ticket: The Blog

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. TCU will join the Big East Conference beginning in the summer of 2012, putting the football program in a conference that is an automatic qualifier for the BCS.

2. Jennifer Floyd Engel: The Horned Frogs could no longer afford to fight the system.

3. Dallas Mavericks 101, Houston Rockets 91: Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points and Caron Butler added 19 as the Mavs won their sixth consecutive game.

4. Dallas Stars 4, Carolina Hurricanes 1: The Stars' fourth straight win moved them into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division.

5. Even the Dallas Cowboys' biggest hopes for a playoff miracle have been dashed, but the team still has plenty to play for the rest of the season.

6. Cowboys notes: Although Marion Barber is listed as day-to-day with a calf injury, he is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. TCU has a solid hold on the No. 3 spot in the latest BCS rankings. That means the Horned Frogs appear headed to the Rose Bowl -- unless they make their way into the BCS championship game.

2. Gil LeBreton: TCU fans want more, but there is plenty to like about a Rose Bowl bid.

3. Jennifer Floyd Engel: How do we judge the remainder of the Dallas Cowboys' season? Here are five ways.

4. Dallas Mavericks notes: Center Tyson Chandler has shown some star quality while averaging 16.7 points and 14.3 rebounds in the past three games.

5. Jimmy Burch: The BCS standings kept Texas A&M out the Big 12 championship game.

6. North Texas is expected to hire former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. New Orleans Saints 30, Dallas Cowboys 27: Roy Williams fumbled deep in New Orleans territory with 3:03 remaining, setting up the Saints' march to a game-winning touchdown.

2. Randy Galloway: Out of all the Cowboys' losses this season, this was by far the best. And that is how we are left judging the 2010 Cowboys season.

3. Gil LeBreton: Even in defeat, Cowboys quarterback Jon Kitna is a winner.

4. Jimmy Burch: Texas A&M's 24-17 defeat of Texas in Austin signals a major change between the two schools. It also will start a series of major changes with the Longhorns program.

5. Dallas Mavericks notes: Tyson Chandler is taking on an important locker room presence.

6. Patience is a virtue in the Dallas Stars' rebuilding, and general manager Joe Nieuwendyk has to keep reminding himself of that.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Josh Hamilton added to his comeback story by becoming the fifth different Texas Ranger to be selected American League Most Valuable Player.

2. Gil LeBreton: A humble Hamilton says being an MVP does not define him.

3. Rangers notes: Thad Bosley was hired as hitting coach and said he plans to continue the philosophy Clint Hurdle instilled last season.

4. Dallas Mavericks 88, Detroit Pistons 84: Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-high 42 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Mavs overcome a 14-point second-quarter deficit.

5. As a third-string quarterback leading the Dallas Cowboys to an amazing Thanksgiving Day victory in 1994, Jason Garrett showed the traits that some believe will make him a good NFL coach.

6. No. 3 TCU is unbeaten, but whether the Horned Frogs win the perception game will determine whether they have a chance to play for the national championship.

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. We can't tell if the football gods are smiling down on the Dallas Cowboys, but they surely are laughing at them in what has been a "wild" season to this point.

2. Jennifer Floyd Engel: Jon Kitna has been really good, but he's not replacing Tony Romo.

3. Cowboys notes: The short week before the Thanksgiving Day game means a change in the team's routine.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Dallas Stars 1: A flat performance leads to the Stars' fourth consecutive road loss.

5. Dallas Mavericks notes: A challenging stretch of four games in five nights includes the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat. But it begins tonight with the fading Detroit Pistons (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

6. Texas Rangers notes: Five candidates interviewed Monday for the hitting coach vacancy. There is no timetable for choosing the winner.

-- David Thomas

Monday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Cowboys 35, Detroit Lions 19: Bryan McCann's third-quarter 97-yard punt return for a touchdown sparked the Cowboys to their second consecutive victory.

2. Randy Galloway: Adversity struck the Cowboys once again, but this time they rose up and won.

3. Ray Buck: This game turned in the third quarter because the Cowboys made big plays and because the Lions are the Lions.

4. Jimmie Johnson's second-place finish in Homestead, Fla., enabled him to come from behind on the final day of the NASCAR season to win his record fifth consecutive Sprint Cup championship.

5. Colorado Rapids 2, FC Dallas 1 (OT): FC Dallas lost in the MLS Cup final on an own goal in the 107th minute.

6. Jimmy Burch: Texas A&M would lose out if the Big 12 South championship comes down to a tie-breaker.

-- David Thomas

Friday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. New Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni is "a football guy" whose personality is the polar opposite of Wade Phillips' personality.

2. Cowboys notes: Marion Barber's role seems to be changing into short-yardage back and late-game closer.

3. Randy Galloway: If Cam Newton could be had for "only" $180,000, what would have been the price tag on Colt McCoy or Andy Dalton?

4. Dallas Stars 5, San Jose Sharks 4 (OT): The Stars led 2-0, fell behind 4-2, rallied, then won in overtime on Mike Ribeiro's first goal of the season.

5. The Dallas Mavericks are 7-3, but coach Rick Carlisle says his team needs to get tougher. The Mavs host the Chicago Bulls tonight (8:30 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

6. The first Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation gala since Bragan's death was a time to remember Bragan and honor local youth, including 34 who received scholarships.

-- David Thomas

Thursday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. New Orleans Hornets 99, Dallas Mavericks 97: Dirk Nowitzki's bid for a potential game-tying or game-winning shot was foiled by David West's steal.

2. Dallas Cowboys quarterback is a natural leader with a strong connection to his faith.

3. Jennifer Floyd Engel: It's not easy to say Jerry Jones was correct about something, but he was about Dez Bryant.

4. Cowboys notes: Marion Barber does not confirm or deny he was fined for violating the team's new dress code.

5. Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington finished second to the Minnesota Twins' Ron Gardenhire in voting for American League Manager of the Year.

6. Rangers notes: Word on the Rangers at the general managers' meetings is that the Rangers are not a one-hit wonder.

-- David Thomas

Wednesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Texas Rangers notes: Jon Daniels, Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg took the Arkansas route to the general managers meetings so they could visit with Cliff Lee.

2. Randy Galloway: If money is the determining factor, Lee will be a New York Yankee and the Rangers will need their Plan B.

3. TCU notes: With the Horned Frogs off this week, Gary Patterson is headed to ESPN on Friday to go through the network's "car wash."

4. Gil LeBreton: Patterson's run through the list of ESPN television and radio shows will be like visiting with the enemy.

5. Dallas Stars 2, Anaheim Ducks 1: Brad Richards' third-period, replay-determined goal ended the Stars' three-game losing streak.

6. Dallas Mavericks notes: Jason Terry is on a hot streak, and he wants the ball. The Mavs visit the New Orleans Hornets tonight (7 p.m., Fox Sports Southwest).

-- David Thomas

Tuesday's Pick 6

Six links to click before heading to the water cooler:

1. Dallas Mavericks 98, New Orleans Hornets 95: The Mavs trailed 87-77 with 7:15 left, but rallied to hand the Hornets their first loss after an 8-0 start. Jason Terry scored 26 points, and Dirk Nowitzki had 25.

2. Texas Rangers closer Neftali Feliz earned American League Rookie of the Year honors after his 40-save season.

3. Sunday's win in the Meadowlands brings credibility to the changes Jason Garrett made in his first week leading the Dallas Cowboys.

4. Jennifer Floyd Engel: "I told you so" about Garrett.

5. Cowboys Insider: Sources said Marion Barber has been fined for violating Garrett's dress code.

6. Texas running back Tre Newton, a Southlake Carroll graduate, is giving up football because of recurring concussions.

-- David Thomas