WHITT'S END: 2.27.14

      Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:

   *Stop it, irrational dreamers, he ain't playing for the Cowboys ...

   *I'm apologizing to this player. For now ...

   *Will this guy be the best No. 84 in DFW sports history? ...

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WHITT'S END: 2.26.14

      Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:

   *Drastically lowered ticket prices to local professional sporting events? ...

   *The Rangers' easiest decision since cold beer over warm milk ...

   *The man who predicted Wichita State's undefeated season ...

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WHITT'S END: 2.7.14

      Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:

   *There's one major flaw in Roger Staubach's thinking ...

   *A weather phenomenon that boggles my bird brain ...

   *I say these six Cowboys could start for the Seahawks ...

   *Goodbye to the man who's as edgy as cookie dough ...

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WHITT'S END: 1.9.14

      Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:

   *The one player the Cowboys would be crazy to draft is ...

   *The most useless invention of our lifetime is the ...

   *The guy you'd think would be a perfect fit for the Mavs but will never be a Mav is ...

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WHITT'S END: 12.31.13

      Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:

   *The fitting tribute to Mack Brown included this ... ?

   *The NBA office admits an officiating mistake in favor of ...

   *Thought my house was cleansed of ghosts, until this morning when ...

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WHITT'S END: 11.27.13

      Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:

   *Because the NFL is serious about safety, the Cowboys tomorrow will wear their road blue jerseys at home for the first time since 1964. Teams can wear throwback uniforms, but they must use their regular - "broken in " - helmets. When the Packers and Bears wore their oldies-but-goodies earlier this year they simply stripped the logos off their existing helmets. The Cowboys' traditional Thanksgiving throwbacks featured a white helmet. No go. Last time the Cowboys wore their road blues at home, I was 1 and the game was played at the Cotton Bowl.

   *The Lakers are just flat-out stupid to overpay Kobe Bryant. And the Hall of Famer is selfish for taking it. Every Republican should go out today and buy a Kobe Fathead poster, because he's cemented his legacy as me-over-team. Would he sign a cheaper contract in order to help his fellow man, otherwise known as his teammates? Negatory. The Lakers took their financial freedom from the departure of Dwight Howard and dumped it all on Kobe, as a reward for past performance. He's 35. He's coming off an Achilles injury. He's eating up 40% of their payroll. Think about it. At 36 Tim Duncan signed a three-year extension for $30 million. Kobe just signed for two years and ... $48 million. Who in their right mind would accept a lower salary in order to help his team sign better players to put around him? Duncan, Tom Brady, Dirk Nowitzki and, yes, even LeBron James, who could've made more money to stay in Cleveland. Kobe is a Laker for life. But it's going to a crappy, mediocre life.

   *I'm saying last Sunday's victory over the Giants was one of Jason Garrett's Top 5 road wins. Is it No. 1? I rank 'em over at NBC 5's Blue Star Blog.

   *If I had a Heisman Trophy vote, I'd cast it for Northern Illinois' quarterback Jordan Lynch. He rushed for 321 yards and three touchdowns in the snow last night, giving him the milestone 20/20 season. 20 scores via arm and 20 more via legs. He's the best, most valuable player in college football. He's got more rushing yards than Alabama running back Mark Ingram had when he won the Heisman in '09. Other recent players to have 20/20 seasons all won the award - Cam Newton, Tim Tebow and Johnny Manziel. But no, sadly, I don't think he has a legit shot because Heisman voters are traditionally a stuffy, narrow-minded lot afraid to t think outside the box.

   *Bora Bora in six weeks sounds delightful, but I also dream one day of standing on the north pole. Temperatures in the spring hover around minus-40 and there is nothing - no, not even polar bears - that can live in the desolate climate. The reward? When standing at the "pole" every step you take, regardless of direction, is south. And if you walk in a 5-foot circle, you've traveled through every time zone on Earth. How many folks can put that on their resume?

   *Hot.

   *Not.

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   *I hate to be a stickler for, well, facts, but everyone's going gaga over John Wall's "360!" dunk last night. Nope, sorry. To be a true "360" dunk, at his launch his feet have to be parallel and his chest must be directly facing the basket. He cheats a little upon launch. Check his feet. And look at his shoulder turn. In fact, by the time his feet actually leave the ground his back is to the hoop. Impressive? Absolutely. A 360 dunk? Nope. Let's credit him with a 290.

   *Mavs in general and Samuel Dalembert in specific sleepwalked during their loss to Nuggets. was it a wake-up call? We'll see tonight vs. the most exciting young team in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors.

   *White Truck Wednesday: Saw another police chase on TV last night, perfectly crafted for the 6 o'clock news. Of course, despite driving through yards and hopping medians and evading cops for an hour with a series of U-turns and dangerous driving, 22-year-old Charles Ziebolz didn't get away. They never get away. Don't they have TVs? In a sorta-related story, man hits and kills a woman, then drives away in a ... White Truck.

   *People are jumping on DeMarco Murray for running out of bounds last week rather than taking on a tackler and gaining an extra yard or two. Given his injury history, I don't blame him. Durability has to be a part of a running back's skill set. Murray will play tomorrow vs. the Raiders. In other words, his strategy worked. And folks like to conveniently forget this, but another Cowboys' back who consistently ran out of bounds to avoid unnecessary contact was a guy named ... Emmitt Smith. Worked out for him okay I'd say.

   *Somewhere I'll never set foot in: The new Frisco Gun Club. 36 handgun lanes. 4 100-yard rifle lanes. But it's not the guns that'll keep me out, it's the green. VIP initiation: $7,500. Ouch. For that amount last year I helped a local kid get his dream-come-true through Make-a-Wish. But, whatever, shoot suit yourself.

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   *This is why it's still not safe to trust Dez Bryant, and why I still refer to him as "immature." Last year he was taken off punt returns because of his lack of ball security. Last week he was chided by his head coach and his owner for again being careless with the ball and fumbling after a catch against the Giants. His response? "I think my ball security, in my honest opinion, has been fine," Bryant said at Valley Ranch Tuesday. "It was just that kind of game to where you have to be a little bit more prepared focusing on what kind of difficulties it will be in the cold weather handling the ball." What. The. What?! Did he just blame the cold for his fumble? In 54 games, Dez has 12 fumbles. In 102 games, Calvin Johnson has 13. No, Dez, your ball security is not "fine."

   *Sybil is a freak for NBC's The Voice, which means, of course, from time to time I find myself watching NBC's The Voice. It's a decent show with some real talent, but when they bring out all 8 finalists for a group number the singers' individual greatness gets diluted, if not altogether muted. Nothing you can't see and hear every Sunday morning at Grapevine's Fellowship Church.

   *I've said it before, and echo it today: Winning in sports is more a product of luck and randomness than we'll ever dare admit. Case in point: Joe Flacco. The Ravens entered last year's playoffs having lost four of five games. Then, out of nowhere, the quarterback throws 11 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and wins a Super Bowl. Just like that, he's elite. He's a clutch performer. He's rewarded with a huge contract. But did he really permanently elevate himself over quarterbacks like Tony Romo? Or did he merely have a good streak at a great time? This season points to the latter, as Flacco has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns (14) and is the 50th-rated passer in the NFL. Flacco had an elite run and is a permanent member of an elite club. But Flacco is not an elite quarterback. With one game with my life on the line, give me Romo over Flacco. You?

   *I'm No. 1 514! At least, according to Twitter followers in Dallas/Fort Worth. Man, five years rambling on Twitter has flown past.

   *What am I thankful for? Healthy family. Fantastic fiancee. Multiple jobs. And, of course, loyal readers. Thank you guys!

   *Today? Launching myself in the middle of holiday traffic as I head to Johnson County for a little pre-Thanksgiving turkey with the family. Don't be a stranger.

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WHITT'S END: 11.25.13

      Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:

   *Score one for Jason Garrett. The Giants did all the talking entering Sunday's game. Antrelle Rolle called it the Giants' Super Bowl. Jason Pierre-Paul promised New York was going to "put it on 'em" and that "blood will be spilled." And cornerback Terrell Thomas guaranteed a victory. Then in pre-game warm-ups the Giants altered their routine, even to the point of having the MetLife Stadium speakers blare dramatic music on cue as they attempted to intimidate the Cowboys at midfield. What did the Cowboys do? They shrugged. They executed. They played better football. And they won. That's why I don't get into identities or want-to or emotion when it comes to sports in general or football in specific. It's about execution. Garrett is calm and collected, and Sunday his team was the better team because of it. And boy does it feel good to shut up folks spewing false bravado.

   *Cowboys 24, Giants 21: My Top 10 Whitty Comments are over at NBC 5's Blue Star Blog.

   *Just as I feared, this "Arctic Blast!" followed perfectly our weatherfolks' blueprint for Overhype 101. They started talking about it a week ago, building interest - if not fear - in an attempt to create TV ratings. Then came the proverbial push-back, the "well, this front is moving slower than we expected." Meaning? The Apocalypse we predicted would arrive on Friday might not get here until Monday, so stay tuned all weekend! Then, of course, comes the Monday morning punch line: Reporters live by highways crowing about "ice forming on these signs!" as cars in the background whiz past at 70 mph. You shouldn't be surprised, but yet another dangerous, epic, newsworthy weather event was, in fact, just a couple days of cold rain.

   *On Sunday I officially became a Tweediot. That is, a person whose desire to talk outweighs the desires of others to hear him. Translation: I've now got more Tweets than Twitter followers. That should be the rule. As soon as you have a Twitter imbalance your account should vaporize. I know we've created this fake environment where we're convinced our every thought and meal and action is of international importance. But, no. If you have 10,742 Tweets but only 137 followers, give it up. No one cares.

   *The Packers and Vikings finished with the same number of points. They say ties are like kissing your sister. Unless your sister is Kate Upton. Then ties are much, much worse than kissing your sister.

   *Sybil mused Saturday night that - because of the cold - she was going to put an extra pair of pants but not an extra pair of shirts. Why are pants plural and a shirt singular, when they both cover two legs and two arms? These days on the bottom we're wearing sweatpants, but on top merely a sweatshirt? At our house these are the conversations that construct pillow talk.

   *Hot.

   *Not.

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   *In the wake of the Cowboys' win last night we heard clickclickclickclickclick ... quiet. It came from Tony Romo critics, first deleting their "Romo is a choker!" Tweets and blogs and then pouting silently in the corner with zilch to say. In Dallas' last two victories over the Vikings and Giants, Romo has led two game-winning drives in the final minutes. His combined stats on those drives? 12 of 17 for 157 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 field goal. Oh, and 2 wins.

   *Johnny Football, meet Johnny Humbled. After the demoralizing loss at LSU, the Aggies are just a 3-loss team and Manziel is a guy who was once in the Heisman Trophy race.

   *C'mon. Finding Bigfoot is a real TV show? And people actually watch it believing it's real?

   *Anyone else really, really enjoy the first quarter of the Cowboys game? That's because there were zero commercials in the game's first 15 minutes. Not sure how that happened, but I liked it.

   *Hunger Games > Delivery Man. Somehow, Sybil and I fought through the blizzard to see 'em both over the weekend. Vince Vaughn trying to be serious just doesn't work.

   *In the past couple weeks I've told you on here that Orlando Scandrick was the Cowboys' best defensive back, that Romo was playing at a Pro Bowl level, that the Giants' winning streak was a mirage and that the Cowboys would target Dez Bryant at least a dozen times vs. New York. You know what they say about blind squirrels ...

   *Today? May I suggest free pizza? It's Pizza Buzz's "CowBuzz" Special. Every day after a Cowboys' win it's buy a large pizza, get one free. Enjoy. And don't be a stranger.

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WHITT'S END: 9.16.13

      Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End

   *Chiefs 17, Cowboys 16. My Top 10 Whitty Observations.

   *Worst kick-to-the-crotch homestand in Rangers' history? Gotta be close. Jockeying with the A's for the AL West lead when the week started, Texas went 0-6 against the Pirates and Oakland. Rangers didn't lead at any time in the six games. And they didn't hit a single homer, the longest dinger drought ever at Rangers Ballpark. Starting with a four-game series against the Rays tonight, the Wild Card - the playoffs - are suddenly in serious jeopardy.

   *Wait, did I miss CBS's "Johnny Cam"? Or, like Alabama's defense, could the network's solo camera simply not keep up with A&M's frenetic, fantastic quarterback?

   *Saw Toadies play an acoustic set Friday night in Fort Worth at a place called Panther Island on the banks of the Trinity River. Very cool. There's a big, grassy hillside or you can hop in the water on a tube, all with a gorgeous view of downtown. But why Panther Island? Turns out Fort Worth is sometimes called the Panther City. Worked at the Star-Telegram for 18 years and never heard that one.

   *I know it's early, but we may have already witnessed college football's Game of the Year. And I know it's a long shot, but after watching A&M 29, Alabama 24 last year and Alabama 49, Texas A&M 42 last weekend, I wouldn't mind seeing Round 3 in this year's BCS title game.

   *Hot.

   *Not.

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   *Feels so wrong to yawn at 45-0, but that's the brilliance of Floyd Mayweather. His personality is all flash and cash, but inside the ring he's a glitzy rope-a-dope master. No quick, dramatic knockouts. Just superior technical boxing, iced with impenetrable defense. Boring? He's the trash-talking football team that wins all its games 13-3.

   *Including Saturday vs. Oakland, Yu Darvish has lost four 1-0 games this season. Four. Nelson Cruz, all is forgiven.

   *That thud you heard Saturday night wasn't Canelo Alvarez in Vegas, but Texas' football program hitting rock bottom in Austin. In a week in which defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was fired and DeLoss Dodds will reportedly step down after the season, the Longhorns were outscored 27-0 in the second half of another embarrassing loss, this one to Ole Miss. Said Mack Brown, "We can win the Big 12 championship and be excited about that. At this point that's all we got left." Yikes.

   *Reigning Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco's wife gave birth to the couple's second child Sunday morning. The quarterback was informed as he warmed-up for Baltimore's game against the Browns. As I've said before, it's totally the right call. I took a lot of heat when I first broached this subject during Colby Lewis' paternity leave in 2011, but I think y'all are starting to come around on it now. We pay money to see great quarterbacks, not good Dads.

   *Bar. Car. Far. Gar. Jar. Mar. Par. Tar. In the English language we pronounce them all the same. As it should be. But then there's War. Totally different. Completely illogical. Instead of like the other members of its consonant-preceding-ar family, why the heck does w-a-r rhyme with o-a-r?

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   *A sign of things to come in Fort Worth. We're still hiring drivers at Pizza Buzz. Come on in. Or just say hello. Won't be delivering pizza and beer for another two weeks, but we're shaking hands and making friends daily at 5418 Basswood in Fort Worth.

   *After his blocked field goal in Kansas City Sunday, let's update the tote board of Orlando Scandrick's positive plays as a Cowboy. That's ... 1.

   *'Bama-Aggies drew a 9.0 on CBS, the networks's biggest college football audience since Miami-Notre Dame in 1990. Though they lost after leading 14-0, A&M earned a ton of respect. The Tide rolled into College Station and didn't feel comfortable about winning until their 49th point.

   *Why Whitt's End on a Monday? And tomorrow, on a Tuesday? It's like this. We've been in business here for three months now and in surveying my customers' habits, it's clear you guys gobble up my Friday wrap-up. If DFWSportatorium is a buffet, it's by far the No. 1 seller under the sneeze guard. I asked the boss in the mirror if we could experiment with the idea of a daily Whitt's End, so let's give it a try.

   *Today: I'm headed out to Pizza Buzz for some (more) last-minute tweaking. Sybil will be in Dallas tonight at House of Blues for the taping of Inside the Huddle with Jason Hatcher. Don't be a stranger.

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The Sighs of Texas Are ... Squarely Upon Mack Brown

   Don't Do Mess With Texas.
   I know I have a lot of fun with the Aggies and Johnny Goofball. But go ahead and enjoy this Texas A&M, because suddenly the University of Texas is the state's biggest football joke.
   While CBS prepares a "Johnny Cam" to train solely on Manziel during Saturday's mondo-anticipated showdown against Alabama in College Station, the Longhorns are reeling in the wake of a humiliating loss to BYU. Mack Brown's Band-Aid: Fire Manny Diaz. Hire ... Greg Robinson?
   What. The. What?!
   The same school that botched the recruiting of Robert Griffin III, Manziel and Florida State emerging star "Famous" Jameis Winston is now so panicked about its defense that it's turning to a guy in Robinson who went 10-37 as head coach at Syracuse, coached Michigan's defense to consecutive rankings of 82nd and 110th, and this year has merely served as a TV analyst for the Longhorn Network.
   Yep, when you're overpowered and embarrassed by a bunch of Mormons heads must roll.

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   A week after being held to 16 points by a mediocre Virginia defense that subsequently allowed 59 to Oregon, BYU rolled Texas to the tune of 40 points and a school-record 550 rushing yards. Five. Fifty! Over and over again BYU quarterback Taysom Hill - not to be confused with Vince Young - kept the ball and simply ran, often untouched, for 259 yards and three touchdowns, one of them a 68-yarder.
   Hours after watching their defense get physically dominated and repeatedly gashed, a group of influential UT boosters - alums, politicians and the like - held an emergency late-night bitch session at Barton Creek Resort. I'm not suggesting who runs the show in Austin, but less than 12 hours later Brown announced the firing his defensive coordinator.
   "Our performance on defense last night was unacceptable, and we need to change that," Brown said in a statement.
   We all know Brown is the problem. A master recruiter once upon a time, he's now lost his grip and influence on a program poisoned by talented underachievers. And in a year in which the Big 12 is down and it appeared UT actually had a chance to stay on the field with OU in the Cotton Bowl next month, nope. Notsamuch.
   Brown is signed through 2020, but there is a buyout of his contract at around only $3 million. So it's not impossible he leaves. But I don't think the solution is Nick Saban. At least not now, as in right now.
   My old 105.3 The Fan radio buddy Arnie Spanier used to float this rumor about once a month. The one about the Alabama coach owning hunting property near Austin and always having his private jet landing in Austin and eventually replacing Brown at Texas. It'll be rearing its ugly noggin' again now I fear.
   Unless, of course, somehow Robinson regains the magic touch he possessed in 2004 when his defense - with an assist or two from Young - helped Texas win the National Championship. Until then we'll roll our eyes at Brown's program spiraling out of control. We'll wait until the big-whig Cardinals of Austin convene to name a new Pope.
   And we'll bemoan the long lost glory days of college football. Because last weekend Texas, Florida, Notre Dame and Southern Cal lost together on the same Saturday for the first time since 1976.

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Johnny Goofball: Where is Being a Punk Included in the Aggie Code of Honor?

   Midnight Yell Practice. Don't walk on the grass. Senior boots. Saw 'em off!
   And above all the other traditions followed religiously in College Station ... the sacred Aggie Code of Honor.

   An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.

   It'd be a better planet if we all followed those rules all the time. Of course, our culture would also improve dramatically if we amended "An Aggie does not act like a punk ..." into Texas A&M's moral constitution.
   According to the school, the Aggie Code of Honor is "an effort to unify the aims of Texas A&M men and women toward a high code of ethics and personal dignity." For more on this tradition of high standards let's go down to Kyle Field and Johnny Goofball.
   *Making an "autograph" gesture, mocking the very rules he violated to be suspended by the NCAA.
   *Taunting opponents by pointing at the scoreboard of a lopsided game.
   *Rubbing his fingers together after a touchdown pass, as if to indicate each team achievement will bestow individual reward into his professional bank account.
   *More trash-talking, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
   And, finally ...

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   ... getting bumped into, chewed out and benched by his head coach.
   Honor. Ethics. Dignity.
   Yeah, Aggies, Johnny Manziel must make you and your precious code so extremely proud.
   Said former Chicago Bears' linebacker Brian Urlacher of the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, "He acted like a punk."
   As for lying and/ or cheating, I still don't believe Johnny Goofball signed more than 4,000 autographs for zero compensation. But then again, we all predicted the involvement of his personal assistant, Nathan Fitch.
   Before the NCAA investigation Uncle Nate Tweeted at least once every six days. Since the NCAA investigation he's been silent for a month.
   Toldja.

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So In The End Johnny Goofball is Guilty. And Free?

   Johnny Manziel got from Point A to Point B at a rate that suggested he couldn't have possibly traveled any slower than 93 mph.
   There was, however, no radar data of the event.
   Bottom line: Johnny Goofball will sit out a half of football Saturday in a game that he, yep, probably would've played only one half.
   The Aggies will destroy Rice on the opening weekend of college football. Manziel will both throw and run for touchdowns. And the NCAA again looks like damn, hapless fools.

   “NCAA rules are clear that student-athletes may not accept money for items they sign, and based on the information provided by Manziel, that did not happen in this case.”

   I'm going to assume the joint NCAA/A&M release was written with a straight face. Though offering a plea bargain to a suspect guilty only of an "inadvertent violation" is laughable.

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   If the NCAA can't prove he took cash for signing autographs, it shouldn't suspended him at all. Not a play. Not for a half. Not for a second.
   We all know Johnny Goofball was paid. No human with any common sense would spend time signing 4,400 autographs for zero compensation.
   The NCAA says the "punishment" somehow "closes the book" on the Manziel investigation.
   But all of it
   The sacred Aggie Code has been compromised by Manziel's breaking rules and lying to survive.
   But the biggest loser is the NCAA, which has taken another giant step toward total irrelevancy.
   And Johnny Goofball is somehow an accessory to a non-crime.

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Johnny Goofball Denies He Took Money For Autographs. Yeah, Right.

   Sorry, Aggies.
   As most of us have known all along but you've been too stubborn to admit, the Johnny Goofball autograph story isn't merely an erroneous ESPN fabrication that you can simply mute via midnight yell practice. Now CBS is on the story. And now the NCAA is spending six hours questioning the reigning Heisman Trophy winner about whether he took money in exchange for signing autographs.
   That's right, six hours.
   Guarantee it didn't take that long for the conversation to go like this:
   NCAA: Johnny Goofball, er, Football, er, Manziel, did you get paid for signing all those autographs?
   Goofball: Nope.
   NCAA: Okay, we're done here. Carry on.
   As Texas A&M struggles with the risk-reward of playing its quarterback Saturday against Rice in College Station, the vital question remains unanswered. According to CBS, Manziel denied to the NCAA that he accepted cash for his countless signatures.
   Then why?

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   If not for payment, why would a 20-year-old rock star/athlete spend all that time autographing over 4,000 photos and helmets and cleats and jerseys, etc.?
   Just for fun? For some charity that he's yet to identity? Because he's such a good kid?
   C'mon. We're not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but we ain't idiots either.
   You know what I think about Manziel's thorny family tree and you're aware that irregularities in his signed memorabilia can be traced back to 2012 in Dallas. And until proven otherwise I'm sticking to my theory that Nathan Fitch is taking the fall.
   As Goofball's "manager", Uncle Nate will tell the NCAA that he lied, deceived and betrayed his friend about the autographs. That it was him who accepted the money. Sure the memorabilia brokers paid "Johnny," but Nate siphoned all the money. Nate told Johnny he was signing for, um, charity. Yeah that's it, charity. That way Nate broke no laws, A&M isn't culpable and Goofball comes off only as naive, even sympathetic. Goofball and A&M will publicly denounce Uncle Nate but, behind closed doors, the two friends split the loot and laugh all the way to the bank.
   It speaks loudly that, in the wake of the revelations, Fitch has lawyered up and declined numerous interview requests. If there's zero credibility to this story and if Manziel nor Fitch nor A&M did anything wrong or broke any rules, why the silence? Why is Fitch reluctant to talk? Why has A&M AD Eric Hyman issued a gag order on the subject?
   If I'm innocent of a charge, I talk about it openly, freely and immediately. If I'm guilty, I go quiet for a long time planning how the hell to spin the story and get out of trouble.
   Like all college football fans, I want to see Johnny Goofball on the football field, especially Sept. 14 when Alabama visits College Station.
   But I'd also like the question answered. By anyone.
   If Johnny Manziel didn't accept money, then what was his motivation for signing all those autographs?

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Looks Like Johnny Goofball's Strange Signings Started Right Here in Dallas Back in 2012

   

While ESPN and the NCAA dig into the numerous - and possibly illegal - pay-for-sign events involving reigning Heisman Trophy winner and Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, we've uncovered some evidence that the suspicious saga might have commenced right here in Dallas.
   In November 2012.
   After A&M's epic upset of Alabama.
   That's right, during the Aggies' season.
   Let me begin by saying I don't think Johnny Goofball will be suspended. Short of a video or paper trail directly tracking cash changing hands, he's got an alibi. And it's name is Nathan Fitch, or "Uncle Nate." My best guess is that Uncle Nate, Manziel's 20-year-old personal assistant, will take the bullet for his buddy. He'll tell NCAA investigators - who lack subpoena power - that he acted alone, went rogue and betrayed, deceived and exploited Manziel by having the quarterback sign items for "charity", then going behind Manziel's back and personally profiting off the sales. The NCAA will find that Manziel was an oblivious victim, guilty of nothing more than being both naive and duped. Manziel will feign hurt. At least publicly - wink - he'll sever ties with Fitch. And we'll all be treated to another season of his riveting on-field entertainment starting Aug. 31 against Rice.
   I also have reason to believe it's the biggest college football scam since Manti Teo fell in love with a ghost.

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   Dallas-based Heritage Auctions has in 2013 sold 19 Manziel-autographed items for almost $10,000, highlighted by a pair of signed, game-worn cleats from the Alabama game that certainly pre-date the scope of the current, known investigation.
   As of its latest story, ESPN's Outside The Lines alleges Manziel engaged in six signings for three brokers in three states in less than a month, starting with a South Florida session in early January while attending the Alabama-Notre Dame BCS National Championship Game. ESPN estimates Manziel signed over 4,400 items.
   The NCAA, of course, is investigating whether Manziel was paid for any of the autographs, which would be a violation of Bylaws and would subject the quarterback to possible suspension.
   But turns out the red flags go back to November 10, in the wake of Manziel's stunning, spectacular performance in which he propelled himself into the Heisman race with 350 total yards and two touchdowns in the 29-24 upset of the No. 1 Crimson Tide. In this Sports Illustrated article, Manziel details an incident he says happened the night before the 'Bama game at the Birmingham Hilton Hotel. He claims a broker forced himself into the room as he and roommate Ryan Swope checked in, and asked the quarterback to sign a backpack full of memorabilia.
   The broker later sent ESPN a photo of the unpaid, impromptu signing, but added that he was told by Uncle Nate that he would have to pay Manziel for future sessions.
   That was supposedly before the 'Bama game.
   But what happened after?

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   Think of Heritage Auctions as a rich man's eBay.
   The company has approximately 850,000 members and over the past 12 months has generated over $900 million from auctions and sales. One of the perks of being on the company's exclusive mailing list is periodically being sent a catalog in advance of primo auctions. Those books, of course, take time to produce. Photographs of items. Authentication of items. Detailed write-ups of items. Categorizing items. All sometimes spread over 300 high-quality, higher-gloss pages.
   That exhausting process is where Johnny Football comes in.
   Heritage Director of Sports Auctions Chris Ivy hasn't returned our calls but in talking to an autograph broker and a couple more folks who know the auction business, it's clear that the Johnny Goofball cleats in question were somehow - by someone - fast-tracked from field to for-sale.
   The normal turnaround time for an autographed item to be signed and eventually go to auction is about three months. Hence, in step with ESPN's reporting of multiple January signings by Manziel were items sold by Heritage in April, May and some as recently as June 16. (There are currently no Manziel items on Heritage's web site, but a history of 19 items - including photographs, footballs, baseballs and helmets - sold for a total of $9,979.35.) Manziel often accessorized his signature with "#2", "Johnny Football", "Heisman '12", and "Gig 'Em" "#2".
   The item that doesn't fit into ESPN's mold are the autographed cleats, which Manziel wore against Alabama on Nov. 10.

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   They, along with a No. 15 jersey Manziel was issued as a true freshman in 2011, were included in Heritage's "Platinum Night" auction Feb. 23-24 in New York that featured multiple keepsakes from former U.S. Olympic hockey hero Mike Eruzione. The item - #80086 - also made it into the pre-auction catalog, which was mailed to customers in early January. According to a person familiar with the auction catalog production timeline, for the item to have been authenticated, photographed, written up and included in the layout, it would have had to have been in Heritage's hands the week of Dec. 3-10.
   An almot impossible turnaround, in other words, for a broker. Then ... who?
   I think we both know the answer. It rhymes with Uncle Nate, the guy who allegedly a month earlier told a broker in Alabama that he'd have to pay for future Manziel signings.
   The math is a little tricky, but it does indeed add up.
   The cleats were sold Feb. 23 at the Ukranian Institute of America at The Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion in New York auction for $7,767.50. After a "Buyer Premium" of around 15%, the sale netted the seller a cool $6,600.
   According to Heritage's web site, the item's owner is "proactively entertaining offers."
   Who is the owner? And where exactly did those proceeds go? And does Manziel's thorny family tree have anything to do with anything? We may never know.
   While Cowboys' receiver Dez Bryant is pulling against - or is it for? - Manziel, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit says Manziel might be historically dumb and Florida State coins "Manziel disease," we are sure of a couple things:
   The earliest piece of Manziel memorabilia was sold right under our noses.
   And this might be the wackiest, unlikeliest mad scramble out of trouble in the career of Johnny Goofball.

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Illegally Getting Paid For Autographs is a Superhero Power? Who Knew?

   You can read Deadspin's digging on Johnny Manziel.
   Peruse my latest take on how Johnny got to be such a Goofball.
   Or, you can close your eyes, be blind to the truth, and pretend he's a ... Superhero?
   If you squint just a little you can see this Texas Monthly cover a tad differently ...

Johnny Goofball: Just a Ripple in the Manziel's Murky Family Pond

   So I'm playing in a golf tournament at Lake Ray Hubbard last weekend. We're in the clubhouse on Saturday afternoon, talking golf and life and Tiger Woods and women and, suddenly ... Johnny Manziel.
   Turns out one of my competitors recognizes me, and has a story I should dig into:
   "Ya know," he whispers, "all this shit ain't Johnny's fault. He was raised that way. Check out his family. They're all dirty. They've all been in jail. All the way back to the mafia."
   This guy was born and raised in Tyler, claimed to be a frequent customer at Loggins Restaurant (owned and operated by Manziel's grandfather, Jerry Loggins) and seems to be on to something. At the very least, I'm intrigued.
   I make some calls. Spend a couple hours digging on the Internet. Sure enough, the Manziels aren't your average, ordinary family.
   Warns one source, "Be careful. This is real. And it's real dangerous. The Manziels are bad cats."

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    I read ESPN The Magazine's cover story on Manziel a couple weeks ago and was left with one big question mark: If the Manziels were indeed heirs to a Texas oil fortune, why was Johnny's father, Paul, always moving around and changing jobs? Why was the family so quick to attempt to trademark - and, thereby, profit on - "Johnny Football." And why the dickens would Johnny Goofball knowingly, illegally try to make money off his signature in exchange for putting his career, his teammates and his school in jeopardy?
   Almost immediately I learned the answer: It's in his DNA. The Manziels are, by trade, hustlers.
   Paul was selling cars at Town East Ford in Mesquite as recently as a year ago. In other words, there is no oil fortune. Money isn't tight, but neither is it endless.
   Turns out I didn't know half the story. But - evidenced by its gripping tale - Deadspin does.
   Cockfighting. Match-fixing. Cocaine-trafficking. Mafia ties. Even murder. Yep, it's all in Johnny Goofball's bloodlines.

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   His great-great grandfather, Joe, was at the center of a mineral rights scam.
   His great grandfather, Bobby Joe, was a friend of former boxing champ Jack Dempsey that was a legendary cockfighter and "chronic violator" of Texas oil laws.
   His great uncle, Bobby Joe Jr., spent time in jail on charges of counterfeiting, conspiracy and cocaine trafficking and was linked by witnesses in a Tyler courtroom to having ties to the Louisiana-based "Dixie Mafia."
   Bobby Joe Jr.'s son, Bobby Joe III, has been arrested 13 times and has spent 20 years in prison or on probation.
   Truth is Johnny Manziel comes from a lineage of crooks and con-men. He was raised by a dad who overlooks his son's underage drinking, and who thinks it's a riot to surprise his buddies with a punch to the nuts and then double-over in laughter while they double-over in pain.
   Johnny signed over 4,000 autographs for memorabilia brokers and - c'mon - he didn't do it for free, as favors to strangers. His actions are his own.
   But his Goofball instincts? That may have been one thing that was passed to him.

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A&M's Johnny Goofball Could Be Suspended for 2013 Season

   We've been tracking the hectic, horrible off-season of Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel for months. But to get the impact of Johnny Goofball's worst decision, we have to go all the way back to January.
   It was then that Manziel allegedly did something illegal that might render him ineligible  for the 2013 season.
   According to this ESPN report, Manziel flew to Florida for the Alabama-Notre Dame BCS National Championship Game and was approached at the airport and agreed to shortly thereafter sign hundreds of autographs on photos and memorabilia in exchange for a five-figure payout.
   The NCAA is conducting an investigation and - if Manziel did indeed sign-for-pay - could rule the reigning Heisman Trophy winner ineligible for the 2013 season because of a violation of Bylaw 12.5.2.1: Accepting money for promoting or advertising the commercial sale of a product or service.

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   Getting kicked out of a Texas frat party is one thing. But violating an NCAA rule that could destroy the season before the first snap is serious stuff.
   According to the report the NCAA was alerted to a plethora of Manziel memorabilia hitting eBay in the wake of the title game, and multiple companies have deemed the signatures as authentic. Manziel is expected to hit the field for the Aggies' first practice of 2013 this afternoon in College Station at 5:45. But not surprisingly, his scheduled media availability has been canceled.
   I go back to the recent interview with Manziel's father, Paul, who ominously said, "It could all come unraveled. And when it does, it's gonna be bad. Real bad."
   While Johnny Goofball hasn't been forthcoming to his school about his off-season choices, A&M is now faced with a dilemma: Do they play Manziel and jeopardize the season?
   Remember, if the Aggies are found to have used an ineligible player they would forfeit all games he played in.
   Gig Gulp 'Em.

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At This Point Aggies Fans, Johnny Football Smells Like Benedict Arnold

                     

   Imagine if Tony Romo finally led the Cowboys to a Super Bowl, and then showed up for the parade wearing a Washington Redskins' jersey. What if Dirk Nowitzki won another title, and then celebrated by getting the San Antonio Spurs' logo tattooed on his bicep. Or fathom our American President turning out to be a Muslim.
   That slimy, turncoat feeling of betrayal is how Aggies fans must feel these days when they read the latest headline involving Johnny Manziel.
   As we've previously documented Johnny Football has deteriorated into Johnny Goofball, tarnishing what he did on the football field in 2012 with an off-season of missteps that is desecrating the fabled lore and tradition of Aggieland.
   The latest: The face of A&M football showed up a University of Texas fraternity party in Austin last weekend, and was unceremoniously kicked out. (That's him in the video, wearing the pink Polo.)

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   I'm sure publicly Aggies fans will defend their man. But, privately, this has to be rotting their soul. I've got a buddy who's an A&M alum and he told me this about Manziel.
   "It's love-hate," he said, admitting he's conflicted and irritated by Manziel. "If he didn't do what he did on the field, he'd be one of the most despised Aggies of all time."
   Or, would we even notice?
   If the Aggies had their usual 7-5 season in 2012 Manziel could get a Longhorns tattoo and flash Hook 'Em at a concert in Austin without anyone caring, or noticing. But he's the defending Heisman Trophy winner. And one of the most prominent Aggies in A&M history.
   For Aggies fans Manziel's cajoling of the 'Horns and public love for the burnt orange must be nauseating. (He grew up in Tyler, a fan of Earl Campbell and Texas, though the Longhorns recruited him only mildly out of Kerrville Tivy High School as a defensive back.) And Aug. 31 can't arrive  fast enough.

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Texas A&M's Heisman Trophy Quarterback: From Johnny Football ... To Johnny Goofball

   In the 2013 college football season Johnny Manziel will try to do what Roger Staubach, Ty Detmer, Jason White, Matt Leinart, Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford couldn't - defend their Heisman Trophy.
   Before then, however, Johnny Football must convince his critics - and perhaps even his fans and teammates - that he hasn't deteriorated into Johnny Goofball.
   We all know Manziel's spectacular story. From being the 393rd recruit out of Kerrville Tivy High School to winning the Heisman at Texas A&M after leading the Aggies to an 11-2 record, an upset of eventual National Champion Alabama and a Cotton-Bowl romp over Oklahoma. His performance was stunningly entertaining, with subtle jukes and dramatic jives straight out Xbox he escaped tackles, bought time and wound up with a combined 5,115 yards and 47 touchdowns.
   And then came Jan. 5.

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   Since basically the day after A&M whipped the Sooners in Arlington Manziel's life off the field has been as hectic as one of his scrambles. But not nearly as productive.
   From brash Tweets to breaking the law to snubbing peers, Manziel has so far shown he's not mature enough to handle success. And Wednesday morning at 9 - the circus will be carried live on ESPN - he'll get grilled about it when he faces reporters at the SEC's Media Day in Hoover, Ala.
   Sure Manziel will be asked about the historic challenge of joining Ohio State running back Archie Griffin (1974-75) as the only player to win consecutive Heismans. But I betcha a nickel some questions arise from his turbulent offseason in which Johnny Football has exploited his Heisman, enjoyed life as a 20-year-old college sophomore, shirked responsibilities and weaved a compelling, disturbing tale in which the face of Aggieland is now a smug smirk.

   Jan. 5 - A photo surfaces of Manziel with sparklers and a bottle of champagne at a Dallas bar.
   Jan. 11 - OU defensive coordinator Mark Stoops says "If they can keep him out of jail or keep him eligible, he's gonna be pretty good. If they can keep him off Twitter, he might win three or four Heismans."
   Jan. 24 - Teams up with trick-shot artist "Dude Perfect" to launch a football into a basketball goal from the top of Kyle Field.
   Feb. 17 - Announces at the Davey O'Brien Award in Fort Worth that he's taking online classes to avoid crowds on the College Station campus.
   Feb. 22 - His family files a lawsuit on behalf of JMAN2 Enterprises in an attempt to trademark and own "Johnny Football."

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   March 14 - Pictured shirtless in Cabo during Spring Break, with a Texas Longhorn tattoo on his ribs and a margarita in his hand.
   March 23 - Shoves an A&M graduate assistant who yelled at him during a scrimmage at Kyle Field.
   March 26 - Announces he's temporarily leaving Twitter, calling it a "distraction."
   April 7 - Throws out the first pitch before a Rangers' game in Arlington. The delivery mimics his off-season focus - high and wide.

   April 12 - Ends his Twitter boycott and jumps on 105.3 The Fan for the last interview in the history of RAGE.
   May 12 - Shoots 79 at Pebble Beach while on vacation with his family.
   May 23 - Story surfaces about his 2012 arrest, subsequent suspension and near-transfer from A&M. After Aggies' head coach Kevin Sumlin intervened, A&M's Dean of Student Life overturned the suspension.
   June 1 - Wind-blown and giddy, he Tweets a video of him exclaiming "I always wanted to hit 100 in a boat!"
   June 9 - Tweets a pic from Game 2 of the NBA Finals in Miami, where he apologizes to Spurs' fans for being a LeBron fan.
   June 16 - After receiving a parking ticket on campus at A&M, he Tweets "Shit like tonight is a reason why I can't wait to leave college station...whenever it may be." He then implores critics to "walk a day in my shoes."
   July 13 - Citing dehydration and illness, leaves the Manning Passing Academy a day early. He was there as a camp counselor, but questions arise when photos surface of him partying in Thibodaux, La. the night before his departure. He reportedly apologized to A&M coaches for his behavior at the camp.
   July 15 - Pleaded guilty in conjunction with his arrest after a bar fight in 2012. During questioning by police, he produced three different IDs. He is ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and $232 in court costs for the Class B misdemeanor.
   To be continued ...

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