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: 2.21.14

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

   *Don't look now, but in January The Ticket's lead in DFW sports-talk radio ratings ...

   *The player that people love but I'd hate the Cowboys to draft ...

   *Don't cry over spilled gold ...

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SEAHAWKS 43, BRONCOS 8: My Top 10 Super Bowl Whitty Comments

   *So, this DFW sports dude won $20 million betting on the Super Bowl? Who and how ...

   *Most refreshing commercial was two old dudes mumbling ...

   *The Cowboys coulda had Kam Chancellor, but they instead drafted a cornerback named ...

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BEST OF: Mark Cuban's Having a Ball 2.13.2000

   Just because Sybil and I are out frolicking in the South Pacific, couldn't leave you guys hanging. So while I'm gone let's do what the syndicated radio shows do. Yeah, a little "best of ..."
   I'll post some of my favorite stories from the past and before you know it I'll be back live and in living color with tales from abroad.
   Thanks again for your patronage, your patience and your understanding of my honeymoon sabbatical.

HAVING A BALL

By Richie Whitt

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

February 13, 2000

   Mark Cuban has enough dollars to afford the world's largest

living room. Even more valuable, he has enough sense to know how to live in it.

   One of the countless "oh-my-gosh!" gaudy rooms in his $16 million,

24,000-square-foot mansion, the formal room is as big as a high school gym.

It has an intricately designed marble floor, ornate wood columns stretching to a 20-foot ceiling, a fireplace big enough to hold a Hyundai and two blinding crystal chandeliers.

   But nothing says more about the new owner of the Mavericks than the only

furniture in the room: a $1.99 plastic yellow Wiffle-ball bat.

    "This is home plate," Cuban exclaimed, pointing to the corner, "and anything off the chandelier is an automatic homer." ...

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WHITT'S END: 12.27.13

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

   *Guarantee you'll learn something new about Kyle Orton in this ...

   *Jerry Jones is an idiot if he fires Jason Garrett, says the guy who's smarter and richer than you ...

   *Miley Cyrus wears sheer lingerie, simulates masturbation, makes us yawn ...

   *Another reason to appreciate your President ...

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WHITT'S END: 11.1.13

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

   *The Cowboys have the best record in the NFL. You heard me. Heart-breaking losses be damned, they are a league-leading 7-1 in the only record that matters to a lot of folks - Against The Spread. Then: America's Team. Now: Las Vegas' Team. Let's investigate the numbers over at NBC 5's Blue Star Blog.

   *While I maintain he's trending toward T.O., there are some knuckleheads who want to believe Dez Bryant is merely channeling Michael Irvin. I was a beat writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram who covered every Irvin practice and game during the '90s and, trust me, he never ever never threw a sideline tantrum - founded upon positive language but laced with negative body language - like Dez did last Sunday in Detroit. Don't believe me? Fine, take it from Irvin himself. "I love Dez's passion," Irvin said this week on former teammate Tony Casillas' radio show in Oklahoma City. "But a thing you would never see me do is go after Troy. It's counter-productive. I'm not coming in Troy's face talking all loud and crazy."

   *We're three days into NBA and I'm already tired of something: ESPN continually salivating over the Clippers as "Lob City." I like watching Chris Paul feed Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan for dunks as much as anyone. It's just that I'm insulted by the lame nickname. no No NO! Not "Lob City." It should be "Lob Angeles." As in, the Los Lob Angeles Clippers. How are they missing on this one? Too easy? Seems like a, um, layup.

   *Don't understand all the uproar over the U.S.' covert spying on allies, adversaries and, yes, even us citizens via the National Security Agency. Information is a powerful weapon. (In fact, if they're passing out Superhero powers you can have flying or strength, I'll take mind-reading.) We need it. And, yes, I'll say it: Spy on me all you want. I got nothing to hide. Well, not much anyway. Of all our precious freedoms, the right to not be under surveillance is one I never much coveted.

   *I'll admit, for a brief moment - basically the first half of their first game back on Sept. 9 - I thought Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles had re-invented and revolutionized offensive football in the NFL. They were lightning fast. They were scary good. And now ... they suck. The same Cowboys' defense that surrendered 623 yards to the Lions limited the Eagles to just a field goal. And last week in a loss to the Giants, Philly's only points came on a botched New York punt-snap for a touchdown. Now the question is who's been worse: Kelly or Monte Kiffin?

   *Hot.

   *Not.

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   *There is very little, if any, jazz in Utah. L.A. isn't exactly littered with lakes. Not sure you'll encounter a pack of Grizzly Bears near Memphis. But I am certain that you'll now find this mascot at New Orleans' home NBA games. It's a Pelican. And he goes by Pierre. I'd trade Rowdy and a 7th for him right now.

   *What's up with all these freak finales in sports? In the World Series we had games end on an obstruction call and a pick-off, and last night - for only the third time ever - an NFL game ended on an overtime safety as the Dolphins sacked the Bengals. I blame the Obamacare website.

   *Two guarantees: Jay Ratliff will play football this year (Chiefs or Bears?). And the Cowboys will promptly launch legal action against them to recoup the millions they dumped on him.

   *I support President Obama. But I can't argue with his approval rating dipping to an all-time low. He's overseen some crap that's pushed him down to 42 percent. That said, I'd vote for him for a third term. Because I vividly remember his predecessor and the bad ol' days of 22 percent. Perhaps you'd conveniently forgotten?

   *Love me some Mark Cuban. And I hope the Mavs beat the Rockets tonight and jump to a 2-0 start. But the  owner whining that Dallas lost out on Dwight Howard simply because "he made a mistake a judgment" is just sour grapes. Howard coveted playing with James Harden more than he did 35-year-old Dirk Nowitzki. Much as it pains me to say it, I can't blame him.

   *Florida State 31, Miami 21. I wish I had $1 for every time I've seen "Wide Right" this week.

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   *When I screw up I admit it. And yesterday in my haste to transition from blog to pizza I somehow committed blasphemy. Dear Paul Stanley, I am fully aware you were a guitarist for KISS and not the drummer. I've honored you for three decades. Please accept my most sincere apology. Does the fact that I delivered an order of Pizza Buzz in your mask help or hurt my case?

   *Tough loss for the Bengals with Geno Atkins out for the season via torn ACL. He's a monster, probably the best defensive tackle in the NFL. But ESPN analyst Darren Woodson called him a "once in a lifetime player." Really?

   *While we're watching the Cowboys improve to 5-4, Sybil will be at Sue Ellen's in the Gayborhood hosting a Rock-A-Bully party benefiting her fave charity, DFW Rescue Me.

   *Cowboys 34, Vikings 17.

   *Why don't we all just open a casino in Vegas? It's a no-brainer. In September, Nevada casinos made a profit of $40 million off of legal sports betting. Wow! Impressive, no? Then consider this: In the same time those same casinos combined to rake in a profit of $216 million from ... penny slot machines.

   *Tony Romo became the Cowboys' starting quarterback on Oct. 29, 2006 and has held the position for seven straight years. In that same time frame, the Vikings have gone through 11 different quarterbacks: Brad Johnson. Tavaris Jackson. Kelly Holcombe. Brooks Bollinger. Gus Frerotte. Brett Favre. Joe Webb. Donovan McNabb. Christian Ponder. Matt Cassell. Josh Freeman. Yikes.

   *This weekend? Let's ring in November with a day at Pizza Buzz. Saturday morning is tennis, followed by former Cowboy Tony Casillas' 50th birthday party. Sunday, of course, is Cowboys-Vikings. And Sunday night I'll be yapping on TV about the Cowboys' high-scoring win on NBC 5. Don't be a stranger.

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WHITT'S END: 10.18.13

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

   *As I wrote for CBS back in March when this Rangers' power struggle was beginning to simmer, Nolan Ryan's departure was inevitable and necessary. And - I know this is blasphemy - his legacy is overrated. Fans of ol' Nolan want to believe it was Big Tex who triumphantly returned to Arlington in 2008 and kick-started the moribund franchise. Trust me, I was giddy when Nolan came back. Wrote as much in a cover story for the Dallas Observer. But truth? Jon Daniels had the wheels in motion toward success before Ryan arrived as CEO. Daniels hired Ron Washington and acquired players like Elvis Andrus and Neftali Feliz and Matt Harrison and Josh Hamilton and stockpiled the No. 1 farm system in baseball without Nolan. Ryan gets credit for making the Rangers' pitch better. But Daniels gets credit for giving the Rangers better pitchers. Daniels is the Xs and Os architect; Ryan is the symbolic figurehead. When you go to the State Fair you take a picture of Big Tex, but you enjoy the rides designed by Daniels. I'm not saying having Ryan in the organization is a bad thing, just that Daniels is far more valuable. It's Jimmy vs. Jerry, without the rings. Except, this time, the local team escaped with the more essential piece. I get that fans are bummed. Nolan is a man's man from Texas who hunts and headlocks and despises sissy conveniences like bottled water and hair product. But you really think today's Major League Baseball player is attracted to Texas because of Nolan Ryan? Sorry, but Yasiel Puig has zero idea who Nolan Ryan is. Just like, I guarantee there are more than a handful of players at Valley Ranch who can't quite put their finger on that guy Roger Starbuck. In the end, Nolan's ten-gallon ego got too big for his britches. He shoved Chuck Greenberg out of town. But, thankfully, Jon Daniels shoved back.

   *That fourth all-sports talk-radio station teasing us with a Fall launch has been further delayed. And this time one of the high-ups involved is telling me it's the House Republicans' fault. Basically the station plans to be on an AM frequency that needs a stronger signal. The power upgrade, however, is awaiting final approval from the FCC. Which, of course, was among the entities temporarily paused by the government shutdown.

   *Sorry, haters, but the Cowboys are still America's Team. So says, um, America. They're also the NFL's most valuable franchise and - to be fair - they haven't won a Super Bowl in, oh, going on 6,474 days.

   *Most days the loyal readers of this here blog poke and prod and disagree and generally attempt to kick me in the nuts. But sometimes they show up and give me money. Well, sorta. Danny Stephens did me some detective work and discovered that somebody or something owes me $313. It's just waiting for me to claim it, and they'll send me the check. It's not a scam. It's Texas' unclaimed property. Check it out. And if you get found money, thank Danny.

   *The New Jersey Nets last night retired Jason Kidd's No. 5. Wonder if the Mavs - er, Mark Cuban - will ever do the same? Kidd started as No. 5 in Dallas in '94, but wore No. 2 when he returned and helped lead them to their title in '11. Of course then he backed out of deal to stay in Dallas and pissed off the owner and ... some day that ice will thaw. But not yet.

   *Hot.

   *Not.

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   *Caught some Seahawks 34, Cardinals 22 last night and was reminded how much I despise Pete Carroll. He's gum-chomping cocky and so over-animated he always looks like a fan surprised by his team's play. Can I get a coach who's somewhere between Jason Garrett's pulse-free stoicism and Carroll's holy-shit-I-didn't-expect-that-to-happen emotion?

   *Now that was a good baseball game. Red Sox 4, Tigers 3 had scoring, strategy, collisions at the plate and, yep, more heroics from former Rangers Mike Napoli and Koji Uehara. Looks a Red Sox-Redbirds World Series. Uehara, for what it's worth, has walked only 2 of the last 161 batters he's faced.

   *I honestly think Jay Ratlilff - based on his performance and passion - was trending toward the Ring of Honor after the 2011 season. But now? Just another almost great player in a mediocre era. I analyze his freefall over at NBC's Blue Star Blog.

   *I put Kim Kardashian's booty in yesterday's Not. Why? Because it's too big, that's why. Look, I love curves on women and give me a little too much rather than a lot too little. But if you didn't know she was Kim Kardashian and you saw that girl walking down the street, you wouldn't stare and salivate. But because she is Kim Kardashian, suddenly her ass is supposedly voluptuous fine? No thanks.

   *No, I'm not abandoning You Betcha 'cuz I suck and I've already lost half my money  and I'm full of embarrassment. Nope, truth is I just forgot yesterday. So ... on to Week 8. Gleefully got my ass kicked last week as Texas shockingly trucked 14-point favorite Oklahoma. Sunday we'll keep it local. And I hope we keep losing. Because I see a Cowboys' faceplant looming in Philadelphia. Dallas will not be able to run the football without DeMarco Murray. They'll be hampered by rookie Joseph Randle in blitz pick-up in the passing game. And the beleaguered front four sans DeMarcus Ware will get a face full of NFL leading rusher LeSean McCoy. I know Michael Vick is out, but this one looks like a win even Nick Foles can coast to. In college, Chip Kelly's offense averaged 600 yards and 50 points against Monte Kiffin's defense. Yikes. But what do I know? Go against me this year and you'd be 5-2.
STARTING BANKROLL: $10,000
CURRENT BANKROLL: $5,125
SEASON RECORD: 2-5
LAST WEEK: 0-1
THIS WEEK: Eagles minus-3 over Cowboys for $2,000.

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   *As we attempt to treat our bodies better and eat smarter, I was reminded the other day that in elementary school - circa '73 - we were taught to get our daily intake of what then was the "4 Food Groups":  Dairy, Meat, Bread and Fruit/Vegetable. Somehow we've wandered off into No dairy, chicken over meat, no bread and organic kale. Ah, the good ol' days.

   *A player for the Edmonton Oilers(?) scored two goals in the game's first eight seconds last night. But, alas, it's hockey. So I'll leave y'all to fill in the historical blanks and create the punch line.

   *This looks really bad for Dallas cops. On Monday they shot mentally ill 53-year-old Bobby Bennett, who was standing arms at his side with only a pocket knife. After two officers arrived at Bennett's house, BAM!, shots fired within 20 seconds. The official police report says Bennett "lunged" at them, but nope. Not - as this video shows - even close. Bennett's in the hospital with a bullet in the stomach and a charge of aggravated assault of a public servant. No way.  The cops prematurely and unnecessarily shot a man and then lied about it. Someone's getting fired over this. I smell apologies ... and lawsuits.

   *This weekend? Gonna make some Pizza Buzz for dear ol' Dad today, then get out 'n about in Dallas tonight with old friends. Saturday morning is tennis, followed by Tech-West Virginia at The Hub in Addison. Sunday is Cowboys-Eagles, capped by my virginal voyage to this year's State Fair. Don't be a stranger.

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WHITT'S END: 10.17.13

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

   *In the wake of his obvious and blatant plagiarism of a Tony Romo article he posted on CBSDFW.com, 105.3 The Fan's Chris Arnold hasn't been heard on GBag Nation this week. But I'm hearing that's about to change. He'll be back on the air in his regular role Monday after what will basically amount to a one-week suspension. Easy for anyone with a journalism background to call for his firing, and as I mentioned Monday it's difficult to find a viable defense for his actions. But this again proves that sports radio is more about entertainment than information. At a newspaper, Chris would be fired. On the radio, he gets a slap on the wrist. The lesson The Fan needs to learn here? Just because you write, doesn't make you a writer. And, more importantly, it's dangerous to force your players to play out of position. Professionally, I detest what Chris did. But personally, as a friend, I'm glad he's surviving to write talk another day.

   *Mark Cuban hardly ever wears a suit and tie. But when he does, he usually means business. And yesterday it meant kicking Securities & Exchange Commission ass and, yep, taking names. After a silly 9-year court battle, a jury found the Mavs owner not guilty of insider trading. His reaction: "I won't be bullied, I don't care if it's the United States government."

   *The Cowboys' offense has problems, but it also has itself a franchise-record scoring pace. I break down the surprising numbers over at NBC 5's Blue Star Blog.

   *It's the little things in life. Last night I took a late-night walk with Sybil and her dogs. Eerily quiet neighborhood. Perfect weather. No phones. No distractions. Almost-full moon, shrouded by the kinda clouds you see just before Werewolves take over. Perfect.

   *Picking the teams for college football's impending playoff system is a huge deal filled with great responsibility. Iconic names on the committee, like former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne, Peyton 'n Eli's dad, Archie and Condoleezza Rice ... wait, What The What?! And even, Why The Why?! The former National Security Advisor has zero college football credentials. Crazy side note: On the committee is Tyrone Willingham, who was the head football coach at Notre Dame in 2004 but today is ... a volunteer assistant for the Stanford women's golf team. Ouch.

   *Hot.

   *Not.

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   *Quite the freefall by Jay Ratliff. Not long ago he was a Pro Bowler, a 7th-round over-achieving underdog and the Cowboys' most ferocious leader. Now? An injured, arrested, malcontent who the team will pay just to go away. Wow.

   *Been watching football a long time but this season - about a month apart - I've witnessed two plays I never even imagined: A made field goal that caromed off both uprights, and now a guy blocking two punts ... on the same play.

   *Okay, North Texas Tollway Authority, I get it. I use you. A lot. And I'm thankful for 121's lack of congestion in Collin County. But, seriously, you're hitting my account for $40 ... on back-to-back days?! Something's amiss.

   *Remember back when some people actually liked Ted Cruz? Then, predictably, the government-shutdown ploy fizzled and now everybody hates him. Which is exactly how it should be. No biggie I guess. The shutdown only cost about $24 billion.

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   *Couple married for 68 years die in a car crash, are found holding hands by rescuers. Couple things: Yes, of course, they were hit by a White Truck. And, wow, sixty-eight years!

   *Good news: Lotsa interest in advertising on this here blog. Bad news: My time is s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d membrane-thin these days because of Pizza Buzz. Solution? I think I'll hire myself a sales girl.

   *Anyone missing Randy Galloway on the radio yet?

   *Love me some Top Golf. It's golf-meets-bowling-meets-Skeeball, all accented by food and beer. But I have always wondered about this happening. Guy gets drunk. Guy takes wild swing. Guy loses balance. Guy falls over edge of third-story hitting bay and ... lawsuit.

   *Today? Pizza is good. But not for your body. Gotta find my way back into the gym at some point tonight. Don't be a stranger.

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WHITT'S END: 8.9.13

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

   *Source told me yesterday that while the Mavericks had serious discussions with 105.3 The Fan to become partners, they ultimately are staying put at 103.3 FM. Whether it's ESPN or Tickespn or whatever, for the next two years you can hear Mavs' hoops there. For Chuck Cooperstein fans like myself, that's good news.

   *Putting in a claim to acquire the White Sox' Alex Rios won't save the Rangers' suddenly surging season. He's a .277 hitter with 12 homers. Without Nelson Cruz, the path to the postseason is paved with pitching and defense. Or, by playing the Angels every night. I almost felt sorry for Anaheim as Texas swept it for the second time in 10 days, but then I saw Josh Hamilton's arrogant flailing at first pitches and had to giggle. Considering his second  half in 2012, he's not in a slump. More like a year-long slide below mediocrity.

   *I have a guarantee about tonight's Cowboys-Raiders' preseason game: Jason Witten will have a better night than he did a year ago in Oakland. Remember?

   *I wrote this week that Ticket P1s were "narrow-minded" and I've been asked to expound on that theory. Here goes: Ticket fans are so extremely loyal that they've become blind. Listeners love BaD Radio, but if Bob and Dan would've left for The Fan back in June Ticket fans wouldn't have followed their show. In fact, they would've labeled the hosts "traitors". The quality of show has been replaced - even usurped - by the location on the dial. You can be loyal to McDonald's while recognizing that Wendy's has a delicious Spicy Chicken Sandwich. But some P1s have decided that anything and everyone sold outside 1310 AM is dog shit. Kudos to The Ticket for nurturing such brand loyalty over almost 20 years. But to me, that's narrow-minded.

   *A&M fans are the most sensitive, irrational bunch on the planet. C'mon Aggies, you really, honestly, believe that Johnny Goofball signed hundreds of autographs on memorabilia - assembly-line style - for zero compensation. Just because he's a good guy? Just to help out a bunch of brokers he'd never met before? Riiiiight. When this thing finally plays out we'll be reminded of the perils of hiring 20-year-old kids named "Uncle Nate" to be in charge of anything important. All that said, hopefully this is the impetus to prompt the NCAA to be Dead 'n Gone. Yesterday NCAA Prez Mark Emmert admitted a mistake and yanked all individual jerseys for sale off ShopNCAASports.com. Go away, NCAA. At this point you're part of the problem, not the solution.

   *Hot.

   *Bonus Hot. (Because apparently the link didn't work on some platforms last week.)

   *Not.

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   *If you missed Sybil this morning co-hosting D: The Broadcast, she wore a blue dress. And a huge smile.

   *Public memorial for Kidd Kraddick will be Thursday at 5:30 in Victory Park's AT&T Plaza, featuring a concert by Ben Folds. Still holding my breath at the return of the toxicology reports. Still hope it's not true, but after what I wrote last week about his late-night partying, I received a new slew of folks who heard - even witnessed - the same thing.

    *So Hunter Mahan leaves the Canadian Open golf tournament he's leading to attend the birth of his child and everyone hails him as some kind of hero. Good for him. He's a solo act (other than his caddie). Not letting any teammates down like, say, Colby Lewis did once upon a time.

   *Lotsa folks asking me my take on the Ticket takeover of ESPN. All I got is right here.

   *If I'm Cumulus and I now control 103.3 FM, I immediately buy out the contract of Randy Galloway. As I wrote Thursday morning and as he later confirmed, he'll retire from radio when his deal expires Dec. 31. Why allow him to be a lame-duck host armed with both eff-you attitude and eff-you money? Remember, he's despised The Ticket for years and those boys have used him as a "Grandpa Urine" punch line. That's a dangerous combo. By the way, I love Galloway. Worked with him at the Star-Telegram for years and I'll always remember him taking me and Mike Fisher on a joy ride complete with multiple, illegal, obscenity-laced U-turns in his big Cadillac right in the heart of Times Square. Even then he had an eff-you persona. And by the way, if I'm The Fan, soon as Galloway is bought out by Cumulus I make him a rethink-retirement offer.

   *You know what's dumb? When a snarky web site tries to call Cowboys' fans "dumb" but in the process of its detailed criticism misspells the name of team legend Jay "Novachek." Who looks dumb now?

   *Vintage A-Fraud from his presser this week: "I'm fighting for my life. I have to defend myself. If I don't defend myself no one else will." Okay, cool. Then delight us with the details of how you're not guilty. Go on, defend yourself. Said A-Rod, "This isn't the time or place to do that." What. The. What?!

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   *Creepy story out of South Dallas where Erbie "E Luv" Bowser - a former ManiAAC dancer - killed four and injured four more. Most troubling about the story is the fact that he shot kids aged 11, 13 and 14. Can't imagine ever being that mad - or deranged. Just goes to show you, though, ManiAACs are people, too.

   *When I was in 7th grade American schools actually tried to switch to the Metric system. I remember the "Think Metric!" posters on our classroom walls. It failed. Miserably. So why, 30 years later, do we still sell our American soft drinks in 2-liter bottles? Why aren't they simply 67-ounce bottles?

    *It's a "No Sales Tax Weekend"! To me, that's code for "Another Weekend to Avoid Malls Weekend"! Which, of course, is code for "Just Like Every Other Weekend"!

   *And your latest non-Maverick: Greg Oden. The big man with the bad knees chose the Heat over Dallas. Man I'm tired of writing that storyline.

   *Not a good preseason for those who chose to follow Rob Ryan from the Cowboys to the Saints. Both Victor Butler and Kenyon Coleman have suffered season-ending injuries.

   *Yeah, well at least I didn't build a skyscraper without an elevator.

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   *I've got two new suggestions for you this week: A book by Brian Cuban and a band called the Texas Cotton Kings. The story of Mark Cuban's brother's journey with eating disorders, etc. is compelling stuff. And the Kings will make you feel like you're in down-home Forney, which ain't a bad place to be.

    *LeBron James actually showed up for jury duty this week in Ohio. Gotta give him credit for that. He lives in Bath Township. Can't decide if that sounds exclusive or Rednecky or Amishy.

   *You know it's August in Dallas when you take out the trash at 6 a.m. and return to the house in a shirt drenched in sweat. God Bless Texas.

  *If you want the juice on the real-estate doings of (current and) former Cowboys' quarterbacks like Tony Romo and Troy Aikman, you should be be reading Candy Evans. She knows her scoop.

   *On the list of the toughest things I've done: 1. Climbing a 14,000-foot mountain; 2. Running a marathon; 3. Quitting the Star-Telegram; 4. Skydiving; 5. Bungee jumping; 6. White-water rafting; ... Oh, who am I kidding, dealing with Greggo daily for three years trumps 'em all. Combined.

   *It takes quite the man to prompt current and former employees of ESPN, The Ticket and The Fan to put down their swords long enough to amicably attend a birthday in his honor. And, yes, Bruce Gilbert is that man. The former program director at The Ticket and The Fan, who had a stint in the ESPN family, turns 50 Saturday and representatives from multiple combating radio army outlets will combine to roast him. I'm honored to be invited. Cheers.

   *This weekend? Tonight let's ogle some Cowboys-Raiders. Tomorrow it's a golf tournament in Rockwall with dear ol' Dad, followed by the aforementioned birthday roast. And Sunday we'll finish up the golf tournament in the morning, then play some sand volleyball in Frisco in the afternoon. Don't be a stranger.

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In the End, Kidd Kraddick's Heart Was Too Big

   Kidd Kraddick is the guy we all listened to.
   And, in the end, the victim we all cringe hearing about.
   The wildly popular radio host - a vibrant 53-going-on-23 - was in New Orleans last weekend for a charity golf tournament benefiting his beloved Kidd's Kids. On Friday night, according to co-workers, he went to the casino, played Craps and later goofed off on Bourbon Street, pretending to be the slump-shouldered guy unable to have fun despite being in the middle of one of the world's most festive streets. On Saturday morning he rode in a limousine to nearby Timberlane Country Club in Gretna, and proceeded to the practice range for a warm-up.
   Almost immediately he told folks he wasn't feeling well. Nauseous. Headache. Sweating profusely. Just feeling crappy. After hitting one last good shot - he always had to end on a high - he got in his cart and drove back to the limo to hydrate and cool off and ...
   He was dead 15 minutes later.
   Kraddick, a nationally syndicated host and Dallas/Fort Worth radio icon alongside Ron Chapman, Tom Joyner, Terry Dorsey and Norm Hitzges, apparently died of a sudden and massive heart attack, the result of an enlarged heart and cardiac disease. Yep, he literally dropped dead.
   "We're beyond devastated," said long-time Kidd Kraddick in the Morning sidekick Kellie Rasberry on a surreal show this morning on 106.1 KISS FM. "But there's comfort in knowing he didn't suffer."
   Added co-host Big Al Mack, "The doctors said he didn't feel any pain."
   The guy with one of the biggest hearts in the Metroplex dies of an enlarged heart? In other words, shit happens.
   While you contemplate whether dying of a heart attack is "better" than battling a deadly disease for years, the bouquets of social-media flowers for Kraddick continue to pour in. His energy, his compassion and his show truly made him a personality that transcended radio.

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  In a fiercely competitive DFW radio market, Kraddick competitors dropped their swords long enough to Tweet condolences. Among those were Jody Dean (KLUV), Jagger (NOW), Gordon Keith (Ticket), Hawkeye (KSCS), Mark Davis (660 AM), K104, 99.5 The Wolf and 95.9 The Ranch. TV personalities Gloria Campos (WFAA), Mike Doocy (Fox4), Gina Miller (CBS11) and Newy Scruggs (NBC 5) also offered their sympathy.
   Kraddick's popularity was also evidenced by the cross-section of support he received via Twitter from the worlds of sports (Mark Cuban, Dirk Nowitzki, Mike Modano and Nancy Lieberman), entertainment (Kelly Clarkson, Jay Pharoah, Joe Jonas, Khloe Kardashian, Dr. Phil, Ryan Seacrest, Wayne Brady and Harry Styles) and in national news stories posted outlets from CNN to USA Today to People.
   In the wake of Kraddick's death, co-worker Billy The Kid went on the air and - on a show that was painful yet impossible to turn off - remembered his fallen friend. And this morning his remaining cast wondered aloud what was next for the future of the show. It's unclear when the show will return or if it will return at all.
   Obviously, filling Kraddick's shoes at KISS would be akin to trying replace Troy Aikman under center for the Cowboys.
   "I knew what it felt like to be divorced," Rasberry said through the tears. "And now I feel like I know what it's like to be a widow."
   While there remains an amount of mystery surrounding Kraddick's death - official cause won't be determined until toxicology reports are finalized - there apparently was little misery. And, unfortunately, little he could have done to prevent it.
   The best you can do is to attempt to be 1/10th as noble as Kraddick. Live to the fullest. Help others. And, as much as possible, do what you want with whom you love.
   In that sense, Kidd Kraddick ended on the ultimate high.

   Keep looking up, 'cuz that's where it all is.

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Mark Cuban is Selling the Mavs' "Good Summer." We Buying?

   Rinse. Repeat. Believe?
   Duplicating the same depressing spin cycle from last summer, Mavs owner Mark Cuban is again selling the fact that his team is enjoying a "good summer" and is better off after missing out on another big-name free-agent target. In 2012 it was Deron Williams. And now, of course, Dwight Howard.
   "I think we've put ourselves in a spot where we're in a better spot than we were at if we got just the one max-out deal," Cuban said during the Mavs' summer-league game Wednesday night. "I think it'd be better shorter and longer term. I don't want to make that sound the wrong way. I think we'll be better this year because we added five good players or more."
   Last summer the Mavs whiffed on Williams, then settled for signing mediocre players to one-year deals and wound up 41-41 and snapping their run of 12 consecutive playoffs. This year?

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   Having whiffed on Howard, Dallas set into action Plan B. It has, so far, netted them point guard Jose Calderon, shooting guard Monta Ellis and center Samuel Dalembert.
   The Mavs will look different in 2014. But will they be better than if they would've landed the Dwight-Dirk duo?
   "Obviously, we were disappointed we didn't get Dwight, but we pretty much got everything else we wanted to get and then some. Much more," Cuban said. "We never thought we'd be able to get Monta. It turned into a good summer."
   True, by landing Howard the Mavs would've missed out on Calderon, Ellis and Dalembert. But when your fan base again feels like Plan A failed, again promoting the sloppy seconds as a "good summer" is a tough sale indeed.

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Mavericks' Free-Agent Plan Has Giant Hole ... In The Middle

   Okay, so as NBA free agency officially tips-off your Dallas Mavericks have $8 million to spend on a center but have already missed out on Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets), Jermaine O'Neal (Golden State Warriors) and, apparently without even making an offer, Andrew Bynum (Cleveland Cavaliers).
   And with Chris Kaman haven flown the coop for the Lakers, it begs the question: What's Erick Dampier up to?
   Actually, no, it's not that desperate for the Mavs. Yet.
   But if owner Mark Cuban and general manager Donnie Nelson are to salvage what just last week promised to be an eventful, impactful off-season, they've got to plug Dallas' huge hole in the middle.

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   Currently, the Mavs have only second-year Bernard James on the roster at center, though Brandan Wright is leaning toward returning.
   Other options: Greg Oden and his ravaged knees? Minnesota Timberwolves' restricted free agent Nikola Pekovic? Samuel Dalembert and his offensive touch of a blacksmith? Let's face it, at this point we have no idea who will jump center for the Mavs on Openig Night in October. And neither do they.
   Oh, and if you're holding your breath for guard Monta Ellis, feel free to disappointingly exhale because Donnie told reporters last night it was "probably a long shot."
   The Mavs' tote board so far ...
   Coming: G Devin Harris, PG Jose Calderon; SG Wayne Ellington; PG Gal Mekel; PG Shane Larkin.
   Going: C Chris Kaman; SG O.J. Mayo; PG Darren Collison; G Mike James; G Roddy Beaubois.
   Stay tuned ...

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Still Without A Big Fish, Mavs Continue To Throw Their Hook ... Where?

   What first was teasing, has deteriorated into torture.
   It was just two summers ago that the Dallas Mavericks held a championship parade through our downtown streets. Then, before the champagne had stopped stinging our eyes, the trophy-winning roster was kaput. Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea and DeShawn Stevenson, each allowed to leave via free agency.
   But all with a promise: The salary-cap flexibility - "Dry powder!" - would pay big-fish dividends in the near future.
   Chris Paul? Deron Williams? Dwight Howard? Heck, maybe two of 'em?!
   That was the trade-off. The reason we simply re-watched the DVD of the '11 season during the playoff sweep to the Oklahoma City Thunder in '12, and why we feigned interest in shaving beards and .500 records instead of focusing on missing the playoffs under the mediocrity of has-beens like Vince Carter and Elton Brand and not-yets like Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo in '13.
   But now, Paul is a Los Angeles Clipper, Williams is a Brooklyn Net and Howard - as of Friday afternoon - is a Houston Rocket. Yep, that's oh-for-three.
   Tweeted Mavs owner Mark Cuban on Saturday: Time to get back to work. The Mavs are back open for business.
   Is it just me, or is he beginning to sound like the billionaire boy crying wolf?

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   Cuban is a genius on several levels. And he'll always have a special place in our sports hearts for delivering the Mavs' first championship - and, for that matter, the Metroplex's only title since 1999. He helped engineer the acquisitions of Jason Terry, Jason Kidd and Chandler, propelling Dallas to its '11 run. Nothing he can do to tarnish that legacy.
   But, let's face it, Cuban inherited Dirk Nowitzki. He let Steve Nash walk. He opened the door for Chandler's premature exit. And he swung and missed on the top free agents the last two summers: Williams and Howard.
   Wrote Cuban in an email to several local media outlets Saturday, "We gave it a shot and it didn't work out. It was truly an experience. So it's on to Plan B."
   We could zing that it feels like Plan F or we could attempt to dissect why primo players won't come to Dallas - Traffic? Redneck culture? Weather? Over-bearing owner? Who knows? Grim reality is that the Mavs' middle will be filled in 2014 not by Howard but ...

   Andrew Bynum? Ultra-talented at 25, but missed the entire season with problematic knees.

   Jermaine O'Neal? Wait, that's the wrong O'Neal. In the wrong decade.

   Someoneelsewhowillunderwhelmus?

   At least the Mavs have addressed, and hopefully fixed, one position. Desperate for a solid point guard after a failed season watching Darren Collison, Derek Fisher and Mike James, the Mavs drafted a Hurricane (Shane Larkin) and have signed an Israeli (Gal Mekel), an NBA veteran (Jose Calderon) and a familar face (Devin Harris).

   But as of this minute Dirk Nowitzki remains the Mavs' No. 1 player. Much as I love him, we all witnessed last season. He's on the downside. At this point he needs to be Tonto, not The Lone Ranger.
   No denying it. Fans - who feels as though the championship was 20 years ago instead of two - are becoming disillusioned. The '11 roster brought back in '12 might not have won another title. It might have hindered the Mavs' financially.
   But, seriously, could it have been worse than this?

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Mavs In Hollywood Trying to Land a Leading Role. They Got Any Chance?

   Jack Nicholson.
   Jerry West.
   Hakeem Olajuwon.
   Phil Jackson.
   Mark Cuban?
   If the Dallas Mavericks sign free agent Dwight Howard, it'll be because their owner - the guy who made a billion dollars turning your computer into a radio - stood toe-to-toe with some of the great names in the history of the NBA. Nothing against Dirk Nowitzki and his shiny 2011 championship ring, but this sell has to be closed by Cuban.
   The Mavs get their shot to pitch the best big man in basketball today, followed by the hometown Lakers' final word. Meetings, of course, are like surgeries. In the wake of them, everything always went "great." After today Howard will ingest and decipher and mull the five meetings with the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Mavs and Lakers ... and then we'll collectively hold our breath for The Decision 2.

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   So far the fawning has been impressive.
   The Lakers got Jack on the phone and prompted Steve Nash and Jackson to send their center encouraging Tweets. Wrote Nash: "You're going to love the statue we build for you outside Staples in 20 yrs!"
   The Warriors, considered a long-shot in the sweepstakes, brought in special consultant West. And the Rockets, tabbed as many by the favorite to land Howard, got help from Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Dikembe Mutombo, James Harden and - via Skype from China - Yao Ming.
   The Mavs are going on a future-framing job interview today. I know there are alternative Plan B's that include the Los Angeles Clippers' Eric Bledsoe and Matt Barnes and maybe even the Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo. But this is the big fish we've been titillated by since the day Cuban broke up the title roster two summers ago. This is the franchise superstar player the poor little Mavs never get.
   Mark Cuban has a lot of tools. He's been a Benefactor and on Shark Tank and one of the most innovative, outspoken owners in the history of pro sports. Today, he just needs to be a salesman, and a closer.
   It's time for Cuban to convince Dwight Howard Dallas is the right choice ... or else.

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Dwight Does Dallas?

   A year ago on July 1 NBA teams began aggressively pursuing free-agent crown jewel Deron Williams. The Mavericks sent a contingency to New York, but owner Mark Cuban was in Los Angeles, of all things, filming episodes of Shark Tank.
   You know how that ended, with Dallas missing out on another big fish and, in turn, signing mediocre players to one-year deals and missing the playoffs after a .500 season.
   Vomit.
   The target, of course, is center Dwight Howard. He's telling people in Los Angeles that won't re-sign with the Lakers, upping his suitors' salivating. The Lakers can offer a max deal of $118 million for five seasons while other teams can only go $88 million over four years. At least as we commence this Dwight dance, Dallas is in the conversation, along with the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors.
   The Mavs have a couple advantages here, and hopefully they'll be at the right place at the right time this week.

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   Cuban and Dirk Nowitzki will apparently be part of the team's group in L.A. to meet with Howard and his representatives Tuesday, the day after he is courted by a Rockets' group including coach Kevin McHale, guard James Harden and Hall-of-Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon. The Mavs have the stigma of "never luring any big-name free agents to Dallas," but this is a legit shot at the best big man in basketball.
   The Mavs have Dirk, still an elite player but in the twilight of his career and with a disposition that would allow Howard to be the team's centerpiece. And the Mavs' style of play - half-court tempo with lots of pick-and-rolls - suits Howard's preference as well.
   To offer Howard a max deal, the Mavs still have to trim about $2.75 million in salary-cap room. That would've been much easier had Shawn Marion opted out of his contract by Sunday night's deadline. It's difficult to envision a scenario where the Mavs land Howard and keep Marion, although obviously that's Plan A.
   On other roster fronts, the Mavs are said to be interested in Rajon Rondo as the Boston Celtics continue their fire sale in an attempt to really, really suck next year and draft phenom Andrew Wiggins No. 1 in the draft. But if Boston wants Dirk in return, he has a no-trade clause and that's end of discussion.
   The Mavs have already "signed" their first free agent in Israeli Gal Mekel, who will joust with No. 1 draft choice Shane Larkin for the starting point-guard job. Will those players be dumping the ball to Howard in the low post?
   Stay tuned ...

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Dirk Nowitzki - Front-Office Maverick - Already Recruiting Dwight Howard

   Dirk Nowitzki just poked his head into the Mavs' NBA Draft headquarters here at American Airlines Center and actually dropped a couple news nuggets:
   *He's already begun the recruiting process of free-agent center Dwight Howard, recently calling the Lakers' big man. "I reached out to him," Dirk says, "Told him that we'd love to have him. ... And if I need to jump on a plane, I'm free. I'm available."
   *He'll be in the team's "war room" tonight alongside owner Mark Cuban, general manager Donnie Nelson and assistant GM Keith Grant. And, for what it's worth, Dirk is intrigued by a potential future in Dallas' front office. "It's something I've always wanted to see how it's done," Dirk says. "Maybe I'll be more involved in that area when I'm done playing."
   *As for his eye for talent and his assessment of the Mavs' needs tonight, pretty spot on if you ask me: "We need help left and right. I mean, we need a shooter, some bigs. We need a lot of help."
   Dirk look refreshed. Ready to hop on a plane and go recruit. Yet not at all prepared to concede his career, even at 35, is winding down.
   "Patience is tough at my age," he says. "I hope I can play at a high level a couple more years and then who knows? I'm not sure where my post-playing days will take me. I'm not sure I'm made for TV. I have a face for radio. Me and (ESPN Mavs' radio play-by-play voice Chuck) Cooperstein."

Mavs' Shrinking Success Tied to Disasters on Draft Day

   The Dallas Mavericks' remarkable run of 50+ wins and playoff appearances for 12 consecutive seasons has ended. And it's not difficult to see where the decline began.
   As the Mavs tonight prepare to make a Lottery pick (13th) for the first time since 2000 when they fanned on Syracuse forward Etan Thomas, we're reminded of how general manager Donnie Nelson, owner Mark Cuban and the front office has continually failed to acquire draft-night talent to surround its all-time draft-night jewel, Dirk Nowitzki.
   While in this century the Mavs have launched air-ball acquisitions like Maurice Ager ('06), Nick Fazekas ('07), Roddy Beaubois ('09), Dominique Jones ('10), Rudy Fernandez ('11) and Jared Cunningham ('12), elite teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, for example, have used similarly low picks in the 20s+ to stockpile legit talent such as Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, John Salmons, Luis Scola, Leandro Barbosa, Beno Udrih, Tiago Splitter, George Hill, Goran Dragic, Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joseph.
   Of course, in the Mavs we're talking about an organization that drafted Chris Anstey ('97), Randy White ('89), Bill Garnett ('82), Leon Smith ('99) and, in '96, Samaki Walker - four picks before a guy named Kobe Bryant.

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   Sure, Tim Duncan is one of the NBA's Top 10 all-time best players, but the reason the Spurs have trumped the Mavs since '00 is directly attributed to draft doings.
   This year, with the 13th pick after missing the playoffs, the Mavs are debating their options:
   1. Draft a "rotation" player that can help them win now.
   2. Trade the pick to save about $1.6 million in salary-cap room that would help in a free-agency run at Dwight Howard.
   3. Select a player in a "Euro Cap Stash", temporarily alleviating a salary hit while acquiring an asset for the future.
   In option No. 1 the Mavs would look to fill holes in their roster ... everywhere. They've had a stream of candidates working out at American Airlines Center this summer including Miami guard Shane Larkin, Michigan guard Tim Hardaway, Jr., Pitt center Steven Adams and Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams.
   In option No. 2, the Mavs would deal the pick, its financial baggage and possibly another asset - Shawn Marion has been mentioned - to create cap flexibility.
   In option No. 3, the Mavs would travel the boring, worn path overseas where it would draft a kid with more syllables in his name than skins on the wall. In case you haven't gotten your fill of former picks named Targuy Ngombo ('11), Renaldas Seibutis ('07) and Vassillis Spanoulis ('04), scribble down this year's foreign targets: Dennis Schroeder (German guard), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greek forward) and Sergey Karasev (Russian guard).

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   Though we'll never entirely lose the goosebumps from the magical '11 championship run, the reality is that the Mavs are now in the uncomfortable Purgatory between adding win-now talent for one final push with an aging Nowitzki and re-building a nucleus with young players that will peak down the road.
   All the sudden the Mavs haven't won a playoff game in two years and since the braintrust decided to let Tyson Chandler walk after '11 they are a mediocre 77-71. The quick-fix delusions of grandeur of luring Howard from the Lakers are tantalizing but, regardless, the for the Mavs to remain competitive with teams like the Spurs they must at least match them in the NBA Draft.
   Starting tonight.

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