WHITT'S END: 1.7.14

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

   *The Florida State play you've never seen the Dallas Cowboys run ...

   *Dallas' best current athlete is ...

   *Wait, I thought Dubya already "liberated" Iraq? ...

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20 Years Later, Cowboys' Same Greedy Strategy Produces Drastically Different Results

   One of the most memorable plays in Dallas Cowboys' history was born of illogical desperation and founded upon a distrust of the defense.
   No, not Sunday's interception by Tony Romo in which he changed a run into a pass and then transformed a sack into a pick. I'm talking about the play that ignited their 1990s dynasty.
   On January 17, 1993 the Cowboys were clinging to a 24-20 lead on the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game in the slop of Candlestick Park ...

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WHITT'S END: 10.4.13

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

   *So - according to Shan and Choppy on my old station - the night after the Rangers get eliminated by the Rays, their brass has a meeting in Arlington. At some point Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels start discussing Jackie Moore's role. Then debating, then arguing and next thing you know Ron Washington has to step in to keep it from escalating into a physical confrontation. Proving that JD has the ultimate power, Moore was fired. While I disagree that Moore doesn't have a valuable place on Wash's bench, I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ownership - and fans - should covet the GM and let Big Tex mosey out of town. Besides, really? At age 66 Nolan still thinks the best way to resolve disputes is to put people in a headlock? Embarrassing.

   *Tony Romo has thrown one interception in 151 passes. Last year at this time he'd thrown eight interceptions in 152 passes. If you wanna continue blaming him for the Cowboys' mediocrity go ahead. But I tell you why you're wrong to do so over at NBC 5's Blue Star Blog.

   *Hook, um? Texas needed a couple lucky breaks to beat Iowa State by one point last night. First, the Hail Mary for a touchdown to end the first half. Then the bad call at the goal line in the final minute. Jonathan Gray's knee wasn't down when he had the ball stripped from him by the Cyclones' linebacker. Should've been a fumble. Should've been ball game, and an Iowa State win. While ISU coach Paul Rhoads was fittingly fuming, Mack Brown was somehow giddy about his team: "I'm so damn  happy tonight. I'm really excited about moving forward." UT, 2-0 in the Big 12, moves forward to Saturday's annual battle against OU in the Cotton Bowl. Where it will get demolished. Speaking of Texas, it really bothers me that the rounded numbers on their helmets don't match the numbers with angled corners on their jerseys. Anyone else?

   *After offering details of Randy Galloway's dwindling radio career, I realized 103.3 FM ESPN has afternoon baseball today. That means he's down to one final show: Monday 3-6. That's assuming the station will bump baseball to one of its sister stations to make room for one last Cowboys' overreaction Monday of the icon's career. I'm told that the new afternoon show on ESPN will be Matt Mosley, paired with a partner who is an in-town guy and a "familiar voice" to Metroplex radio listeners.

   *Three gigs I believe we waaaay overrate: Tap-dancing, DJing and orchestra conducting. In tap-dancing, the wildly animated foot movements never quite match the sound, and I think the swinging arms are merely designed to distract us from the lack of synchronicity. If you think about, DJs aren't really creating anything unique. They're just taking others' music and morphing them together. It'd be like a "master chef" who simply serves two restaurants' signature dishes ... on the same plate. And do we really need a conductor giving direct, demonstrative cues to a professional orchestra? If you're at that level as a, say, violinist, you've played Beethoven's 5th a gabillion times. You pretty much know the song. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, for example, needs a conductor about as much as I need an editor hovering over my keyboard and pointing his cocky wand to the C as I begin to type Cowboys.

   *Hot.

   *Not.

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   *Behind Dirk Nowitzki, my favorite NBA player is Derrick Rose. Love his attacking style. Love his no-nonsense demeanor. He's back on the court for the Chicago Bulls this preseason. It's been a minute hasn't it? Because of his torn ACL, last time I got to watch Rose play (April 28, 2012), Johnny Manziel was still playing quarterback for Kerrville Tivy High School.

   *Looks like our 100-degree days are Dead & Gone for 2013. In fact, how about a high Saturday of 70 and lows over the weekend in the 40s? Sounds like perfect weather for an open roof for Broncos-Cowboys. I admit the cooler weather feels like a temporary respite, but as a guy who loves the summer heat it's always sad to sense the commencing of us putting on more clothes and more pounds for the approaching winter.

   *Is it possible to have a chronic, even terminal hamstring? Miles Austin might be a medical miracle.

   *Just because you don't agree with me on a particular point doesn't mean I'm "trolling." Just means we disagree on a particular point. And, while we're at it, telling me to "stick to sports" on my own blog is a bigger waste of time than telling Jerry Jones the owner to fire Jerry Jones the general manager. Not happening. You wouldn't voluntarily walk into McDonald's, peruse their diverse menu, and yell "stick to burgers!" Or, I dunno, maybe you would.

   *Found a vehicle on our roads almost as useless as the White Truck. The street sweeper. Saw a couple of them on 121 Thursday moving at about 2 mph, sending dust flying from under them. I just don't get the concept and purpose. Is the street sweeper's job to make sure the shoulders of America's highways are spotless? Because, if so, that's preposterous. It's like a guy with two broken ankles blowing off rehab to spend time spit-shining his shoes. (Wait, I went out late with Sybil last night and woke up early, did that make any sense at all?)

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   *Broncos 34, Cowboys 24. Dallas' pass defense has surrendered an NFL-high 10 touchdown passes. Guaranteed that number climbs Sunday in Arlington.

   *I'm barely technically savvy enough to keep this blog running, but I have a great idea: Tape-measure App for a smartphone. Out at Pizza Buzz this week I've needed one three times. Anybody know if this one works?

   *Stumbled across an old friend on Twitter. Some of you old-timers might remember the name Susie Woodhams? She wrote for the Dallas Times Herald in the '80s and '90s, pairing with Mickey Spagnola on the newspaper's Cowboys beat opposite Ed Werder/Tim Cowlishaw at the Morning News and Me/Mike Fisher at the Star-Telegram. She then moved onto an eight-year career on Channel 8 as one of Dale Hansen's reporters. These days she's an expat writing books in France. Very cool.

   *If you're a little drowsy today like me - partying with Sybil at Plano's Blue Martini is my excuse - this diddy (yep, by a DJ) will put a pep in your step: Showtek's "Booyah".

   *This weekend? Saturday morning is tennis, followed by something I do about once a year but always enjoy it: Bowling. Sunday is Cowboys-Broncos. Look for smiling face Sunday on NBC 5. Don't be a stranger.

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Miles Austin, We've Missed You

   One game into the Cowboys’ season and one thing is abundantly clear: Dez Bryant needs to be mature and Miles Austin needs to be ready.

   As did the New York Giants last weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday and the rest of the NFL the remainder of the season, defenses are going to focus their attention on Bryant. The Giants always had a safety lurking and a cornerback in front of Bryant, in what amounted to double-coverage. Bryant held his composure and managed his frustration during a minimally impactful four-catch night.

   “Hey, I got my stats through Witt, through Miles, through Tony and the rest of the other guys,” Bryant said. “The Giants respected me. Everybody across this world knows what I can do. And they know, if the ball is thrown my way, I’m going to get to it. I don’t care if it’s double-coverage, triple or whatever. But we play smart football here. We want to win.”

   The attention to Bryant and future Hall-of-Fame tight end Jason Witten spawns an obvious byproduct: Miles is open.

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   Allowed single-coverage, Austin caught as many first downs as Bryant had total catches, and his 10 grabs were third-most on NFL’s opening weekend behind only Anquan Boldin and Andre Johnson. It was great to see Austin back. It’s imperative that his hamstrings remain healthy and his production stays aloft.

   And not a better place to continue the trend that back where it all started.

   In 2009 Austin was the Cowboys’ third receiver until starter Roy Williams was injured entering Week 5 at Kansas City. So how did Austin respond in his first NFL start on Oct. 11, 2009?

   With a franchise record 250 yards on 10 catches and two touchdowns - most of them against now-Cowboys' corner Brandon Carr - including the 60-yarder in overtime that gave Dallas a 26-20 victory.

   “People bring it up more than I think about it,” Austin said this week at Valley Ranch. “Don’t get me wrong, it was an amazing feeling. I felt like for me personally it was a great way to be able to start and make a splash for the first time offensively. But at the end of the day you realize that my job’s not to talk about what I’ve been doing but to continue to do my best. You kind of snap back into reality on the plane ride home.”
   Austin went on to catch 81 passes for 1,320 yards and 11 scores in making the Pro Bowl. And, it’s been all downhill since.

   Since that breakout game/season, he hasn’t approached 70 catches or caught more than seven touchdowns. His stats and impact yell third receiver, while the six-year, $57 million contract he received in 2010 screams elite No. 1.

   Against the Giants Austin seemed to have his first-step burst back. We know Bryant and Witten will get their catches. If the Cowboys are to exceed expectations, Miles Austin has to return to the days when he got his as well.

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