Things I Think I Know - The Dallas Cowboys edition

Dez Bryant is ready for a breakout season in 2011.

With the lockout well in the past, and another boring preseason in the books, it's finally time to focus on what actually counts as the 2011 NFL season officially begins tonight. But as interesting as tonight's Green Bay-New Orleans matchup may be, my focus is once again on the Silver & Blue.

I'm always a little hesitant to speak too highly of the Dallas Cowboys, and for good reason. They usually fail to meet the expectations that the media puts on them. So, in order to avoid the emotional turmoil that comes with missing the mark year in and year out, I've learned to drop my standards a little bit, or as I prefer to call it, thinking like a realist instead of a fan.

Here are a few things I think I know about the 2011 Dallas Cowboys:

1. Dallas will open the season with a loss . . .
The scheduling committee wasn't too kind to the Cowboys when it put them up against the New York Jets to open the season – on September 11th. Not only will Dallas have to deal with a Jets squad built for a Super Bowl run, but the Cowboys will have to deal with the emotion attached to this game, on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Empire State Building.

It's nothing more than a disaster waiting to happen as the hearts of the nation will be beating in unison for anything New York, the Cowboys will essentially be playing the role of villain as they try to steal a win in New York. As much as I'd like to see them do it, they won't.

2. Rob Ryan's defense will struggle early . . .
One thing we found out in the preseason was that the Cowboys defense still needs lots of work. With the training camp schedule cut short due to the lockout, Ryan didn't have the kind of time one would normally have to install a brand new scheme.

That means, the Cowboys will have to learn on the fly, and that'll take some extra time. It will take a few weeks to get all the kinks worked out, but when they do, this defense will be fun to watch.

3. Dez Bryant will have a breakout season in 2011 . . .
I'm making this prediction for two reasons, but the most important reason is that we all saw flashes of brilliance a year ago before he missed the end of the year with an injury. If he can stay healthy, he will dominate, like a 1,400-yard, 12-touchdown kind of dominate.

I also not only drafted him first for my fantasy team, but named the squad after him (Dezzie Does Dallas), so I actually have a lot riding on this prediction. I feel good about this one.

4. The Dallas Cowboys' record in 2011 will be . . .
9-7, good enough for a wild card spot.

Basically, just looking at the schedule, I have wins against San Francisco, Washington, Detroit, St. Louis, Seattle, Buffalo, Miami, and NY Giants, and Philadelphia. I also have Dallas losses to NY Jets, New England, Phladelphia, Washington, Arizona, NY Giants, and Tampa Bay.

Interesting enough, I have the Cowboys at 7-4, then losing three straight to the Cardinals, Giants, and Buccaneers, then regrouping to win the last two, including a New Year's Day road game against the Giants.

Humbled But Happy

Going from being the boss to the low man on the totem pole is a bit strange, and definitely not something I've ever experienced before. Until THIS WEEK.

With the new fall semester came the first wave of my journalism classes, something I've been looking forward to and dreading at the same time. Excited at the chance to write on a daily basis, but a little withdrawn about going from being my own boss when it came to writing as a sports editor, to a lowly worker bee in my reporting class, scouring the campus for any story that is deemed worthy.

I've been trying to keep my experience a secret from the rest of my classmates, many who seem to have none whatsoever, but it was something I made sure to point out to the staff of the campus newspaper, The East Texan. Not to boast, but to make sure they were aware that some extra help was available, because I want to get involved with that as early and as often as possible.

It's been humbling to have to take direction from college students, most of whom are about 10 years younger than me and just a few years out of high school. But it really doesn't matter. I'm back to writing regularly, I still have my Friday night job covering football games, and I'm happier than I've been in quite some time.

I'm a journalist. This is what I do, this is who I am. Besides, there's no time to feel sorry for myself or get upset, because there's a deadline coming. :)

Lone Oak tops rival in overtime thriller

LONE OAK – In a game that hangs on every inch, it was the one the visiting Caddo Mills Foxes couldn’t get that cost them dearly Friday night. Despite a tremendous effort by quarterback Tre Couvillion, the Foxes (0-1) fell short in a thrilling overtime game at Buffalo Stadium, falling to Lone Oak by a 21-14 count.

After the Buffaloes took the lead in overtime on Ty Tolleson’s 10-yard run, the Foxes moved the ball down to the 11 and faced a 4^th and 8 when the game ended on a crazy note. Couvillion weaved through Lone Oak defenders and appeared to have a clean shot at the end zone when the ball was stripped from his grasp, and rolled into the end zone. Trever Lasseter didn’t make a clean recovery, but managed to have the last touch on the ball, knocking it away from Couvillion and out of bounds to end a sloppy contest played in front of a capacity crowd. Lone Oak (1-0) committed five turnovers, and Caddo Mills was plagued by 17 penalties totaling 135 yards.

The Buffaloes turned the ball over on their first two possessions, losing a fumble on the first series that was recovered by Caddo Mills senior Jerome Grant, and then Lasseter was intercepted by Dalton Curry the next time out. On their third possession, the Foxes got on the board when a Lone Oak holding penalty in the end zone resulted in a safety for a 2-0 lead. The Buffaloes answered right back on their next series, as Lasseter connected with Zach Douglas on a 75-yard touchdown strike. Reed Elmore’s extra point hit the upright and missed, leaving Lone Oak with a 6-2 advantage.

Dakota Monroe picked off a Lasseter pass to set up the Foxes’ first touchdown. Caddo Mills moved the ball down to the 10 yard line and faced 4^th and goal from that spot, when Couvillion rolled right and found DaQuan Stoker for a touchdown. Lone Oak blocked the PAT, but the Foxes held a slim 8-6 lead at the break.

Just three plays into the second half, the Foxes widened the gap, courtesy of a 34-yard interception return touchdown by Josh Jackson. Tyler Kirkpatrick missed the PAT and the score stayed at 14-6. With just 57 seconds left in the third period, Lone Oak pulled even at 14-14 with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Lasseter to Douglas, followed by Douglas’ conversion run.

In the overtime period, Lone Oak needed just four plays to score, the last being Tolleson’s 10-yard game-winner, push the junior past the century mark in rushing. Tolleson finished with 108 yards on 18 carries. Couvillion led all rushers with 147 yards on 27 carries. Lasseter passed for 155 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, while Douglas hauled in three passes for 107 yards, including a pair of touchdowns. Lone Oak outgained the Foxes by a 297-255 margin.



Lone Oak will take to the road next week to face Clarksville, while the Foxes will open their home schedule against Community. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m.

Hand Over Your Burden

I can remember seeing that phrase a number of times in a number of different places. It sounds so simple, but if you really dig down and look into what God wants in a relationship with us, the phrase is entirely accurate.

Of course, it's easy to lose sight of that at times, especially if you're like me. I'm getting better at bringing my problems to God through prayer, and trusting that he will relieve me of my burdens and give me direction through difficult times, but I still have times when I forget to do that, and I hold it all in.

I've never been one to take my problems to other people, I don't complain about my problems and I certainly don't dump them on anybody else. I don't tolerate whining in my house and a big reason why I don't communicate problems I'm having to others is because it's always sounded like whining to me. I also don't like attention, and I don't like for others to know my problems. I'd just assume to keep them personal.

It's worked for me, because I have been good at remembering to bring these issues to God during the many times I find myself openly praying for whatever reason. But recently, I lost track of that again, and resorted back to old ways. It wasn't pretty. I let the pot boil over with all of the things I was holding back, and when it finally started spilling out, I was a wreck, emotionally, physically - and worst of all - spiritually. I was unpleasant to everybody, even those closest to me, I felt like crud, and I finally just had to let my wife know, in the middle of a crowded grocery store, that I'd let it get out of control.

For those of you who are like me, and don't like to burden your friends and  family with your problems, or maybe you have trouble communicating your feeling to others (another of my annoying traits), there is ALWAYS somebody you can talk to without feeling embarassed. God is always there to listen and take your troubles from you.

The words of Jesus found in John 14 say this: "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home."

GOD WANTS YOUR BURDENS. He already knows what is troubling your heart, but also wants to see that you are willing  to trust Him in times of hardship. If you're carrying around your troubles and burdens, and feel like you have nobody to talk to, TALK TO GOD. He is the only one who can take your troubles away. 

Buffaloes showcase ground game during scrimmage

EMORY - Lone Oak's varsity squad pounded out 10 yards per carry on the way to gaining 250 yards on the ground during Thursday's scrimmage against Class 3A Rains at Wildcat Stadium. The Buffaloes gained a total of 592 total yards between the varsity and junior varsity units, compared to just 215 for Rains.

Ty Tolleson scored all three Lone Oak touchdowns during the live half, in which the Buffaloes outscored Rains, 20-7, and the Buffaloes put up two more touchdowns during the controlled portion, while the Wildcats struggled on both sides of the ball.  During the live half, Lone Oak ran just 18 plays, but churned out 173 yards on the ground, and 261 total  yards.

The Lone Oak varsity scored during the controlled portion, on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Trever Lasseter to Austyn Hooten. The junior varsity Buffaloes added a touchdown on a 70-yard pass play. Lone Oak's varsity held a 196-103 advantage in yardage over the Wildcats, while the junior varsity outgained Rains by a margin of 134-11.

During the live half, Lone Oak scored touchdowns on its first three possessions. Tolleson hauled in a 17-yard pass from Lasseter to make it 6-0, then sprinted for an 82-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 13-0. Tolleson scored again on a 20-yard plunge to make it 20-0. Rains scored with just over two minutes remaining to avoid the shutout.

Lone Oak will open its 2011 season next Friday at Buffalo Stadium against rival Caddo Mills. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

When Times Get Tough

I've always been a firm believer in the old saying, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger". To me it makes perfect sense, because although these things that do not kill you may not make you physically stronger, there is always a lesson to be learned, adding to you mental or emotional strength level. This concept usually applies some time after the event in question has come and gone, and does nothing for us when we are dealing with struggles in life as they happen.

I have no trouble with the "lesson learned" portion of overcoming hard times, but I have all the difficulty in the world dealing with troubles as they are happening. And I'm not just talking about dealing with things that happen directly to me, but moreso with problems that others who are close to me may be having, people who are close to me and need my comfort. That's where I struggle.

It seems that recently, quite a few people close to me have been dealing with difficult situations, and I just don't know how to comfort them. I'm always afraid of saying the wrong thing, which leads me to most often say nothing at all (the worst possible scenario). But I took some time today to think about all of the friends and  family members I know who are struggling with this or that, and came up with something spiritual that shocked me.

Just hang in there!! God allows for trials and tribulations to exist in our lives, and for good reason. Without these difficult times, we would be less likely to see out God, because most people are less likely to talk to the Lord during good times than they are during the bad times. It's a true test of faith.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; for I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

 The further into the fire of life we travel, and the hotter the flames become, the more shiny and pure the gold will be that awaits us in the end. God will never expose you to more than you can handle. We need to focus on our blessings, we all have them. Count them and add to them each day. Thoughts are powerful weapons, so stay as positive as you can. Focus on helping others, finding others who need a shoulder and being there for them, it will bring you strength and happiness during your own difficult  times.



LOOKING SHARP: Buffaloes dominate scrimmage

- Photo by Buster Clem (www.clemphotography.com)

LONE OAK – A surprising rain shower cooled off temperatures in Hunt County on Saturday morning, but the Lone Oak Buffaloes were still red hot on both sides of the ball during a football scrimmage against Quinlan Boles at Buffalo Stadium. Trever Lasseter passed for three touchdowns and ran for another to lead the offense, while the Red Storm defense held the Hornets scoreless during both the controlled portion of the scrimmage, as well as the live quarter.

Lone Oak’s varsity and junior varsity teams combined to gain 507 total yards on 50 snaps while Boles picked up only 100 yards on 59 plays. Lone Oak’s varsity accounted for 419 yards (247 passing, 172 rushing) while the Hornets’ varsity was held to 81 yards. Lasseter finished the day with 153 yards and 3 touchdowns on 10-of-12 passing.

During the controlled action, Lone Oak’s offense wasted no time, covering 80 yards in just five plays and scoring on a 16-yard pass from Lasseter to Austyn Hooten. The Buffaloes’ scored again on their second series, this time on a 39-yard pass from Kyle Crow to Hooten. Reed Elmore hit 1-of-2 extra points.

During the live quarter, Ty Tolleson started the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown run around the right end. The PAT was no good, leaving the score 6-0. On the Buffaloes’ second series, Lasseter kept the ball around the end, broke a couple of tackles and tip-toed the sideline for a 51-yard scoring run. Elmore connected on the kick to make it 13-0.

As time expired in the period, Lasseter hooked up with Zach Douglas on a 35-yard touchdown pass, and Elmore made the PAT to leave the score at 20-0. Lasseter went 6-for-6 passing for 105 yards, Austin Nichol registered a sack and the defense held Boles to just 12 yards and one first down during the live quarter.

Lone Oak will hit the field again Thursday, when the Buffaloes travel to Emory for a scrimmage against the Rains Wildcats. The time is tentatively set for 5:30 p.m.

APPinions: Lots of Love

I'm a sucker for iPhone apps, particularly those of the social networking kind, or anything that enables me to communicate with a large audience of people at once. I'm a Twitter junkie, but I've cut back on my Facebook use as of late (mainly due to the glitches in Facebook's mobile app), but I'm always on the lookout for the newest app that lets users speak their mind.

I stumbled upon an app the other day called iLoveTh.is, which was listed in the "Featured" tab on the iTunes App Store. Being the curious consumer I am, I downloaded it and gave it a test run. It didn't take long for me to size this one up, and the description is pretty simple: Log into the app using your Facebook account, then using the tabs, you can publish to your friends all the things you love, whether it be an iPod track you're listening to, food from your favorite restaraunt, or just about anything else.

The concept is simple and there are no hidden features. It's a simple app for one basic purpose. If you're looking for an app loaded with features or if you're seeking out something groundbreaking in the world of mobile apps, look elsewhere.

As you can tell from the screenshot, the layout is minimal, and there is pretty much nothing to do with this app other than to tell your friends what you love. Other than its limited functionality, there was one other  glaring issue with  this app. In the time that it took me to get familiar with it, the app crashed several times just upon opening it. For a meaningless app with absolutely no features, this is a dealbreaker.

The app is available for free from the iTunes App Store, but unless you feel like having a serperate app for something you can easily do via other, more popular social networking apps (Twitter, Facebook, Google+), there's really no need in wasting your time.

Too Much, Too Soon: Why the Longhorns' ranking is too high

In keeping with tradition, it's about time I take a long look at the Texas Longhorns as they prepare to enter the 2011 season. To clear the air a little, I'll admit once again that I'm a diehard Horns fan, but I also always stay true to the ways of ethical journalism by not letting my allegience cloud my writing. So, what you read here is not personal bias, but personal opinion.

Last season was a disaster for the Longhorns, who had played for the BCS National Championship the previous year and fell short. The trasition from Forty Acres legend Colt McCoy to All-Hype freshman Garrett Gilbert was supposed to be bumpy, but not as rough as what transpired during the 2010 campaign.

As a sophomore quarterback, Gilbert and the Longhorns stumbled to a 5-7 record, their first losing season since 1997. Gilbert threw 10 touchdown passes and was picked off 17 times. He had just two games in which he passed for more touchdowns than interceptions. For a former top QB recruit in the nation coming out of high school, things just weren't supposed to be this bad.

But what's done is done. Let's talk about the 2011 season. In particular, let's discuss Texas' preseason ranking. The USA Today poll has Texas at #24.

That's too high. Here are 3 reason why:

1. QB Controversy

One of the biggest questions Texas has to answer entering the 2011 season is, "Who will play quarterback?" While Gilbert has the experience, his performance last season coupled with a subpar showing during the Longhorns' spring game has the Burnt Orange Nation begging for a change. But the other options aren't much better. Case McCoy was good during the spring game, but he's inexperienced, and the other QB's on the roster are freshmen. Some reports have leaked tat Mack Brown has secretly informed Gilbert he will be the starter, but just how short will the leash be if Gilbert can't succeed early?

2. New Schemes = Adjustment Period

Finally, Texas parted ways with offensive coordinator Greg Davis, who caused me more headaches last year than anybody. I blame Davis for most of Gilbert's failures as a QB last season, for dumbing down the offense and clamping down Gilbert's arm instead of giving him the chance to make plays downfield. Replacing Davis is Bryan Harsin, who spent the last decade at Boise State directing an offensive attack that was consistently among the best in the nation. However, the Horns will also have to adjust on the defensive side, where Will Muschamp vacated his DC position to take over as head coach in Gainesville. To me, the biggest adjustment will be on the defensive side. It will take some time.

3. The Competition Has Caught Up

One of the most overlooked reasons why I believe Texas' ranking to be too high is because their list of opponents is better than ever. Many of the teams on the schedule are the same, including non-conference foe Rice, but most of them have made big improvements over the past few years. Just taking a glance at the schedule, I see a handful of likely losses for this Longhorn squad, including BYU, UCLA, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Missouri, and Baylor. In case you lost count, that's seven potential losses, just like last season.

Now don't get carried away, thinking I'm jumping off the bandwagon after last year's dismal season and bagging on the Horns now. That's the last thing I'd do. Texas could very well win eight games this season, and I still believe that Gilbert will develop into a top quarterback (I honestly see 2011 as his breakout year). But I am gonna give it to you straight: Righting this ship will take more than one season.

Texas will get back to its dominating ways in the years to come, and they may even finish the 2011 good enough to be in the Top 25, but it's way too early to call this Texas team one of the best in the land. Much too early.

Cherish The Moments

It's always fun for us to hit the road and spend some time with loved ones we rarely get to see for an extended period of time. That's what our little clan did this past weekend, loading up early Saturday for the drive to Longview to see my wife's aunt and uncle. To be honest, we didn't do much. The women took the kids into town for some school shopping (7 hours worth), while the men talked sports and weather, made a snack, then crashed for a LONG nap.

On Sunday, we all sat around the table and played some dominoes (Chicken Foot was the game of choice) for about 4 hours. The point is, these trips don't have to be action-packed in order to be fun. We managed to keep it pretty minimal but still had the kind of weekend getaway we had been needing for some time.

The older I get, the more I cherish these little visits with family. A few years back, they didn't really tug at my heartstrings too much, but now they seem to make an impression on me, emotionally. Not to say that I'm weeping on the drive home or anything like that, but I simply appreciate them for their worth a bit more, and now realize that the opportunities for repeat visits are becoming fewer, which is saddening in its own right.

It's important that we cherish what time we have with our loved ones. You never know how many you're gonna have. Spend time with your family, be there for them as you would want them there for you. Take advantage while you still can.

***With that said, I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to a couple of people, my friend Danny Gladden turns 44 today, and my beautiful niece, Lilly, is celebrating birthday #9 today.

It's Coming To An End

It's still around 110 degrees outside, so summer isn't technically coming to an end any time soon, but for those of us who have kids, especially those who stay at home with them, our summer is abbout to be over. It's been an interesting one here at The Gibson Acre, where I made the decision to take online classes instead of paying for childcare so I could take classes on campus this summer. One thing's for sure -- last summer was a lot less crazy than this time around.

Staying home with the kids, while trying to juggle a handful of other tasks on a daily basis, was something I thought I was ready to handle, but clearly, I was not. In addition to making sure the kids were fed and clothed each day, I had to balance my time so that I could get homework, housework, and miscellaneous tasks completed while trying to avoid my boys from feeling abandoned. It's far from easy.

But despite the craziness, this summer was very rewarding in many ways. I was able to spend a lot of time with my boys, we had an awesome vacation, and we created/shared a ton of memories. The end of our summer is certainly bittersweet. While I've enjoyed the time together, i'm excited to get back to school in the fall with a full load of courses (on campus). I'm also looking forward to covering another season of high school football for my alma mater.

But there are still two weeks left before the boys head back to school, so we are going to make them count. No sense in letting it go to waste.

A few other things on my mind:

1. Some of the members of my church, including our pastor and youth pastor (the latter is one of my closest friends) just left for Colombia on Tuesday to do mission work in the Amazon for almost two weeks. Any prayers you can send their way would be appreciated. They are doing some amazing work down there and we are definitely keeping them close to our hearts.

2. Speaking of my alma mater, Lone Oak HS will have its Red/White scrimmage next Tuesday at Buffalo Stadium. That means it's time I get geared up and ready for another season. It also means I need to help get the "Best Little Pressbox in Texas" cleaned up.

3. Two of my favorite kids will celebrate their 9th birthday in the next week. My oldest son, Nathan, turns nine a week from today, while my niece Lillian has a birthday in just a few days.

4. I'll be heading out of town with the family this weekend to visit some relatives, so my next post will likely come Monday. Have a great weekend!

I'm Gonna Make It Right

So, as I've previously stated, I've been trying to make an effort to repair some of the broken relationships in my life. I find that I've been spending more and more time with my dad recently, something that is definitely rare for us, but it's already working wonders in our relationship. As far as my mother is concerned, I haven't spoken to her in over a year and  haven't seen her in person for almost four years. My mother and I are total opposites, and the fact that we are so different is what really drove a wedge in between us. But something happened to my wife last night that made me reevaluate what had happened between my mother and I, and why I now see that I was wrong for shutting her out of my life.

Without going into too much detail on what happened, I'll simply say that my wife is the most caring, loving and nourturing person I have EVER known, and that's not just something I say because she's  my wife. She is always willing to help people, in particular, her younger siblings (she's the oldest) who have made quite the mess of their own lives. Even when they take her for granted, use her, and walk all over her, she is willing to help them in any way they need, sometimes when we can't even afford to. That's just who she is.

When I stopped and reminded last night of just how big her heart is, I started to think about how things went down between my mother and I. Once I did, I felt like crap. A real low-life. Then I thought about what the Bible says about honoring your mother and father, and I felt like crawling inside of my own skin and hiding. Here I am, trying my best to glorify God with my actions and the way I live my life, but all along I've been disobeying one of the most basic principles. It's one of the Ten Commandments, for crying out loud!! I'm supposed to be honoring my mother, no matter what, and instead, I've been ignoring her, shutting her out of my life completely for nothing other than convenience (another truth I came to terms with last night). It wasn't the way to make my life better, it was, however, a great way to wither my heart against this woman, who brought me into the world.

The thought of it made me ill. I vowed right then and there to do what I could to repair my relationship with my mother, and to make an honest attempt to embrace her, instead of ignoring her. Hopefully, my mother and I can soon begin to build a bond again. It's the right thing to do. It's what I WANT to do.

Still Going

Week 1, Day 3 of Couch to 5K completed this morning. Things will get a little harder when Week 2 begins next Monday.

Location:Farm-to-Market 2947,Greenville,United States

Mr. Motivated

Exercise. That's something I've never really put any serious commitment into over the last year or so. But as time goes on and I notice my waistline getting larger and larger, I knew something needed to be done. I started noticing friends of mine posting on Twitter about a new program they were involved with called Couch to 5K (Here's the link). So, I snooped around, asked some questions, and realized it was probably something I could handle, so now I've officially joined the program.

I'll be finishing the first week in the 9-week program tomorrow. It's been a good test, that's for sure, because I haven't run any sort of long distance in quite some time, probably since my military days (almost a decade ago). But, it definitely puts my body to the test, and demands a lot from my bad wheel (knee), but not so much that I can't handle it. The only drawback for me is waking up early enough to run before the sun gets so hot that my shoes melt to the pavement. Other than the early wakeup to avoid heatstroke, the running itself has been more than tolerable, and it feels rewarding when it's over.

It's strange how quickly something like that can motivate you if you let it. Throughout the entire week I've been looking for more ways to keep moving, to stay active, that I usually don't do. Whether it be swimming, or basketball, or even a night of dancing with my wife (like I did the night before for the 1st time ever), it's good to find a program that can motivate you to do other  things. That's something I'm already getting out of this program, the willingness to push it even further once the workout is completed.

I'm not only looking forward to completing the program, but have agreed to run in the first local 5K race available once I do finish. That's the kind of goal that can keep me hungry and focused. Who knows? Maybe it will lead to  bigger and better things. But the best thing about the motivation is that it's contagious. Being determined to excel in one area, like fitness for example, can spread to other facets of life like school, work, parenting, and even spiritual matters. Motivation is a huge key to a healthy lifestyle, and as long as I stay focused, that's what I'm setting my bar for.

Stepping Up

A few weeks ago our former youth worship leader left for another opportunity. Last night, one of our own Epic youth members, Dustin Dumdei, stepped up to lead the group. He did not disappoint.

The NFL Is Back, But Not Better

So, the NFL is finally back. No more bickering between players and owners, no more wondering if there will be a season, no more drama. We now know that the NFL is indeed back in action, at least for the next decade anyway.

What we don't know, and won't know for a while, is how the lockout will affect the teams, and ultimately, how it will affect the leave this season.

There were no rookie OTA's, no minicamps and no communication between coaches and players, which pretty much means: (1) Rookies are even more behind the curve than before, (2) Team chemistry has taken a serious hit because of the lack of team functions, and (3) Coaches will have a short window of time to evaluate new players, and/or establish relationships with others.

Football may be back, but it has these BIG issues and more to deal with. So, while NFL fans everywhere celebrated the lifting of the lockout, those of us who look deeper into the spectrum are left wondering about the side effects.

Mark my words: The NFL will look different this year.

• How does all this affect the Cowboys? Well, for starters, Dallas has quite a bit of fat to trim to get under the new salary cap, which means somebody that is needed will likely be released. Dallas will have to make the most adjustments to the new cap, but fortunately, the team has a load of talent to help get past it all. Dallas will be solid, I believe they're a playoff team. That's my WAY early prediction.

• As impressive as the Rangers' 20-6 win might have been last night, I was stuck on a couple of stats that stood out like a sore thumb. One was the number of combined errors by the two teams - 7. Wow. The other was 0-for-6. That was the plate performance of Longview native Chris Davis, who was lighting up the Triple-A circuit down in Round Rock, but couldn't ride the teams' momentum last night to get one measly hit. Sad.

• On to something a little more mind-boggling. David Beckham publicly defended the recent backheel shot attempt by Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, a play that was widely criticized worldwide and led to the Italian being benched. Defending a guy who tried to show up a vastly overmatched squad is not something that should be supported. But then again, neither is Beckham.

• Speaking of soccer, I got together with my buddy Adam last night for some FIFA. We always have great, competitive matches, usually grueling defensive struggles. Last night was no different as we split two matches with a total aggregate score of 2-2. Looking forward to the next time.

Have a great day, and enjoy the NFL frenzy!!

From the ground up

My dad picked me up late yesterday evening for some night fishing, something he and I have never done together. To be honest, my dad and I never do anything together. Our relationship up to this point has been, to summarize, non-existent. Sure, we've seen each other at family holidays and other gatherings, but  as far as what I want our relationship to be, it has never even scratched the surface.

My dad is a hard man, but he's kinda softened a little over the past couple years. The very fact that he invited me to go out fishing with him is a true indication of that. For me, this evening wsn't about reeling in a truckload of catfish, it was all about taking the first step in erecting a relationship that for 30 years, had never gotten off the ground.

I think it went well. We talked, laughed, knocked down a couple of cold beers, and even got excited about a snake in the water just off the dock we casted from. Like I said, it wasn't about the catch, because if it had been, it would've been a very unsuccessful night. Together, the two of us pulled in just a pair of catfish during five hours of fishing. (Note: My channel cat was almost 3 pounds, twice the size of his.)

But even though the livewell was virtually empty, I left with a full heart, for I knew that my dad and I had taken a huge step in building our relationship - from the ground up. We're already planning another trip just  like that one for the very near future. Before you know it, I might actually know my father, and he might finally get to know me. It may have taken 30 years, but I'm okay with that.

Small price to pay

The photo above was taken at a little place I like to call Retail Hell.

It's actually how I refer to all of the miserable places my wife loves to dump money in. The misery, of course, is all mine.

But it's just one of those cases where I have to give a little to get a little. The reward for tagging along was pretty sweet today.

Ill give the wife credit, today's shopping venture lasted less than a half hour. And my reward for suffering? MEXICAN FOOD!!

It was a small price to pay, for a large plate of happiness. Score.

Give the game a chance

Five years ago, I couldn't care less about soccer. Funny how things change.

Like many Americans, soccer wasn't something I was introduced to while I was growing up. Of course, in Texas, it was ALL about football. Other sports like basketball and baseball were just something to fill the gap between the end of one football season, and the beginning of the next.

When I started working as sports editor in Terrell, I was not only thrusted into the game, but I immediately gained a deep respect for it, but the more I watched the more I really loved soccer.

I covered the soccer teams at Terrell for four seasons, which forced me to learn the basic terminology. Then i threw my youngest boy into the game just months before his fourth birthday. Coaching the game meant I needed to learn the strategy of the sport.

After all of that, plus experiencing the highs and lows of both the US men and women during their respective World Cup tournaments, made me a huge fan.

Five years ago, I had no idea about the game. Now, I follow it more closely than most. I'm even joining a Fantasy Football league (soccer) for the first time this summer.

I realize that soccer will never be as popular as American football, but ask yourself this question, "Are you giving it a fair chance?"



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Pitching staff sets team record

The Rangers' 13 shutouts through their first 97 games are the most in team history. The 1977 and 1981 clubs had 12.

That's gettin' the job done.

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Hushing the Halos

I had to take an early exit from the game last night in order to get plenty of sleep for class this morning. I just knew that I was gonna be missing something special when I turned off the television.

While it might not have been a historic night for Alexi Ogando or the Texas Rangers (56-41), it certainly was the type of game I love to wtch my team play.

Ogando pitched 8 innings of shutout ball, allowing just 4 hits, and the Rangers went deep three times in a 7-0 road win over the Angels (51-46).

The win made it a league-best 12-straight for the Rangers, and also increased their AL West lead to five games over L.A. This winning streak is the second longest in club history, second only to the 14-game win streak from 1991. Ogando also continued an impressive run for the Rangers' starting rotation, during which they've allowed just two earned runs over the past six games - including four shutouts.

The series continues tonight from Anaheim, as Derek Holland (aka The Dutch Oven) will face the Angels' Dan Haren in a 9:05 p.m. contest.

Elsewhere,

Both sides of the NFL lockout mess appear confident a deal will be reached by weeks' end. As if I cared anymore. Just get on the damn field and play some ball!!

Yao Ming officially announced his retirement today, putting an end to all the speculation about just how many games he would miss due to injury during the 2011-12 season.

And how about this, the Pittsburgh Pirates remain in sole possession of first place in the NL Cenntral after a 1-0 shutout of the Reds. The Pirates are due for a second-half meltdown, but for now they remain a feel-good story.

That's it for me, I'm off to class.

Dandy Dozen?

The Rangers (55-41) not only have a chance to win their 12th consecutive game, but put a little distance between themselves and their division rivals, the Angels. 

It won't be easy, however, as Texas will have to try and do it in a place where it's been historically subpar, at the Angels' home field.  

Texas currently has a 4-game lead over the Halos (51-45), and could really widen the gap by winning this rival series. But they'll have to put their past Anaheim road failures behind them in order to do it. 

It's time Rangers. Throw strikes and bring the boomsticks. 

I'm Back!

Well, I played around with several different blogs, tryingf to see if there was another option out there for me. But the answer in the end was so clear, so I'm back with my latest version of THE FULL COUNT.

What you see here will be the same as before: lots of sports opinion, a healthy dose of sarcasm, and a little about myself as well.

So, let's do this . . . again.