Shank You Very Much!

Here's hoping the Veteran's Day weekend treated all of you well. Incredibly Dallas continues to bask in summer like weather. Since Texas is the state where I live, let's begin with a little Longhorn magic in the NFL...

Yesterday featured a day of firsts. For as long as I live I will forever be amazed at how Nathan Vashear ran a shanked field goal back 108 yards. Vashear was once a Longhorn. That was truly amazing. As Vashear turned right at the 15, he eluded 8 49ers.

Last week we saw Dick Vermeil make a gutty call at game's end. Yesterday Jon Gruden does the same after ex-Longhorn Chris Simms connects for a 30 yard TD pass. Mike Alstott bulling his way in for 2 and a 36-35 win on the Redskins. That rocked! Simeon Rice was all world...I am curious if the Redskins Bucs matchup marked the first time that two lefties duked it out? Darn, more homework!

You think the Longhorn presence is minimal? I now give thee ex Longhorn Roy Williams, out since October 2nd due to injury back in the Detroit lineup and buffeting Joey Harrington as the Lions roared to a 29-21 victory on the Cardinals. This sets up an intriguing matchup this Sunday at Texas Stadium, provided the Cowboys can get past Philadelphia where the new slogan is,'E-G-O-S. EGOS!' I believe Dallas will win handily and the Cowboys will be tested by playing 3 games in 10 days. Julius Jones is back and no doubt will be a great buffer to Marion Barber...

Used to be my Vikes never won in the Meadowlands. They say defense wins championships. Minnesota proved the importance of this by becoming the first team in history to score via a kickoff, a punt, and an intereception IN THE SAME GAME! The NFL has played games since 1920, the same year baseball outlawed the spitball. The Brad Johnson experiment appears to be working.

Mike Shanahan is now 16-5 against Oakland since becoming coach of the Broncos. Denver is my pick to go to the Super Bowl if Indy should falter. Colts now 9-0 after handily defeating the 1-8 Texans. Can Indy go a perfect 16-0? Unlikely, but I think 14-2 is more plausible. Their defense is highly improved, no question. They look good collectively. The Manning-Harrison connection now surpasses 10,000 yards.

Completing the perfection that was the NFC North, how did Green Bay do the impossible and upend Atlanta in Atlanta? Might there have been a tinge of revenge for those who were at Lambeau Field that January night in 2003 when the Pack lost? The man for Green Bay was none other than Dr Sam Gado who was also celebrating a birthday. That's what I call a doctor in tha house! I know of one lady who is happy with the upset.

DO NOT BE SURPRISED if Terrell Owens becomes a future Cowboy! Who better to rein him in than Big Tuna and Keyshawn who knows a thing or two about deactivational stuff? Meantime the bionic mouth can twist in the wind...

Dallas Stars improve their road record to 6-2 after sharp wins in San Jose and Anaheim. This marks the teams best start on the road since 1971-1972. Go back two years and note that Dallas didn't notch their sixth road win until X-mas day. I really like the way the special teams are performing. Stars are now 11-6-1 and neck and neck with the Kings, winners of a game that featured multiple hat tricks.

Not to be outdone, the Dallas Mavericks had a nice victory going away at Oklahoma City. The Mavs play their next four at home starting on the 15th against Carmelo and the Nuggets. This means that next weekend the Pistons and Lions are in town. Currently Detroit and Dallas are hosting three winning programs in Football, basketball, and hockey. There is a God!

Not that I concur with this but A-Rod will be your MVP for 2005. A wonderful regular season accomplishment and this shall mark the first time a ballplayer wins the MVP at two different positions.

Back in 1988 while a doorman in Orange County, Ca. I had a momentary brush with celebrity. I had seen him for years on Spanish TV's 'Lucha Libre' reeking havoc on fellow wrestlers. He was gutsy, friendly, he was a fighter, he was all about El Paso, and he was funny. His name was Chavo Guerrero. We only spoke for a few moments. Chavo loved his family. I state this as I read where brother Eddy was found dead in his room prior to a pay per view last night. An autopsy is pending...My condolences to the Guerrero clan.

Make it a great day.

SEE YOU IN LAS COLINAS!

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will