43 and a Half!

Not that it means anything, but today I am 43 and a half years young:) Yes, in my world half birthdays count! Gives you something to look forward to...

It took a team from out of state, but a win streak has come to an end in Southlake Texas. The Dragons 49 game win streak came to a close at Ford Field on the SMU campus courtesy of the Miami of Northwestern gang 29-21 last night. After a coach with a successful track record moves on, you wonder how the team will respond. The well respected has little to worry about, they will return to their winning ways the rest of '07. I only wonder if George W and Jeb had any side bets on this Texas vs Florida hype match. It would only have been better if it were an election year and one of the QB's was named 'Chad'...

I laughed hysterically when Terrell Owens did his little take on 'Spygate'. With as many cameras as there are for an NFL telecast, you know that people do some strange things. I am not a Cowboy fan but now go on record to say that something about this team catches my interest! Romo is a gamer, Marion the Barbarian is making Julius Jones a thing of the past, a 2-0 start for the first time since 1999, five defensive turnovers, and some nice special teams play! The last time Dallas put up 82 points in the first two weeks to start a season was 1971! They won the Super Bowl in Miami that year over Miami 24-3. Have fun with that! I believe they can win in Chicago next Sunday night. Devin Hester or not.

Chad Johnson on other hand has a strong set of steel within the jockstrap. To actually jump into the Dawgpound?!?! He was lucky to only have a beer spilled on him. That would be like A-Rod doing a Lambeau Leap at Fenway Park, or for Rush Limbaugh to invade the Democratic Convention! Unthinkable and unfathomable! Then again, who knew that the Browns would put up 51 points five days after trading away your opening day starter? Here's a better stat: Has there ever been a QB aside from Carson Palmer who tosses 6 TD passes and loses? This has to be an old AFL Houston Oilers-L.A. Chargers answer...

I told you Detroit was going to be a fun team to watch in 2007. Jon Kitna's concussion notwithstanding, this team will find a way to make 10-6 and really surprise the upstarts. I like that rook Calvin Johnson. Overall there were seven games today where the outcome was seven points or less.

Mike Shanahan: GENIUS! Right as kicker Janikowski sets for a 52 yard field goal, the coach calls time. Icing at the last second. Then upon rekick, he hits the upright! How often do we see that factor of Big MO switch on a dime? Denver from there just marched down the field and Jason Elam ended all doubt in OT 23-20.

Boston Mass got all the national telly love this night as Gillette Stadium and Fenway Park were PACKED to watch the Pats and Sox do their thing. Tom Brady and company erased all doubt about what they could do naturally, blowing away the Chargers 38-14. Randy Moss is back! Randy looking more and more like the Randy of old. Running crisp precise running routes and appearing younger than he really is. When you consider that San Diego lost their coach, offensive and defensive coordinators, I say there is no way in hell this team gets to ten victories. Maybe nine. Last year was their chance to go all the way, and Marty Schottenheimer got in the way.

A rematch of Game 7 in the 2001 World Series was all that you wanted for seven plus innings. Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling matched zeroes for a spell until Derek Jeter ended all doubt with an 8th inning blast and a 4-3 win. A cool crisp 55 degree night at first pitch made for a playoff atmosphere. Their last meeting until the playoffs...maybe. Yanks take 2 of 3 in dramatic fashion...Still the greatest rivalry in all of sport. Bring on October!

Congrats to Jim Thome on hitting homer #500! The 23rd player to do so, the first player to hit one for a walk-off win, the first time three athletes crack the 500 mark in a season (add A-Rod and Frank Thomas), and with health in check a run at 600 is very possible!

Yes Vicente Padilla is a headhunter, yes he was throwing at Nick Swisher, and yes that was an ugly brawl in Oakland yesterday with the Rangers. Three years removed from the Franky Francisco chair tossing incident and Craig Bueno unable to protect his wife, Texas cannot seem to ever escape Oakland without some crazy hooliganism. Must be that two tattoo minimum required of fans before entering the ballpark. Next year the A's take the act further north. That'll make Al Davis happy! Not! Yes Michael Young will reach 200 hits for the fifth consecutive season. He is an amazing grinder at the plate. Nice seven ribby performance, nice grand salami!

Speaking of 23 that's how many Tiger shot under to blow away the competition at the Fed Ex Cup in Hotlanta this weekend. I thought I saw Tiger at his best back in April of 2000 in Monterey. Now I believe I beg to differ. Is there anyone who has dominated his sport more at any time? Yes I include Michael Jordan! Unbelievable!

To those of you in Dallas, if you are a hockey fan be sure to tune into Foxsports AM 990 and catch Stephanie Hastings and special guest Jeff K at 7 central to talk about everything hockey in the Lone Star state. I will be listening. I hope you will too!

Make it a great week!

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will