Dallas Mavs ~ Texas Rangers ~ Thoughts on the Super Bowl ~ Dallas is Freezing

Dallas Mavericks 13-14 (wins-losses)

I feel like we've been on a rollercoaster with the Mavs, but I like the direction we're going now.

As for how NBA and NFL players feel about our cold weather... that's a funnier story.

The Mavs longest stretch of losses was six games in mid-January. It was not fun and the team looked confused as to why they couldn't pull out a win. 

A few guys have been out, off and on, due to illness or injury, but now they're all back and are rolling. Especially Kristaps Porzingis. 

They keep joking that he's playing how he did back in September 2020 when they were in the NBA bubble, before his knee injury. Now that he has healed and is playing more minutes per game, he has been on fire! To see a 7'3" guy drain 3 pointers like he does is amazing. I mean, if he raises his arms, they're already above the rim, so he just has to put the right arc on it and swish. So cool! 

His stats vs. the Pelicans in Friday night's victory: 32 minutes played, 36 points, 7 rebounds, 8 3-point shots made. 

Add his game to what Hardaway Jr., Luka, Brunson, Finney-Smith and all of these guys are already doing, it's lights out. No more losses by 31 points to the Warriors. We won the double header and have won the three games since. 

Luka's stats vs. the Pelicans in Friday night's victory: 40 minutes, 46 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists, 5 3-point shots made - CAREER HIGH points for Luka! Totally outplayed Zion Williamson. 

*Assuming you'll be snowed in on Valentine's Day, you can watch the Mavs play Portland, if they can get to the AAC*

From ESPN

#MFFL

#LukaDoncic

#Luka

#NBA

Texas Rangers

Elvis has left the building. And we didn't even get to see him play his last game in person. I guess that is the hard part about trades.

It's kind of sad since we had a countdown to Adrian Beltre's last games and those of any player who we knew was going to retire. I flew to NYC when Derek Jeter retired and got to see his last home run in Yankee Stadium. Only bummer is that it was the new Yankee Stadium and not the original one. Other than that, it was pretty perfect. 

A trade was made with the Oakland A's for Khris Davis (DH = designated hitter) and Elvis Andrus (shortstop). Our team from the World Series days is officially gone. Retired, traded, injured, just gone. Davis is a power hitter, so I'm not complaining. It will just take some getting used to. 

Here is the tribute the Texas Rangers posted for Elvis. Some of the best photos and it truly shows his love for the game. 

I feel like once Beltre was gone, Elvis' "big brother," it hasn't been the same anyway. I am happy for him and since we play the A's multiple times each season, we can cheer him on from the other side of the dugout. Assuming we can attend games this Spring. 

We also signed Delino DeShields (outfielder) to our minor league team. He was traded away a year ago and will workout with the Rangers during Spring Training. Hopefully we'll see him again. 

Here is the current roster for the Texas Rangers. Spring Training is just around the corner. Yay!

************ 

Drew Robinson: You may remember this name. He was the young kid who played with the Rangers during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He was traded to the San Francisco Giants in 2019 as he continued to battle the ups and downs of life and life in baseball. It's a very long story and there is a documentary on ESPN E-60. It is worth reading, even as a reminder that life is worth living and that communication, hugs, and telling someone you love them can change their entire world. His goal is to play baseball again, and what a joyful day that will be. His first major league hit was in Texas and it was a home run. June 26, 2017 vs. the New York Yankees. I actually remember watching that game and thinking how cool that would be... to get called up to the majors and to have your first hit be a home run. Little did I know, or anyone, what he was really going through. 

I am praying for him and his whole family. Life is definitely worth living!!

#LetsGoRangers
#TexasRangers

#ThankYouElvis

#BecauseHeLives

Super Bowl

Old School Tampa Bay...

It was cool to see the Bucs in the Super Bowl. I watched them growing up when they had Warren Sapp, Warrick Dunn, Mike Alstott, and John Lynch, who just got inducted into the Hall of Fame. The good ole days. Their QB was Brad Johnson, a back up to Warren Moon and the guy who threw a touchdown pass to himself. He's also Mark Richt's brother-in-law, random, and he ended his career with the Cowboys. Tony Dungy was their head coach, until they fired Dungy, brought Jon Gruden in and he won the Super Bowl in 2003. The same with Landry and Jimmy Johnson and the Cowboys. Sad to see, but it happens. Dungy ultimately won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning. He's good. 

My thoughts on the game... 

Kansas City had a lot on their minds coming into the game, not to mention a busted up Offensive Line and a few Rookies. 

It's sad what happened with Andy Reid's son and we're all praying for the family who was involved in the accident. The little 5-year old girl appears to still be in a coma. I am praying that she fully recovers.

Needless to say, life is more important than football. But the game still went on. 

The Tampa Bay Bucs showed up to play and to win. They were ALL about football, especially Brady. One focus. One goal. That is what he has altered his entire life around, his sport. You can respect it, judge it, be jealous of it or just acknowledge it. The dude is a winner. I may not agree with all of his methods, but he has won more super bowl rings than most franchises, including the Dallas Cowboys. 

It has been 25 years since the Cowboys have even been to the Super Bowl and Won. Anthony Hitchens, former Cowboys player shares how his time with the Cowboys has helped him in Kansas City. Basically, players have to leave Dallas to win a Super Bowl. 

Play by play...

I feel like the refs made poor judgement calls on the KC defense in the first half. 100 yards of penalties to 15 yards for the Bucs. That alone left their defense dejected and a lot less aggressive in the second half. And that's when Brady ramped up the trash talk, which only made KC's defense more frustrated. Like I said, one goal for Brady, WIN. 

Brady is one of the greatest to play the game. He commands the focus and respect of his teammates and he appears to care about them personally. He managed to throw two TD passes to Gronk and one to Antonio Brown, who ran the wrong route. I mean, a wild year! Brown was just happy to have a team pick him up after the way he left Pittsburg and now the dude is in the Super Bowl and catching TD's! Good times y'all. This Bucs team made it look easy. 

But you have to feel badly for Patrick Mahomes running for his life during the whole game. We know the O-Line was not his original crew and it showed. He had about two seconds to throw the ball vs. Brady, who had all day. Mahomes didn't even get a chance to run the ball and his main targets were dropping the balls and letting them hit them in the helmets. Not their best outing. 

Don't worry, he's still a Super Bowl MVP from the 2019-2020 season, and he's only 25 years old. There will be much more of him. And yes, Brady, at 43 years old, wants you to know you'll see much more of him too.

This list from CBS Sports ranks the all-time GOATS. They have Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan ahead of Brady... do you agree? 

#superbowl
#NFL

#tombrady

#patrickmahomes

#GOAT

#babyGOAT

Random Thoughts

It's so cold... 

Why, why is it going to be a high in the teens and a low close to zero in Dallas? It's not climate change, because we've had these temperatures before. It was just in the 80's and early 90's and I have blocked it from my childhood memories. 

It is colder here than in NYC, which thankfully I still have some of my winter stuff from when I lived there. 

I busted out my ski jacket for this weekend. We're not playing. 

And as for the "ice" comments from people who don't live in Dallas. I'd just like you to know that there isn't such a thing as "driving on ice." 

You skate on ice, slide on ice, fall on ice, you don't "drive on ice" - especially not in a city with a million overpasses on our highways. So, before you judge us for shutting down our city due to "ice," just know it's because there isn't another option.

We'll gladly take fluffy snow, and I hope that is what we get! But I booked my ticket to Colorado soon, just in case Texas doesn't come through for me. 

Here is the Dallas, TX forecast from weather.com. I'm cold just looking at it. And I'm praying for those who do not have warm houses or are homeless. I pray that the shelters have space for them and they have warm food to eat. No one should be outside in this. 

#hugsomeone
#staywarm
#texasweather
#snowsnowsnow

#frozen

~smile~