Quick analysis of Dallas / Minnesota first half

Dallas delayed draw up the middle has been stuffed at least three times. Phillips stopped the Cowboys himself on a 4th and short, opting for a long FG when they were moving the ball effectively. Turnovers: Dallas -2, Minnesota - 0. Offense hurt by missing Flozell Adams.

Total Yds are close (or was until the last play of the half), Dallas holds a close to six minute advantage in time of possession.

Minnesota has passed effectively, and run just enough. Typical Favre game. I didn't think it would work against the cowboys, but it looks like it has.

Preview for second half: Phillips has to redo blocking somewhere and they have to throw like they did at the beginning of the game and run to the outside.

The Vikings need to keep doing what they are doing. Run just enough to keep the Cowboys off balance and then throw long...

Updated prediction: Minnesota 37 Dallas 17

Mississippi St. Miss State hires Chris Wilson and Manny Diaz to coach defense - ESPN

Mississippi St. Miss State hires Chris Wilson and Manny Diaz to coach defense - ESPN

Watch out SEC West!!! If Mullen gets someone at MSU that knows defense, he will have the offense up and running quickly fast enough for them to compete with the big boys in 2011. I do expect a big upset in 2010 - maybe LSU, maybe the Crimson Tide. Mullen is going to be winning there and it won;t be long...

Short Take on Tomorrow's Games

Vikes and Boys: Romo vs Favre is classic, but I think the vital matchup is Harvin vs Cowboy "D" speed. If they can keep Harvin in check, Dallas cruises. If he gets loose a few times - the game is much closer. I think Percy will show up, but Dallas makes a stop at the end. Dallas wins 27-21

Bolts and Jets: Man do the Jets look like they are on a roll. It is hitting on all cylinders for Rexie's team and they are going to give the Chargers all they can handle. In fact, if Sanchez can keep the ball out of the hands of San Diego's defense, I think they can pull off the upset. My thought is Sanchez throws a duck late and the Norv's pull away late, 23-13.

It should be two pretty good games and setup some great Conference Championship games next weekend...

Thoughts on Dooley

Just some quick thoughts - LA Tech had a bad record this year but their last five losses were by 23 points and that included losses to both LSU and Boise State.

Dooley has recruited in Louisiana and Texas and has his last name to help with some Georgia recruiting.

He has coached under Nick Saban so he has a work ethic.

I think Dooley may be a little bit of a suprise if Vol fans can give him a year or two. This may be one of those times that bad luck works out.

If he can recuit the areas he knows with the name Tennessee behind, he may be able to garner a few high ranking recruits.

As the son of a coach - I am pretty sure he has a coaching clue.

No one in the SEC East is shaking in their boots, but they better beware of a sleeping giant...

The Cy-Fair Devil Rays Need Your Help!!!

The CyFair Devil Rays are looking for your help. Next season we would like to get our own name and our own uniforms. The problem is the coaches won't let our parents buy them... we must earn the money ourselves. We found this great way to raise money where we don't have to do door to door selling and we get 40% of all of the sales. All we ask you to do is renew a subscription or two of magazines you already get, maybe even get a few more because the prices are so great. Regardless of whether you contibute or not, feel free to send us suggestions for our name next year.

(UPDATE) - We finished in third place during the spring and in second in the summer. We are looking to head to the top of the league this fall. We have started off 2-0 by winning 15-3 and 13-5.

You can contribute at: http://www.magfundraising.com/CyFairDevilRays

See how we are doing this fall at our website: www.cyfairdevilrays.com

Thank you.

The Cy-Fair Devil Rays 11 and under / Single A baseball team

Why Wimbledon?

Wimbledon has become the major of choice for today's tennis pros and for the fans alike. Slate's Mike Steinberger writes a nice article about exactly why. I don't agree with all his conclusions, though. My feeling is we like all the other major championships, but we revere Wimbledon. Much like the Masters, Wimbledon really doesn't give us the best idea of who is the best player nor does it produce the best matches. Wimbledon is about the way it was (and the way many of us wish it could still be). It's about the beauty and the pageantry involved with the tournament not just the sport. That's probably why the pros who play the sport eight hours a day and the people that watch them enjoy this tournament so much.

Dale Here, Dale There, Dale Everywhere...

Marty Smith of Nascar.com, brings up a good point not just for Nascar but for every sport. When should the media decrease coverage of a revered athlete? Do they wait until he retires or do they gradually slow the pace down as he is less and less a factor in the sport. When Michael Jordan came back (the second time), he wasn't really a nightly force in the league any more, but the story of the NBA was still the story of MJ. Sixteen years after Mike Tyson's last decent fight, he still was the biggest story in boxing. Nascar is facing the same problem with Earnhardt jr. this year. He isn't anywhere near the Chase for the Cup, but accounts for much of the media time for Nascar. I think it boils down to the age old problem of... money. In the end, the media needs to sell their product and popular athletes sell products. As always for a capitalist society, the market will decide when we hear the last of the overexposed athlete.

Armstrong on top... for now

Lance Armstrong is wearing the yellow jersey for the first time during this year's Tour de France. It's a little early for this as he usually doesn't take the lead until the later in the race, during the mountain stages. Most agree that he won't keep it the entire time so that he may rest for the latter stages of the Tour. As it is, he's making a heck of a statement.

Here he comes...

After thrashing the Orioles today, I think it's safe to say the Yankees are on their way back and the unlikeliest of all the Yankees is right in the middle of it. Jason Giambi is on his way, people. He hit .310 with an OPS of over .900 for the month of June. He only had one home run, but the power will come as his batting eye gets back into shape. Watch his gamelog for updates on his steady improvement this year.

Pure Heart

It has been almost sixteen years since the world lost Secretariat. William Nack wrote a wonderful piece that has not been read nearly enough. It is worth anyone's time who has been enamored with horse racing and the majestic creatures involved. You can find the article here: Pure Heart

The Southern California Trojans continue their stranglehold in the latest Internet Writers and Radio Broadcasters College Foot

The Southern California Trojans continue their stranglehold in the latest Internet Writers and Radio Broadcasters College Foot

When Ego Overrides Talent

In the past five or six years I've noticed a few great talents who have suddenly fired their coaches. Two sports legends come to mind, Tiger Woods and Mike Tyson. Now, these are incredibly talented men who, no doubt, have a great deal of knowledge of their sport. However, everyone has heard the saying that a lawyer who respresents himself has a fool for a client.

Tyson was a great boxer,possibly one of the best ever for about 3 years. Then, convinced that he knew everything he needed to continue at that level and with money as an issue, he fired Teddy Atlas, the man who had trained him since he was teenager. Atlas was the man who brought Tyson discipline and gave him the quickness to use his power most effectively. Once Atlas was gone, Iron Mike forgot how to box and just relied on his knockout punch. Since 1990 he has won two championship fights and lost four. Not exactly legendary.

Tiger, at one time, won 8 of 11 majors over a three year period. He is now 0 for three years and he looks like an average golfer at times since he parted ways with his long time coach Butch Harmon. Recently, Harmon voiced his candid opinion about Woods play at the US Open. Tiger, initially hurt, lashed out at Harmon. I think he knew Butch was right, however, and recently called him. kLet's hope that leads to a new partnership and another remarkable string of majors. Golf needs Tiger.

Coaches are an integral part of any sport. It is impossible for an athlete to see the little nuances that make his performance as great as it is. He needs a coach. A great athlete and a great coach can lead to wonderful things. It's important for both to realize that neither can reach that peak without the other.

CBS.SportsLine.com - Tennis Sharapova storms back to surprise Davenport in semifinals

Forty-Six winners is how you make it into the finals and women's tennis newest star did just that. The youngest finalist since Martina Hingis in 1997 showed she was no Kournikova with a great comeback after being down a set and 3-1 in the second. Maria Sharapova may not win Wimbledon this year, but she has made the biggest splash and will easily be the most remembered.