A quick summary of current pro sports in Dallas and Houston: Big 3: MLB: Dallas - Most overpaid, underachieving team in baseball. Willing to pay A-Rod $252 mil but now won't pay the Rodriguez who carried them the last 5-10 yrs. Through masterminded managerial moves, have added valuable pieces like Carl Everett, John Rocker, Chan Ho Park, and our favorite Houston reject Jay Powell. Currently rumored to be bringing up pitchers from Fort Worth Little League team to help. Future: Will always be the Yankees' bi*$#. Houston - Have won divisional titiles in 4 out last 5 years with average payroll. Have 2 of the best young pitchers in the game in Oswalt and Miller with more studs in the pipeline. Currently contending for a playoff berth and will continue to improve in the future because they build their team around pitching. Future: Cy Young for Oswalt, MVP for Berkman, and World Series on the horizon. NBA: Dallas - An all-international compilation of soft, jump-shooters that get to practice on their personal Playstations but haven't figured out the buttons for defense yet. Dirk's a stud. Steve Nash is a nice PG, but the other guys are all streaky, overpaid shooters and not complementary pieces. Future: As good as there gonna get on offense, so they better commit to D if they ever want to get close to that 1st NBA championship. Houston - Have struggled last few years with re-building but now have the foundation to a dynamic team including Francis, a Top 3 PG, Eddie Griffin, a still-developing future beast at the 4, and Yao Ming, the most skilled center to be drafted since the last great Houston center (TD is a 4, and Shaq, IMO, is big but has little skills). Future: Playoffs are looking good as is the future once they learn how to play together. NFL: Dallas - Coming off back-to-back 5-11 seasons in the weakest division in football (I thought they were suppsoed to be 10-6?). Have entrusted their franchise to Quincy Carter, who keeps getting his passes shot down in practice by avid duck hunters and is complaining about his teeth feeling weird without braces. Would ask ex-players to give pep talks to the team, but they don't want to waste salary cap money on bail. They'd rather give all their money and 1st round picks away to have Joey Galloway. Future: Can't get worse, can it? Mr. I Haven't Played Football in 2 Years might be getting the call soon. Date with Paul Taglibue at the beginning of 1st round next year. Houston - Undefeated in franchise history. Looking for the defense and special teams to carry the team through the growing pains of first few years until David Carr is ready to dominate and lead the team to the promised land. Future: Unfortunately, the schedule gets harder from here, so they too will hear Mr. Taglibue's name early in the draft next year, and they will have to decide who to take after Dallas's selection. Other Sports: WBNA: Dallas - No team. Houston - 4-time champions led by Cheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson are always strong contenders. Even though I'm not a big fan, they have galvanized a generation of female basketball players in Houston. Hockey: Dallas - Tom Hicks no longer wants the team he stole from Minnesota. He might be realizing that firing the coach that led him to a title was a bad idea now. All those diehard "hockey fans" in Big D will be jumping ship soon as the team struggles for the next 10-15 years, which is the inevitable fate for all Dallas teams. Houston - No NHL team, but who really cares? The Aeros are more entertaining, and you don't have to pay an arm and a leg to watch them. They have a title too. There's the FACTS . Which place would you rather be a sports fan?
I don't know why you have to be a fan of just one place. I'm a Rockets and Astros fan, but that doesn't automatically make the Texans my favorite NFL team. (although I'm almost wishing that were true.) I have no love for the Mavs or Rangers, but I do like the Cowboys. I don't really care much for rhe WNBA, but I go for the Comets and Stars. (kind of hard to choose if you ask me.) I don't know why I became a Cowboy fan. I always have gone for the Rockets and Astros, but I seemed to grow up a Cowboy fan as well. I don't know what I am saying anymore...blah..blah...blah.
I'm a fan of all Houston sports, obviously, but I think you're a little off on the NBA opinion. The Mavericks are one of the best things - well, I'd imagine the best thing - the Dallas sports scene has going for it. What can I say, I like the Mavs. Not near as much as our Rocks, but you know.
Nice post. I agree with just about everything except the statement that Shaq has fewer skills than Ming. Too me, the abilitiy to utilize Shaq type size the way he has is one hell of a skill.
