Saintly devotion

Apparently, “America’s Team” now resides in New Orleans.

I’ve noticed that a number of media outlets have handed over the nickname to the Saints, and while it does offend me a bit, I can’t really argue with it.

I read a very long but excellent article on ESPN about what this season has meant to Saints fans. How their love for their team and its success runs through their veins. It’s easy to see how that phenomenon is catching on across the country. New Orleans is an underdog in many ways, and it’s easy to cheer for them.

Were I a Saints fan, I would practically be praying for a loss, just to get it out of the way, but also clinging to every win, hoping to stretch the streak juuust a bit further.

One thing I didn’t like about the ESPN article was a jab at the Dallas area near the end of the story. The writer criticized Dallas’ endless loops of highways and overall blandness, which I thought was a little unfair. I mean, you are comparing it to New Orleans, which doesn’t compare to anyplace I’ve ever been.

A group of friends and I took a weekend trip in 2008 around Easter time to see a girlfriend who works for the Hornets. We took the touristy tours and she drove us all around the city. The place was oozing with culture and energy, even after Katrina. I can only imagine what it was like before.

New Orleans is just so wholly different from anywhere in Oklahoma or Texas, it was hard not to fall in love with the curiosity of it all – history, music, architecture and food.

I begrudgingly admit one is entitled to view prairies and parking lots as bland. That’s his opinion. But that’s where I grew up, and I love my home no matter what.

And to that end, I cheer for the Cowboys – the team that built its world-renowned stadium in my hometown.

Today’s game could get ugly for Dallas. The Cowboys are struggling, especially with their ground game, and under Wade Phillips, the team usually tanks in December. No signs of breaking that tradition so far this year, as they have already lost twice this month. (I enjoyed Randy Galloway’s tongue-in-cheek prediction of Saints 100, Cowboys 3.)

Of course I want Tony Romo and the Cowboys to win tomorrow and ultimately make the playoffs, but it would mean a whole lot to some success-starved fans if they didn’t.

Fun with tables

I’m taking this course on Cascading Style Sheets, which is kind of like HTML except more powerful.

I’m almost done with the course. Last week, we had to format a table. I have found that I enjoy homework much more when the subject matter is meaningful to me.

My dad and I have always talked about how none of the DFW teams are ever all good or all bad at one time. So I did a little research and had some fun with my project.

I compiled a table that shows the success of Dallas-area sports teams by year since 1994, which is when the Stars came to town, making it a four-sport area. (The year refers to the year the playoffs were in, except for football.)

I concluded that in fact  in no year have all four teams made the playoffs. However, at least one team did go to the playoffs every year.

Thanks to the Stars’ sub-par season, 2009 will not be the exception. I’m optimistic about their future though, especially because they have played in the postseason the most of the four teams.

The Rangers have some talent lurking. Will 2010 be the year?

P.S. If you are really interested in the nuts and bolts of my fancy table, right-click on that page and select “View Page Source.” Doesn’t that look fun! Glad the course is nearly over.

A little bit about a lot*

First things first, since I’m old-school, I need to issue a correction for yesterday’s post. I had the Rangers’ record incorrect. It should have been 7-9. Had I known that, there might have been quite a bit less belly-aching, especially considering they won Saturday night and are second in the AL West.

Second, I’ve been playing with the photo at the top of the page. I thought the night snow was pretty for a while, but it’s almost May.

Moving on, I really wish I could have watched the whole Penguins-Flyers playoff game today. I saw Philly score two quick goals at the end of the first and the orange crowd went berserk. When I read later that Pittsburgh came back to win 5-3, I was stunned. Hope that game is replayed later.

I guess if I have to root for someone, it’s Pittsburgh. I like Sid the Kid, and I hate the Flyers. So it’s a no-brainer.

I saw the first half of Mavericks-Spurs Game 4 today. I think it’s kind of hilarious that Tony Parker scores 43 and they still lose.

Also, I should note: I have this strange mental block where I often get Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich confused. I think I have some kind of old-white-guy dyslexia. Obviously I know who is who, but it’s the darndest thing.

Most of my day was spent in football mode thanks to the NFL draft. The most memorable part was Chris Berman’s fugly outfit (pinkish pinstriped shirt with orange, yellow, green and blue striped tie. Ew.). Did he get dressed in the dark??

Today will be the really fun day. (And I use the term “fun” loosely.) Dallas has 12 picks after trading their second-rounder on Saturday. Due to intense reader interest, we basically consider the Cowboys a local team.

Also contributing to the fun is that the majority of OU, OSU and TU guys that we are watching will probably go today as Brandon Pettigrew and Phil Loadholt went Saturday.

Speaking of the Pokes, attention all O-State (or Big 12) fans: World columnist Dave Sittler has a bold (some might say “crazy”) prediction for next football season.

Pick up the Sunday World to find out what he thinks. (Or check out the RSS feed on the right side of the screen: “Call me crazy, but OSU could start 11-0″. If it’s not in the feed, it’s on the site.) If you’re not intrigued, you should be.

*Best headline ever!

Say goodbye to an expensive distraction: Terrell Owens

Sometimes you have to get rid of a star player to win.

So, on Wednesday night, the Dallas Cowboys said adios to Terrell Owens and possibly hello to the postseason.

Terrell Owens is and always will be a locker-room cancer, with his constant need for attention (remember the pain pills?) and penchant for discord, like the late-season drama between him, Jason Garrett, Romo and Witten.

Sure, there were years when he produced for the Cowboys, but he was really never anything  more than one big mouth.

It seems Jerry Jones finally realized he had to make a monumental move to make up for the underachievement of last season, when so many talking heads practically proclaimed the Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl champions before the season even started. He fired his defensive coordinator and let Pacman go, but that wasn’t enough.

Once the season ended and Jerry made it clear he was sticking by his namby-pamby head coach, I pretty much gave up on the Cowboys. If no one is going to take credit for that waste of a season, forget it.

Granted, there is plenty of blame to go around at Valley Ranch. Here’s a good splattering for you, Hollywood Romo. Throw a few big globs at T.O., too (try not to drop ‘em!) And let’s slather a whole bunch on Jones himself for running his team into the ground. And you can lick the lid, Wade Phillips.

Anyway, I’ll be glad to see what  Roy Williams can do as the No. 1 receiver. Without T.O., Jones has actually given next year’s team a chance.

P.S. I wonder if the cameras were rolling for T.O.’s new reality show… If getting released isn’t reality, what is?