A few years ago I was so excited about the sports scene in Dallas. The Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Championship, The Texas Rangers went to back-to-back World Series and the Dallas Cowboys won the NFC east in 2009. Speed up a few years and here is where we are now:
Dallas Mavericks are way under 500 this year, have very little talent and have anything but a cohesive unit. If they turn things around and make some noise in the playoffs, Rick Carlisle deserves coach of the year for sure. Owner Mark Cuban made a few strategic moves and unfortunately they didn’t work out. He wanted to go with a long term plan and so far not much has worked for the team. The American Airlines Center (AAC) was a special place to go as a fan but unfortunately the craziness and cheering has been toned down a little bit.
Dallas Cowboys - Where do I start? Since I have been living here (8 years) this team always appears to be on the verge of the Super Bowl or at least that’s what Jerry Jones and the media would like you to believe. The reality is that their talent is really not there. They don’t play as a team, their coaching is very suspect and Jerry Jones isn’t the best GM in the game. They have an amazing stadium and Jerry Jones, the marketer, is a genius. The problem is Jerry Jones, the GM, isn’t. This team has won only 1 (yes 1) playoff game in 16 years. That alone should speak for itself. Their facility is huge and if Jerry and the rest of the leadership team aren’t careful, they will have a lot of empty seats.
Texas Rangers – 2010 and 2011 were magical rides – rides that went to the World Series both years and frankly was an amazing place to go. You could feel the energy the second you walked into the stadium. For the first time in at least a decade, the Rangers drew more than 3,000,000 fans – unfortunately those days might be behind us. I have no idea what the Rangers did or were thinking this off season. They have done very little, let a lot of their players and free agents go, lost Michael Young who was their captain and face of the team and might be in store for a very long year in the Texas heat.
Unfortunately, Texas isn’t like Boston or Philadelphia where you don’t need to be good in order for fans to show up. This is Dallas and even when the teams are good/great, the fans don’t always come out.
A few years ago I was on cloud nine, thinking Dallas was the best sports city in the country. A few years later – not even close. It’s funny how quickly things can change.
I am not excited about the sports teams in Dallas – frankly I am really concerned.
- Dallas fans: Do you agree with what I am saying?
- How do you feel about your sports city?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Roger Austin says:
I am an Atlanta fan all the way.
The Falcons are on the right course and will win a Super Bowl. It started with Arthur Blank buying the team from Rankin Smith. The change is to an owner that wants to win not just watch his investment grow. The difference between Blank and Jerry Jones is he knows he isn’t a GM and has hired what is probably the best front office tandem in the NFL with Dimitroff from the Patriots and McKay from the Bucs. Then add coach Mike Smith and quarterback Matt and we are on our way. I think the future for the Falcons is bright for years to come.
Braves have cut their payroll the last few years and the results speak for themselves. They are competitive but not dominant. I think they will stay in the hunt but a world series is questionable.
Hawks have never been anything but a middle of the road team and that isn’t going to chaneg anytime soon.
Scott Koenig says:
This is my chance to boost about my Maryland roots (and rant about “my” Rangers).
Redskins: My team growing up. I watched every game. They been irrelevant for many years but beating the Cowboys and making it to the playoffs was a beautiful thing. I believe they are relevant again and have the pieces to be good for a few years.
Capitals: I don’t really follow hockey anymore, but I know they are about the same as they were in the 80′s – a good regular season team that can’t put it together in the playoffs.
Wizards: No comment.
Orioles: My boyhood team. Loved them then. Love them now. They were really bad the past 15 years but when they got to the wildcard game against the Rangers (my new favorite team) I found myself being a little nostalgic. It is like when you see your high school sweet heart after all those years and feel a little twitterpated. You see how pretty she has become, but in the end you realize there is someone else you are loyal to and, while happy to see that the former has finally found happiness, you know it is time to move on but you will always be friends. However if the Rangers break my heart this year I have my old loyal friend to lean on!
megan says:
Philadelphia is a great town to be a sports fan. We get such a bad rap, and it is popular among the national media to perpetuate this ridiculous myth. News flash – fans boo everywhere. Philly fans are passionate and knowledgeable for the most part, which makes games really fun.
One of the best things about Philadelphia is the Big 5! It’s awesome to have so many colleges around, and while they may not consistently be at the top of the national rankings, Big 5 games are always competitive and always a blast. It’s really a great city rivalry and a unique Philly experience.
Phillies: Long history of taking a back seat in this town to the Eagles, but their success in the past few years, along with stumbles by the Eagles, has totally made this a baseball town. Being a baseball fan first, I’m completely biased, but it has been a great ride since 2007. Part of me cringes that we’re now grouped in with the big spenders who just buy more and more big name players, but I can’t deny that it’s been fun to watch aces pitch night after night. I love that Philadelphia is a place players want to play now – we’ve certainly come a long way. 2012 was a bit of a mess, hopefully we’re in a position to rebound this year. Hopefully we’ll stay healthy.
Eagles: Entering a new chapter. Not sold on Kelly, but we needed a change, any change at this point. So more optimism going into next season than if we hadn’t made a coaching switch.
Sixers: Not a huge NBA fan. I do know that having yet to play a game with the Sixers, the trade for Bynum hasn’t put us in a great position to be competitive.
Flyers: Not off to a great start. Super fun to go to Flyers games. Always a packed house. Flyers get very little press in this town, but their fans are incredibly intense and loyal!
Tal Shahar says:
I am a Houston fan. Good times in 2 out of the 3 major sports.
Houston Rockets:
Most exciting Rockets team I have ever seen. We are second in the league in scoring, have a future superstar in 23 year old James Harden, and 12 out of our 15 players are 24 years old and under. Amazing future for this team. Most impressively, despite having a lot of new and young players that have never played with each other, we are currently the 8th seed in the west.
Houston Texans:
Very talented team with Foster, Watt, Schaub, and Andre Johnson leading the way. Ended the season losing 3 out of 4 so we lost the valuable home field advantage that could have helped us reach the Superbowl. Hopefully next year the Texans can bring the first football championship to Houston.
Houston Astros:
Worst record in the majors the past two seasons. They had 100+ losses both seasons. Before 2011 we never lost 100 games in our history. Far cry from the Bagwell, Biggio days of consistently making the playoffs and the 2005 world series run we had with Pettitte, Clemens, Oswalt, Bagwell, Biggio, and Berkman. This current team has become a triple A squad. The only good news is that the Astros can’t get any worse. The good news for the Rangers is that the Astros moved to their division so there will be more easy wins for the Rangers this summer.
Ed Sugar says:
Here is the LA report
Baseball: Both the Dodgers and the Angels have decided to contend for the title of “New York Yankees – West Coast”. Nothing but high hopes for both fan bases and a zillion pounds of pressure on managers Don Mattingly and Mike Sciosca to get to the World Series.
Football: Until the Rams come back in a year or two, this report covers our two college programs. USC had high expectations going into the 2012 season: BCS title shot and a Heisman Trophy candidate. But they had a 7-6 record, loses to arch rivals UCLA and Notre Dame and got hammered in the Sun Bowl. Head coach Lane Kiffin is feeling the heat from the SC alums. Across town on the Westside, Jim Mora Jr. did an outstanding job of rejuvenating a doormat UCLA football program, despite losing the last regular season game and conference title game to Stanford and then getting the poop kicked out of them by Baylor in the Holiday Bowl. Despite the crash at the end, Mora has done a decent job in recruiting and it looks like this program is back on the rails.
Basketball – Obviously everyone knows the travails and soap opera that has become the 2012-2013 Los Angeles Lakers, but two of our other teams have stepped up and are making their mark this year. Yes the LA Clippers are for real and the tandem of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul is reminding a lot of old LA hoop fans of the old Baylor & West teams. Over in Westwood, UCLA coach Ben Howland has finally found some team chemistry with his UCLA Bruins. After being upset at home in December by UC Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, this team is starting to gel and find their chemistry. Last night they womped on top rated Arizona in their home crib in Tucson. The USC program has been floundering for the past two years due to NCAA sanctions and last week they fired head coach Kevin O’Neil.
Hockey – The Kings raised their Stanley Cup Championship banner last weekend and once they get in sync should give their title a strong defense. Not sure how the Ducks are doing, but they are currently 2-0
Soccer – The Galaxy won their second straight MLS Cup, while Chivas LA is in deep financial trouble and there are rumors of the franchise moving to another city.
Christine Cook says:
I’m sorry Merrill. Dude, you’re in the wrong D for sports.
Big “D”…ah…little “d” is the place to be, come to Denver you will see.
I can tell why you’re blue. You’re not working in the right hue.
A very bright orange and brighter blue, will give the feeling you are due.
While we didn’t win, we came close, there always next year for us to boast!
We cherish our Broncos so much, we will take it all next year with talent and a little luck.
For love of game we have here too, we’re so cool our stadium was named after a brew.
You hear the fans chant and cheer, and of course holler for another beer!
The peanuts are great so don’t be late. You don’t want to miss the Rockies step up to the plate.
We have an Avalanche of fans as well! When they take the ice and you can tell. They bump and push
Even know the Nugs are Thugs,
Well it’s a start……..
Amy Shields says:
Since I’m not from Dallas, I go to the events because I am fortunate enough to be able to experience fun, if not always exciting, sporting events. Not at all impressed with the teams here or their owners, particular the Cowboys. (I do like and respect Cuban and enjoy the Ranger games though.) Born and bred California and will never relinquish my devotion to the San Francisco teams: Giants and 49ers. It’s been a pretty good few years for me, regardless of where I’ve lived…my teams have made impressive and exciting progress. GO NINERS!!