Can't Keep My Mind off the Sports

Normally my column here in the Celeste Tribune is full of political rantings and ravings. Yes, the news is still full of many controversial subjects that could easily fire up a columna about the Olympic torch protests, the riots in New York or the ongoing and increasingly nasty race for the Democrat nomination for President. However, I just cant keep my mind focused on Politics right now. One of my deep dark secrets is that I am a fanatical sports fan. Professional sports that is.

As I am writing this column game four of the Mavericks/Hornets first round playoff game is about to begin. As yall know it has been a very long and disappointing season for Mav fans. It seems like the loss to the Miami Heat in the NBA Championship series two years ago broke the heart and spirit of our little Mavs. Las year we had the best season in the history of the franchise, winning 67 games and cemented our posistion as one of the Elite teams in the NBA. Then Don Nelson (the hated ex-Mav coach) brought his pathetic Golden State Warriors to town and kicked our high flying Mavs right out of the Playoffs. I will admit that was when I started to have doubts about the "Genius" Head Coach of the Mavs Avery Johnson. This season we didn't seem to have the fire to drive for the playoffs. Mark Cuban (In my opion the second best owner in Dallas) pulled out his wallet and sent a ton of money to the NBA and Devin Harris to the New Jersey Nets to bring Jason Kidd to Dallas. I thought our sports prayers were being answered. We quickly learned that their was some problems fitting Jason Kidd's style into Avery Johnson's game plans. The losing of key games continued. Then Dirk got hurt and like most fans I thought the season was over and that the Mav's were destined for the garbage bin. Dirk, however, refused to let the Mav's die. He came back from his injury in an absurbly short time and sparked the Mav's in a season ending drive to the Playoffs. Surely, we could beat the new kids on the block. The New Orleans Hornets would be ground under the Dallas drive for the Championship. Two devastating losses later, it was desperation time again in Dallas. The Mav's answered with a great win in game three, Now its time for a win in game four. By the time you read this column the Mavs very well could be eliminated from the Playoffs. I hope not, I would love to see the Mavs force a game six. On the other hand if the Mav's are eliminated in five games by the Hornets, Avery Johnson needs to be fired!

I am not much of a Hockey fan, but the Stars are exciting right now. They have broken the first round curse that has descended on the Professional sports teams in Dallas. The Stars did not just beat the Defending Stanley Cup Champion Ducks, they dominated them. Tonight is game two of the SECOND round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. The Stars won game one in San Jose. Go STARS!!

This weekend was also the NFL Draft. The Cowboys picked Felix Jones, RB from Arkansas in the First, Mike Jenkins CB from South Florida with the 25th pick in the 1st. Then they added Tashard Choice RB, Orlando Scandrick CB and Eric Walden DE. Lets hope that the "Boys" can use the addition of these kids along with the convicts they traded for to get us back to the Super Bowl. Lets also hope that Pacman Jones can stay out of trouble long enough for the League to reinstate him or that Jerry Jones can dump his contract without harming the Cowboys when this Thug gets in trouble again.

Thanksgiving 2007

Once again November has come screaming around the calender. We are already past Veterans Day (I Hope you remembered to thank a Vet) and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I would like to ask you to take a moment out of your Turkey fantasy's and Sweet Potato cravings to think about what you have to be thankfull this year. With your permission I would like to tell you a few of the things I am thankfull for.

1) The Editor of this paper has not fired me yet for missing or almost missing my deadlines. If you know me then you know I love to talk and debate almost any issue. I am seldom at a loss for words, however I am also a bit of a procastinator. As a direct result of that I usually turn this column in to my long patient editor either 30 seconds before the deadline or the day after the deadline.

2) In spite of some farily serious health scares early in the year, I am still here to annoy the Democrats and make the Republicans think. Just in case you are wondering I Intend to keep questioning the obvious hypocracy of people like Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama and Al Gore. I will also continue to demand that our Republican Elected Officials actually try to do the things they promised when they ran.

3) The Screen Writers Strike will soon put an end to what has to be the worst Televison Season of my lifetime. Just when you think Television has hit rock bottom they give us a Sitcom based on a Commercial (Caveman), A Spin off of a Night Time Soap Opera (Private Practice), and hire Emmitt Smith as a Football commentator. The season has made me nostalgic for the "Glory Days" of Laverne and Shirley.

4) My Grandson William "Fish Stick" Howard. Trust me on this, grandkids ALMOST make up for all the aggravations that kids give us. It's amazing how much fun it it to just sit and watch him bounce up and down on his bouncer.

5) The Dallas Cowboys are actually winning games. It has been a long 10 years since the Cowboys had a decent team but it look likes Tony Romo is a Football Jedi Knight (tip of my hat to 13.10 the Ticket Radio Station) and may lead the Cowboys back to the Football promised land.

6) The Sooners beat the Longhorns, so those obnoxious Longhorn fans are actually being quite for a change. Coach Fran will soon be unemployed, so maybe the Aggies can finally find a decent Coach and start playing good football again.

7) and finally my sweet wife continues to put up with my nonsense.

Bill Hocutt