Soldier Field Still Special

I have a good friend here in Chicago who doesn’t like the new Soldier Field, but frankly, I think it’s kind of cool. Soldier Field was one of only a handful of stadiums that I had yet to visit. I finally made it here and I like it. There is a view of the Chicago skyline on one end. Lake Michigan sits just a few yards away.

My friend hates the look of the new design planted inside the facade of the columns that surrounded the old stadium. The columns are still here, but inside it is a more modern stadium. I like it. It’s kind of like a blending of the old and new. Just like downtown Chicago.

It’s a beautiful night for football… temperatures in the 70s… a sold-out stadium… a national television audience! This is bigtime pro football. I love it!

Rice Upsets Texas, Reporter Almost Gets Beheaded

It was 1994 and I was a young sports reporter at KXAN-TV in Austin. My assignment on a rainy Sunday night in Houston was to cover the Texas-Rice game. The Longhorns had beaten the Owls 30-something straight times. I thought this night would be no different. Boy, was I wrong.

The Longhorns looked flat and the Owls were fired up! Sure enough, Rice pulled a monumental upset, winning 19-17. My most vivid memory was a goal post that whizzed by my head. My counterpart at KVUE in Austin that night was Steve Atkinson (later a weekend sports anchor at WFAA). I recall he yelled at some giddy Rice students who had come within inches of knocking me in the head with a goalpost!!!

Texas, under head coach John Mackovic, ended up finishing 8-4 and beating Mack Brown and North Carolina in the Sun Bowl!

Tank Rolling In

No big surprise the Cowboys have signed defensive lineman, Tank Johnson, to a two-year deal today. It’s certainly not the first time this team has signed a player of questionable character. I guess I have become immune to it, but this signing doesn’t rile me up. Sadly, I’ve become accustomed to professional athletes getting second, third and fourth chances.

The Cowboys need help at nose tackle and that could be where Johnson ends up. From that standpoint, it’s a good fit… even if Tank doesn’t see action until November.

I’m all for giving people second chances and this is it for Tank. Hope the Cowboys supplied him with the necessary permits for all of his weapons!

TO Celebration Clever

He told me on Wednesday that he was going to do some kind of end zone celebration soon… I didn’t think it would be this soon. I actually thought Terrell Owens would wait until the Cowboys nationally televised game in Chicago next Sunday night. Instead, TO pulled out the celebration production after a touchdown against the Dolphins.

He hid behind the goalpost and pretended to be filming a piece of the action or spying on the opposing team (a la Bill Belichick). Clever stuff. I liked it! TO says he got the idea from a caller on his weekly radio show. Either way, good stuff. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

Love the Emotion, Wade

I don’t know about you, but I love seeing Wade Phillips get fired up on the sidelines. What a change from the Tuna! Just a second ago, TV replays showed the Cowboys coach yelling, smiling and screaming over a Nick Folk 47-yarder. Phillips looked like his team just scored the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl! Nice to see some emotion from the head man. By the way… gotta give it up for Folk. He hasn’t missed this year and is 3-for-3 so far today. Right now, Cowboys 23, Fish 13.

Hello From Muggy Miami

Wow… I thought Houston was bad, but geez!!! You just walk outside for a few minutes and you are dripping. The humidity here in South Florida is unbelievable. To make matters worse, there have been intermittent showers this afternoon.

The Cowboys Jason Witten was feeling it. He had to have an IV during halftime. By the way, there are a lot of empty seats here at Dolphin Stadium. That’s surprising. It is the regular season home opener for the Dolphins.

Cowboys Charter Stops in New Orleans (not for gumbo!)

The Cowboys charter flight to Miami had to make an unexpected stop in New Orleans because of hydraulic problems. The team had to spend three hours on the ground at the airport. Some players stayed on the plane, others stretched out inside the terminal. Head coach Wade Phillips delivered the funniest line. He was asked if the sudden stop in the Big Easy was an omen. Phillips laughed and said the team was stopping in N.O. to beat up on the Saints, then it was off to Miami to do the same to the Dolphins! That Wade… he’s so hilarious!!! A regular comedian!!! I’m rolling!!! A belly-rubber!HHHAAAAA….. HAAAAAA. OK enough.

Cheatin’ Patriots Punished

The NFL just announced their penalties against the Patriots for videotaping the Jets’ signals last weekend. Head coach Bill Belichick is fined $500,000. That’s the maximum allowed. The team is fined $250,000. That’s fine and dandy, but what I think is fair is the sanctions for next year’s draft. If the Pats make the playoffs, they will have to give up their first round pick. If they don’t, they will have to forfeit their second and third round picks.

I think the punishment fits the crime. Cheaters should pay and the Patriots will pay heavily.

Look for a TO Production Soon

I talked with Terrell Owens today in the Cowboys lockerroom and he tells me we can expect some kind of end zone celebration from him this season. He says right now, he’s focusing on just winning. That’s a good thing!!!

He says he is good friends with “Ocho Cinco,” Bengals wide receiver, Chad Johnson. He says Johnson’s touchdown act of putting on a Hall of Fame blazer was “alright”. He says he knew it was coming. I expect TO to come up with something real good soon!

Cowboys Honor Crazy Ray

Nice touch by the Cowboys before tonight’s game. They not only make Ron Springs and Everson Walls honorary captains, but they also honor long-time, unofficial mascot, Crazy Ray. Ray’s long-time friend and nemesis, Chief Zee, came to be a part of the pre-game ceremony. As a kid, I used to love to see Crazy Ray and Chief Zee go at it in a make-believe fight on the sidelines. I thought it was real! Funny how Ray always won the battles in Dallas, Chief Zee won them in Washington.

I talked to Chief Zee and he tells me he misses his buddy tremendously and was honored to be asked to participate tonight. I suggested he stay on the sidelines tonight and shadow box with an invisible Ray… just for old times sake!