Campo Still A Cowboy (but with bleached blonde hair)

It was fun seeing Dave Campo yesterday. He’s definitely one of the “good guys” in the NFL. Campo returns to Valley Ranch after a few years in Cleveland and Jacksonville. The former Cowboys head coach will be the team’s new secondary coach.

Campo was sporting a newly bleached ‘do! Dave… just keep it gray!!! No big deal. You have all of your hair. Be proud!!!

Campo said this is the first move that he’s made in his long coaching career where his entire family was on board. He said everyone applauded his move back to Dallas. Campo raised his children here and has grandchildren here. Now Grandpa Dave will see the grandkids fulltime. Good for him and good for the Cowboys.

My Date With Hellga

It was one of my most interesting assignments ever… to say the least. A throwdown, smackdown, winner-take-all competition with American Gladiator, Hellga. You’ve seen her. She’s big, blonde and beautiful. She’s also 6′1″ and weighs 205 pounds!!! She has a half a foot and about 50 pounds on me!!!

I challenged her to an Eliminator event, a calf-roping challenge and a wall climbing contest. She kicked my butt all over the Dallas Convention Center!!! In the end, I challenged here to something I was good at. You’ll have to tune in next Sunday to find out what that is.

By the way, Hellga (Robin Coleman is her real name), is vivacious and funny young woman. She grew up in Houston and attended the University of Houston and was a walk-on basketball player. She’s also a professional strongwoman and weightlifter. Recently she was on the Carson Daly show and will be on an upcoming episode of Deal or No Deal. The woman is talented and funny, but I wouldn’t want to be on her bad side!!! You can check out her website at http://www.robincoleman.com/.

Special Young Man Needs Your Prayers, Best Wishes

I received this email from Eric Rice’s aunt. Please send him your best wishes, if you can:

This email is an attempt to get people to visit Eric’s blog and post encouraging words for him before, during, and after his recovery from scoliosis surgery. Eric is my 15 year old nephew whose Cerebral Palsy has exacerbated his scoliosis. I chose a blog so Eric can read the posts when he is able, the posts can be read to him, and/or he can use the posts as daily inspiration. Eric is a huge fan of all sports, music and video games. Think of the inspiration you can give Eric just by posting a get well wish!

Although Eric is not at the weight the doctors would like, his scoliosis has made daily life for Eric miserable. He is unable to sit up completely, and his chest is putting increased pressure on his heart. Eric is to report to Scottish Rite Hospital on Sunday, January 27th. His 8 hour surgery including 2 metal rods being inserted in his spine is scheduled for Thursday, January 31st.

Eric’s blog link:
http://www.annsaysitsweetly.com/blog.html

Eric is more than just a teenager, nephew, cousin, brother, son, grandson, and friend. He is an amazing person that endures more than we can imagine on a daily basis. It is more than difficult to be a teenager today, but to be a teenager whose brain is just like yours and mine, and at the same time live with daily frustrations because your body does not function like it should: you are not easily understood when speaking, you are dependent on someone else for your everyday needs: hygiene, getting dressed, eating, transportation (you can’t go places with your friends, as you need a wheelchair lift in the vehicle), in addition to being in constant pain. These are just a few effects that I see Eric deals with; I’m sure he can list many more.

Eric was born January 11, 1993 weighing 1 lb 6 oz. in Cleveland, Ohio. Consequently, Eric has cerebral palsy. “Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way). Cerebral palsy can also lead to other health issues, including vision, hearing, and speech problems . . .” This is a nutshell definition and does not give justice to the long term effects both physically and mentally of those that suffer from this condition in addition to the impact of a family member with CP has on his/her family. Today, Eric resides in Lewisville with his parents, Donna and Chris, and his sister Megan who is 10.

Eric is a freshman at Flower Mound High School. He enjoys sports, music and video games. Eric attended all the football games he was able to see his team, the Jaguars this past season. When I attended a game with Eric, it was apparent that Eric is admired by both students and adults as they all knew his name and was glad to see him and his school spirit.

Beginning high school has been challenging for Eric. Although he is confined to a wheelchair and dependent on a computer for all of his schoolwork, Eric is a bright young man with much to offer.

Cowboys Moment of Year: Buckle Up Your Chinstrap!

There were some great plays from the Cowboys this season and after much debate the NBC5 sports staff came up with five great moments. To me, there was just one that stood out. I loved the Tony Romo scramble against St. Louis earlier in the year. That was vintage Tony.

But hats and helmets off to Jason Witten for his spectacular catch and run against the Eagles in Philadelphia. That play typified the Cowboys toughness (at least through two-thirds of the season). It came in Philly, no less. A place that the Cowboys had won only twice in the last decade. Jason gets my vote!!

Season’s Over, Cowboys Shoot Hoops

It’s a little chilly for golf, so some Cowboys got together for an intense basketball game on Thursday at Lifetime Fitness in Colleyville. I’m told Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Brad Johnson and others were shooting hoops at my gym in the late afternoon. They drew a crowd.

This was the same day, Jason Garrett was named the team’s new assistant head coach. Garrett told us that Romo and company wanted him to play! I don’t think Garrett participated. Maybe he was out spending some of that nearly $3 million that Jerry gave him to stay in Dallas.

Great News For Cowboys: Garrett Stays

Jerry Jones put his money to good use today by paying to keep offensive coordinator, Jason Garrett with the Cowboys. No word yet on Garrett’s new deal, but Jones probably shelled out between $2 and $3 million a year to keep his offensive coordinator here. The money and situation here in Dallas, kept Garrett from taking head coaching jobs in Baltimore and Atlanta.

Although it is against NFL rules, you wonder if Garrett got some kind of assurance that he would eventually be Wade Phillips’ successor at head coach? Makes sense. No doubt, head coach of the Cowboys is a much more prestigious gig than head man with the Ravens or Falcons.

Kudos to Jerry for getting this done. Now the offense will have some continuity and Tony Romo gets to keep his offensive coordinator. That is huge! Now, Jerry has to try to keep some other assistant coaches from jumping ship to Miami. Good luck.

Shock!!! It’s Over.

I can’t believe a record-breaking 13-3 season goes down the drain! I just got out of the locker room and there were guys just staring into space in disbelief. Kevin Burnett, Patrick Crayton and Terence Newman were a few.

I really felt bad for Terry Glenn. The guy worked so hard to come back for the end of the season and a possible long playoff run, but it didn’t happen. He spent about 10 minutes on the bench after the game with his head in his hands. As he walked off the field, I bet he was thinking that this was likely his last shot at a Super Bowl. I don’t know if he’ll be back next year.

White Out Looks Good

I have to say it looks pretty cool here inside Texas Stadium. Fans were encouraged to wear white and most of them have. The first 40,000 fans were given white rally towels. It looks like a giant, white porcelain toilet bowl in here. Sorry, that’s the closest description I could think of.

It’s midway through the second quarter now and the fans have been on their feet throughout the game. They finally got something to cheer about when Tony Romo hooked up with T.O. for a touchdown.

By the way, Ryan McKnight sang the national anthem. Great stuff!

Rangers Strike Out By Raising Ticket Prices

Don’t get me wrong. I love baseball. I love going to the ballpark. Me and my family take in about a half dozen Rangers games a year. I like most of the Rangers and the team’s staff and front office, but the bottom line is… don’t raise ticket prices unless you’re giving me something more. Are the seats now cushioned? Is there increased leg room? Will Hank Blalock be delivering hot dogs and cracker jack directly to my seat? NOOOOO!

OK, then did the Rangers make the playoffs last season? Did they have a winning record? Have they made the postseason lately? NOOOOOO! I don’t mind paying a decent price for tickets, but give me a reason to. That’s all I ask. This is a team that hasn’t been to the postseason party in nearly a decade!

You will now pay more for tickets to the big games (Yankees, Red Sox, etc). You’ll pay more games that feature fireworks and post-game concerts. (I don’t mind that. Hey, you’re giving me something more!) But, you’ll also pay more for seats in upper reserved section and grandstand. That’s not right!

I’ll still go… I just like the atmosphere. But I likely won’t go to as many games as I used to, unless the Rangers give me something more…. like an exciting and winning team and a playoff run in September!

2008 Predictions

OK… I have to do better than I did in 2007. I was one-f0r-five last year! Here goes:

1. Cowboys win Super Bowl. This “really” is a stretch. Really. I mean who’s going to beat the Patriots? The Cowboys, that’s who. The Cowboy defense has improved since their early season meeting at Texas Stadium. Dallas 27, New England 24.

2. Mavericks lose in conference finals. It looks like Avery has gone with the mentality that the regular season doesn’t matter that much. Sure, the Mavericks want to win, but they now know shiny records in the regular season, don’t mean much in the post season. I see the Mavs losing a tough seven-game series to the Spurs.

3. SMU back in a bowl game. OK, this is a repeat from last year, but this time the Mustangs have a new coach. As of this posting, it will probably be June Jones. That would be a great hire and a coup for the Ponies. Jones brings NFL experience (Falcons, Chargers) with him. Of course, he’s done a heck of a job at Hawaii.

4. Rangers better, but no playoffs. Not really going out on a limb here. This team needs Hank Blalock and the newly acquired Josh Hamilton to have great years. They need their veteran pitchers Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla to revert to their 2006 seasons. They need relievers Kaz Fukumori and C.J. Wilson to pitch lights out. That’s a lot of needs!!!

5. Stars Win First Round Series! It’s been three years since the Stars have survived a first round playoff series. They finally do it this season. But they lose in the next round.