Random Thought

I bet Al Roker, the Today Show's jovial weatherman, really knows very little about the weather.

Betting He'll Be Sacked

"Gary Hogeboom, the one-time Dallas Cowboys quarterback, is one of 16 new contestants vying for a $1 million payoff in Survivor: Guatemala, where players are pitted against each other amid ancient Mayan ruins in the jungles of Central America." I haven't heard that name for quite a while. He started two seasons for Dallas (in 1984 and 1985) throwing 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

Giddy Up

There is a huge headline and story in the Sports section of the Morning News today that reads: "Decatur cowboy up for run toward NFR". (We cowboys know that stands for National Finals Rodeo). It's a long article about "three time world champion" Trevor Brazile. He may be the most famous Wise Countian no one really talks about.

We Just Want To See "Hometown: Bridgeport" on TV

This article from the Dallas Morning News indicates that Bridgeport's Phillip Daugherty is currently at third string in his bid to start at quarterback at Texas Tech. Redshirt freshman Graham Harrell from Ennis is pushing to be the starter - which could be bad news for Daugherty who is a redshirt sophomore.

Ouch Again?

I'm not sure about this (at all), but the feds do some type of yearly school evaluations (called AYP) in accordance with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. If I am reading the new report correctly, I think Bridgeport High School may have taken another hit. The above is a screen shot of a huge pdf file for all schools. But I've received no confirmation of this. Also, I think its possible the feds consider the TAKS results which could explain this ranking.

Cats Are Forming A Protest March As We Speak

The Texas Rangers are, and I am not making this up, having a Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark Day. If you are interested, you have to fill out an application (available here in pdf format). This picture, I promise, is on the application.

Her Wheels Are Off

"Less than one month after a failed suicide attempt and just a few months after she was beaten up by a jealous boyfriend, country crooner Mindy McCready now faces an arrest warrant for her flaky behavior involving a drug probation violation. Last month, McCready did not show up in a Florida court to face charges of violating her probation stemming from a drug charge involving illegally trying to fill a forged OxyContin prescription in Tennessee. Though she had apparently tried to overdose on pills and booze just a week before the hearing, her lawyer failed to produce a doctor's note excusing her from the hearing. That, coupled with the fact that McCready has now twice violated her probation, was enough for a judge to issue a warrant. "

And I Bet He Even Had His Own Room

Did you see the crazy story of Noel Devine, the 17 year old high school football star out of Florida. Deion Sanders (yep, that Deion Sanders) brings him to Texas, enrolls him in Prosper High School, and files the paperwork to become the kids legal guardian. But that plan went south three days ago. "Sanders told The News-Press that Devine drove himself to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Monday and boarded a plane headed to Fort Myers, leaving the keys to Sanders’ SUV in the vehicle."

Can I Just Hand Off?

The North Texas Eagles will open up their season at powerhouse LSU. Get this: North Texas does not have a single quarterback on the roster that has ever played a single down of college football. How would you like for your first college snap to be in that situation.

It's Actually on The Windshield

Over the years, I've visited with hundreds of folks whose interaction with the police began with a traffic stop. I'd say 95% of them tell me the cop asked to see "my license and registration". Hardly anyone ever says "my license and insurance". That registration "thing" comes from television. As a kid, I remember some bad guy stealing some girls registration information in "I Saw What You Did".

Hola Diversity

The Census Bureau announced that as of July 2004, the number of non-whites exceeded the number of whites that reside in Texas. For the first time ever, the "majority" makes up only 49.2% of the population.

Slow This Thing Down

It dawned on me today (as I was listening to a radio in the background in the assistant county attorney's office - listening and begging at the same time, I might add) that Boston's first album came out 30 years ago. Thirty years!! In high school, my buddies and I thought it was the greatest album we had ever heard. It has been such a "Long Time" Edit: Oops. Actually it was 29 years ago.

You Have Got To Be Kidding

The Dallas Morning News has a story today about the reinstatement of Ranger pitcher Kenny Rogers. As crazy as the whole incident has been, this sentence was the most amazing: "KDFW new director Maria Barrs said [cameraman Larry] Rodriquez was still receiving medical treatment and had yet to resume his duties with the station." Sheesh.

I'm Surprised It Doesn't Happen More Often

Did you see that a 14 year old cheerleader in the northeast has died due to an injury involving some high flying stunt/cheer?

She Can Mow? Now That's Marriage Material

Runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks has begun her community service.

Uh, Don't Shoot At Cops

DPS Troopers shot and killed a man in Denton this morning after he allegedley shot at them first. (Story here - registration may be required) Real life is not the same as the movies. You don't get to shoot your way out of bad situations.

Sorry, I Had A Flashback

There's a news story out today questioning the value of the third and final year of law school. "At many top law schools, the third year is famously relaxed, a halcyon interlude between rigorous introductory courses and the long hours that await graduates at law firm jobs. There is research and volunteer work, but also a lot of bar-hopping and little studying: 15 hours per week, according to one survey at 11 law schools, compared to 33 hours for first-year students." I promise you that every lawyer that went to Baylor pulls his hair out over that statement. At Baylor, the third year involves the "practice court" class, which may have have been the most difficult academic year of my life. Just a rant this morning.

Behind The Scenes

In the Star Telegram tomorrow, there will be a story of one alleged drug dealer found "not guilty" of killing another alleged drug dealer. No one will care. There is an unwritten defense in criminal law that has a shocking motto: "Some people just deserve killing". I heard it in law school. I heard it as a prosecutor. I still hear it as a defense lawyer. You'll never see it in the newspaper. We value some lives more than others. That says a lot about us.