Fox 4 Malfunctions Last Night At Beginning of Show

Sorry for the audio quality. (And I'm not showing that the first 30 seconds of the broadcast which was just an odd "test screen" with a timer.)

Think Steve Eager is pleased?:


Very funny wave from Mike Doocy:

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

• Youtube video of the "Wise County Task Force" watching a DC-10 drop water on the Montague County fire that happened last week. It's pretty amazing, but is that water drop really that effective?
• I saw where Texas state Sen. Florence Shapiro won't be running for re-election. She may have done more damage to the "justice" part of "criminal justice" than anyone else in Texas due to her support of Draconian laws. Good riddance.
• And Sen. Jane Nelson needs to go next.
• I'm ready to concede that I was wrong about my prediction of the Rangers not making the playoffs. I was close, but they consistently played barley above .500 for the last three months and that's all it took. 
• I'm not sure what to do about running drills for the Softball Team when one girl clearly isn't in good enough shape to keep up with the rest of the team. 
• "Coach, you looked like you almost skipped getting the ball right then," - comment by one of my players at practice which I knew a handful of you would get a big kick out of. 
• A man jumped to his death yesterday off of a Rosedale Street bridge in Fort Worth. His name was so unusual that I googled it, and a Fort Worth man with the same name owns/owned what seemed like a pretty big business. I don't know if it is the same guy. 
• I guess suicides are newsworthy if they occur in public? Never have understood the double standard.
• I said yesterday I thought the Decatur Eagles would be in the AP Top Ten. Boy, was I wrong. The new poll released later in the day revealed they still haven't even received a single vote. 
• I'll post it in a bit, but Fox 4 News' was Wheels Off during the first five minutes of last night's broadcast. The camera stayed on Mike Doocy for a good 15 seconds after a lead report (he just waved to the camera while having "Failed Smile"), and the camera cut to Steve Eager at one point who said, paraphrasing, "The camera is on me for some reason and I have no idea what I'm supposed to be saying."
• Facebook page of the Bridgeport guy injured in the wreck with a fire truck yesterday (as referenced in the Update.)
• Ennis High Shocker: 80 students and faculty tested positive for tuberculosis after being exposed to a teacher who had the disease.   I don't think we know yet whether the teacher actually knew that she had the disease or not, but I hope this was an innocent mistake.  And, as a side note, I guess we just sit back and watch if any of those 80 don't have medical insurance.
• WBAP's Hal Jay this morning said he was "confused" by reports that x number of people don't have health insurance in the state because "if they show up to John Peter Smith they'll be taken care of so how can they say they don't have insurance?" Good grief.
• Half of Wise County becoming part of a new Congressional District? Not so fast. The Justice Department officially says the whole new map "ain't fair".  A three judge panel now must make a decision in the first step of "pre-clearance" under the Voting Rights Act. (I don't think they had any trouble with Wise County in particular but it was an all or nothing endorsement.)
• Did I hear talk show host Mark Davis refer to Chaz Bono (currently on Dancing With The Stars) as "that thing" at around 8:24 this morning? Surely not. 
• Tony Romo practiced with a "punctured lung"? Instead of considering him courageous, I'm more inclined to believe that term means something different than what we think it means. 
• They love crime news in Texarkana . . . 

Afternoon Pick Me Up: Britney And A Firearm

Watch This One

Jury deliberated Friday, didn't reach a verdict, and is back at it again today. A guilty verdict carries with it an automatic life sentence since the death penalty has been waived. I've got a strange vibe about it.  Story.

Edit/Update: Mistrial declared on Tuesday after jurors could not reach a verdict.

You Know What I Find Amazing About These Videos?

It always seems like there are people narrowly escaping death. You'll have a couple of people standing around and the car will zoom right past them like the whole thing had been staged/designed by some super engineer who specializes in car stunts.  (Although the lady in this one might have been clipped a bit.)

And I thought this was just a convenience store at first until we get to see the other camera angle. My first reaction was, "Oh no! Not the bikes!"

Story.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• Emmitt Smith has a new book out (the radio commercials are all over the place) where he "outlines the principles that have helped me become a winner." Chapter One: Have more talent than anyone else and join a football team with a Hall of Fame quarterback and wide receiver. Chapter Two: Hey, I'm A Success.
• For you runners, I switched to Asics shoes over the weekend. So far: Huge thumbs up.
• My girls softball team has improved to 2-1 on Saturday. I wonder if we'll be on the cover of Sports Illustrated? But I think I failed a sports-ethics-real-life-exam when I'm pretty sure a third strike on one of my players was counted as two by the umpire. I didn't say anything and she got a hit on the next pitch. 
• The Big 12 officially blows up today. That makes it a sad day.
• Anyone else think Tony Romo's injury may not have been as bad as everyone said it was?
• Channel 8 news story from the 1970s where they decided to have reporters drive three abreast on I-30 and not exceed the speed limit (then 55 mph.) Oh, my.
• I'm not sure what caused me to browse around elected officials campaign financial statements at the Texas Ethics Commission website, but I noticed that Rep. Phil King spent $150 a months on twice a month maid service for his Austin apartment. What's he doing? Having wild parties and trashing the place? Uh...........not a chance.
• WBAP's Hal Jay this morning: "I tried to watch the Texas/UCLA game this weekend but I couldn't get it. I was mad."  His cohorts then told him it was on ABC. **Shaking Head**
• I would think the Decatur Eagles would be in the AP Top Ten but I can't find the AP Top Ten. 
• The Cowboy game was going into Overtime yesterday evening, I hit "record" for the show that was coming on after the game, announced to the house that no one should tell me how it ends, left, came back, hit "play", and realized I didn't record it at all. Beating. 
• Weather sure does control college football these days: The Oklahoma State game didn't kick off until after midnight and didn't end until 3:30 a.m.,  and Baylor/SFA decided to just cancel the fourth quarter.  I remember attending an Aggie/Baylor game and a Baylor/Houston game in monsoons in the 1980s.
• Trying to entertain kids is a big player in this world. 

Rob Ryan Has A Random Thought Girl On His Play Sheet?

(And I think that BagOfNothing.com guy found it and wants everyone to know it. )

Sports Talk Radio News -- Breaking?

Either Boyd's own Greg "The Hammer" Williams is doing a bit on Twitter, or has been fired from 105.3 The Fan.

Edit: It may be that he has just been "benched" from pre-game and post-game duties by his employer which is the official station of the Dallas Cowboys. Whatever the case, he is not pleased.

Edit: Now he calls out his co-host Richie Whitt. Uh. Oh. There's a Program Director who is scrambling right now and I suspect his first words will be, "Greggo, you need to shut up. Now."

Edit: On Monday, he was back on the air. Crisis averted. For now.

This Ain't Ali/Frazier, I Can Tell You That

I'm not a boxing fan, and I'm not shelling out money for an HBO Pay-Per-View to watch a fight (shout out to my buddy who invited me over last night -- sorry I couldn't make it), but last night's Mayweather/Ortiz fight sure does have everyone buzzing this morning.

Ortiz cheap shots Mayweather with a head butt in the corner. He seems honestly apologetic during the temporary stop (can see that here). When the ref gets them back together to fight again, he just looks off to the ref while Mayweather introduces him to Take That You Little Cheapshotter.  Everyone seems to agree that the ref had told both of them to "fight" before the Mayweather shot, and who knows why Ortiz wasn't ready. Maybe he thought he should fight like Rocky Balboa  -- arms to his side.

Maybe the UFC isn't that bad.

(And there is no way those videos stay up for long.)

***********
Other weekend random sports thoughts:

• The Evil Empire is back on the right track.
• Baylor's QB has eight TDs and 8 incompletions for the year
• Get ready for college football Armageddon this week. With Pitt and Syracuse shocking everyone over the weekend by joining the ACC from the Big East, it's about to get wild. And TCU just got screwed by joining a conference that exploded before they could even get there. 
• How about throwing up your hands and creating an Ivy League of the South? Baylor, TCU, SMU, Rice, Tulane and . . . that's about as far as I can get. 

Messenger Above The Fold And A Little More

Friday Night Lights Upon Raindrops

Alvord 7
Paradise 20
Instant Analysis: That's the score from the Messenger but some sites list Alvord winning 32-16. Video (probably has the answer if I would watch it.).

Grapevine Faith 6
Boyd 34
Instant Analysis: No truth to the rumor that Boyd chanted "we got your mustard seed" at the end of the game.

Santo 6
Chico 46
Instant Analysis: Chico admits it just couldn't get fired up for the Baptists last week. Things are back to normal now since Santo is known to have a disproportionate amount of sinners.

Carr. Ranchview 19
Decatur 42
Instant Analysis:  606 yards in total offense? The amazing part is that they scored only 42. Video

Bridgeport 7
Prosper 49
Instant Analysis: Beat down. The Bulls had only 104 yards in total offense while one Prosper player picked up 177 yards on just 13 carries.

Reno Air Show Crash Tonight

Edit: Link to video

All the news stations were scrambling but the first video was from youtube. Freeze it at the 20 second mark and you can see the plane nose diving.

It has been described as causing a "mass casualty" situation.  I'm quibbling at a time of a tragedy, but I'm not sure what "mass" means to the person making that statement.

Oklahoma vs. Florida State Taking You Into The Weekend

Knox City Guy Is Back -- This Time He's Mad At The Cowboys

Hey, I get tired of this guy after 20 seconds just like you do, but I figured it was worth a quick post for two reasons.

First, I'd bet my bottom dollar this guy grew up listening to Southern Baptist Evangelists. I'm talking old school preaching. His cadence and his enthusiasm is exactly like what you would have heard in a Thursday night small town revival service.  If he would just throw in a "turn with me now to Luke, chapter 12" every now and then, I'm not sure you would know the difference.

Secondly, the 4:50 to 5:00 makes me laugh for some reason. I'm pretty sure his finger pointing back at him scared the heck out of him.

The only thing I'm sad about is that he didn't say, "Jerry Jones, the owner, needs to fire Jerry Jones, the general manager." (But there's hope since I didn't watch the whole thing.)

Edit: Had to respond to the comment that said this guy does the youtube video for money just like I get a "check from Google" for this blog.  Nope. Not true. I've never received a dime from Google.

A Story You Cannot Possibly Avoid Today

Just use "Google News" with "weekend" "bernies" and "real".  Heck, I'll do it for you.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• Rick Perry might take a hit on the pending execution of Duane Buck. In a nutshell, after convicting someone of capital murder in Texas, the jury is asked after the punishment phase whether the defendant will be a future danger to society. They must say "yes" in order for the death penalty to be imposed. In Buck's case, an "expert" witness testified that blacks, once released from prison, are more likely to be dangerous in the future than whites. With his execution scheduled for last night, the issue was whether he deserves a new punishment trial because of that testimony. Rick Perry refused to stop last night's execution. But the Supreme Court, at the last moment, did.
• It would almost be sweet justice if Rick Perry's callous and self-serving support of the death penalty over the years prevents him, at the last moment, from obtaining his ultimate political prize.
• But one shocking thing you probably haven't heard: The expert witness was called to the stand by Buck's lawyers because the witness ultimately concluded that, specifically, Buck would not be a future danger to society. (Court opinion.)
• The Update says today that TXI is cutting 33 jobs in Wise County. Someone mentioned those cuts in the comments here on Monday but I forgot to follow up on it. 
• I was watching a girls' softball game last night when 10 Year Old Coach Pitch turned into 10 Year Old Hits A Rocket Into Coach's Chest.  Man, it stopped everybody down. 
• The Regents of the University of Oklahoma will meet on Monday, and the official agenda released yesterday lists athletic conference alignment as something they will consider. That may be the end of the Big 12, but we'll have to wait until they get to page 219 of the agenda before they can discuss it. What a beating.   
• Fox 4 News led last night with the Pat Robertson's divorce-Alzheimers-spouse controversy. I changed the channel because that was absolute proof it was a slow news day.
• West Virginia fans, being a classy bunch, have started wearing T-shirts to football games that prominently display an F Bomb.   The Athletic Director wrote a letter to the student body urging them to stop but readily admitted the school couldn't stop them. Why can't WVU stop them? West Virginia is a public school and thereby the government.  Baylor could stop it. SMU could. So could TCU. But not Texas, Tech, or the Aggies. 
• Even if she wants to knock Rick Perry over the head with his ill-fated decision to mandate the HPV vaccine for young girls, Michelle Bachman is nuts to claim a woman told her that the vaccine caused mental retardation in the woman's daughter.  Even if it is true that some woman did tell her that, you don't repeat the story on national TV unless you believe it. 
• It may be up being Mitt Romney after all.
• Texas Monthly referred to the Texas Longhorns as the Evil Empire last night. And I heard some big college football expert say the same thing on either the Ticket or the Fan this week. I'm a trend setter once again. 

Lindsay Lohan Back To Full Throttle

And Now Back To America

I saw this earlier today and had a huge question mark form over my head.  After I got past the fact that a hot chick was involved, I was confused as to exactly what the McDonald's worker prevented the girl from doing with the ice cream.  I had to google "coning" and came up with this youtube clip that has been viewed six million times.

So let me get this straight: Young America thinks it is funny to order an ice cream cone and then reach out and grab the ice cream instead of the cone. You've got a hand full of ice cream and you think you have pulled a prank on someone else?   Ummmmmkaaaaay.

That Idiocracy filmmaker needs to win some type  Nostradamus award. It's coming at us more quickly than we think.