Max-imumSports's Blog

It's been a long time since I've clapped my hands while watching a Rangers' victory because the pitching was so good.  But that's what's been happening of late ... red hot pitching from the Rangers. And keep this in mind, this is an organization that's needed solid pitching  for years and to see it happening just blows me away. The starters, the closer C.J. Wilson and yes the middle men and set up guys are getting the job done.  It's been a long time coming from the pitching side of things but it looks good now and if it holds up, it could be a nice year for Texas.  And can you believe it? It's because of good pitching. 

It's good to see that the Texas Rangers haven't given up and it's great to see their first three game winning streak of the season take place after Friday's victory over the Oakland Athletics.  And how about the starting pitching and closer C.J. Wilson.... three straight saves.  The hitting has been timely with Brandon Boggs, David Murphy, Michael Young and Josh Hamilton.  Heck, what about Milton Bradley and Ian Kinsler?  The Rangers are playing solid team ball and let's hope it continues.  Ron Washington is under fire but good things usually happen to good people.  The Rangers have fight and a will to win.  And as a Rangers fan, you have to love that.

Should the Stars start to panic?  Of course not. Should the Stars hit the concern button?  Yes!!!  Okay, they only have to win one more game in two tries but that fourth and final victory is the most difficult to get done.  And the momentum is definitely with the San Jose Sharks following Friday night's come from behind win over Dallas in game five.  The Stars blew a 2-0 lead after two periods and then lost in overtime and that allowed the Sharks to come up for water in this series.  In my opinion, the Stars must win sunday night at the American Airlines Center on Sunday night.  Let's hope this isn't like two years ago when the Mavericks blew a 2-0 lead to Miami in the NBA finals as the heat won four in a row.  That's what the Sharks could do if this thing goes back to San Jose for a game seven.  Yes, they could win four in a row.  Your thoughts on what's going wrong with the Stars and can they wrap up the series at home?

After last night's loss it appears to me there's already been a blowup.  I mean New Orleans is good but I don't think the Hornets are that good.  I believe the Mavs quit on Avery Johnson, on themselves, on Mark Cuban and the fans.  But I don't know who is to blame.  Maybe it's all of the mavericks family members from top to bottom.  Now, I will say this... something has to change and I don't mean maybe.  Should Avery stay as coach?  I mean it's hard to believe that a coach that was close to winning an NBA Title just a few years ago.... a guy who was coach of the year.... a guy who coached a team to 67 wins in regular season could possibly be on his way out.  But here's the deal ... Johnson never won that NBA title and his team has been bounced from the playoffs in the first round the past two seasons.  And his team disobeyed a direct order from him that practice had been called off and the players practiced anyway on their own.  That's a sure sign of misery within the program.  And there have been reports of Avery and owner Mark Cuban getting into shouting matches earlier this season.  Another sure sign of misery among the ranks.  And don't forget about the Jason Kidd trade that ended up netting nothing. Who's to blame for that?  Johnson, Cuban or Donnie Nelson or all of them?  Yes, changes should be made but my question today concerns the head coach.  Should Avery Johnson stay or should he go? 

To the Mavericks: Even though your backs are against the wall... don't back down.  Remember when you were up two games to none on Miami in the NBA finals two years ago and they beat you four games in a row?  Well, I think this team can beat New Orleans three times in a row and move on to the second round.  Maybe I'm crazy and maybe I'm not.  But the Mavs need Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse to pick things up and in a hurry.  Six points for Howard and two points for "Stack" just won get it.  And Avery Johnson, can you please tell your players to drive to the bucket and stop settling for jump shots?  The Mavs are down but not out.

If you're a Rangers fan, please forgive me for a second or two... or three.  I believe in the old song "take me out to the ballgame".... and  one of the closing lines is "and you root, root, root for the home team.  If they don't win it's a shame".  Well, the home team or the road team aren't winning for the Rangers.   I'm tired of losing and the Rangers should be too.  And you should be as fans.  I know it's still early and Texas is only five games out of first place but it appears things are  headed downhill already. However,  I hope I'm wrong.  Somtimes you just don't have enough talent.... it's not that the players aren't trying.  But it didn't have to be this way.  Did it?  I'm a reporter but I'm also a fan and I get tired of seeing bad baseball.  So, to the Rangers management and the players... come on. 

You have to believe if you're the Dallas Mavericks. Sure, they've lost the first two games on the road to the New Orleans Hornets but they play the next two playoff games in Dallas... a place where they've dominated New Orleans.  The Mavs were going to have to win at least one road game and so that's where we stand.  Avery Johnson has come under fire because of the Mavericks recent playoff history..... but that's nothing a few wins won't change.  Yes, the Mavs are down but not out. Look for them to rebound and win this series against New Orleans because they are the better team.  Whether or not they prove that remains to be seen.

You have to be happy for the Dallas Stars.  I mean it's the first time since the year 2003 to make the second round of the NHL playoffs. Can you believe it was 1999 when the Stars won the Stanley Cup?  I like the chemistry of this team... especially when Stephane Robidas scores and adds an assist within a 52 second span in the third period to send his team to a victory.  This is a Dallas team that can go deep into the playoffs.  What's your take?

The Rangers could use fundamentals and that's a shame to say since these guys are professionals.  Why did Marlon Byrd not come home Tuesday against the Angels?  Why did Josh Hamilton throw that ball to the shortstop which allowed a run to score against Los Angeles?  Why did Ian Kinsler get picked off first base?  Why do the Rangers lead the AL in errors so far this season? Why can't the Rangers drive home runners when they are in scoring position?  Why didn't manager Ron Washington not bunt home Marlon Byrd after he led off the inning with a triple with no outs and was the tying run?  "Wash" knew his team was having trouble getting players across the plate. And who will take the blame for this all?  Ron Washington. Let's hope it doesn't come to that because Ron hasn't been dealt a fair hand.  GM Jon Daniels got a two-year contract extension earlier this year, but nothing was announced for Washington.   But doesn't the play of the team take on a reflection of its manager?  There's still a lot of baseball to be played.  However, if things don't turn around... some heads could start to roll.  What do you think?     

And when I say show time I mean that it's time to perform, produce and deliver in the playoffs for a change.  That's why it doesn't matter to me and it shouldn't matter to the Mavericks what seed they have or who they are going to play.  The Mavs are living prove that doesn't amount to a hill of beans.  Two years ago they blew the championship to Miami and then last year after winning 67 games during the regular season they were eliminated in the first round by the 8th seeded Golden State Warriors.  So, now is the time for Dallas.  I mean the Mavs have made the playoffs for eight years in a row and it's "show time" to win the championship.  I look to Jason Kidd to lead the way.......he'll get the ball to Dirk and Jet . There are those who still don't like the trade for Kidd but he's the point guard and he has to lead the way.  I think you're going to like what the Mavs end up doing this season.  

Okay, I'm back from vacation ... did you miss me? and I've taken a couple of days to get into the Rangers baseball season.  Game one... here we go again.  Game two... here we go again until the ninth inning when Josh Hamilton hits a game winning two-run homer against Seattle.  He's a superstar to be.  Hamilton is big (235 pounds), he has great speed and a big bat and a great attitude.  We all know about his drug and alcohol problems from his dark days.  But if he can keep those times in the past, he could bring so many brighter days for the himself and the Rangers in the future.  But then again, the Rangers still need good pitching... but Josh Hamilton (if healthy), will help make up for the lack of pitching in a big time way.  I had a chance to meet and talk with Josh at spring training and he impressed me with his athletic ability and his way of thinking.  Keep your fingers crossed for Hamilton and you're keeping your fingers crossed for the Texas Rangers this season.  A year that is not lost just yet.

On Tuesday I had the chance to attend Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson's book signing.  The name of his book is "Aspiring Higher", and he signed hundreds of copies at the Barnes and Noble in Lincoln Park.  But while Avery was talking to the media he said that he had challenged Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Erik Dampier, Josh Howard, Brandon Bass and the others on the team to keep playing strong when Dirk Nowitzki comes back to the squad.  In other words he was telling them that they have to be able to do that if this team makes the playoffs.  And when it gets to post season play the other team will take away as much as it can from your best player.  Sound advice from Avery and something the Mavericks must learn to do.  But can the Mavs even make the playoffs?

Okay, Dirk Nowitzki scored 35 points and had 11 rebounds on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers but it was in a losing effort.  And it was Dirk who took the final shot for the win and didn't make it.  He bobbled the pass and had to rush his shot and missed. It could happen to anybody but Dirk is suppose to be the Mavs' superstar and he has to show that...  I know that's easy for me to say ... but Nowitzki gets paid big bucks to come through in the crunch and for some reason he can't do that.  Last night it was he bobbled the pass and before he's stumbled or maybe he was fouled.  The fact of the matter is...  he hasn't produced like a superstar is suppose to in a big game against a great opponent.  Sure, he's hit big shots at the end of the game against lesser opponents but the Mavericks need this 29-year old veteran to do it now.  I like Dirk and he's a nice guy... but nice guys finish last or don't win the NBA finals.  Dirk we need you now but more importantly in the playoffs.  Nowitzki has to be the man or the trade for Jason KIdd and the others doesn't amount to a hill of beans.  If Dirk doesn't want to step up to the plate then give the ball to Jason Terry or Jerry Stackhouse but someone has to be the leader starting right now.... What do you think?

First of all, I Iike the Texas Longhorns chances but I don't think they can go all the way.  And Rick Barnes telling the fans in Little Rock to be nice to his team or there's a chance the Horns will pull out of their game in Fayetteville next season against the Hogs doesn't help....  they will get booed for sure now.  Can Texas A&M take care of UCLA if it comes to that in the second round?  I'm not sure Memphis is as good as most fans think but North Carolina is solid.  And so is Georgetown,  the team I predicted to win it all back in November and I'm sticking to that.  The games will probably be 62-61... halfcourt and boring at times but that's the way this team beats you.  They're tall but have a nice outside punch with their guards and they're mentally tough.  Don't base your bracket on mine but I'm sticking with Georgetown to win it all.  

Professional golfer John Daly says that maybe he should write a new song called, "It's not my fault".  But it probably is his fault most of the time.  John has been known to write songs and sing them from time to time.  But maybe the next song he sings should be the old Beatles tune called, "Help, I need somebody".  John does need somebody to help him get back on track with his life.  He said today that his life was upside down.  His former swing coach Butch Harmon fired him over the weekend, saying he was not going to waste his time with a two-time major champion who is more interested in drinking than working on his golf game.  Harmon added, "The most important thing to him is getting drunk".  Daly reportedly had a few at the PODS Championship and then missed Monday's tee time at an Arnold Palmer pro-am event and got disqualified.   I have known John Daly for years... we have the same home town of Dardanelle, Arkansas.  I've covered his career when he played golf for the Arkansas Razorbacks and then when he turned pro.  I've lost touch with John but  I've sent messages to his Dad... the last one when John got the shakes on television during a tournament.  Daly is scheduled to play in the Colonial and possibly the Byron Nelson this year in the Metroplex.  I look forward to following Daly and I'm hopeing he can get his life back together.  Right now it's not there but he's still a great golfer and a great person.  And because we graduated from the same High School... I'm still pulling for my "homeboy".  And tell me you wouldn't want to play a round of golf with him when he comes to town?