Cowboys vs. Packers

The only other time I posted about a Cowboys game, the 'boys lost. So, I am not sure if saying the 'boys will win or lose is all that good of an idea, but the game is tomorrow and I just got my DSL back up (again), so I wanted to post something. The Rangers are very quiet right now in the free agent market, in the trade market, and in just about everything noise could be made, they are quiet. I will hopefully be posting information about this year's Newberg report signing tomorrow, I've been sitting on it for a couple of days and just haven't got it done. The cover looks cool, but I won't be going this year due to scheduling conflicts. And that just sucks because I love going to it. Anyway, onto the Pack and 'boys game.

Now, I want the Cowboys to win for a number of reasons. One, I have a friend who is a Brett Farve fan and he constantly slams my 'boys, so I want Farve to get sacked about a dozen times, if for anything to stick it to my friend. Another reason, I am a Cowboys fan, and that really is all I have to say, especially since Carolina is limping along. But, if I have to give statistical reasons, then I guess I have to... but for sake of the game, I won't come out and say the 'boys are going to win, because it stung after New England stuck it to us... at least it won't be two-fold with a predicted win turns into a loss. It's bad enough the Rangers keep doing it to me.

Irregardless of what happens Thursday, the Cowboys are going to win out the rest of the season. Period. I guess the only reason they wouldn't is if Romo thinks the Superbowl will be in Henrietta, OK this year, and if that happens, it could be bad news for the 'boys. Same with the Packers, they should win out the rest of the season after Thursday. They have about an easy schedule as they come, so even if Farve gets a concussion, they should do fine (and just to clarify, Romo and Farve do not currently have concussions).

As always, I get to use a "stock line" and say that the defense that has a better day will take this one. Pass offense is the key and the quarterback is the key to the pass offense. If Romo or Farve have an all-star day tomorrow, then that will be the team that will win. The Cowboys are more fortunate because they can balance the pass with the run, whereas the Packers do not have all that great of a running game. That will make them a little more one-dimensional and you gotta believe that the 'boys defense is planning for that.

Now, as I have all ready mentioned, the Cowboys have lost to the Patriots earlier this season. The Packers only loss came to Chicago in week 5. The Packers have won their last 6 games and have not lost on the road. Farve has 7 games of 300 yards or more in passing this season. The Packers have also won games against the Eagles, Redskins and Giants and are going for a sweep of the NFC East tomorrow. The Packers are also on a streak of four games with more than 30 points. Grant has been a key to their rushing game, having three of the last five games of over 100 yards. Still, don't look for too much of a big game from him tomorrow, as he has also had some not so great games. Farve has never won at Texas Stadium.

The Cowboys are 5-1 at home this season, the loss to New England, and Romo has five game this season of over 300 yards passing. The Cowboys have won their last five games and four of those Owens has over 100 yards reciving, two in which he compiled over 170 yards. In like opponents, the Cowboys have beaten everyone the Packers have played, including the Bears, where the Cowboys won 34-10 and the packers lost by a touchdown, 27-20. The Packers did have to go to overtime in one game, the Broncos before winning. They can perform in the clutch, as do the Cowboys, who seem to be a second half team. If the Cowboys fall into a large whole by halftime, it could mean too much for them to overcome. Romo is thought of as a comeback kid around Dallas. Farve has already establinshed himself as a Hall of Famer.

One last thought, I have spoken to a few "Packers fans" and they are already saying the Cowboys will more than likely win this game... now we just need to convince Green Bay of that very thing. Johnny Out.

A Letter from Brother to Sister

Hi Sue,
Just another note from your bottom-dwelling brother. Last week I had a bad day at the office. I know you've been feeling down lately at work, so I thought I would share my dilemma with you to make you realize it's not so bad after all. Before I can tell you what happened to me, I first must bore you with a few technicalities of my job. As you know, my office lies at the bottom of the sea. I wear a suit to the office. It's a wetsuit. This time of year the water is quite cool, so what we do to keep warm is this: We have a diesel powered industrial water heater. This $20,000 piece of equipment sucks the water out of the sea. It heats it to a delightful temperature. It then pumps it down to the diver through a garden hose, which is taped to the air hose. Now this sounds like a darn good plan, and I've used it several times with no complaints. What I do, when I get to the bottom and start working, is take the hose and stuff it down the back of my wetsuit. This floods my whole suit with warm water. It's like working in a Jacuzzi.

Everything was going well until all of a sudden, my butt started to itch. So, of course, I scratched it. This only made things worse. Within a few seconds my butt started to burn so I pulled the hose out from my back, but the damage was done. In agony I realized what had happened. The hot water machine had sucked up a jellyfish and pumped it into my suit. Now, since I don't have any hair on my back, the jellyfish couldn't stick to it. However, the crack of my butt was not as fortunate. When I scratched what I thought was an itch, I was actually grinding the jellyfish into the crack of my butt. I informed the dive supervisor of my dilemma over the communicator. His instructions were unclear due to the fact that he, along with five other divers, were all laughing hysterically.

Needless to say I aborted the dive. I was instructed to make three agonizing in-water decompression stops totaling thirty-five minutes before I could reach the surface to begin my chamber dry decompression.

When I arrived at the surface, I was wearing nothing but my brass helmet.

As I climbed out of the water, the medic, with tears of laughter running down his face, handed me a tube of cream and told me to rub it on my butt as soon as I got in the chamber. The cream put the fire out, but I couldn't poop for two days because my butt was swollen shut.

So, next time you're having a bad day at work, think about how much worse it would be if you had a jellyfish shoved up your butt.

Totally not related to baseball (or sports, for that matter), but very funny and it puts a bad day into perspective. Johnny Out.

2008 Texas Ranger Schedule

Just glancing over this schedule, I see that the Rangers still have a number of "two-gamers"... and it's almost right out of the shoot. They play the Angels for two on 4/15 & 16, and then go all the way to Toronto for two. And that is almost it for two-gamers until September when they play in Seattle for two games on 9/9 & 10. They have a whole bunch of four game series this year, way more than I ever remember them playing. I think that's smart and saves on expenses on travel. In April, they play 20 games in 20 days and that is the only time they have scheduled for something like that.

• Three two game series (two of the three are away from home)
• Fourty three gamers in 2008
• Nine times the Rangers experience a four game series in 2008

Now, the longest road trip is ten games which is toward the end of May from 5/19 to 5/28. The Rangers also experience two nine game series which are in 4/16 to 4/24 and in July from 7/18 to 7/27.

Now, the longest homestand is eleven games from 7/28 to 8/7 (right after a nine game trip). The Rangers also have another ten game homestand from 5/30 to 6/8 (right after the longest road trip). They have a nine game homestand in May, in August, and in September. I like this schedule. If the Rangers are going to experience success, I think it will be because of a strong schedule. Of course, they are going to have to play well... but at least the schedule won't be a product of frustration.

2007 Toys for Tots Toy Drive Celebration

2007 Toys for Tots Toy Drive Celebration

Ian Kinsler and his wife Tess along with the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation have joined forces with the USMCR Toys for Tots to collect toys. This year’s toy drive will benefit Toys for Tots and the families of North Texas. The holiday drive will conclude with a special Toys for Tots Toy Drive Celebration on Thursday, December 13, from 5:00-7:30 p.m. in Vandergriff Plaza at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Fans may access the event through the Majestic Grand Slam Gift Shop. Toys for Tots Toy Drive Celebration will feature autographs, refreshments, caroling, Santa, Rangers Captain, face painting and much more! Admission is complimentary, but fans are encouraged to bring toys to help the families of North Texas. Toys can also be dropped off at the Majestic Grand Slam Gift Shop at the ballpark Monday through Friday, November 26 through Thursday, December 13. For more information, call 817-273-5207.

A-Rod to the Mud Hens

I saw this story and HAD to post it here!

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) -- Alex Rodríguez a Mud Hen?

Spurred by an offhand remark from George Steinbrenner's son, the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens want in on the A-Rod sweepstakes.

The Mud Hens playfully offered the prize free agent a deal Thursday -- a contract proposal that includes a bonus for hitting 75 home runs next year and leading them to 10 straight International League titles.

Rodriguez recently opted out of his $252 million, 10-year contract with the New York Yankees. That prompted Hank Steinbrenner, son of the Yankees owner, to tell the New York Times: "Does he want to go into the Hall of Fame as a Yankee, or a Toledo Mud Hen?"

The Mud Hens conjured up an offer to find out, said Jason Griffin, a spokesman for the Detroit Tigers' top farm team.

Toledo created a Hall of Fame plaque of Rodriguez wearing a Mud Hens hat and sent a letter to his agent, Scott Boras.

The deal stipulates that Rodriguez will have to compete for a spot with Toledo third basemen Mike Hessman, the league's most valuable player last season.

"Would your client be willing to play a different position?" the letter asked.

OK, A-Rod hasn't signed yet... but I like the chances!

Texas Ranger Free Agents

OK, so I've already looked at the pitchers... at least the ones who were sure-thing free agents and didn't have any options. I already have seen that the options aren't being picked up on a number of agents. And that's the considering that both the players and teams are walking away from each other. I don't want it to sound that just the team is turning away. I'm glad A-Fraud is walking away from the Yankee's. That opens up more money for the Rangers. AH... the Ranger's free agents...

1. Jerry Hairston, Jr.
2. Sammy Sosa
3. Brad Wilkerson

Free Agents 2007 is a website to go to if you want to check out all the free agents in 2007. Those three are it for the Rangers. I've read somewhere that Hairston will not be back. The Rangers have lost interest in him. I HOPE Wilkerson is gone. Sosa, well it's just hard to say. I would like to see him back, however, I do not seeing him taking a part-time job. Benoit and Rudy are signed for two more seasons. I just got an email from Newberg that the book-signing will be coming up soon, however, there is no date set just yet. I will post that when it comes along. Johnny Out.