Can't Buy a Ring

I am learning more and more that you can not buy a Championship Ring.

You can look at the New York Yankees, Washington Redskins, Boston Red Sox, and now, the Miami Heat.

They did what every NBA team wishes it could do. They added LeBron James and Chris Bosh to Dwayne Wade. Championship, Right???

WRONG!!!!!!!!

Basketball is the closest there is to an individual sport. The Cleveland Cavaliers were a contender with James. Miami was a playoff team with Wade, and Toronto, well, Toronto has stunk no matter who was on the roster.

It is a little surprising to me that they are hovering around .500. They don't seem to be jelling together.

I know, I know. The original Dream Team did it, but that was because they worked as a team. Nobody on that team cared who scored the most. They wanted gold, and nothing was going to stop them. Look at other Olympic Years. Our teams have been losing. We finally started winning again when the US Team put more emphasis on roles than just getting the best players.

LaBron was the man in Cleveland. Bosh was the man in Toronto. Wade was the man in Miami. So, whose team is it?

LeBron is the best player. Wade is the best team player. Bosh understands that he is a rebounder. They just don't seem to mesh with each other.

The other problem is the fact that there is no bench. If any of the 3 have to come out or get in foul trouble, they are history.

A prime example was on Saturday night against my Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs were playing there fourth game in five nights. They were tired. But, they were at home. The game was close for three and a half quarters, and then the Mavs took off. Caron Butler and Tyson Chandlar were killing the Heat inside and out. The Heat were the team that ran out of gas.

My opinion, the Heat should have signed Bosh and then used the other $15.5 million on a better supporting cast.

The biggest mistake this group made, was that they should have all said it together. With LeBron doing "The Decision," he looks like a tool. All that did was make every other team want to beat the Heat, and as of right now, almost everyone is.

I do think the Heat will turn it around and be a solid playoff team, but as of right now, they are way behind the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics.

Pat Riley, you tried to buy a team, and you lost. You should have known better from your Laker days.

As always, I would love to hear from you. Send it to john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com.

Peace, John Conner

Red Headed Jesus to the Rescue

Is that really all it took?

Push Wade aside, and let the "Red headed Jesus" take over.

Jason Garrett is now 1-0 as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

The offensive philosophy stayed the same, as Garrett still called the plays, but it looked as if the team decided to run the ball more. Felix Jones looked good early, and Marion Barber looked good finishing the game. In between, Jon Kitna looked 28, not 38, and Dez Bryant looked All-Pro.

The defense still has some holes, but made stops when they had to.

The biggest difference to me, was the fact that the Cowboys only had 5 or 6 penalties. They won the turnover battle with the Giants, and mostly importantly, won a division game on the road.

Now, this team is a long ways away from doing anything, but they have to start somewhere.

The practices were run a little stricter, and guys were held accountable.

I keep reminding myself that it is only 1 game, but just imagine if Garrett would have been in place all year. You could see the team turning on Wade in training camp, and the team came out flat.

Now, Garrett gets his shot. People, including myself, have been calling for Bill Cowher or Jim Harbough, but if the team plays like this for Garrett, then keep him.

There are 7 more games to see what Jason can do, but when Buffalo won their first game today, I got a little excited thinking that our draft position improved. But watching the team today, I will gladly give up draft spots for wins.

This team is getting a reality slap right to the face, and they deserve it. But at the same time, this roster has talent. If they have found the right guy to lead this talent, then the wins will come.

I know, I have to keep telling myself it is just 1 game, but what a great 1 game it was.

Like always, I would love to hear from you. Send it to john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com.

Peace, John Conner

I love DFW

Since the Dallas Cowboys have decided to totally stink it up this year, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on my teams.

Even though the Cowboys are crappy, Jerry Jones is a good owner. Nobody is the world of sports wants to win as much as Jerry. Now, Jerry the general manager, needs an ass-whipping, but Jerry the owner is great.

Now that Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan own the Texas Rangers, I don't think there is any doubt that they will be competitive year in and year out.

Mark Cuban lives and breathes Dallas Mavericks. He is more passionate about his team than anyone.

The one thing these 3 have in common, is their love for the fans. Cuban and Greenberg have come out and said that they want the fan to have a new experience every time they see a game live. Jerry has used a lot of his own money to build one of the greatest structures ever built.

Tom Hicks, on the other hand, well, at least he sold the Rangers and is trying to sell the Dallas Stars.

I think sometimes we forget how good we have it in the metroplex.

Right now, The Mavericks and Stars both have winning records and the Rangers are coming off a World Series. The team with the most hype, Cowboys, are the only ones underachieving.

So what.

Every now and then, your team is gonna stink. But take the Cowboys out of the equation and throw in college football.

SMU is on the rise with June Jones and TCU is putting together a season that looks like it will end in the national championship game.

All in all, it is pretty great right now in DFW.

And what is really different right now?

Even if the Cowboys were 7-1, fans would be pointing out what was wrong with the team.

I would love to hear from you. Send it to john@bigbadsortsdaddy.com.

Peace, John Conner