A Night of Chutes and Ladders

Remember how the Dallas Mavericks lost to the Washington Wizards the other night? The Lakers probably would have liked to play that team.

I understand the Lakers were without Pau Gasol. But that was one of the most impressive wins I can remember for the Mavericks against the Lake Show, especially at the Staples Center.

On the other surface, the Stars continued their woeful play at home with a disheartening 6-5 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers.

Yes, the Stars managed to fight back and earn a point. That doesn’t matter. A home game against the Florida Panthers has to be two points. Are the Sharks going to give a point away there? I don’t think so.

Each game in more detail after the jump.

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Cowboy Corner – Week 8 Betting Advice

NFL Week 8 | Cowboys-Seahawks Betting Advice

This week’s NFL odds for Week 8’s matchup are heavily backing the Cowboys against a visiting Seattle team coming off a bye week with something to prove. Can the ‘Boys make it three in a row?

NFL Week 8 – SEATTLE SEAHAWKS @ DALLAS COWBOYS

Sunday, November 1, 1:00 PM ET

Favorite: Dallas -9.5

Cowboys offense vs Seahawks defense

The Cowboys are second in the league in offense, and they’ve looked excellent as of late, especially Tony Romo, who has two 300-yard games in a row. The Romo-to-Miles Austin duo has been an unlikely killer, and Austin has pushed Roy Williams down the pecking order, even behind Patrick Crayton, who returned a punt back against Atlanta after complaining about his role in the offense. Romo threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns in last year’s 34-9 win over the Seahawks in Dallas, and Seattle is 16^th against the pass this year.

Cowboys defense vs Seahawks offense

The Seahawks are coming off a 27-3 loss to Arizona, so you know that Matt Hasselbeck will be eager to get back on track after the bye week. The Cowboys are 22^nd in the league in pass defense, but they did well against Matt Ryan and a very good Atlanta offense, holding them to 298 yards while sacking Ryan four times. The Seahawks may need to step their rushing attack up, as they had only 80 yards on the ground in last year’s loss to the Cowboys, and Dallas is 16^th in the NFL in that category.

Cowboys-Seahawks Outlook

These two have played eight times since 1992, splitting them at four apiece, but the Cowboys have won three of the meetings in Dallas. The Seahawks have had recent struggles on the road with eight losses in their last 10, which is why they’re such an underdog in your sportsbook. The Seattle offense will come out with fire, but Romo and the Cowboys are on a roll right now, and the Seahawks won’t have the defense to keep up with them in a high-scoring affair. Go with the Cowboys in your NFL picks.

Dallas Cowboys vs Seattle Seahawks

The Dallas Cowboys have shut up the critics for at least a week. Tony Romo and his new toy WR Miles Austin led the Cowboys to victory on Sunday. Austin scored 2 TDs for the second week in a row and caught 6 passes for 171 yards.

This week the Boys will face the Seattle Seahawks who have been up and down team this season. They racked up losses while their starting QB Matt Hasselbeck was out with a back injury so it is hard to gauge the Seahawks. With that said the Seahawks currently have the 23rd ranked offense and 12th ranked defense.

The Dallas Cowboys need another win this week, up next will be Philadelphia followed by Green Bay which will be to tough games for sure. The Cowboys looked good in the second half of last weeks game, the defense pushed the Falcons offense around and the offense used a balanced attack, 29 passing attempts and 28 rushing plays. Maybe Jason Garrett got the message that this team has some amazing running backs. Marion Barber and the Dallas Cowboy running backs did not have their most impressive game against the Falcons, but they were still effective. The Seahawks are an average defense against the run and pass so we should see another balanced offensive effort this week.

Gameday Information:

Cowboys-Seahawks Game Information
Cowboys – Seahawks Game Time: 12:00 Noon – Central Time
Cowboys – Seahawks Day / Date: Sunday – November 1 2009
Cowboys – Seahawks Location: Cowboys Stadium – Arlington TX
Cowboys – Seahawks TV Channel: FOX
Cowboys – Seahawks Announcers: Dick Stockton, Charles Davis, Nischelle Turner
Cowboys – Seahawks Betting:

• Odds, Spread, Advice
• Early Point Spread: Cowboys -9.5
• Early Over-Under: 45
• Cowboys – Seahawks Tickets:
  
  
• Cowboys Stadium Parking Information

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Ice Girls burning up the calories

Members of the Dallas Stars dance team pursue their craft and fitness journey

“Dancin’, dancin’, dancin’…she’s a dancing machine.” Not to quote Jackson 5’s blast from the past but have you noticed the hype around dancing? I’m not just talking hitting up the club and shaking it. I am talking about grueling, intense workouts that literally shave away inches and suck the pounds right out of the dancers. Our television sets have been flooded with dance competitions. One can’t help but notice the slender physique the dancers sport. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” participants are featured in magazines and entertainment news, sharing their weight loss success. The Oxygen network capitalized on all the dance hype by hosting a weight loss-geared show “Dance your Ass Off.” These are only a couple of the dance shows on the rise. Fitness clubs are following the trend as well, offering hip-hop and Latin dance classes to fend off the fat and tone up the bod. Regardless of the wonders dancing can do for the physical appearance; it can increase endurance and of course strengthen muscles. A common trend among all these dance steps is the core area being utilized. If you ever come to one of my fitness classes, you will hear me ranting about “keeping your tummy in.” By keeping that core tight, you are protecting your back from injury and helping keep your balance. Imagine trying to perform the salsa while not tightening up your abs.
Photo Courtesy of Crystal Clear Media / Dallas Stars

Listen to the Ice Girls on this Podcast

I decided it’s time to chat with some professional dancers right here in Dallas. So I called on our Dallas Stars Ice Girls to get the scoop on dancing and its many fitness benefits. Now I realize we are not all going to get out there and squeeze into a tiny dancer’s uniform, but I am interested to know how these ladies stay so trim.

“My favorite ways to stay fit are things I can do around my house,” Kaylynn said. “I’ve never been the type to go to the gym everyday, so instead I use the Wii Fit to work on core strength and flexibility. I love doing yoga to release stress and I force my overweight bagel (beagle/basset hound) to go run with me.”

That sounds easy enough, right? A good excuse to play a video game and spend some quality time with your pup. Kaylynn, who was a cheerleader on the television show Friday Night Lights, actually puts much more into her fitness routine than what she mentioned. That is simply the icing on the cake. In addition to her personal fitness routine, the Ice Girls practice every Sunday between three to six hours, as well as some Tuesday practices. Plus, they have seven home games a month.

“Hockey is one of the few sports that goes almost year round,” Kaylynn said. “So as an Ice Girl you prepare for tryouts over the summer by training in dance and skating. After the try-out process is complete, the real practice begins. We train on ice, working on skating drills and learning the patterns for the games as well as attend nightly dance practices where we do heavy conditioning and learn several routines.”

The commitment to Ice Girls involves time, dedication and an intense physical workout. What keeps these girls coming back for more?

“What motivates me to keep up with my fitness is my passion for dance,” Erin said. “In order to be a great dancer you not only have to have the dancer physique to keep up with your teammates, but to be confident in your own skin. If you don’t think and feel like you are the best out there, then you’re not. I can lose myself in dancing, and in order to do that I have to be in top physical shape to express myself. For just a minute, or the length of a song, all the stress and strain from everyday life dissolves and it’s just me and the music.”

Good news for you ladies out there who have had children. Erin is a fairly recent mother. After having her baby, she lost her pregnancy weight and then some. Hitting the gym, dance classes and eating healthy, her body became more toned and she is in the best shape of her life.

“If you set a goal and keep motivated, you will succeed,” Erin said. “I didn’t let myself use the excuse of having a child let my body go downhill. I used having a baby as an excuse to work even harder to get back in shape. It’s not just the people who seek plastic surgery or celebrities who are able to have a great body in months, anyone can do it. You just have to want it bad enough.”

There are many critics of dancing. Whether they truly don’t believe dancing is a sport or they are simply intimidated by the dance floor, there are some skeptics out there. Particularly when it comes to cheerleaders or dancers for sports teams.

“Dance is multi-dimensional in the meaning that it is not only an art, but a dancer is truly an athlete by the dedication, hard work, and talent that it demands,” Tracy, another Ice Girls teammate said. “As dancers, our tool for our sport is not a ball or bat, but our very own body. We use our stretching to perfect our leaps and kicks, our center and strong core for our turns, and without agility and strength none of this could be accomplished. Anytime I have been questioned with how dance and true athleticism relate I always want to ask the criticizer to show me a double pirouette, then to plop down in right splits, all while keeping a stage-ready smile on.”

A sassy answer. Any takers?

Regardless of the benefits dancing can have on the body’s physique, these ladies are proud to represent the Dallas Stars. They are a fixture in the community and part of Dallas culture.

“As an Ice Girl I get to be a part of something that’s bigger than me,” fellow Ice Girl, Katherine said. “We represent a high speed, high energy sport that is a blast to watch. The fan base for the Dallas Stars is incredible.”

Perhaps more importantly, these women have found true friendships and a way to serve their community in a positive way.

“When I tried out to be an Ice Girl I thought it was going to be like any other dance team,” Kaylynn said. “I had no idea it was going to impact my life the way it has. Being an Ice Girl has allowed me to become a role model in our community. We are able to interact with fans and we do numerous charity appearances. It has also allowed me to meet an amazing group of girls that have become my best friends.”

After chatting it up with the Ice Girls, let’s challenge ourselves to bring out that inner dancer. It may be intimidating at first, but eventually you will gain confidence and be able to cut loose. Grab a group of your friends and hit up the gym for a Zumba or Hip Hop Hustle class. You may feel a bit uncoordinated if dancing’s not your thing. But I can guarantee you will break a sweat, burn some calories and hopefully have a blast along the way.

Kimberly Westphall is a recent graduate of the University of Kansas where she majored in Journalism. She recently participated in a podcast with Jerod, which will help you get to know her even better.

While at KU, she was an anchor and online web producer for Jayhawk Sports Talk. Kimberly recently made her debut on Midwest Sports Fans discussing the fight between Kansas’ basketball and football teams.

She has a passion for fitness and is on the lookout for emerging fitness trends and workouts. Her favorite group exercise format is kickboxing, which she discusses in her first Blogging Fitness post today.

When she’s not hitting up the aerobics studio both as a participant and instructor, Kimberly is training for the 2010 Washington D.C. Marathon with her best friend Jackie.

Dallas Sports Roundup – October 27

Dallas Sports Roundup – October 27 2009

With World Series betting on most people’s minds, our Dallas Sports teams have taken a back seat this week. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of great news to report! Let’s see what’s new with the Mavericks, Stars and Rangers.

Dallas Mavericks

No matter what you think about the Dallas Mavericks’ chances this season, you have to admit the preseason was promising (as much as a preseason can be). At 5-2, the Mavs have the second-best preseason record in the West. Mark Cuban believes the team taking the floor to start the 2009-10 regular season this week is more talented than the Mavs squad that reached the 2006 NBA Finals. Jason Terry says these Mavs have the best chemistry of any team he’s played for.

After the Mavs brought in Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden and Tim Thomas it’s hard to deny their depth. However, Dallas needs Marion and Josh Howard to stay healthy to contend. It’s also worth noting that the Mavs’ competition got better too – especially San Antonio (by adding Richard Jefferson) and Portland (by their young guns maturing and the possibility of a full season from Greg Oden). Dallas should contend this season but it won’t be easy – just ask the Texas Rangers, whose World Series odds plummeted down the stretch this season thanks to brutal competition in the American League.

Dallas Stars

It’s been more of the same for the Stars (5-2-4) over the last week – they win and, when they don’t, they lose in overtime and still garner points. This young team is much tougher to play against than many online betting odds makers expected. James Neal continues to blossom as a sniper but many pundits felt it was only a matter of time before that happened.

The real story for the Stars is the renaissance of Marty Turco and Brad Richards. In his last chance to prove he can be an above-average starting netminder again, Turco is flourishing so far, posting 2.19 goals against average and .917 save percentage. Richards has regained the fine playmaking skills he showed in Tampa Bay, leading the team with 10 assists and 13 points in nine games.

Texas Rangers

After 15 years, hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo said goodbye to the Rangers this week to sign a big-money deal with the Cubs. Jaramillo was a big reason behind the many slugging Texas teams over the last decade and a half but, after the Rangers developed some bad free-swinging habits this season, the divorce may be best for all involved. The Rangers’ odds should improve next season according to sportsbooks like BetOnline.com.

Signs of The Force: Dallas Cowboys beat Atlanta Falcons 37-21

It’s not often the Dallas Cowboys come out and physically dominate a team. At least not recently.

But that’s what happened Sunday at the Death Star, as the ‘Boys beat and beat up the Atlanta Falcons, posting an impressive 37-21 win.

After a bye week in which it seemed that the Cowboys were forgotten by everyone around the NFL, this win is exactly what this team needed to make a statement to the rest of the league that yes, we are still here. We are one of the better teams in this conference and you have to bring your A-game to beat us.

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The “Bleak” State of Dallas Sports?

“All of your teams…kinda suck.”

A familiar refrain I hear uttered here in Cutler-world, referring to the curious state of Dallas sports.

There are worse places for sports fans right now (Sorry Buffalo. I know you’re going to have a ton of sympathy for a Dallas fan complaining about his team’s misfortunes.). That much I grant you.

But where exactly can we, the humble Dallas Sports Fans, look to for optimism in these gray days?

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Cowboy Corner – Week 7 | Betting Advice

Sportsbooks like BetOnline.com are rapidly downgrading the Cowboys’ odds to win it all this season. Let’s face it – America’s Team is a “weak” 3-2 compared to, say, the Philadelphia Eagles, who have the same record. For the Cowboys to get taken seriously again as playoff contenders, they’ll have to overcome a tough test against the Falcons this weekend.

NFL Week 7 – ATLANTA FALCONS @ DALLAS COWBOYS
Sunday, October 25, 4:15 p.m. ET
Favorite: Cowboys -4

Cowboys offense vs Falcons defense

As defendants, the Falcons have been pushed around like scared criminals on their first day in prison when it comes to the running game. Atlanta allows close to 120 yards per game and the Cowboys, whose offensive bread and butter has arguably been the running game in 2009, should have a big day. The Cowboys will throw a bit of everything at the Atlanta D-line: Marion Barber for power, returning Felix Jones for explosiveness and versatile Tashard Choice for a bit of everything.

No quarterback has totally torched the Atlanta pass defense but everyone has at least moved the ball decently, so Tony Romo’s NFL odds of succeeding are solid. Atlanta’s pass rush is puppy-dog-weak, so Romo should have plenty of time to hit Miles Austin downfield, as he did against the Chiefs two weeks ago.

Cowboys defense vs Falcons offense

There’s definitely reason to panic here. The Cowboys rank in the NFL’s bottom half in total defense, run defense and especially pass defense. That’s after facing Tampa Bay, Carolina and Kansas City plus the Giants and Denver. Arguably, the Giants are the only prolific offense Dallas has played; the Broncos rock but have dominated primarily through defense. If the Cowboys struggle to stop weaker offenses, it’s scary to imagine what the high-octane Falcons can do.

The Cowboys have lost their pass rushing ability after leading the league in that regard last season. If any Joe Blow Fafone can throw on the Cowboys, Matt Ryan could put on a show with favorite targets Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White. If the Cowboys’ pass defense buckles down – and it has in recent weeks – Ryan can still hand off to bruising Michael Turner. Dallas needs its best defensive performance of the season to stay competitive.

Outlook

In this disappointing season, the Cowboys need to earn back our trust. Unfortunately, the Falcons look like a better football team right now – just like the Yankees’ World Series odds over the Angels. I think they’ll edge Dallas in a hard-fought affair this Sunday with Matt Ryan making the difference.

Spread provided by BetOnline.com

Big 12 College Football TV Schedule – Week 8

Big 12 football kicks off week 8 with five match-ups on TV this Saturday. The game to watch this week will be between the injury ridden Oklahoma Sooners and (21) Kansas. Sam Bradford will be sidelined again, he injured his shoulder during the Red River Rivalry last week. The Big 12 North Division is currently led Kansas State, while Texas leads the Big 12 South Division.

Oklahoma at (21) Kansas
Oklahoma fell out of the BCS standings after last weeks loss to (3) Texas and Sam Bradford is out for this weeks match-up against Kansas. Oklahoma leads this series 67 – 27 – 6 and the Sooners beat Kansas last year in Norman 45 – 31.

Oklahoma-Kansas Location: Memorial Stadium – Lawrence KS
Oklahoma-Kansas Day / Date: Saturday – October 24 2009
Oklahoma-Kansas Time: 2:30 PM Central Time
Oklahoma-Kansas TV Channel: ABC
Oklahoma-Kansas Tickets:

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(3) Texas at Missouri
Texas travels to Missouri this week to defend this seasons perfect record and their chance at the BCS Championship. Texas beat Missouri in Austin last year 56 – 31 and leads the series 16 – 5.

Texas-Missouri Location: Memorial Stadium – Columbia MO
Texas-Missouri Day / Date: Saturday – October 24 2009
Texas-Missouri Time: 7:00 PM Central Time
Texas-Missouri TV Channel: ABC
Texas-Missouri Tickets:

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Dallas Sports Roundup – October 20

Dallas Sports Roundup – October 20 2009

The Texas Rangers’ World Series odds slip to the back of our minds as we watch their competition compete in the ALCS, so Dallas Sports fans’ focus turns to the hardwood and the ice this week. Let’s chase down our teams and see what’s new.

Dallas Mavericks

The preseason news is good for the Mavs, as they’ve now won four straight games. Plenty of things are looking up for the Mavs. Not fulfilling World Championship, Olympic or German National team obligations for the first time in years, Dirk Nowitzki is fresh as can be. He’s shooting 63 per cent from the floor. Online betting fans will warn you that stats like those don’t matter, but it’s certainly encouraging to see Dirk rejuvenated.

The Mavs even have a special plan to get the most out of Erik Dampier and Drew Gooden, who are penciled in as “co-starters” at center. Head coach Rick Carlisle plans to play Dampier against the giants and Gooden against average-sized centers.

Dallas Stars

The Stars aren’t perfect like the Broncos’ NFL odds but they’re pesky so far, opening the year 3-2-3. Blended between disappointing losses to L.A. and Boston were a 6-0 beating of the Nashville Predators and a very impressive 4-3 win at Chicago. Thanks to a mix of veteran and youth offense, the Stars are averaging more than three goals per game. Brenden Morrow and Brad Richards are bouncing back to elite scoring levels after missing time to injury last year; Mike Ribeiro seems poised to produce at a point-per-game clip for the third straight year; youngsters Jamie Benn and James Neal continue to surprise, each tallying seven points in eight games.

The news isn’t all good; longtime Dallas stalwarts and Stanley Cup champions Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen both landed on injured reserve this week – Modano with a rib injury and Lehtinen with a groin injury.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers are determined to boost their World Series odds for next year and have already started working on 2010. They sent blue-chip pitcher Derek Holland to Japan to help court Japanese pitching prospect Yusei Kikuchi, an 18-year-old whose electric arsenal reportedly includes 96 MPH heat.

Kikuchi reportedly showed genuine interest in pitching for a Major League Club and Holland said he felt the meeting went well. Only time will tell if the Rangers add Japanese flavor to their rotation for next season.

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