Whether you’re at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt’s End …
*Russell Wilson is now the highest-paid player in the NFL. What does that mean for Dak Prescott? That he is poised to remain the league’s biggest, most expensive enigma. He’s durable. He doesn’t throw receivers open. He’s a winner. He lacks pocket presence. He produces touchdowns. He’s inaccurate. He’s … worth $30 million a year? Like you, when asked if Dak is a franchise quarterback that can lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl, my first reaction is to sigh, hesitate and eternally ponder. If you look at his first three years in the NFL compared to Wilson’s first three, seems the answer is a resounding yes. Through three years, Prescott had more passing yards, a higher completion percentage, fewer interceptions and more rushing touchdowns. He went 32-16, to Wilson’s 36-12. The difference, of course, is that Wilson led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl. Can Dak do it? That is indeed the $30 million question.
*I know the Dallas Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999 and lost in the Finals in 2000, but are we sure they’ve ever played a better 13 minutes of hockey than in Wednesday’s 5-1 win over the Predators? The Stars came out like they chased a line of cocaine with two Red Bulls and an Adderall. Forced three power plays and took a 4-0 lead before some of the crowd at AAC found their seats.
*So how did Dirk Nowitzki spend his first weekend of retirement? Drinking red wine and eating cake. Sounds fun and all, but he’s 40, not 80. My bet is that Dirk, who has been training since he was 8, will be back in the gym doing something before Memorial Day. Just hard to go cold turkey on a workout gene that’s obviously in his DNA.
*I realize the NFL and TV networks want to garner big ratings from their biggest markets in Week 1, but the Cowboys opening at home against the New York Giants for the fifth time in seven years is bonkers. It’s as though there’s a glitch in The Matrix. Also no consecutive home games, which is kinda wonky. Cole Beasley’s return on Thanksgiving could be juicy, though.
*It’s way early, but the Rangers keep surprising us. Three games over .500 after a sweep of the Angels in which they outscored Anaheim, 22-11. Something else I didn’t think we’d see all season: a three-hit shutout by a Rangers starter. Take a bow, Mike Minor.
*I watched BTS on SNL last week and now, more than ever, I feel old, outta touch and absolutely fine with it.
*When writers are at their dorky worst, they offer a game-by-game schedule prediction of an NFL team a week before the draft. (Cowboys go 9-7. Signed, Dork.)
*So while Jesus was dying for our sins on the cross, these rabbits hopped up and were like “Dude, this is sad … hey, where you’d hide our candy?” And then somehow … eggs? None of it makes any sense. But Happy Easter, nonetheless.
*Today should be Fantastic Friday, not Good Friday. Because aren’t all Fridays great already? I mean, even the worst Fridays are good.
*Is it just me or are hockey fans just as excited about Jan. 1’s Winter Classic featuring the Stars-Predators as they are this year’s first-round playoff series featuring the Stars-Predators? Tickets for the 2020 game go on sale Tuesday, and this entertaining, competitive series is the perfect advertisement. Dirk showing up to Game 3 and Dak at Game 4 helps the Stars’ “it factor” immensely. A series win would do even more.
*Best news out of Cowboys’ voluntary workouts? Center Travis Frederick is back to doing “football things.”
*Never got into marijuana. Only sensation I’ve ever gotten has been a harsh cough. But tomorrow’s 4.20 so, Happy Easter nonetheless?
*Okay, I’ve had it up to here with pickup drivers inconveniencing the rest of us while they back into parking spots. Backup-angle-backup-anglesomemore-backup-angle-backup. It’s like that scene with Austin Powers and the golf cart in the tight corridor. Happens every morning in the parking garage of my gym. It’s not always a white truck and it’s not always an old, white guy with facial hair, but more times than not, yup. I honestly don’t get it. Whether it’s a macho, ego thing or an attempt at an easier pull-out escape route, it’s rude to keep the world waiting while you take multiple attempts to back your truck into a space. Here’s the rule: If you can’t quickly and conveniently pull into a space forward, either learn to drive better or perhaps get a smaller vehicle. Thank you in advance.
*If he’s truly a “changed” man – and we know he’s not – Tiger Woods will turn down the Medal of Freedom from President Trump. Why? Because Trump is a known cheat at golf, and a guy who boasted that golf “should be for the elite only.” Last time I checked, that is in direct conflict with the Tiger Woods Foundation, whose mission it is to provide inner-city kids with a chance to get on a course.
*Something delightful about the arrest of Julian Assange. I guess it’s the satisfaction of an anonymous internet troll being dragged into the daylight. We probably all have a list of user names we’d like to “meet,” or at least see be exposed.
*Predicting the weather isn’t unlike trying to predict sports. At your disposal, you have stats and research and trends and likelihoods, but sometimes swing-and-miss sportswriters like me predict Pat Mahomes will be an NFL bust and sometimes – like Wednesday night – Metroplex weatherpeeps predict hail, fire and brimstone that causes DFW events to cancel. And then you sleep through the night and wake up to discover we experienced merely a garden-variety spring thunderstorm, sans hail. It’s called a whiff, and we all make ’em. If I was a DFW weatherperson I’d offer only four default forecasts: Cold in the winter with a 10% chance of wintry mix. Mild in the spring with a 46% of rain. Summer-Fall: Effin’ hot.
*Cowboys’ running back Rod Smith is leaving. Look for Dallas to draft Zeke’s new backup in next week’s fourth round. Names to keep handy: Alabama’s Damien Harris and Texas A&M’s Trayveon Williams.
*Respect: People who find time in their schedule when you need them. Love: People who never look at their schedule when you need them.
*I wrote a “God in Sports” column this week that got me to thinking: Is church still as “popular” as it was when I was a kid? Answer: Nope. In the past 20 years the number of Americans that say they regularly attend worship services has dropped 20 percent, while those that say they have no religious beliefs has risen from 8 percent to 19 percent. But Happy Easter, nonetheless.
*This weekend? Finally, a sunny Saturday in our forecast. Tennis tournament Saturday. Chillin’ with the Easter Bunny Sunday. As always, don’t be a stranger.
