Whether you’re at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt’s End …
*Vomit. One of the most sickening images I’ve seen in DFW sports occurred Wednesday night: Dirk Nowitzki exchanging jerseys and posing for a smiling photo with a villain I will neither forgive nor forget – Dwyane Wade. As if we needed more proof, Dirk is a much bigger, better person than I. Because apparently he’s done something I can’t: Shake off Wade’s flopping in 2006 and his mocking in 2011. In the ’06 Finals, Wade – as he did most of his career – literally, blatantly fell to the court in an attempt to draw phantom fouls. And it worked, time and time again. I covered that series and vividly remember – repeatedly – Wade shooting a jumper over Adrian Griffin and, without being touched, collapsing to the floor and then slowly strutting to the line to shoot unearned free throws. Wade was James Harden way before James Harden. In six games of the 2006 Finals, he shot 97 free throws. In six games. No player has ever attempted more, even in a seven-game Finals. No. 2 in FTAs in that series was Dirk, with only 55. While we can blame referees Bennett Salvatore and Jack Needs, I put it on Wade. His constant flopping – the lowest form of cheating – was an admission that he couldn’t beat the Mavs fair and square, so he resorted to stealing points via faking being fouled. And in 2011 who can forget Wade and LeBron James walking into American Airlines Center before Game 3, mugging for cameras and cracking each other up while fake coughing? It was clearly a mocking of Dirk, who played Game 2 less than 100 percent and was questionable for Game 3 with the flu. From the constant thespian routine to once leaving the court via wheelchair and his making fun of a competitor’s genuine illness, Wade is one of the most disingenuous and despicable players in the history of the NBA. Beating him in the 2011 Finals was sweet revenge, but Mavs fans who endured 2006 can’t help but feel there should be two banners hanging from the AAC rafters. Now, having Wade linked to Dirk in any way makes me nauseous. And to those about to crow “Let it go!” my direction: It’s not in my DNA. I cherish accountability for actions then, now and forever. Just ask my ex-wife.
*It is a complete travesty that the Rangers this year will retire Adrian Beltre’s number … before Michael Young’s. This is not a knock against Beltre. He’s a deserving Hall of Famer. Great player and good guy that played well, played hard and always had fun. Just, to me, he always felt like a guy on the downside of his career in Arlington. A player who did the bulk of his epic damage in other uniforms. Beltre produced only 40 percent of his career (eight of his 21 seasons) as a Ranger. Maybe we’re just spoiled by Dirk playing every second as a Maverick. Point is, I don’t have a problem with the Rangers retiring Beltre’s No. 29. But he shouldn’t get the honor before Young’s No. 10. Young produced 95 percent of his 14-year career as a Ranger. He was a batting champ, All-Star MVP, Gold Glove winner that did everything from being the spokesman for horrible teams to playing on both World Series squads. He even switched positions for the good of the organization – twice – moving from shortstop to second for Alex Rodriquez and later from shortstop to third base for Elvis Andrus. You can’t look at a Rangers record book and not see Young’s impact and influence. He’s the all-time leader in games played, at-bats, singles, doubles, triples, hits, total bases, runs scored and sacrifice flies. He’s top 10 in average, homers and RBI. Proving he was around a long time, he’s also the franchise leader in strikeouts and hitting into double plays. Young did just as much for the Rangers as Brad Davis, Derek Harper and Rolando Blackman did for the Mavericks, and their numbers have long hung from atop Reunion Arena/American Airlines Center. Here’s hoping the Rangers are saving the occasion for next year’s old-to-new ballpark transition. Because, as good as Beltre was, it’s criminal that 29 is getting retired before 10.
*Jason Garrett has been an NFL coach for nine seasons, but his coaching “tree” has yet to sprout even one sapling. Of the countless assistants on Garrett’s various staffs, not a one has risen to a head coaching job. Speaks volumes. On multiple levels.
*For most of us sane folks, an emergency isn’t something you arbitrarily decide. An emergency is something that finds you, and causes you to drop what you’re doing and take immediate action. But to our current President, an “emergency” is just a prop. A tool used to attempt to fix a broken promise, and build a wall that the American people and Congress have repeatedly indicated they do not want or need. If illegal border crossings were truly an emergency, why didn’t Trump declare them as such before he shut down the government or, oh I dunno, his first day in office? Because statistics show that crossings are at the same level as in 1973 and 2010. In 2000, there were 1.6 million apprehensions at our southern border; only 400,000 in 2018. There is nothing – other than a fear-mongering talking point aimed at scaring the uneducated about some fantasy invasion of brown people – to suggest illegal immigration is a Top 10 problem in America, much less an emergency. You want an authentic emergency? There were 39,773 gun deaths in America in 2017, highest in 50 years. Statistics clearly indicate that Americans are more likely to be killed by a citizen with a gun than an illegal immigrant with a desire for a better life. Specific deaths rise to their highest level in 50 years? An emergency. Immigration on par with levels from almost 50 years ago? At ease.
*Just 70 percent through his rookie season, Luka Doncic is already an NBA sensation and, slightly less important but still interesting, one of the best DFW athletes to ever wear the unique uniform number of 77. (Doncic, by the way, wears the number because his favorite player – former EuroLeague MVP, champ and 2004 Mavs’ draft choice Vassilis Spanoulis – wore No. 7.) Not surprisingly, Doncic is the first Mav to wear 77. Only thing close is knucklehead Dennis Rodman and his No. 70. Two Stars have worn the number: Pierre Turgeon and Matthew Barnaby. Turgeon was a productive player from 2002-04 (second in assists, fourth in scoring), but was at the tail end of his career. The Rangers have sent a couple of 77s to the mound in Jack Armstrong in ’94 and Luke Jackson ’16. It’s the Cowboys, of course, that own the number. Tyron Smith is a two-time All-Pro that’s been to six Pro Bowls and won two playoff games. Before him, Jim Jeffcoat played in Dallas for 12 years, winning two Super Bowl rings and recording 94 sacks. Offensive linemen Solomon Page and Torrin Tucker were solid starters for short stints. Current 77 DFW Rankings: 1. Tyron Smith; 2. Jim Jeffcoat; 3. Luka Doncic; 4. Pierre Turgeon. At his current pace, however, Luka will eventually own the number.
*Spring hopes eternal and all those warm-and-fuzzies and, I’m trying to be optimistic about the Rangers. But … the pitching. My God, the pitching. There are 30 MLB teams. Last year their staff finished 29th in ERA, 29th in opponents’ batting average and 30th in strikeouts. This year’s starting rotation candidates include Edinson Volquez, Mike Minor, Lance Lynn, Shawn Kelley, Shelby Miller, Drew Smyly and Jeffery Springs. Going to Surprise in a couple weeks for a first-hand look, but on paper … yikes.
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*I hereby declare that the day after the forced, farcical Valentine’s Day should be Vilify’s Day. A therapeutic time in which we re-calibrate feelings by airing grievances, communicating frustrations, conducting slander and perhaps even sending a pissy text or a dead bouquet to that unspecial someone. Who couldn’t use a good detox of the soul by expressing anger? Some of us need it every damn Friday.
*Caught a couple plays of the Alliance of American Football last weekend. Not horrible. Best innovation: The replay official was mic’d up. Hearing them talk through replays and make decisions was fascinating. NFL should steal this. Now. If the AAF wants to make a real splash, it should recruit a quarterback named Colin Kaepernick.
*I hate to interrupt DFW’s Luka circle-jerk, but – like we all did at age 19 – he needs someone to keep his ego in check. Our gushing lovefest is warranted. But you can already see his flare for the dramatic and love for entertainment. Gesturing after baskets and whatnot. That’s fine, part of today’s NBA. But Luka is already an all-NBA whiner. I mean, he complains to refs after every call and/or non-call. He’s already surpassed Dirk and is headed toward Tim Duncan. But most troubling was Wednesday night against the Heat when it appeared to me as though he was selfishly angling for a triple-double in a blowout loss to the Heat. Needing one assist to the individual achievement, he was openly admonishing teammates for a couple of blown layups off his passes. Individual agendas amid a team failure leads to horrible optics.
*Let’s be honest, the Grammy’s present awards for a bunch of nonsense. “Best Composition of a Non-Classical Production (Visual)”. I mean, seriously, what the what is that? But the most confounding has to be something called “Album Notes.” Best I can determine, these are literally notes – fun facts, etc. – written by someone other than the artist or musician that actually performed the music in the album. It would be like, for a severe stretch of an example, someone winning a Pulitzer for their critique of Whitt’s End. How are “Album Notes” considered a musical award and not a writing award? It’s content consumed by reading, not listening. Even more bizarre, one of this year’s nominees wrote their notes on albums that were released as far back as – I kid you not – 1891. Sounds more like college research project than a Grammy achievement.
*NBA All-Star Weekend has become trite and mostly meaningless. But Dirk’s final appearance in the 3-point contest is must-see TV. Can’t imagine anyone on the planet not rooting for him.
*Further, sad proof that print media is going the way of airplane leg room and pay phones: Texas Monthly magazine recently slashed 20 percent of its editorial staff and will now publish 10 issues a year. You heard me. Texas MONTHLY is no longer monthly. Also, for the first time in its history, the New York Times’ digital revenue surpassed its print advertising.
*Some people stubbornly deny climate change. Others ignorantly confuse weather (short-term fluctuations) with climate (long-term averages). Either way, a reasonable person has to agree that this is troubling: The World Meteorological Organization has tracked temperatures around the globe since the early 1800s. The four warmest years on Earth: 2016, 2015, 2017 and 2018. Recent Polar Vortex be damned, we are dangerously heating up.
*This weekend? Finally, some decenti(ish) weekend weather. Saturday and Sunday are for another tennis tournament, this time with little to no thawing out required. Let’s also mix in some NBA All-Star Weekend. As always, don’t be a stranger.