Whether you’re at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt’s End …
*As I watched Danny Santana hit yet another homer Wednesday night – his fifth in seven games – it diverted me to a sorta related thought: Why are the Rangers disrespecting Ron Washington? Santana, of course, is doing Wash’s old No. 38 proud. But, by my thinking, that number should already be retired and the former manager should already be in the team’s Hall of Fame. Don’t get me wrong, Johnny Oates was a fantastic manager with a sparkling character. In the late ’90s, he led the Rangers to their first three division titles and inaugural playoff journeys. Deservedly, in ’03 he was inducted into the Rangers’ HOF and his No. 26 was immortalized in ’05. But here’s the deal: Washington was a more accomplished manager than Oates. You can’t rationally argue against Wash being the best manager in franchise history. He leads all-time in games, wins, playoff success and, of course, is the only man to lead Texas to the World Series. Twice. He managed 18 playoff wins; the team’s other 23 managed a total of three (including one by Oates). If Oates is a sainted Ranger, Wash should be as well. The only logical explanation is dents in his character. During his time in Arlington, Washington admitted to using cocaine during the ’09 season and then abruptly resigned late in ’14 while apologizing for “breaking the trust” of his long-time wife. But if two off-field hiccups can dilute a successful, unprecedented eight-year career, why doesn’t that same standard apply to a similar, imminent Rangers HOF inductee named Josh Hamilton? The Rangers got the order wrong in retiring Adrian Beltre’s number before Michael Young’s. And now they’re committing an ongoing gaffe by honoring anyone before Ron Washington.
*With news that free-agent target Kemba Walker is already strongly leaning toward signing with the Celtics, it’s dreaded déjà vu for Mavericks fans. I’m not lapsing into the lazy “nobody wants to play in Dallas” narrative, because players like Kristaps Porzingis and even Luka Doncic have poo-pooed that notion. Those guys wouldn’t be here if they didn’t want to be here. Unfortunately, we’re used to swing-and-miss summer bummers. For all his billions and bluster, Mark Cuban’s next, huge, post-championship free-agent signing will be his first. The whiffs include Deron Williams (’12), Dwight Howard (’13), Carmelo Anthony (’14), DeAndre Jordan (’15) and Hassan Whiteside (’16). Rejected by those No. 1 targets, the Mavs have settled for consolation prizes such as Chandler Parsons, Zaza Pachulia, Andrew Bogut, Harrison Barnes and Darren Collison. In turn, the Mavs haven’t won a single playoff series since 2011. Another desirable this offseason was Rockets center Clint Capela, who has deteriorated into another unlikelihood when Houston announced it was seeking a No. 1 draft choice in return. By NBA rule, the Mavs can’t trade their 2020 No. 1 and their 2021 top choice already belongs to the Knicks via Porzingis. We wanted Walker and Capela. We’re getting … another case of blue balls. Next week’s free agency looks a lot like second-tier guys named Al Horford, Patrick Beverly, etc.
*I know people who aren’t appalled by the photo of the dead El Salvadoran father-and-daughter who drowned attempting to come to America. Who dismissively label all asylum-seekers as “illegals.” Who think anyone that doesn’t look and act and talk exactly like them should be banned from America, come wall, hell or, yes, high water. I have a new name for these people: “former friends.”
*When I’m wrong, boy am I wrong. There was that first wife. The proclamation that Pat Mahomes would be a bust. Now this year comes the prediction that Mike Minor would be the worst Opening Day starter in Rangers history and that the team would lose 95-plus games. Gulp. Don’t look now, but Minor leads the AL in ERA and the Rangers are nine games over .500 (45-36) at the halfway point. At what point do I – and the rest of you previous mega-skeptics – admit that this isn’t just a “surprising start,” but rather a competitive team that can flirt with a wild card into September?
*One of my fave all-time DFW sports figures is Don Nelson. Not only did he acquire Dirk Nowitzki – and for what it’s worth, Steph Curry – he loved him some media. Watching HBO Real Sports’ segment on Nellie reminded me of the 1998 NBA Draft. I was the Mavericks beat writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, committed to sniffing out who Dallas was going to select. To be close to the team’s Reunion Arena headquarters in case of news or an interview, I camped out the day before the draft at Hooters in the West End. A buddy of mine joined me and soon, my phone rang. “You know who it is yet?” Nellie asked me. “Got it narrowed down to two,” I responded. When I informed him I was at the nearby breastaurant, Nellie said “Pour another pitcher and I’ll be there in 10.” Next thing you know me and my friend (who happened to be a high-school basketball coach) were eating wings, drinking beer and diagramming plays on Hooters napkins. As he left, Nellie said “Mark it down, we’re taking the big guy. The biggest guy.” With that, it was up to me to decide if “biggest” meant 300-pound Robert “Tractor” Traylor or 7-foot Dirk. Later that night I called him back and told him I was going to write that the Mavs were going to draft Dirk. “I gotta go finish this cigar,” Nellie said. “Don’t you have better things to do?” In other words, I got it right. So, of course, did he. Love that man.
*Hot.
*Not.
*While I appreciate the season of Minor, the resurgence of Hunter Pence and the improvement of Joey Gallo, I’m uncomfortable with the way baseball All-Star voting has ramped into relentless PR campaigns. As a kid, I loved going to Arlington Stadium and sitting down with my ONE ballot. Pondering. Thinking. Comparing. And, ultimately, punching out the little paper tabs beside the name on the ballot I felt most deserving. It’s not just the Rangers, but now teams are shoving hundreds of social media posts to “Vote!” for their players. Reporter Emily Jones is even promising to wear a full uniform during a broadcast if Pence gets voted in. Call me old school, but a player should be an All-Star based on his season rather his team’s marketing savvy. That said, congrats to Pence, the AL’s starting DH.
*Related question: Can Pence win AL Comeback Player of the Year when he’s never before played in the AL?
*Buddy of mine has the next evolution of Uber: Boober. Driven by attractive women with plentiful “assets” and scant clothing, it will push transportation to the next … Forget it. Now. Put late-night drunks into a car with a bra-bustin’ driver and, yeah, what could possibly go wrong? Clever idea, nipped in the bud by liability.
*No shocker that Doncic won Rookie of the Year. The surprise, to me at least, was that two voters cast ballots from anyone other than him. The NBA’s awards included four foreign-born players: Doncic, Rudy Gobert, Pascal Siakim and MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. While the NFL and baseball try to gain a foothold in London, basketball is already a truly global game.
*Nauseating that O.J. Simpson is on Twitter, on the golf course and on a rabid path for revenge against all that have dinged his reputation. He’s everywhere, but somehow he’s not on the hunt for his wife’s killer. (Wink.)
*The National Rifle Association has canceled its TV channel, lost its chief lobbyist and is the subject of an impending congressional investigation. Altogether now: “Thoughts & Prayers!” I know lots of good people who own guns. I know very few good people who are enthusiastic supporters of the NRA.
*We nearly reached the halfway point of the baseball season with neither Elvis Andrus nor Rougned Odor having a throwing error this season. Elvis ended the streak with a throwing error Tuesday. Still, first baseman Ronald Guzman must factor in that nearly clean sheet at some point, right?
*After 80 years, admission to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens is no longer free. As Nolan Ryan once said to me, “I don’t know … livin’ in a world where they want us to pay for drinking water and smelling roses.” Amen.
*Pulled into a gas station the other day and accidentally filled my SUV with E15 gas, before I had any clue about E15 gas. Turns out it’s 15% ethanol, with higher octane and lower cost. I think it’s good for farmers, and bad for big oil companies. But in 2011 the EPA imposed a “summertime” ban on E15 to reduce smog pollution. So, I’m confused: Did I luck into a good decision? Or a bad one?
*Just when we thought it safe to pronounce Porzingis as the best No. 6 in the NBA, LeBron James up and gifts his No. 23 to Anthony Davis in L.A. Assuming James will return to the No. 6 he won two titles with in Miami.
*Gambling history in May, as last month for the first time New Jersey ($318M) took more legal sports bets than Las Vegas ($317M). That doesn’t mean it’s time to shed a tear for Nevada, which netted an $11.2M profit. Nevada sports books are on a 70-month winning streak, last losing money in July 2013.
*Not that Shark Tank endorsed my Pizza Buzz venture, but I think we have a winner for biggest DFW restaurant flop of the year. Uppity, Uptown Italian spot Circo was launched for $7 million and lived for only nine months. Its executive chef quit on opening night, wild rooftop parties garnered five noise-complaints visits from police, $300,000 in liens and bounced employee checks are left behind, and it went through four total chefs, including the firing of one that was on leave to grieve a mom that died of cancer. Ouch.
*What Nik and Lijana Wallenda did in New York on live TV last week was amazing. I couldn’t walk on a wire two steps without wobblefalling. But, um, they both wore safety harnesses. Impressive as it was to watch them walk and even pass each other on a wire high above Times Square, the harnesses – and accompanying lack of real peril – made the event void of drama.
*In spouse news, my better half – Sybil Summers – is the new afternoon drive-time girl at 98.7 KLUV. By my math she’s now hosted shows at Live 105.3, 105.3 The Fan, 103.7 KVIL, AMP 103.7, ALT 103.7 and now 98.7 KLUV. She long ago paid her dues. She’s more than persevered in a tumultuous industry that long ago chewed me up and spit me out. She’s deserving of her own prime-time show. Check her out weekdays 2-7 in between DFW’s best ’80s playlist.
*This weekend? Friday golf. Saturday tennis tournament. Saturday night a birthday celebration at Oak Lawn’s Rose Room. Sunday, we sabbath. As always, don’t be a stranger.
