LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant enjoyed his night against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, scoring 27 points.

The overall play against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday compels the Dallas Mavericks to try to make it work with this group of players or something close to this group, writes columnist Tim Cowlishaw. Those who look at the 2-5 record and say "blow it up" are supporting a cause that's unworkable.
Mavs-Bulls preview
Video: Mavericks report
Blog: Dallas Mavericks

Texas Rangers should step up to plate for Manny

AP

Manny Ramirez hit .396 and drove in 53 runs in 53 games after joining the Dodgers last season.

While Texas Rangers fans would love for general manager Jon Daniels to be in on trade talks for Padres ace Jake Peavy, there's no way it's going to happen. That leaves only one way for the Rangers to make a big splash, writes Tim Cowlishaw. Why not take a run at Manny Ramirez?
 Tell Us: Make a run at Manny?
Blog: Tim Cowlishaw

MICHAEL AINSWORTH / DMN

Texas Tech fans will be happy with the BCS, if their Red Raiders reach the national championship game.

College football is different from every other sport in that it doesn't always provide a bow on a neatly tied package at the end of the year. Tim Cowlishaw writes that he will gladly sacrifice that in order to maintain the integrity of autumn Saturday afternoons and nights.
• BCS standings
• Weekend schedule
Blog: Colleges

JOHN F. RHODES / DMN

Dallas Stars goaltender Marty Turco (right) has been one of the reasons the team has given up 50 goals in 12 games.

This weekend, the Dallas Stars revisit Anaheim and San Jose, where they won important road playoff games to gain control of those series. If we just continue to see more of the same, then this team could be fading before it even moves into sight on the local scene, writes Tim Cowlishaw.
Blog: Dallas Stars

Edwards closer in Chase with win at TMS

JOHN F. RHODES / DMN

Driver Carl Edwards backflips off his car to celebrate his win Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.

We have seen the trouble created by Carl Edwards' aggressive, gambling nature in the Chase, writes Tim Cowlishaw. On Sunday, he tried a gamble of a different sort. He backed off and coasted past the field to win the Dickies 500.
Photos: Dickies 500

Dallas Cowboys can play like they have nothing to lose

MICHAEL MULVEY / DMN

With injuries to key players such as Jason Witten, few expect the Dallas Cowboys to win Sunday.

This weekend presents Dallas Cowboys coaches and players with a golden opportunity, writes Tim Cowlishaw. Because the Cowboys are so universally expected to lose, they have nothing to lose. They can play without fear.
Midseason report
Video: Owens, Irvin
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

Opener shows Dallas Mavericks have holes and hope

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle came up empty when he went to his bench players, who went for 9-for-30 from the floor.

The Dallas Mavericks made a successful regular-season debut Thursday night under new coach Rick Carlisle. Unfortunately, writes Tim Cowlishaw, the successful part lasted only 36 minutes. In the last 12 minutes, everything fell apart and the result was a 112-102 loss to Houston.
 Photos: Mavs-Rockets
Blog: Dallas Mavericks

Dallas Cowboys' win is ugly, but it's a win 

JOHN F. RHODES / DMN

Dallas Cowboys LB Bradie James buries Warrick Dunn, who had one carry and two receptions for 8 yards.

Winning ugly is officially acceptable at Texas Stadium, writes DMN columnist Tim Cowlishaw. Dallas escaped with a 13-9 victory in which gaining yards was a constant battle for either team.
 Videos: Postgame report | Motion Pictures
 Game photos
 Blog: Dallas Cowboys

This Colt is a percentage play every time

TOM FOX / DMN

In three weeks vs. highly ranked teams - OU, Missouri and OSU - UT quarterback Colt McCoy has completed almost 85 percent of his pass attempts.

Darrell Royal once said that three things can happen when you throw the football, and two are bad. Tim Cowlishaw writes that if Royal were coaching Texas junior quarterback Colt McCoy, he might have changed his thinking on the forward pass. After Saturday's 28-24 win over No. 7 Oklahoma State, McCoy's Big 12 completion percentage stands at 83 percent.
 Photos
Blog: Colleges

MIKE STONE / DMN

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle (second from right) and his coaching team need to restore faith in the franchise.

Two years removed from a trip to the NBA Finals and one year removed from a 67-victory season, the Dallas Mavericks are nobody's darlings. But columnist Tim Cowlishaw writes they'll be closer to the top of the division than last season.
Blogs: Cowlishaw | Mavericks

With no Romo, Dallas Cowboys' Johnson has to pass test

BRAD LOPER / DMN

With Tony Romo (left) out until after the bye week, things aren't likely to get any easier for Brad Johnson (right) and the Cowboys.

Bringing in Brad Johnson to manage a game is not going to be enough for the Dallas Cowboys to defeat Tampa Bay or the New York Giants, writes Tim Cowlishaw. Johnson has to win a game with his passing the next two weeks or the Cowboys will be 4-5 when Tony Romo returns after the bye to face Washington.
Video: Brad Johnson
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

Loss should be Wade Phillips' last with Dallas Cowboys 

BRAD LOPER / DMN

Wade Phillips is 17-7 in 24 games as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

What has been gathering steam for a month reached something of a crescendo as the Dallas Cowboys played by far their worst game of the Wade Phillips era. And frankly it should be the last game of the Phillips era, writes DMN columnist Tim Cowlishaw.
 Blogs: Dallas Cowboys | Cowlishaw
 Tell Us: Fire Wade?
 Videos: Postgame report | Motion Pictures

FILE PHOTOS

Clockwise from top left: trading for Roy Williams, Adam Jones' suspension, Tony Romo's broken pinkie and Mat McBriar's injury kept the Cowboys in the news this week.

No team makes news in waves quite like the Dallas Cowboys, writes Tim Cowlishaw. In a span of about 48 hours this week, seven significant developments altered the franchise's look for now and beyond. Six were bad, but the most significant was good.
Video: Romo throws at practice
Blogs: Dallas Cowboys | Cowlishaw

File 2007

The Texas-Oklahoma game gets an early start (11 a.m., Ch. 8), writes Tim Cowlishaw. The loser of this battle between No. 1 and No. 5 probably gets an early finish to its Big 12 title hopes.
Blog: Colleges
Videos: Preview | Fans
Traffic Alert: Fair Park routes
More Red River Rivalry

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has celebrated six wins over Texas in the past nine seasons, including a 28-21 victory in 2007.

It has been four years since Oklahoma was ranked No. 1, but this team's swift rise to the top indicates coach Bob Stoops and his staff are doing one of their best jobs yet, writes Tim Cowlishaw. "In the end, [the ranking] doesn't mean anything," Stoops said. "You've got to play your best in this game."
 Tell Us: Result?
Blog: Tim Cowlishaw
Blog: Colleges
More Red River Rivalry

Will Phillips' praise be uplifting for Dallas Cowboys?

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

'I figure if you play well enough to win, you deserve some credit' said Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips.

We knew when Wade Phillips was hired 20 months ago, it was all about the defense. What we didn't know is that he would spend so much time defending his own team, writes Tim Cowlishaw. Phillips maintained that his positive approach is the right way to go.
 Tell Us: Postgame feelings?
Blog: Tim Cowlishaw
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys' Romo must cut down on mistakes 

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Tony Romo trips up Bengals LB Keith Rivers during a return of an interception in the third quarter.

If you watched Tony Romo perform in the Dallas Cowboys' 31-22 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, you would know that Dallas won in spite of having the NFC East's fourth-best quarterback at the controls, writes DMN columnist Tim Cowlishaw.
 Game photos
 Videos: Postgame report | Motion Pictures
 Blogs: Dallas Cowboys | Cowlishaw

If you're a Cowboys fan, you don't care whether Tony Romo and Terrell Owens really had a meeting to discuss the offense. What you're really wondering is when 11 guys on defense are going to get together to discuss what they're doing, writes Tim Cowlishaw.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

AP

Alfonso Soriano, who wouldn't play in the outfield for the Texas Rangers, hit .280 with 29 home runs as an outfielder for the Cubs this season.

One hundred years is sort of a long time to wait between titles. Here's hoping that Chicago Cubs fans finally get what they have been waiting for when the playoffs start today, writes Tim Cowlishaw. Cubs fans may have waited a long time. They don't know suffering. Texas Rangers fans know suffering.
Grant's playoff picks
Blog: Tim Cowlishaw
Blog: Texas Rangers

09/25/2008

This feels like a trap game for Dallas Cowboys

FILE PHOTO 2005

Though the Cowboys lead the all-time series by a wide margin, Washington has won four of the last six games between the teams.

In the list of the NFL's great all-time rivalries, Dallas Cowboys-Washington Redskins is right there at the top with Packers-Bears, Raiders-Chiefs and anything else you might choose to name. So why, Tim Cowlishaw writes, does this feel so much like a "trap" game for the Cowboys?
Video: Cowboys report (9/25)
Blogs: Dallas Cowboys | Tim Cowlishaw

09/24/2008

Texas Rangers still have a long way to go

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

The Texas Rangers congratulate Hank Blalock (second from left) on his fourth home run in four games in Wednesday's win.

The Texas Rangers played their final home game Wednesday afternoon. In true Rangers fashion, they provided the ultimate tease in a 14-4 victory over Oakland, writes Tim Cowlishaw.
Blog: Texas Rangers
Video: Home finale
Photos: Rangers A's

09/22/2008

Rookie Jones provides spark for Dallas Cowboys 
An offense that sent seven Dallas Cowboys to the Pro Bowl and returns all of those players in 2008 once again got a huge lift from rookie Felix Jones on Sunday night, writes DMN columnist Tim Cowlishaw.

Dallas Cowboys unbeaten and unrivaled this season

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

With a win Sunday, Felix Jones (right), Terrell Owens (left) and the Cowboys left the Packers and many others behind.

There isn't a trophy for the best team after the first three weeks of the season, but as columnist Tim Cowlishaw writes, being the most impressive unbeaten team in the league isn't without its merits.
Blogs: Cowlishaw | Cowboys
 Tell us: Best unbeaten team?

09/20/2008

In Rodgers, Packers may have their own version of Romo

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

Aaron Rodgers (12) and Tony Romo met up last season at Texas Stadium. Rodgers came on for injured Packers starter Brett Favre in a 37-27 Cowboys victory.

Aaron Rodgers has played extremely well in his first two games, leading Green Bay to two wins. He is playing well enough, in fact, to lead the Packers to an upset over Dallas if the Cowboys defense doesn't make serious improvements from Monday night, writes DMN columnist Tim Cowlishaw.
 Blogs: Dallas Cowboys | Cowlishaw

09/18/2008

U.S. stars haven't earned Ryder Cup stripes

Getty Images

The U.S. will have plenty of support, but Tim Cowlishaw doubts the Americans can end Europe's dominance in the Ryder Cup.

Pity U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger, writes Tim Cowlishaw. He has six Ryder Cup rookies who have never experienced the unique pressure the event - which begins today - generates. And he has six Ryder Cup veterans ... all with losing records.
Ryder Cup rosters
Official site
Blog: Tim Cowlishaw

09/15/2008

Dallas Cowboys' Romo outduels McNabb at the end 

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens outruns Philadelphia's Lito Sheppard to the end zone.

Few Monday night memories at Texas Stadium could be considered as wild and crazy and potentially uplifting as the Dallas Cowboys' 41-37 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, writes DMN columnist Tim Cowlishaw.
 Blogs: Dallas Cowboys | Cowlishaw | Taylor

09/13/2008

Minor league success, Rays' major strides bode well for Texas Rangers

MIKE STONE / Special to DMN

RoughRiders pitcher Neftali Feliz (left) has hit 100 mph on the radar gun this year.

It was a good week for the Texas Rangers, writes Tim Cowlishaw. The Oklahoma RedHawks are fighting for the Pacific Coast League title. The Frisco RoughRiders seek the Texas League crown. And the Tampa Bay Rays are the surprise team of major league baseball. Yes, it can be done.
Blogs: Tim Cowlishaw | Texas Rangers

09/10/2008

QBs Young & Leinart: From can't miss to can't figure
Thirty-two months ago, they were on top of the football world. It's hard to say who has fallen farther, Matt Leinart or Vince Young.

09/08/2008

Dallas Cowboys games with Philadelphia always feel special

G.J. McCARTHY / DMN

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten and the Eagles face each other again on Monday in Texas Stadium.

Regardless of the stakes, the next installment of this Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys rivalry – one that Cowboys fans get fired up for a week ahead of time and Eagles fans get fired up for in March – should be great drama, writes columnist Tim Cowlishaw.
Blogs: Dallas Cowboys | Tim Cowlishaw

09/07/2008

A strong start for Dallas Cowboys' defense 

MICHAEL AINSWORTH / DMN

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Zach Thomas (right) tackles Cleveland's Kellen Winslow.

The Dallas Cowboys defense held Pro Bowlers Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow to a combined 61 receiving yards in a thorough 28-10 road victory over the Cleveland Browns, writes DMN columnist Tim Cowlishaw.
 Videos: Postgame report | Motion Pictures
 Game photos
 Blogs: Dallas Cowboys | Cowlishaw | Taylor

09/06/2008

Dallas Cowboys' greatest obstacles are history, high expectations
The first test comes today in Cleveland. And yet the Dallas Cowboys can't receive a passing grade for at least 17 more weeks.

08/03/2008

Tim Cowlishaw blog: Biggest Lies in sports?

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

It's Wade Phillips' first game at Texas Stadium as coach of the Cowboys.

For the latest opinions about sports in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (and beyond) on dallasnews.com, go to our Tim Cowlishaw Blog.

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