A quick temperature decline

The strong cold front that hit the Metroplex last night started a rapid drop in temperatures that saw conditions go from the high 70s to the 20s and 30s in a matter of a few hours. The frozen precipitation has fallen steadily for hours and is predicted to turn to snow this afternoon. I have to admit, I had a little too much fun last night watching the plummeting temperatures on our thermometer. A cold front is not supposed to be that mesmerizing.

But it all happened so fast.

TCU accepts Poinsettia Bowl bid.

TCU has accepted an invitation to play in the Poinsettia Bowl. The bid was no surprise after Utah's heartbreaking loss to BYU on Saturday. Had Utah won, it would have headed to the San Diego bowl game. But after TCU crushed Colorado State, the Frogs moved into second in the Mountain West Conference. TCU's acceptance of the bid means no hometown Armed Forces Bowl. The game is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 19.

Update: TCU will face Northern Illinois, which has the nation's leading rusher, Garrett Wolfe. This is key. With just a 7-5 overall record, NIU likely would have missed out on the Poinsettia Bowl without Wolfe, who makes the Huskies more attractive than, say, the Arizona Wildcats, who finished with six wins.

DFW can climb the mtn.

The Metroplex finally has access to the mtn. After months of being promised the all-sports Mountain West network would arrive in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it apparently is here. The big satellite companies and major cable providers have yet to offer the mtn. Instead USDTV has agreed to carry it.

I can hear the rejoicing now:
"Problem solved!"
"No more complaining about TCU being treated unfairly by the MWC with this inferior TV deal!"
"Our patience paid off!"

These are all legitimate reactions to the long-overdue news that TCU fans can finally "climb the mtn." But examination of the USDTV Web site reveals that in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, subscribers receive 40 channels.

Excuse me if I don't call Time Warner right away to cancel my service.

Richards sadly shows who he is

In the wake of Michael Richards' bizarre tirade on stage at a Los Angeles comedy club, I am both saddened and skeptical. I'm saddened that Richards, so popular as the goofball Kramer on Seinfeld, has shown the world a window to his less-than-stellar character. I'm skeptical of his apology on the Late Show.

Richards has deservedly been excoriated for his uncomfortable reaction to hecklers unimpressed with his comedy routine. He hurled racial epithets at a pace that would make even David Duke blush. By now, everyone who cares has at least read accounts of Richards' "performance."

Now Richards has the audacity to claim he is not a racist. Let's face it, some people are bigots. We can't always pick them out in a lineup. But sometimes one of them snaps so badly that it's impossible to overlook the hatred. Richards' on-stage episode is just the latest example.

No contrived TV apology, press conference or goodwill tour will convince me he has changed his tune. A genuine change of heart is the only thing that can save his reputation.

In ego-heavy Hollywood, this rarely occurs.

Frogs could be home by Christmas

With Saturday's convincing win over San Diego State, TCU could be bound not for a home bowl game, but one in San Diego. The Poinsettia Bowl has the second pick among the bowls tied to the Mountain West Conference. And despite projections suggesting TCU will be playing in the Dec. 23 Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, the Poinsettia Bowl is apparently becoming more of a possibility.

It's not difficult to figure out why. With wins over Colorado State and Air Force, the Frogs would finish 10-2. Given the relative mediocrity of most of the conference, Poinsettia Bowl officials would be foolish not to select a 10-2 TCU. (BYU has accepted a bid to the Las Vegas Bowl as the winner of the MWC.)

Although Utah would be a more geographically appealing selection for the Poinsettia Bowl, Frogs fans would flock to sunny San Diego. The small-but-loyal fan base has had enough of postseason games in Texas (Fort Worth in 2003 and, most recently, last year's win over Iowa State in the Houston Bowl).

So the TCU faithful is ready to buy their tickets to San Diego. And the best thing (for them, not traditionalists) is the Dec. 19 game would have them home Christmas.

Pink-out a success

Saturday was breast-cancer-awareness day at Amon G. Carter Stadium, which is why Bethany and I wore pink shirts. They worked. The Frogs won 52-0 over San Diego State.

In case there's any doubt, I'll be wearing purple in two weeks.

TCU shuts out SDSU

Jeff Ballard played his most complete game of the season Saturday to lead the Frogs to a 52-0 win over San Diego State at Amon Carter Stadium. Ballard threw five touchdowns and ran for one just a week after a 25-yard performance. The most impressive thing about Ballard's performance was he did it in just more than 30 minute of football. He sat out much of the second half, giving freshman Marcus Jackson some needed playing time.

Next game: at Colorado State, Nov. 25

Sioux fight on

The North Dakota Fighting Sioux football team pounded Winona State on Saturday to advance in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The 42-0 win is significant because a district judge's decision on the UND nickname prevented the game from being moved. NCAA rules prohibit most teams with Indian nicknames from hosting playoff games or using their nicknames in postseason play.

North Dakota sued the NCAA, seeking to hold on to the university's historic nickname and mascot. The case has not been decided. A temporary injunction allowed Saturday's game to be played at UND. Given the circumstances, a first-round annihilation for North Dakota is fitting. Watch out for the Fighting Sioux to use the negative publicity to motivate them to a Division II championship. Count me among those rooting for UND.

A funny observation ...

When TCU plays a team in the top 25, the team is often identified in university-generated materials by its standing in each of the major polls. TCU is given the same treatment. The Lady Frogs are in Maryland this weekend playing a season-opening tournament. Today they lost to George Washington, who is ranked in one poll, unranked in the other.

On gofrogs.com, GW is identified not as the No. 25 team in the country, but as 25/ARV, or also receiving votes. Someone please tell the folks at gofrogs.com there's nothing special about being just outside the top 25.

Thugs target gamers

Sony's getting rich.

The new PS 3 video-game machines are selling for up to $600, according to media reports. This often happens when someone produces a product people actually want to use. The gamers are an interesting bunch. Many who waited to purchase a PS 3 when they went on sale just after midnight, did so in the freezing cold. Whether this constitutes dedication or delirium is debatable. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

What is clearly understood is that those waiting in line should be treated with respect. This did not happen at a Wal-Mart in Connecticut, where prospective PS 3 owners were attacked. One was shot, others robbed.

Every Christmas season, especially with the release of a cool gadget or game system, there are scattered reports of violence. But shooting someone is not the way to get closer to the front of the line. It sure is an ugly manifestation of the Christmas spirit.

Mattress Mac's Magnanimous Move

Darrell Dickey is leaving the University of North Texas as its football coach at the end of the season. Dickey, whose Mean Green just a few short years ago dominated the Sun Belt Conference, has been fired after a second consecutive losing season. (Dickey's team won four straight titles before its first losing campaign.) But his name will not soon be forgotten at UNT.

Alumnus Jim McIngvale, better known as "Mattress Mac," a loud but benevolent businessman from Houston, had the school's new practice facility named after him following a $1 million donation to the UNT athletic department.

When Dickey was fired -- just weeks after suffering a heart attack -- Mattress Mac asked the school to instead put Dickey's name on the practice facility. UNT honored the request, not wanting the money redirected to the music department, as had been threatened, according to The Associated Press.

UNT did the right thing, although it was terribly awkward to be forced to name a facility after a coach the university just dumped. Dickey guided the Mean Green through a series of solid seasons and only fell on hard times recently, as the rest of the Sun Belt caught up to his team. But the real winner here is not Dickey, but Mattress Mac, who once again found a creative way to get his name in the paper.

He's pretty good at that. Anyone whose ever watched TV in Houston for more than about five minutes will certainly agree.

UND student-association president quits

Although North Dakota is fighting the NCAA's ban on American Indian nicknames in postseason, not everyone at UND embraces the suit. Some want to do away with the Fighting Sioux nickname. The fallout has begun, with the resignation of the Grand Forks university's Indian Association president, who supports the nickname.

Lott good choice for No. 2 GOP job

Republicans were smart to give Trent Lott a leadership position in the new Congress. Four years after being forced out following comments at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday, the Mississippi Republican has been tapped as minority whip. His experience bringing together a diverse caucus and his knowledge of Senate operations make him a solid choice for a party that must look for ways to remain effective after its defeat at the polls Nov. 7.

Free-speech crusader Mitch McConnell was chosen as minority leader. McConnell was a very reasonable voice in the campaign-finance debate, arguing against the strict limits backed by fellow Republican John McCain. McConnell will bring the same common-sense approach to the minority leader's office.

TCU could return home for bowl

The Frogs return home Saturday to face struggling San Diego State, which earned its second conference win over the weekend against UNLV. Winners of four in a row, TCU still could win 10 regular season games. The postseason picture is beginning to clear up, but it is not promising for fans who want to see TCU play outside Texas.

With two other attractive bowl-eligible teams in the Mountain West (BYU and Utah), TCU is probably headed to the Armed Forces Bowl, played in the familiar surroundings of Amon G. Carter Stadium. New Mexico is 5-5 and will stay home for the New Mexico Bowl if it records a sixth win. The Lobos will probably have to wait for another week to find out if they will extend their season because they face BYU on Saturday. Utah looks like a prime candidate for the Poinsettia Bowl.

BYU is the class of the conference and also enjoys the distinction of being the most popular team in the league. Wherever it plays, loyal fans follow. This does not matter in 2006, though. As the league winner, BYU will appear in the Las Vegas Bowl.

With the trend of putting bowls in just about every seemingly viable location, more teams have gained access to the post season, which is good for lower-profile universities. Unfortunately, this has exacerbated the problem of regionalization, whereby teams are almost locked in to staying close to home unless they are members of the big conferences. Last year's Houston Bowl is a good example, as TCU (minor conference) rode the bus to the Bayou City, while Iowa State (major conference) took a real road trip.

MWC bowls

Las Vegas

Armed Forces

New Mexico

Poinsettia

Sioux still fighting in N.D.

The University of North Dakota has won a battle in the war to fend off the politically correct nickname police. A judge has issued a temporary injunction that will allow the school, whose sports teams are called the Fighting Sioux," to host a Division II playoff game Saturday. The state of North Dakota in October sued the NCAA for the right to continue using the nickname.

The injunction is a good step, but by no means does it signal an end to the NCAA's overzealousness related to team nicknames. North Dakota and the Sioux are inextricably linked, and the nickname has been part of the Grand Forks-N.D., university since the 1930s.

The nickname was adopted "in honor of the first inhabitants of the region and some of the American Indian tribes of the state," according to the UND Web site. This, of course, doesn't matter to the NCAA in its haste to eliminate anything with the slightest possibility of offending one's sensibilities.

If North Dakota prevails, as it should, the NCAA will have suffered a legitimate setback in its quest to create an environment free of conflict, even that which naturally occurs on the field of play. The NCAA -- in the name of fairness -- should have backed off when a lawsuit was first threatened, as it did When Florida State University threatened legal action over plans to ban its Seminole nickname and mascot. But it's easy to say no to North Dakota.

Matchup: Winona State at Fighting Sioux, Saturday

Football fans cheated by MWC broadcast schedule

Rutgers' upset of No. 3 Louisville was one of the more exciting Thursday night games in a long time. Not being a fan of either school, I tried to turn away from the game several times, only to be pulled back to see how Rutgers was doing in its quest for the school's biggest win ever. With a win, Louisville would have been in prime position for a run at the national title. The No. 3 Cardinals likely would have moved up to No. 2 in the Bowl Championship Series standings after next week's Ohio State-Michigan game. Louisville's hopes of winning a title have now evaporated, and Rutgers carries the Big East's hopes. What was an anemic program just a few years ago is now a developing power. If Rutgers beats West Virginia to close the regular season, assuming it doesn't stumble before the Dec. 2 game, it will deserve national championship game consideration.

As refreshing as it was to see Louisville go down, I don't like the Big East. TCU plays in the Mountain West, making me a fan of that conference. This proves problematic when I want to watch the conference's teams play on TV. League leader BYU played Wyoming on Thursday, but because ESPN no longer has an agreement with the MWC, the game was unavailable in Texas. (The game was a blowout, but I was looking forward to seeing at least the first five minutes.) It's all because of this new arrangement the MWC has with CSTV. Commissioner Craig Thompson and the league's other movers and shakers didn't like the way ESPN dictated teams' schedules. So they turned to CSTV, which, with the help of Comcast, started the mtn., a network dedicated to the Mountain West. Several problems have surfaced since the mtn. went on the air. ( I understand some people actually have the channel on their cable systems.)

Access is the primary problem. When exposure is the main issue a league faces, it cannot afford to abandon a trusted network (ESPN) in favor of an experiment, no matter how grand the idea.

Given the MWC's situation, there are two choices for teams such as BYU and TCU. One makes sense, although it requires league action; the other is a last resort. Regardless, both of the following should be on the table:

• The league and its broadcast partners should consider allowing local stations to pick up games in markets that don't receive the mtn. or CSTV. This is a common-sense solution to a problem created by broken promises and overly optimistic projections. But this would require the Mountain West leadership to receive an injection of common sense, since it is in short supply at league headquarters.
• Schools such as TCU (which has no access in its back yard) should consider suing the MWC for breach of contract. It was widely understood that the new TV deal would benefit the league's teams. For that to happen, a TV network must exist. The mtn. is hardly a network, regional or otherwise. For the league to argue differently is horribly disingenuous.

The second option, is not unreasonable. The problem with it is if the plaintiffs are successful, they will have alienated the league, meaning a new TV contract will need to be negotiated. So the answer might be a combination of the two and look something like this:

An agreement to allow local TV stations pick up games of teams without access to the mtn. and/or CSTV, with the understanding that the teams' obligation to the league contract dissolves if its region is not granted access to the the networks by a certain date. This effectively would mean the mtn. would dissolve and the MWC would be back at the negotiating table. ESPN might not come to the rescue, but at least the conference leadership would realize what the fans have known for months -- that the MWC does not have the appeal to make an exclusive network succeed.

Clarification: CSTV, which carried the BYU-Wyoming game, is available on a limited basis in Texas.

Idealists will decide election

We'll find out tonight how much power the "principled" conservatives have to sway elections. These are the people who are so fed up with President Bush that they have decided to stay home or vote for another candidate deemed more conservative. Either choice will have negative effects. Many couldn't care less, though. If a candidate doesn't support immediate deportation of all illegal aliens, his conservative credentials are questioned. Never mind the logistical nightmare this would create.

If the Democrats retake Congress today, the blame will rest on the shoulders of these naive idealists. It certainly could not be the Democratic juggernaut folks are suggesting exists. The party has no constructive agenda. So, if the Dems win, they can thank the anti-compromise conservatives who somehow think they're doing the country a service by refusing to vote for anyone but those with rock-solid conservative credentials.

No one wins with Haggard's firing

The board overseeing the Rev. Ted Haggard's Colorado Springs church did its job Saturday by firing him, citing "sexually immoral conduct" in connection with his relationship with a male prostitute. Haggard may indeed have not had an affair with Mike Jones, but the overseers had an obligation to get rid of Haggard. Sadly, the revelations rendered Haggard unable to lead the church again, even if he had been exonerated. The board said it found evidence of an affair, something Haggard strongly denied, even while admitting he bought drugs from Jones.

No one wins here. And no one should celebrate the ouster of this key Christian leader, as deserved as it proved to be. To be sure, some pundits hostile to Haggard's public message will delight in his downfall. This is what happens when a high-profile Christian stumbles.

They'll point fingers and cry hypocrisy. It's predictable coming from a society that chooses to ignore the fact that Christian leaders have failings not much different than most of us. It's their job to remain strong in the face of attacks, but they still succumb to temptation.

Now that Haggard is gone, perhaps the healing can begin. My guess is his detractors will not let the outspoken critic of gay marriage forget this sordid episode -- at least until after Tuesday's election. There's a marriage amendment vote in Colorado. This may not be enough for the amendment's opponents to prevail, but it certainly gives them momentum the gay-marriage opponents would love to have heading to the polls on election day.

Frogs too much for UNLV

TCU beat UNLV on Saturday thanks largely to a solid first half. The Frogs only gave up a touchdown and field goal in their 25-10 win, but it could have been closer. Early in the fourth quarter, the Rebels recovered a TCU fumble at the three-yard line but could not score. Marvin White intercepted a pass in the end zone to all but wrap up the game for the Frogs, who moved to 6-2. They also evened their Mountain West Conference record at 2-2.

The game started much like last week's contest against Wyoming, with TCU scoring an early touchdown, only to miss an extra point. But Peter LoCoco came off the bench to make four field goals.

Now, for the real story. Watching the game on Versus was an experience. From dumb mistakes by the broadcast crew to the cameraman being faked out numerous times -- TCU quarterback Jeff Ballard's run for a first down early in the game was completely missed -- today's Versus telecast contained plenty of comedic moments. At least we have Versus, though, without which Frogs would be forced to listen to the radio broadcasts of road games. Brian Estridge and John Denton are a good team, but football is always better on TV.

Up next: Frogs at New Mexico (no TV)

Blake profiled in Vegas paper

The Las Vegas Review-Journal has a nice story on TCU defensive end Tommy Blake on its Web site today. Blake is a former running back who switched to defense at TCU. Like other former running backs who switched for the Frogs, Blake is able to dominate with speed. TCU battles the UNLV Rebels on Saturday in Las Vegas. The 5-2 Frogs need a victory to even their conference record and become bowl eligible.

Accused pastor should quit church post

The Rev. Ted Haggard should be thanked for his decision Thursday to step down as president of the National Association of Evangelicals. What must come next is his resignation from the 14,000-member Colorado Springs, Colo., church of which he is pastor. Haggard, accused by a male prostitute of a gay affair is on administrative leave from New Life Church. To remain a part of the staff in any capacity will continue to bring negative attention to the church. The Denver Post reported Friday that Haggard's accuser, Mike Jones, failed a lie-detector test, which restores a portion of the credibility Haggard has lost but not enough to buy him more time as leader of his congregation. Haggard has admitted to some of the allegations made against him but vigorously denies the affair. Now comes word that Haggard says he bought meth from Jones but -- get this -- threw it away before using it. (Note to self: Resist the temptation to compare him to a former president.)

Religious leaders are held to a higher standard and thus must accept stricter punishment for indiscretions. In today's world, where information travels at a blinding speed, this at times must be extended to allegations.
Haggard's church, posted a press release Thursday on its Web site confirming the pastor was on leave during an investigation by the church's governing board.

If does not leave his church, the church should remove him immediately.

Olbermann's meltdown good news for MSNBC

In college, one of my my favorite SportsCenter personalities was Keith Olbermann. A bit goofy, Olbermann had the dry sense of humor and sharp wit that made him a perfect fit on ESPN's signature program. It didn't matter whom the ESPN bosses paired him with. Olbermann always seemed to be the star of the show. Understandably, when he left ESPN, I was upset. My favorite sportscaster on ESPN, I must admit, was Craig Kilborn. But Olbermann was a close second. He was a star and had a bright future -- if he chose to nurture his stardom carefully. Not long after he left ESPN, Olbermann surfaced on Fox Sports Net, doing a weekly program on Sundays. Apparently, he was using sports as a stepping stone to what he really coveted -- news.

These days, Olbermann can be seen on MSNBC. He has a show called Countdown with Keith Olbermann, the format of which gives him the opportunity to be opinionated. He tries hard emulate Bill O'Reilly, but we must remember that O'Reilly has viewers. Olbermann does not. His disdain for President Bush is no secret. He ends his show by reminding his viewers how many days it's been since Bush's "Mission Accomplished" declaration.
But until now, it's been OK. (No one watches, remember?)

On Wednesday night, two days after John Kerry infamously quipped that those who do not achieve in school "get stuck in Iraq," Olbermann saw an opportunity to remind America he was still alive. He used 11:28 of his show to rip Bush for supposed mismanagement in Iraq. Yes, there are problems in Iraq, but Olbermann needs to remember that war is dangerous. People die in war -- by the thousands in this one.

Watching the "Special Comment" on the Internet, I couldn't help but wonder how many people -- remember, he's on MSNBC -- actually stuck it out for the full segment. As an admirer of Bush's, I found it downright offensive. The man called the president of the United States a liar and an idiot -- repeatedly. For 11 minutes and 28 seconds!

I didn't make it past 7:15. His hatred for the president was just unbearable. As people have heard of this rant -- remember, he works for MSNBC -- many no doubt have called for his firing.

That won't happen. Olbermann's meltdown gave MSNBC bosses exactly what they have craved but seldom gotten in the ferocious competition with Fox News and CNN -- exposure. Whether this will translate into viewers on election night is doubtful. But for a few days, people will actually talk about a program on MSNBC.