Even after impressive win, bowl is uncertain

TCU began showing signs Saturday that it is things around. The Frogs dominated New Mexico, holding the Lobos to 28 yards rushing and 91 yard passing. The 37-0 win was TCU's second shutout of the season. The TCU defense is back. And it's a good thing, with BYU next on the schedule. The Cougars are undefeated in the Mountain West and a virtual lock to win the title. Thursday's game is particularly important because TCU may not make a bowl game without a win. Even with the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, the Frogs are hurt by the success of Air Force -- and their record against teams that appear headed to bowl games. Saturday's victory over the 6-win Lobos was the first time this season they beat a team eligible for the post-season. A victory over the conference-leading Cougars would probably move the Frogs ahead of Air Force, even though they lost in Colorado Springs earlier this season. A loss would drop TCU to 5-5. With the season's final two games against UNLV and San Diego State, TCU would have no more opportunities to sufficiently impress the Armed Forces Bowl selection committee.

Larry vs. Jerry

I just saw the video of Larry King asking Jerry Seinfeld if his show was canceled. No wonder CNN is losing viewers. Memo to Larry: The show went out on top ... baby. I especially liked how Jerry asked for a resume to help out the lost interviewer.

Blake returns for Frogs

The Frogs will get a boost Saturday with the return of Tommy Blake from that "undisclosed illness" that has kept the star defensive end out much of the season. They'll need all the help they can get against New Mexico. The Lobos are 6-2 after a win last week over Air Force. I started to call it impressive, but the Falcons had several chances to put the game away and failed to do so. Down the stretch, every time Air Force had a chance to pull ahead, it seemed to give the ball away. This is ironic, given the fundamental soundness of the Academy ( a point those Versus announcers mentioned more than once).
At 4-4, TCU cannot afford another home loss if it plans to reach a bowl game. The Armed Forces Bowl is the only hope at this point. Although that would mean playing another game at Amon G. Carter Stadium, after the kind of season the Frogs have had, a home game in December doesn't sound so bad.

New Mexico at TCU, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the mtn.
Frogs for the Cure

CSU missed teachable moment

The editor of the Colorado State University student newspaper will not be fired over the now-infamous editorial about President Bush. The Denver Post filed this story about J. David McSwane, who was admonished, but not fired. As much as McSwane and his colleagues would like to hide behind the First Amendment, free speech is not at issue here. If it were, the members of the editorial board would be calling their parents for bail money.

CSU administrators had an opportunity to teach McSwane a lesson about responsibility. Sadly, the school dropped the ball, leaving angry students as the only real consequence. If McSwane chooses a career in the media, he will quickly discover how little "freedom of speech" writers have. In the real world, it's about audience expectations and the sensibilities of those reading the paper every day.

Frogs need offensive boost

The offense has to pick up the pace for the Frogs to win Saturday against Colorado State. Even though the Rams have lost 10 straight and are 0-3 this year, they have managed to put up some impressive point totals. And they have a better team than SMU, whom TCU beat 21-7 last week. TCU will be without Tommy Blake, who will miss at least two more games. But the Frogs are good enough without him to beat the Rams.

Frogs need win before resuming conference play

The Frogs are at a crucial point in the season as SMU prepares to visit Amon Cater Stadium on Saturday. It's not that they could not afford a third loss. Their chances of a BCS game disappeared after a disappointing overtime loss to Air Force. This TCU team will probably lose another game or two along the way, anyway.

What TCU cannot afford is a third straight loss, especially after playing so poorly down the stretch at Air Force. The season would not be ruined with a loss Saturday, but a win certainly will make the resumption of the conference schedule next week easier.

Frogs fall out of rankings

The Frogs fell out of the Top 25 after their 34-13 loss in Austin. Although I was not surprised, it certainly does not seem right that a team not in a power conference can go to the No. 7 team in the land, play a good half of football and still fall out of the rankings. Gil LeBreton explained Gary Patterson's disappointment in his column this morning.

It's almost as if TCU and its Mountain West brethren should return follow the lead of some of their counterparts in the big conferences and schedule cupcakes. The media will still talk about them, just not very positively. but at least the result on Saturday will be a "W.'

Good press from Austin

The Austin American-Statesman has done some great work leading up to the TCU-Texas game. This piece on Gary Patterson is among the best I've read. The American-Statesman deserves credit for what it has written about the Frogs, even if they are considered the enemy this weekend.

TCU and the Big 12

Jim Reeves wrote today why he doubts the Frogs will end up in the Big 12. With a big game at Texas -- and all the positive things being written about TCU football these days -- it's nice to revisit the issue. At this point, TCU won't be asked to join the Big 12 unless an existing member leaves for another conference. Reeves focuses only on the issue of money and does not mention possible defections. If, say, Missouri or Iowa State were asked to join the Big Ten, a spot would open up for TCU. Although this scenario has been discussed in the media and by fans in recent months, it does not appear to be imminent. Another possibility is Utah and BYU joining the Pac 10, another conference that needs to add teams in order to hold a championship game. With two teams of this magnitude leaving the Mountain West, another round of conference shuffling would likely begin. But don't expect the Pac 10 or Big Ten or Big 12 to make any sudden moves. For now, everyone appears happy with the current alignments. And that's not what TCU wants to hear.

Frogs rise, 'Horns fall in polls

the Frogs moved up three spots to No. 19 in both major polls after defeating Baylor. But Texas, their opponent Saturday, was not so fortunate. A sluggish performance against Arkansas State knocked the Longhorns back to No. 7. Still, a win in Austin this week will be no less impressive than it would have been when Texas was in the top 5.

Frogs look good, await Texas

The Frogs looked solid on defense Saturday night during their 27-0 season-opening win over Baylor. I'm not sure what the voters will think of TCU's latest win over a Big 12 opponent, but next week is Texas, the most important game for TCU in many years. If TCU hopes to make it to a BCS game, a competitive game is required. I'm not saying the Frogs should go into Austin expecting to just play a close game against the Longhorns. With a defense as stout as theirs and a freshman quarterback as cool as Andy Dalton, the Frogs have a solid chance to shock the college football world similar to how they did in 2005 in Norman, Okla. Hopefully, Tommy Blake will return to the team. He was held out of the opener, but appears close to being ready to play.

Mystery continues ...

With just hours until the Frogs open the season at home against Baylor, the status of Tommy Blake remains uncertain. He apparently is/was in an area hospital with an "undisclosed illness." (He was to be released today, according to reports.

Medical privacy laws prohibit the coaches from saying anything more specific about what ails the star defensive end. Gil LeBreton has a good column in today's Star-Telegram about the situation. Count me among those who fully expect him to play Saturday. If he is unavailable, that would cast doubt on his status for not only the Texas game next week, but the remainder of the season.

Blake back with team

All is well on the defensive line for now. Tommy Blake has returned. He'll be needed even more now that defensive tackle James Vess will not play this season. According to the Star-Telegram, he's still on the team, but a violation of university rules has sidelined him for the season. In unrelated news, Andy Dalton has beaten out Marcus Jackson for the starting quarterback position. Both have reportedly practiced well during the off season, but a decision had to be made in time to give the winner a chance to prepare for Baylor. Dalton was named the starter after Saturday's scrimmage. Many people are surprised, but the fact that Jackson, a sophomore who led the Frogs to a win over the Bears last year, was not given the job earlier was an indication coaches were learning toward Dalton.

Disturbing news on defensive front

After all the great national press about the Frogs' prospects for 2007 -- top 25 rankings virtually everywhere you look, prognosticators predicting a run toward the Bowl Championship Series -- there's a disturbing column in today's Star-Telegram about star defensive end Tommy Blake. Apparently, Blake, an All-America selection by several publications, has gone home.

It's too early to jump to conclusions, but if he quits the team, the defense will be much less intimidating, having lost its best player. Hopefully, he'll work things out and be back in Fort Worth in a few days. My guess is he will return. With the NFL on the horizon, Blake has too much to lose by sitting out a year.

UF wrong to discriminate against BUX

The University of Florida is trying to deny a Christian fraternity recognition as an official student organization because its admissions policy is exclusionary. Beta Upsilon Chi --also known as Brothers Under Christ -- filed a federal lawsuit last week, having been refused recognition by the university since May. Administrators must welcome BUX as an official organization for the fraternity to gain access to facilities at the University of Florida. Without this privilege, even the strongest groups would tend to wither over time.

The problem, as the university sees it, is BUX, of which I was a member at TCU, will not admit women. Imagine that -- a fraternity that wants to remain exclusively male. I guess it has to be pointed out to Florida that at most American colleges and universities, any group of women may assemble a sorority, even one requiring its members to profess a certain belief. Christian sororities are also quite common.


Even if BUX prevails in its battle for recognition, it still must fight for membership in the university's social-fraternity council, which prohibits religious discrimination. Obviously, a fraternity requiring its members be Christians does not comply.


So a Christian fraternity is denied membership because it insists on remaining true to its purpose. Try to wrap your brain around that. It's OK if you can't. If the architects of the non-discrimination policy cleared their heads long enough to think about how ridiculous it sounds to force a religious group to deny its bedrock principle, they'd be scratching their heads to the point of embarrassment.

Still no mtn. to climb

The football season is almost here, but there's been little progress on access for Frogs fans to CSTV and the mtn. (CSTV is available on satellite systems.) I'm tired of the Mountain West apologists comparing the conference's TV deal to the early years ESPN. Yes, ESPN struggled when it had none of the major sports to broadcast, but it survived its early struggles -- and dominates today -- because of a concept Superior to the MWC's.

The Mountain West is will be hampered by low visibility -- even if TCU and BYU do well enough to garner national attention throughout the season -- until the conference jettisons this ill-fated concept.

MWC commish talks with Big 12

Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson, the brilliant mind behind the highly successful television network the mtn., has revealed that he has talked with the Big 12 about its top job. In all seriousness, the man has to be the most unpopular commissioner in major college athletics. If the Big 12 wants him, you won't hear any whining here -- or, for that matter, anywhere across MWC country. I will, however, fear for the Big 12's future.

On another note, the football Frogs are the overwhelming favorite to win the conference title, with Aaron Brown and Tommy Blake selected the top offensive and defensive players, respectively. Yes, it's preseason, but don't be surprised to see these guys at the top of their respective lists in December.

Old Courthouse

The Old Courthouse looks much like a state capitol, but instead houses restored courtrooms. When we were there, the anniversary of the Dred Scott case was being celebrated. It concluded in 1857, after 11 years of Scott and his wife fighting for their freedom from slavery. The case was filed in St. Louis Circuit Court.

Looking straight up to take this picture made me a little dizzy, but it was worth it to capture the Gateway Arch from such an unusual perspective.

Spectacular sight

This is one of my favorite shots from our trip to St. Louis. The way the sun hits the Gateway Arch in the early evening is spectacular. The photos from inside the Arch were fun. Being inside this marvel gave me a chance to capture parts of the city from an unusual perspective. (When we went to Toronto two summers ago, I took pictures from atop the CN Tower, but at more than 1,800 feet, it's a bit high to capture much detail.) I like this shot more than any I took from either the Arch or the CN Tower. The way the Arch towers over the trees in this shot gives me an appreciation for its impressive size, even though it's roughly a third off the height of the CN Tower.

Inside the Arch

I took this picture of the Old Courthouse from the Gateway Arch. Both are part of the impressive Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, which celebrates St. Louis' role in the westward expansion of the United States. If you visit the national park, be sure to take the four-minute ride up the arch and watch the movie about its making. Amazingly, the 630-foot monument was built without anyone dying. Watch the film and you'll understand what I mean. It is truly an engineering wonder.

St. Louis has a winner in stadium

In the past two seasons, I've seen games at St. Louis' Busch Stadium, left, and Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park. (None of my exterior shots of Citizens Bank Park turned out.) Each is a great place to watch a game, with plenty of open space to roam around. But as I walked around Busch, I could not find anything wrong with it. The concession prices are a but high, but that's true across professional sports. I've now seen games at 10 major-league parks. This includes Chicago's Wrigley Field and Baltimore's Camden Yards, the first park to mix nastalgia with modern conveniences.

Ballpark rankings are always subjective, influenced by a person's taste and emotional attachment to his team. I like elements of every park I've seen. But St Louis did it better than anyone else with the construction of the new Busch Stadium. But I would expect nothing less from city with such a rich baseball history. The Cardinals are so popular that I could get no better tickets than standing-room only.

One of baseball's best

My new camera worked well on our trip to St. Louis, helping capture nice shots of the Gateway Arch, such as this one from Busch Stadium. I was there with two friends for our annual baseball trip. The Cardinals opened the new Busch last year. If it's not the best of the retro ballparks, it's right near the top of the list. Having among the most loyal fans in baseball helps make Busch a better ballpark.

Update: 6:32 p.m. I have to include a photo of our Anheuser-Busch tour. Like the Cardinals, Anheuser-Busch and its flagship beer, Budweiser, are inextricably linked to St. Louis. The photo I've chosen is of the packaging plant. I am posting it because of the Budweiser sign on top of the building.

Update: 7:11 p.m. Across the Mississippi River, in Collinsville, Ill., sits the world's largest catsup bottle. It's nothing spectacular, and the merchandise available is certainly in short supply. I expected more than just a corner in a local store to be devote to catsup paraphernalia. Collinsville should be proud of it distinction. This 170-foot water tower was built in 1949 and restored in 1995, after activists stepped in to prevent its demolition, according to the official history as recounted on the catsup bottle's Web site.

NCAA behind on media policy

The NCAA showed a clear unwillingness to adapt to evolving technology when it removed a writer from Louisville's super regional for blogging. Check out The Associated Press' report.

Rice moves on to play Frogs

As expected, Rice moved into the winners bracket by beating Prairie View A&M on Friday night. The home team in the Houston Regional put up five runs on its way to shutting out the Panthers. Although the game was not a blowout, the Frogs must still get past the fact that Rice scored 20 runs against them earlier in the season. (Rice beat TCU 20-6 in the Whataburger College Classic in March.) Still, TCU's thrilling win in the opener of the regional, together with Prairie View's respectable performance, will undoubtedly provide the team with the confidence it needs to avenge the early season embarrassment.

Frogs start regionals against Baylor

It's almost time for the Frogs to begin regional play at Rice. TCU will have a challenging weekend, beginning with Baylor at 2 p.m. today. But Rice, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, is a significant roadblock. TCU emerged from the Mountain West Conference tournament 46-12 after winning the championship for the second consecutive year. To be sent to Houston shows just how irrelevant the MWC is in college baseball.
Update: 2:36 p.m. The score is 0-0, but Chuck LaMendola, the Frogs' play-by play guy, just said something hilarious. Talking about Austin Adams' three-run home run to tie the BYU game, he told listeners that if they were among the 10 people in the country who get the mtn. network, they saw a good game. I wonder if themwc.com media police will correct him.
Update: 3:13 p.m. The Frogs lead 1-0 after an Adams sacrifice fly.
Update: 4:25 p.m. Two home runs have given the Frogs a 3-1 lead.
Update: 4:42 p.m. The Frogs lead 3-2 in the ninth after giving up a leadoff home run.
Update: 5:01 p.m. Sam Demel just ended the game with a strikeout. The Frogs won, 3-2.

Not so shocking

Before we get too disgusted with last night's "shocking" ouster of Melinda Doolittle from American Idol, let's remember that Sanjaya made the top 10. Melinda was clearly the best this season. But the voters only care so much about talent. Personality appeals to the masses more than talent does. Once we grasp this, it becomes easy to understand why the best singer will be left out of this year's finale.

Correcting the record

The Mountain West Conference has a new feature on its Web site that seeks to clarify errors made by the media when discussing the conference. The first correction was of a brief that appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about the penetration in Fort Worth of the MWC TV deal. The Star-Telegram in a college notes column the other day printed that the addition by Charter Communications of CSTV marked the first time fans in Fort Worth would benefit from the league's TV deal.

Someone in Colorado Springs got upset and thought it was time to correct the record. Five TCU football games were broadcast last year on Versus, available on Charter, themwc.com pointed out. To be fair, this is true. But what kind of a sports league wastes staff time correcting an error made in a college notes column? I understand the MWC is sensitive about all the talk about its sub-par TV deal. But the league would have been better off to have the staffer who wrote the correction call the Star-Telegram and report the error. Establishment of a protocol to call attention on the Web to errors by the media is highly unusual for a sports league. Again, the proper way to do so is to call someone at the paper -- usually the writer or editor -- and discussing the mistake.

Maybe the MWC feels burned by the media. That's fair. But my contention is the media have just sought to tell the story of the league's unraveling credibility as accurately as possible. Sometimes, mistakes will be made. The MWC made a colossal mistake when it decided cut ties with ESPN and establish a network of its own. The last thing a league struggling to gain national exposure needs to do is remove the little possibility of nationwide penetration of homes that exists. The Mountain West's new TV deal is on life support, just as it was last year, when TCU appeared on Versus five times. The arrangement with Versus would not have been necessary had CSTV been more established. But the bosses in Colorado Springs don't want to advertise this.

Before publicly calling out the media, the MWC needs to take a long look at how it is doing business and the perception that is creating across America. Once it does, maybe it will realize what those of us who care enough to pay attention have known since the deal with the mtn. was first announced: that the leadership needs to find itself or step aside in favor of someone who knows how to run a sports league.

Indoor facility opens

The Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility is now open. This Fort Worth Star-Telegram article offers a good description of TCU's plans to continue making improvements to its athletic facilities.

TCU clinches basball title

The TCU baseball Frogs have their best chance in years of hosting a NCAA regional following the series sweep of Utah over the weekend. With a 3-1 win Sunday, the Frogs clinched the Mountain West Conference title. With an overall record of 37-11, and improving attendance at Lupton Stadium, TCU will be difficult to pass up as a regional host. The problem is, the MWC is a weak conference, and even strong midweek wins over Big 12 competition in recent weeks may not be enough to convince the selection committee Fort Worth deserves a Regional.
Update: 1:38 p.m. The Frogs face another significant hurdle: So many quality teams in their region of the country. If they host, it will likely be as a second seed in a four-team region.

Run for the Roses

We're just minutes away from the Kentucky Derby, the first of horse racing's triple crown. The great thing about the Derby is it only takes two minutes to watch. You can go into the race not having a clue about racing and in those two minutes become conversant in Thoroughbred racing. All you have to do is remember the funny name of the winner.

Update: 5:19 p.m It's over, and Street Sense is the winner. Not exactly an unusual name.

Cool picture of Rome ... with us in it

I like this picture because the Coliseum is perfectly framed. It's easy to tell I didn't take this self-portrait, right? Although it has nothing to do with marking our first year of marriage, it represents where we have been together. Rome was one of the coolest places I've ever been because it is both historic and modern. (The car behind me is a good indication of how far the civilization has progressed.)

Marvin White profile

Marvin White was the first of two Horned Frogs drafted in last weekend's NFL Draft. The Cincinnati Bengals took him in the fourth round. Two rounds later, Herb Taylor went to the Kansas City Chiefs. I found this story about White in the Daily World, from Louisiana.

Celebrating a year

With my wife and I preparing to celebrate our first anniversary Sunday, I am reminded of our honeymoon in beautiful Lake Tahoe. Here is one of the many spectacular photos from our trip last May. It was a remarkable setting for the beginning of a wonderful journey through life together.

Rockets looking for series win

Now for something that really matters: The Utah Jazz lead the Houston Rockets at halftime, 46-43. A Rockets win will give them their first playoff series victory in 10 years.

Update: 1 p.m. 5/4/07 There will be a Game 7 in Houston after the Jazz defeated the Rockets 94-82. No such luck for the Mavericks, who despite winning 67 games during the regular season, were unable to get past Golden State.

A second day of heavy rain

I just lost sight of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington from my office window. I can tell the weather's bad when that happens. ... The strangest thing just happened. In the middle of another deluge, the sun emerged from the clouds.

All this rain is causing me to miss the Republican debate. I left my umbrella in the car, so I'm not about to leave yet. Plus, the rain was so bad last night that there's bound to be flooding on my route home.

candidates' second career choices

Check out what the presidential contenders would be doing if not in politics. It's nice for the Associated Press to report this information, but only one of them actually gave an honest answer. See if you can figure it out.
Update: 3:59 p.m. Among the minor candidates at tonight's GOP presidential debate will be Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside. Last time I saw Paul was at a bridge dedication in Lake Jackson. He had chosen to make the short ride from his home on a bicycle.
Update: 8:09 p.m. Ron Paul, who ran for president in 1988 as a Libertarian, was just asked to cite a tough decision he has made. In his days as a politician, he said, he could not think of a specific tough decision he's made that has affected the American people as a whole. Why is this guy on the stage? Yeah, I like the fact that he rides his bike to events no other national leader would, but he's a marginal candidate, further marginalizing himself with each word he utters.

Let it rain ... or not

It's going to rain in Beijing before the city hosts the 2008 Summer Olympics. But skies will be clear during the games. Scientists will make sure of it. How? By forcing it to rain before he Games. If a bunch of scientists can bring precipitation, lowering the temperature to reverse the impending global-warming disaster is certainly within the realm of possibility.

NBC wrong to repeatedly show video

We now know what Cho Seung-Hui was doing between shootings at Virginia Tech. Hew was in his dorm room preparing to send a despicable package of videos and other ramblings to NBC. After turning over the originals to authorities, the brain trust at NBC decided the rantings were compelling enough to repeatedly show viewers.

A case can be made for showing this trash once, maybe twice. But after that, a network is gratuitously exploiting tragedy. I'm not arguing NBC News should pull the video from its Web site, as Fox News Channel did today. But NBC needs to think more critically about the consequences of its decisions.
Update: 5:41 p.m. As wrong as NBC was to show the video multiple times, newspapers that published still photos of the madman did their readers a service. They most certainly have received flak, but doing so provided a clear picture of just how psychopathic Cho Seung-Hui was. I like what the San Antonio Express-News did with its front page. It's difficult to look at for too long, but that's the point.

Va. Tech students will get degrees

The 32 students killed this week at Virginia Tech will receive their degrees posthumously, according to the Associated Press. This is a great move by a university struggling to come to terms with the worst shooting spree ever seen on U.S. soil.

One question for authorities

Doubtless, the authorities are working diligently to get to the bottom of yesterday's gruesome rampage at Virginia Tech. There's not a person in this nation who would trade places with Tech administrators, police or other law enforcement authorities investigating what led Cho Seung-Hui to masacre 32 people. But one question begs to be answered: Where was the 23-year-old gunman between 7:15, when he apparently killed two people in a residence hall, and 9:45, when the slaughter of 30 people turned this into the worst mass murder in U.S. history?

A welcome opposing view

In the midst of the global-warming monologue -- a dialogue or debate is impossible without a fairly treated opposing viewpoint -- Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam has written an instructive column. Beam's work will open eyes to just how hostile some proponents of climate change are are to skeptics and their research.

Update: Sherl Crow will add her voice to the monologue with an 11-school college tour. beginning at SMU. I can't think of a more appropriate place to begin.

Frogs sweep UCSB

The baseball Frogs beat UCSB on Sunday to earn a series sweep and their 18th straight home win. The Frogs find themselves in the unenviable position of having to win their conference to have a realistic chance at returning to the NCAA Tournament this year. The Mountain West is a weak baseball conference with little prayer of receiving an at-large Regionals bid. If the Frogs continue rolling through the league and stumble in the MWC tournament, they might still make the post season. But there's no doubt they must do much better in their midweek non-conference games than last Tuesday, when Texas A&M crushed them, 13-2, in College Station.

The genius of the Coliseum

Examples of the Italians' architectural, artistic and cultural genius abound in Venice, Florence and Rome, the three cities my wife and I visited on our recent vacation. There are certain things one has to see in Italy to make a trip complete. One such marvel is the Coliseum (bottom), the first-century amphitheater built to hold 50,000 spectators and house some of the roughest sporting contests the world has ever seen.

The way we build stadiums these days, especially in the United States, that an arena could stand for 2,000 years is mind-boggling. If they had cars back then, it doubtless would have been razed for a parking lot. As the history books record, the Coliseum -- and pictures illustrate -- the Coliseum has lost a little off the top. The world can thank the cannibalizing of the Coliseum, not architectural flaws, for its irregular shape. Italy has made many more contributions to the world, all of which deserve to be chronicled. I came away from the trip with a tremendous respect for the living history lesson that is Italy.

More of this genius to come ...

Update: Another building of the same vintage (nearly) was the Pantheon (top), built in the second century, from 126-28 . Whew! So much older. The Romans would have pilfered this marvelous former temple had it not been converted to a Catholic church.

Back to The Ballpark

Tom Hicks finally made a good move with the Rangers. The owner who has completed countless dismal trades and established a perpetually bad pitching staff deserves credit for an off-the-field decision this time. He jettisoned the unpopular name of his popular ballpark. He had no choice but to sever ties with Ameriquest Mortgage, really. But he could have resold the name. Instead, he realized the power of name recognition by bringing back The Ballpark in Arlington -- with only a slight modification.

Hicks added Rangers to the name. Still, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is much more palatable than Ameriquest Field in Arlington, especially to those of us who never warmed up to the corporate name. There's a lesson to be learned here: Selling the naming rights to a stadium, while initially lucrative, can prove much more troublesome -- and less valuable -- down the road.

Cramming for Italy

My wife and I set out across the Atlantic tomorrow for a few days in Italy. We'll be flying into Venice, before moving on to Florence, Pisa and Rome. I've been voraciously reading about these three cities in hopes of remembering some of the sites we will visit. The famous ones are easy, but there's so much history in Europe I'm a little overwhelmed. I'm not worried, though. We have a long flight ahead of us -- plenty of time to finish cramming.

Lady Frogs earn seventh straight NCAA invite

Congratulations must go out to the Lady Frogs, who despite stumbling at the end of the season, earned their seventh consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament. They've never advanced past the second round. With defending champ Maryland looming for the winner of Sunday's TCU-Mississippi clash, the Sweet 16 is unlikely again this year.

But unlike the recent past, a bid was far from a sure thing. Despite a 21-10 record, the Lady Frogs were fortunate to get in this year. For one thing, the Mountain West Conference was under-appreciated this year. Could the TV deal have anything to do with this? It seems likely, considering the strong performances of BYU, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming during the regular season. All have at least 19 wins. TCU could have -- and maybe should have -- been left out of the NCAAs. But the invitation is an indication of the type of program Jeff Mittie has built in Fort Worth. The men's program could learn a thing or two about success by examining how he has built a struggling team without much of a history of success into a nationally recognized power.

Frogs will not make coaching change

As expected, a 3-5 record down the stretch was enough to save Neil Dougherty's job. He'll be back for a sixth season after apparently assuring athletic director Danny Morrison the program is progressing.

TCU faces conference champ BYU

The Frogs are aiming for another upset in Las Vegas this afternoon. But this time, they face their most difficult challenge -- conference champion BYU. There was a time when TCU could beat BYU. A 50-plus-point victory under Billy Tubbs comes to mind. Those were the days when a good night resulted in 100 points. Now, the Frogs are lucky on some nights to post half that. On the bright side, Neil Dougherty has his team playing relatively well when it matters. For this, he deserves credit.

Whether a late-season rally will be enough to save his job is unknown. I suspect that when he's evaluated at the end of the season (likely to come today) Coach D will be given one more year to prove himself. His subpar record should supply all the evidence needed -- he's 19-41 in the past two years alone -- but TCU would have to buy out the final two years of his contract if he were fired. I'm just not sure they're dissatisfied with Dougherty enough to do that.

Today's game: TCU vs. BYU, 2 p.m., Las Vegas

Update: To no one's surprise, BYU ended TCU's season, winning 77-64 over the Mountain West's No. 8 seed. Frog fans must now wait for athletic director Danny Morrison to determine Dougherty's future.

Frogs win opener

The Frogs showed some heart last night by erasing a 14-point deficit against the New Mexico Lobos. The seeding held up in the play-in game. New Mexico -- by virtue of a miracle -- came in last in the nine-team league. Actually, it was the win over Air Force that pulled the Frogs out of the basement. Like I said, a miracle.
Final: 62-54

Frogs looking like a winner

Neil Dougherty doesn't deserve credit for much, but for once, he had his team prepared to play today. Air Force came to Fort Worth hungry after a loss to UNLV, but it looks like the Frogs will win. The 11-game losing streak is over.
Final score: 71-66.

Frogs close in first half

Following the Frogs on the gametracker is difficult when trying to post updates. They were leading Air Force by four, but it now looks like their customary drought has begun. They trail 21-20.
I can hear Neil Dougherty right now: Just stay competitive.

Update: The Frogs have actually taken a lead into the locker room. They hold a one-point advantage over No. 14 Air Force.

Update: A five point lead with 1:17 left ...

TCU's RPI surprisingly high

I just noticed that TCU's Ratings Percentage Index is 217, a rather encouraging development for a team that's lost 40 games in two seasons. One would figure that a team that has endured an11-game losing streak, its worst in 30 years, would not be in the top 225. Not impressed? Well, remember 336 teams play Division I college basketball. Lest we get too excited, with the Frogs not expected to win another game this season, they could give No. 336 Alabama A&M a run for its money.

Frogs sign 23 football recruits

Perhaps no day has more manufactured importance for college football than National Signing Day, when the sports media get to break down all the players they've been telling us for months are sure to star on the college level. But the media only attach importance to it because of the attention paid to it by those of us who follow college football. We can't wait to see how many of the National 100, State 100 or Area 50 signed with our favorite schools. The truth is, none of the rankings mean much now, before the players in question have even set foot on the practice field for the first day of drills. Beyond the can't-miss prospects, the signed are difficult to evaluate for a number of reasons, not the least is the contrast in lists from city to city, state to state.

But the rankings in the local newspaper or on the national recruiting sites are the best gauge people have of the talent signing letters of intent. So that's what we use to grade the incoming freshmen. TCU has a tendency to find gems in the backwoods. Small schools that instill winning attitudes into their players have sent countless players to Fort Worth under Gary Patterson. Sure, there are plenty of top prospects in the Frogs' recruiting classes. This year is no exception. Here is the list of Patterson’s 23 recruits to sign today.

Disney in January

When I was last at Walt Disney World as a kid in 1982, there was no EPCOT, no MGM Studios, no Animal Kingdom. For tourists of the day, it was Magic Kingdom or bust. To be sure, the Disney world of a quarter-century ago had plenty to offer the whole family. But when my wife and I went with 16 other members of my family last month -- for my grandma's 90th birthday!-- I was blown away by how realistic this magical place appears. This is exactly the reason it is so difficult to pick a favorite park, ride or educational exhibit.
My love of traveling gave the World Showcase extra appeal. My thirst for thrill rides at amusement parks all but guaranteed Space Mountain and the Rockin' Roller Coaster would bring me particular satisfaction. My love of history left no doubt One Man's Dream, the museum dedicated to the park's architect and father of the Disney empire, Walt Disney, would hold a special place in my heart. (The four Disney parks provide many more attractions than those I've named.)

I did have my favorite attractions, but the best part of my vacation was that we were able to experience all we wanted, being there in late January. Had a party of 18 shown up at Mickey's doorstep just days before, the story would have been much different. But as we walked through the various parks, winding our way to the various must-see attractions, the long lines just weren't there to scare us away. In fact, at MGM, we were given passes that provided quick access to all the best attractions, and we used just two. We experienced he others the conventional way.

NCAA decides against broader postseason ban

The NCAA has decided not to further punish universities in states where the Confederate Flag flies. It considered expanding a rule prohibiting Mississippi and South Carolina from hosting some postseason games, but wisely decided against changing what is already an unreasonable rule.

We've probably reached a point where it is wise for states to consider taking the confederate flag down except when displayed in a historical context. But until universities are given the power to make public policy, the NCAA should stay out of the fight over the Confederate flag. Unfortunately, this will not happen entirely. But the NCAA's refusal to expand its social reach is a wise move and should be applauded.

The battle is not over. As the NCAA becomes increasingly involved in issues unrelated to sports, it is sure to push for the rule change.

Politically correct NCAA wrong again

The NCAA could broaden its Confederate-flag ban, which prohibits states displaying the "stars and bars" from hosting a scheduled postseason game. This affects mainly NCAA Tournament basketball games. The governing body of college athletics is considering expanding the rule to apply to all postseason games. Under the rule, baseball and football teams in South Carolina and Mississippi -- the two states displaying the Confederate flag -- that earn the right to host playoff games would be punished for something completely out of their control.

Universities in these two states cannot determine what flag flies over the capitol. Any attempt by the NCAA to spread its version of political correctness should be limited to things within the control of its members. It it wrong for the NCAA to punish institutions that refuse to change their American Indian-related nicknames. But at least they have a choice in the matter.

Teams in South Carolina and Mississippi can't easily approach their state Legislatures to lobby for the change in this matter. A better solution would be for the NCAA to wake up and exert its influence in constructive ways – like those that really matter to the athletic and academic development of student-athletes.

Patterson staying in Fort Worth

TCU coach Gary Patterson reportedly declined a huge offer from Minnesota to coach at the Big Ten school. According to the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram, the deal was worth more than $2 million, roughly double what he is paid at TCU.

Patterson's decision is further confirmation of his high opinion of TCU and Fort Worth. With a long-sought indoor practice facility set to open in the spring TCU continues improve its facilities, giving Patterson and his staff what they need to attract the players necessary to excel in college football. And the administration is taking care of Patterson, who has led the Frogs to consecutive 11-win seasons.

With a record like his, Patterson doesn't have to show loyalty to TCU. He could have left last year for his alma mater, Kansas State, or this year for Minnesota or Miami. But he chose to remain at the place that gave him his start as a head coach -- for now. The suitors will only keep calling as Patterson continues to enhance his credentials. And as the wins pile up, the names will get bigger. He will have the chance to jump to a school more attractive than TCU, one with a legitimate chance of winning a national championship. At Kansas State and Minnesota, that just wasn't going to happen. Miami is a different story, but the program is quickly losing the mystique that made it one of the nation's elite for so many years.

The TCU administration needs to recognize Patterson's value and renegotiate his contract, which runs through 2012. He won't make anywhere near $2 million a year, but the administration owes him at least a substantial boost in pay. Otherwise, he may not say no next time.

Minnesota comes calling

The college football coaching landscape is undergoing major changes, with universities across the spectrum losing or gaining field bosses over the past several weeks. The reason is simple: When one vacancy pops up at a big-time institution, another is created. (Alabama, which lured Nick Saban back to college from the NFL's Miami Dolphins, does not apply here.)

From time to time, TCU's Gary Patterson is courted by the so-called college football elite. His name surfaced as a possibility as the University of Miami this past year and has been linked to a number of institutions with, quite frankly, more to offer than TCU. Frogs fans better prepare to lose him to a tradition-rich national power some day, especially if he keeps piling up 10- and 11-win seasons.

But to the University of Minnesota? Minnesota is hardly what one would call a top-tier member of the Big 10. Much like Texas Tech, another state school in a BCS conference with little chance of consistently making a BCS game, Minnesota hardly seems like a place for a coach with designs on a national championship. Tech and Minnesota can be good, but they are too far from the spotlight to garner much consideration from voters. And the voters, like it or not, determine a team’s chances of landing atop the college football world in January through their preseason polls.

With so many better teams in the Big 10, Minnesota has no more than an academic shot at a national title. (TCU doesn’t even have that.) Hopefully, Patterson will be able to see through what is sure to be a slick sales job and stay at TCU. He has built a consistent winner and emerged from the shadow of former coach Dennis Franchione. Both seemed implausible just a few short years ago. Patterson clearly is not finished proving people wrong.

He would do himself a favor by choosing to continue turning heads in Fort Worth for a while.

University doing good work with banned list

Lake Superior State University has released its annual list of banned words and phrases. Check out the great work from these guardians of the language. It's not perfect, but it provides interesting fodder for conversation, especially for those of us who make a living with words. One with which I whole-heartedly agree is the morphing of celebrity names as a sort of pnuemonic device to help fans remember who's seeing whom.

Just get married already! Then we could dispense with the cute names in favor of Mr. or Mrs. Star of the Week. On second thought, that doesn't work all the time as we've seen from TomKat. And as long as many of those Hollywood marriages have been known to last, it might be a waste of time to learn last names, also. Still, I like the traditional way of identifying couples.

Jons closes its doors

It's tough to call a restaurant that's been around for less than 20 years a landmark. But on a college campus, the rules are different. Most students spend only four or five years in college, with many leaving the city or area after graduating and taking with them the memories. Students who have attended TCU within the past 18 years doubtless have eaten at Jons Grille more than a few times.

Those of us still attending football games and other sporting events on campus have continued to enjoy the unique atmosphere of Jons, perhaps best known for the writing on the walls. (The burgers were why I kept returning.) Jon -- and, later, his sister, Janis -- made markers available to patrons of all ages, encouraging them to leave their mark on the restaurant. Sometimes that was simply a name, a short phrase -- even the occasional boast.

On Thursday, the restaurant closed. When the proprietor died five years ago, patrons were shocked. Jon loved his customers a fact he demonstrated by the way he related to all of us.
He took pride in greeting his customers by their first name. Janis ably stepped in to keep the campus favorite going. Although it was inevitable the place would close at some point -- Jon's passion for the restaurant could not be matched, even if it was a family member who tried -- it's a sad development. And the TCU dining scene will never be the same. Sure, the void will be filled, but Jons held a special place in the hearts of those of us who remembered what is was like before Jon died. One visit and conversation with Jon was enough to keep you coming back.

The burgers were pretty good , too.

Ballard shines in Frogs' big win

One of the best byproducts of the Frogs' decisive 37-7 win over Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl was the publicity both the offense and defense received during and after the game. With the Mountain West Conference's inferior TV contract, not many fans have seen TCU play this year. The Frog D, whose ability is recognized in the Metroplex, allowed just 60 yards of total offense to the Huskies.

Offensively, Jeff Ballard was the star, although Lonta Hobbs reached the 100-yard mark for the first time all year. San Diego certainly took notice of Ballard, as did Union-Tribune columnist Tim Sullivan.

Frogs dominate NIU

The TCU defense shut down Garrett Wolfe on Tuesday with another strong defensive performance, holding the nation's leading rusher to 28 yards. The Frogs destroyed the inferior Northern Illinois Huskies 37-7 in the second annual Poinsettia Bowl. The only difficulty for TCU was special-teams play. NIU blocked two punts (one for a score), and TCU missed an extra point. But with an offense like the Frogs' the kicking game is less important.

Frogs are big favorites

TCU is an overwhelming 12 1/2-point favorite against Northern Illinois in tonight's Poinsettia Bowl. And everyone is picking the Frogs, who should not disappoint. NIU's Garrett Wolfe is the nation's leading rusher with 1,900 yards and will probably end the year under the magic 2,000 mark. How can I be so sure? TCU's run defense is stout, ranking fourth nationally. But when everyone expects the Frogs to win, bad things can happen.

Coach Gary Patterson often says his team plays better as the underdog. In big games, that seems to be true. But despite the point spread tonight, the Poinsettia Bowl remains a key game for TCU as it heads into 2007 without quarterback Jeff Ballard and a proven primary receiver.

As a school in the non-BCS Mountain West Conference, TCU must start high in the polls to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the Bowl Championship Series. The foundation for next year will begin to be laid in less than 2 1/2 hours.

Twenty-four-hour cable news is unpopular with many media-bashers, who point to all the stupid things the talking heads say trying to fill time. But cable news has become an integral part of our fast-paced lives. sometimes, we even have to stop everything we're doing and park ourselves in front of the TV on account of a riveting story.

This weekend, I could not tear myself away from Fox News' coverage of the rescue effort on Oregon's Mount Hood. It had nothing to do with the fact that two of the missing men were from Dallas. It was my insatiable desire to know the latest about everything, especially the big news events of the day. I'm the guy who can't pass through an airport without picking up the local newspaper. (My wife will never understand this obsession.) So the non-stop news sucks me in, even when anchor is repeating the same information for two hours. I want to be there when the new discovery is made, and that sometimes means cheerfully watching painfully repetitious coverage.

As irrational as this is, I have a feeling I'm not alone. Like it or not, it's human nature to want to be on the cutting-edge. That's what keeps the 24-hour news channels on the air.

LT confident in Frogs

A funny story appeared on the Web site of the San Diego Union-Tribune today. Star San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson and backup Michael Turner will be cheering against each other Tuesday when their alma maters face each other in the Poinsettia Bowl. Tomlinson played at TCU, Turner at Northern Illinois. The Chargers public relations chief asked LT recently if he would be interested in a little bet, with the loser wearing the jersey of the winner's school. Let's just say LT wasn't scared. He shouldn't be. His Frogs are 10-2 and winners of seven in a row. Expect LT to find a TCU No. 5 jersey for his buddy to wear. Oh, if you're interested, read the story here.

Poinsettia Bowl: 7 p.m. Tuesday, ESPN2

No Kleenex at Rice

Rice University has become the latest institution of higher learning to ban Kleenex. That's right. There are others who, as a gesture of enviro-love, have tossed Kleenex maker Kimberly-Clark in favor of a company more friendly to Mother Earth.

A student group at Rice has successfully pushed administrators to stop using the Kleenex because it is not made from recycled paper. Now, Rice is known for its brainy students. For years in the Southwest Conference, the dreadful Rice football teams had a clever message for the opponents who thumped them on the field. The score didn't matter, they said, because eventually, the winners of the football games would be working for the brilliant losers.

With stories like this one, it's hard to fear the Owls. At least a few students at the Houston campus are too obsessed with saving the world to pose such a threat to students from a rival school.

Sea-Tac brings back trees

The removal and restoration of Christmas trees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is good news for those defenders of the holiday’s meaning who feel beaten down by its gradual secularization. The Christmas spirit certainly can be dampened by governmental and non-governmental decisions, as was the case at Sea-Tac, which saw its Christmas trees removed after Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky threatened to sue if an 8-foot menorah were not added to the airport's display. Bogomilsky said his goal was not to force authorities to take the Christmas trees down. He just wanted fair treatment of Judaism, he insisted.

An avalanche of criticism persuaded Bogomilsky not to take his beef to court. Instead, the Port of Seattle, which has jurisdiction over the airport, will have a more inclusive holiday display next year.

These days, the anti-Christmas radar is sensitive, recognizing even unintentional attacks on Christmas. In the past, wishing someone “Happy Holidays” was a way to say “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” if you were late for an appointment and didn’t have time to say five whole words. Bogomilsky’s original request and resulting threat were more difficult to figure out than just about any assault on Christmas.

The rabbi made an unreasonable request, considering the reported timeframe he gave the port authority to change the display. For him to say the ultimate goal was not removal of the Christmas trees is laughably disingenuous.

The commissioners who decided to take the trees down have endured undeserved criticism. They reacted as most people facing a lawsuit would have. That Christmas trees were involved in a time when people are hyper-sensitive to even the suggestion of Christmas being banished from the public square makes the commissioners popular scapegoats.

In truth, they deserve some criticism, but the Bogomilsky deserves the lion’s share of scorn. Without his self-centered act, the commissioners would not have been forced to make the unpopular decision.

This entire episode has ensured Bogomilsky will forever be known as the man who tried -- almost successfully -- to suck the Christmas spirit from a major international airport, and in the process, a city.

Bogomilsky failed miserably, just as will happen next time someone tries a similar stunt. What we say to each other and how we act during the Christmas season may affect our mood, but the message of Christmas will live on, even if its symbols disappear.

Thankfully, this time, common sense was restored at Sea-Tac.

Wal-Mart and Christmas

Cheers to Wal-Mart for agreeing to allow its employees say "Merry Christmas" during this (gasp!) Christmas season. I was in the world's largest retailer over the weekend to do a little shopping and was pleasantly surprised when the clerk at the checkout counter said, "You have a good Christmas." It wasn't quite "Merry Christmas," but was close enough in a time when stores are increasingly afraid to acknowledge the birth of Christ while tripping over themselves to embrace the commercialism of Christmas. Wal-Mart has found a balance that hopefully will make the pro- and anti-Christmas forces alike happy for now. One wonders if other retailers will learn from the leader’s example.

Poinsettia Bowl key for Frogs

It only took seven weeks, but the Frogs are back in the top 25. After overwhelming the last three opponents they faced at home, the Frogs sqeeked in to the rankings at Nos. 24 and 25. TCU pounded Air Force on Saturday 38-14, ending the regular season with only two losses. The only home loss came to conference chapion BYU. When no one sees your games, you can win seven straight under the radar.

The Dec. 19 Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego is crucial for TCU as it hopes to build momentum for the future. Conference games that are on TV will continue to be shown on networks viewers don't even know they have. So with ESPN2 broadcasting the game, people across the country will see what Frog fans figured out a few weeks ago: This is a better team than the one that beat Texas Tech in September to move to No. 15 in the country. The offense is clicking, and the defense is as stingy as it has been all season.

Frogs look for strong finish

TCU faces Air Force at Home Saturday, looking for its seventh straight win to close the regular season. A victory will give the Frogs another 10-win season and likely a spot in the top 25. TCU has not been ranked since losing to Utah on Oct. 5. Since then, the Frogs have won six consecutive games to push their record to 9-2.

By amassing more than 600 yards of offense in consecutive weeks, the Frogs have shown themselves to be a better team than when they reached No. 15 in the country after beating Texas Tech. Unfortunately, a lack of national exposure has prevented them from showing more than the most dedicated of fans.

San Diego bans Wal Mart

Somebody needs to tell me why people hate Wal-Mart so much. It's wildly successful, keeps prices low and tries to make shoppers smile a little with those famous greeters. Let's not forget the $4 prescription drugs the retailer is introducing throughout the country in an effort to bring down costs. But the nation's largest retailer is under assault, as is usually the case with the "big boys."

San Diego is the latest community to effectively ban Wal-Mart SuperCenters. But other cities have done so also. The San Diego City Council last month approved an ordinance that, while not naming Wal-Mart, was clearly targeting the Bentonville, Ark.-based giant. How else does one explain allowing Sam's and COSTCO to skirt the law? These membership-based stores were specifically left off the "prohibited" list.

The law likely be vetoed by Mayor Jerry Sanders, but the council can override the veto, since the measure passed 5-3, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. Those against Wal-Mart SuperCenters in their neighborhoods have two basic arguments: The giant stores make survival tough for smaller retailers, and they add traffic.

The first should be immediately discounted by any defender of free markets. The second should be handled by city engineers before a vote is ever taken.

Wal-Mart is going to drive people out of business because people want to by more for less. A small independent retailer or grocery store that doesn't buy in bulk will get hurt. But the government has an obligation to stay out of his fight to remain afloat. Otherwise, prices remain artificially high and consumers get hurt.

Those complaining Wal-Mart causes traffic problems are also correct. Success will do that. Wal-Mart has done extensive work in past years to improve its impact on neighborhoods, introducing a slimmed-down grocery store concept and even building its stores to blend into the surroundings. Neither matters to the Wal-Mart-haters. To them, Wal-Mart is just plain evil, $4 drugs or not.

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.