Sports news from around the great state of Texas. 
Dallas Mavericks Preview 2010-2011 - What can the Mavs expect this season? Well. It depends on a lot of things. First of all, of your interpretation of what happened last year. To some people, it was another good regular season culminating in a choke job. To others, it was a garden variety disappointment which orbits around the fact that the difference between numbers 2 and 7 in the West could be a lot of things, but it isn’t talent. And I’m inclined to lean towards the later. You expect 2 to beat 7. You especially expect it if it’s the Orlando Magic vs. (whoever). But Mavs-Spurs? Or Mavs-Thunder or Mavs-Jazz or whatever else could have happened last year? Sort of a push, isn’t it?
Dallas Mavericks Preview 2010-2011 - Dallas Dallas Mavericks | Examiner.com Dallas Mavericks like what they see in Dominique Jones - The Dallas Mavericks have had excellent success when it comes to finding players who are not high-end draft picks. Josh Howard is the obvious poster child. But whether it's Marquis Daniels or Eddie Najera or Roddy Beaubois or J.J. Barea, the Mavericks have had some productive players who were drafted late or not at all. Is Dominique Jones next in line?
Dallas Mavericks like what they see in Dominique Jones | Mavericks/NBA | Sports News and Vide... Yao pleases home crowd in Rockets' win over Nets - Yao Ming took his place on the Rockets bench moments before the tip, lowered his head and closed his eyes, completely alone with his thoughts as the center of attention of a nation of 1.3 billion. As Yao went through his private ritual and waves of photographers rushed to surround him, it seemed every eye in Wukesong Arena focused only on him. Soon the roars would swell as he took his feet, when he took the microphone and most of all when he took his first shot, a dunk off a Chuck Hayes pass inside. Yao was back in Beijing and on the Wukesong Arena stage for the first time since the celebration that was the 2008 Olympics. He never seemed more at home. Yao hit a few shots – the dunk in the second minute, a jump hook on the baseline, an 18-footer and a running hook in the fourth quarter – and the Rockets held on for a 91-81 win over the New Jersey Nets Wednesday.
Yao pleases home crowd in Rockets' win over Nets | NBA Basketball | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle An experiment: subjective reality - Yahoo! Sports: "Coach Phil Jackson said that Bynum and Bryant likely wouldn’t be ready to go when the season kicks off, adding, ”So we have to bring up the game and have a concept on how we want to play the game. That will be done during these next preseason games in the next week and a half.” I've maintained for some time, much to the chagrin of many readers, that this Rockets team had little if any chance for contention this season. It’s a prediction with which I don’t think many objective observers would take issue, after taking into account various factors (which I’ve exhaustively explored.)
Can the Houston Rockets catch lightning in a bottle? | Red94 | essays and musings on the nba and houston rockets ProjectSpurs: Spurs vs. Clippers recap - The San Antonio Spurs faced the Los Angeles Clippers in a preseason matchup in Mexcio City. For the Spurs, they came out of the gates looking flat. Shots were not falling, the Clippers were getting easy shots at the rim and eventually built up a double-digit lead in the first half.
Spurs vs. Clippers recap Popovich close to nailing down starting five - The starting lineup Spurs coach Gregg Popovich trotted out south of the border Tuesday was the same as the one he's used north of it. But three games into the preseason, Popovich isn't ready to commit to Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Richard Jefferson, Tim Duncan and DeJuan Blair as his opening-day starting five. He's feeling better about it by the day, though. “I want to give it a look and see how I feel about it,” Popovich said before the Spurs' victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at Palacio de los Deportes. “I might make a different lineup for a couple of games, or I might leave it the same if I like it. It's a little early to say, but I like what I've seen so far.”
Popovich close to nailing down starting five 
CompleteLee! Road to LCS for Texas: 5th gear - Thanks to Cliff Lee and daring baserunning, Texas is in its first ALCS after becoming the first team to win three Division Series road games with Tuesday's 5-1 victory over the Rays.
CompleteLee! Road to LCS for Texas: 5th gear | texasrangers.com: News Rangers ALCS tickets are on sale now - Enjoy postseason baseball in Arlington. Don't miss any of the action at Rangers Ballpark -- come out to support your Texas Rangers. Tickets for ALCS games are on sale.
Postseason | texasrangers.com: Tickets Rangers lean on Cliff to dive into next round - In delivering his second overpowering outing in six days, Cliff Lee improved his career playoff record to 6-0 and has infused the Rangers with the belief that they can do anything.
Rangers lean on Cliff, dive into next round | texasrangers.com: News Antlers up: Aggressive Rangers run past Rays - A run-at-will philosophy the home-team Rays used to lead the AL in wins during the regular season served the Rangers well in winning Tuesday's decisive Game 5 of the ALDS.
Running Rangers beat Rays at their own game | texasrangers.com: News Rangers renew '90s playoff rivalry with Yankees - After winning the franchise's first postseason series on Tuesday, the Rangers head to the ALCS to face the Yankees, the team that defeated Texas in the ALDS in 1996, '98 and '99.
Yankees, Rangers renew '90s playoff rivalry | texasrangers.com: News Rangers aim to reverse history vs. Yankees - Fresh off the first postseason series win in their franchise history, the Rangers will try to exact revenge against the team most responsible for their previous playoff futility. Before Texas' thrilling five-game victory over the Rays in the American League Division Series, the Rangers had lost all three of their postseason series and their last nine playoff games -- all to the Yankees.
MLB.com At Bat | MLB.com: Gameday Astros extend Mills' contract, add option for '13 - The Astros have exercised their option on manager Brad Mills for the 2012 season and added an option for '13. The club went 40-33 after the All-Star break in Mills' first year at the helm.
Astros exercise 2012 option on Mills, add a year | astros.com: News Strong foundation in place for 2011 season - The future looks bright for the Astros. With a rotation -- headed by Brett Myers -- set to return in 2011 and an infield which developed into a strong unit, Houston is on the upswing.
Forecast for 2011 is bright, sunny for Astros | astros.com: News 'Mash up' your own video, win World Series tix - You pick the highlights, the music, everything. Then mash it all up to create your own mini-movie and enter it in our challenge. The winner goes to the 2011 Fall Classic.
Postseason Mashups contest kicks off | MLB.com: News Astros decline contract offer to Loux - The Astros will not be offering a contract to former first-round Draft pick Barret Loux. Astros general manager Ed Wade told MLB.com on Friday afternoon that the club has decided not to try to sign Loux, the former Texas A&M pitcher and the No. 6 overall pick the 2010 First-year Player Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, only to later to be declared a free agent. Wade wouldn't give specific reasons for the club's decision.
Astros decline contract offer to Loux | astros.com: News 
Cowboys will not fire Wade Phillips after 1-3 start; Jerry Jones finally speaks - The Cowboys disappointing start has once again led to questions about the job security of Wade Phillips. The answer is the same as we have reported here time and time again. Owner Jerry Jones has no intention of firing his head coach at this time.
Cowboys will not fire Wade Phillips after 1-3 start; Jerry Jones finally speaks | Dallas Cowboys Blog | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | The Dallas Morning News Miles Austin fulfills Cowboys faith with better numbers than Michael Irvin and Terrell Owens - You should have seen the eyes rolling, slight chuckles and curious looks as Jerry Jones spoke in March 2009 inside the St. Regis Resort Monarch Beach in Dana Point, Calif. Miles Austin has been dangerous with the ball in his hands during his first 16 games as a focal point of the Cowboys' passing game. As Jones went over the reasons for cutting Terrell Owens earlier in the month, he mentioned Miles Austin's ability as one of the big ones. "One of the things in really evaluating where we are * and this is the art of the deal * is deciding if a player like Miles Austin is right here with a Terrell really to what he can do for your offense," Jones said that day.
Miles Austin fulfills Cowboys faith with better numbers than Michael Irvin and Terrell Owens | Dallas Cowboys News | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News Vikings' defense not dominant, because of Brett Favre - On paper, the Minnesota Vikings have a better defense than the one that decimated the Cowboys in the playoffs last season. That 2009 defense held the Cowboys under 200 yards passing, under 100 yards rushing and harassed quarterback Tony Romo into three turnovers in eliminating the Cowboys from Super Bowl contention. Nine of the starters return from that defense in 2010 with two upgrades. Middle linebacker E.J. Henderson, the heart of the run defense, missed the 2009 playoffs with a broken leg. He's back, allowing Ben Leber to return to his more natural strongside linebacker spot. Also, first-year starter Husain Abdullah brings a more physical presence to the strong safety spot. But the Vikings have not been the shutdown defense they were a year ago when they ranked in the top 10 in sacks, run defense, scoring defense and total defense.
Vikings' defense not dominant, because of Brett Favre | Dallas Cowboys News | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News Blame Cowboys stars like Marion Barber, Andre Gurode, too - Some of you blame Jerry Jones for the disaster that, thus far, is the Cowboys' season. Others blame Wade Phillips. Or Jason Garrett . Or Tony Romo. Each of them bears some responsibility for the Cowboys' woes, but the bigger issue is that this team isn't performing like it's one of the best in the league. We all say it's a talented team, but it doesn't matter if guys don't play to their potential.
Taylor: Blame Cowboys stars like Marion Barber, Andre Gurode, too | Dallas Cowboys News | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News Cowboys fans right to panic considering what team is up against - SportsDay columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor answers a reader's questions about a topic of the day. Question: I can’t believe all of the "End Of The World" cries I continue hearing. With all that has happened in just four weeks, why are people already talking about how the Cowboys are done? Jean-Jacques Taylor: It’s probably because only eight percent of the teams since 1933 have started 1-3 and made the playoffs. The good news is Minnesota did it last season, San Diego did it in 2007. It’s a significant problem, because it becomes all about numbers.
Taylor: Cowboys fans right to panic considering what team is up against | Dallas Cowboys News | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News Mad team outplays one that's happy - "So here's how it's probably going to play out Sunday at Reliant Stadium when the Kansas City Chiefs come in laughing, overconfident and trying to take the Texans seriously after watching tape of their wretched performance against the Giants. When the Texans win and start to feel good about themselves, they stink it up. When they get ripped for playing bad, or they have obstacles placed in front of them few believe they can overcome, they usually respond with a vengeance.
McClain: Mad team outplays one that's happy | Sports | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle Texans need Brian Cushing back in top form fast - "It was garbage time, the final minutes of an embarrassing 34-10 rout on Sunday that sent thousands streaming out of Reliant Stadium to get an early jump on the traffic jam and left the Houston Texans with a bushel of questions about their legitimacy as a playoff contender. But Brian Cushing wanted to keep playing. "I didn't want to come off the field," Cushing said, unwinding in a near-empty locker room, still in full uniform and yet to wipe the eye black from his face, a half hour after the game ended. "Even when they told me I was coming off, I didn't want to. I have a lot of time to make up and a lot of plays I have to give this team."
NFL Replay: Texans need Brian Cushing back in top form fast - USATODAY.com Texans hungry for some home cooking - "The Texans are as perplexed as anyone with their inability to win at Reliant Stadium over the last two seasons. Going back to the start of the 2009 campaign, the Texans are 5-6 at home and 7-3 on the road. In those six home losses, including two this season, the average margin of defeat was 12.1 points a game. Only once have the Texans been beaten by fewer than seven points, and that was a 20-17 loss to Tennessee last season. They had better find the right tonic because the surprising Kansas City Chiefs, who currently lead the AFC West at 3-1, are coming to town on Sunday.
Texans hungry for home cooking at Reliant Stadium | Houston Texans Football | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle Schaub not sharp in loss to Giants - "Not only did the Texans rush for a franchise-worst 24 yards in the 34-10 loss to the New York Giants, quarterback Matt Schaub was unable to make up the difference. Schaub threw an interception and lost a fumble when sacked. He didn't throw a touchdown pass. He was sacked three times, and his rating for the game was 53.1. "He wasn't (sharp Sunday), but I think we helped him not be sharp, too," coach Gary Kubiak said. "He didn't have a lot of help up front. We need to do a better job of protecting him. We dropped some balls. We need to run some better routes. "He'd be the first one to tell you he wasn't good enough for us to win, but there's a lot of people involved in that.
Texans notes: Schaub not sharp in loss to Giants | Sports | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle This panic talk should take a holiday - "The official Texans calendar lists all the traditional holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Preseason, regular season, watch the playoffs on TV. It even marks that little-known, Gary Kubiak-created holiday "Too Early to Panic Day." Tep Day, as we observers refer to it, typically falls around Columbus Day. On that day, a team marches in a three-hour parade right through the Texans — as the New York Giants did Sunday - proving the Texans are not a playoff-worthy squad, while everyone who believes in Bob McNair's franchise chants in unison: "It's too early to panic." In 2006, it was Dallas by 28 points. In '07, it was San Diego by 20.
Solomon: Texans' panic talk should take a holiday | Jerome Solomon on Sports | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle 
Baylor QB Robert Griffin: Thin air in Colorado won't affect Bears - Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin doesn't believe the thin air and high elevation in Boulder, Colo., will affect the Bears when they play Colorado on Saturday.
Baylor QB Robert Griffin: Thin air in Colorado won't affect Bears | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: Baylor Baylor down but undaunted after loss - The way Baylor sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin looks at it, he and the Bears can't dwell on yet another loss against Texas Tech.
Baylor down but undaunted after loss | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: Baylor UNT notebook: Defense improving for Mean Green - When North Texas head coach Todd Dodge looked back on the Mean Green’s loss to Arkansas State last week, he saw more than just the problems that have plagued the team all season. He also saw some bright spots, especially in the way UNT played defensively. UNT allowed just three points in the second half of a 24-19 loss at Fouts Field, and one of the touchdowns the Mean Green allowed came after a turnover that set up the Red Wolves at the UNT 21-yard line.
UNT notebook: Defense improving for Mean Green | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: North Texas Dodge out, to have surgery on left wrist - Riley Dodge will have surgery on his broken left wrist today, marking yet another turn in the star-crossed quarterback’s career at North Texas. Chase Baine will make his second start of the season on Saturday when the Mean Green hosts Florida International in the finale of a three-game home stand. UNT will enter that game looking to snap a two-game losing streak.
Football: Dodge out, to have surgery on left wrist | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: North Texas SMU looking to break 19-game nonconference road losing streak - SMU finishes nonconference play this week at Navy. The Mustangs' last win on the road against a non-league opponent came at Navy, 24-11, on Nov. 21, 1998.
SMU looking to break 19-game nonconference road losing streak | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: SMU TCU ranked No. 3 in mock BCS poll - Stories are beginning to flood The Google Machine that the BCS will be releasing its poll soon. Idiots, namely me, follow with great anticipation.
TCU ranked No. 3 in mock BCS poll | College Sports Blog | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | The Dallas Morning News TCU coach: 'We could have scored more points, but why do that?' - No. 4 TCU played for the pollsters against overmatched Wyoming while their fans were largely absent, presumably distracted by a rare baseball playoff game just down the road from Amon G. Carter Stadium. Now that their 45-0 victory Saturday against the Cowboys is out of the way, the Horned Frogs figure the focus will be back on them for an interesting and potentially defining stretch of their schedule.
TCU coach: 'We could have scored more points, but why do that?' | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: TCU TCU shuts down Wyoming's bid to spoil Frogs' shutout - TCU has had opportunities to shut out teams in the recent past, only to have the opposition steal a touchdown late against the Horned Frogs' reserves. Not this time.
TCU shuts down Wyoming's bid to spoil Frogs' shutout | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: TCU Longhorn's Running back Monroe may see more action - Offensive coordinator Greg Davis acknowledged D.J. Monroe probably should have gotten a few carries in the second half against Oklahoma two weeks after breaking a 60-yard run in the first half.
Briefs: Texas RB DJ Monroe to see more action; Texas Tech to go camouflage | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: Texas Longhorns coach compares Nebraska quarterback to Vince Young - Love it when veteran coaches weigh in on college football talent. When some of the game's elder statesmen offer a conclusion it's been processed through a lifetime of observation. Now, keep in mind, Texas coach Mack Brown and Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne have biases when it comes to evaluating Cornhuskers quarterback Taylor Martinez.
Longhorns coach compares Nebraska quarterback to Vince Young | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: Texas Texas A&M Aggies still have shot at ultimate goal: Big 12 Championship - Texas A&M wide receiver Jeff Fuller put together one of the best days of his career in Saturday's 24-17 loss to Arkansas. Fuller caught eight passes for 154 yards and a touchdown.
Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: Texas A&M Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert OK to start at Texas A&M - Quarterback Blaine Gabbert (hip pointer) will start for No. 21 Missouri when the Tigers travel to Texas A&M on Saturday.
Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert OK to start at Texas A&M | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: Texas A&M Texas A&M to unveil new uniforms vs. Missouri - Texas A&M will be joining the many college programs that will sport a new uniform in season.
Texas A&M to unveil new uniforms vs. Missouri | College Sports Blog | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | The Dallas Morning News Texas Tech to go camouflage - Football team to wear camouflage. Texas Tech players will wear uniforms with camouflage highlights in Saturday's game against Oklahoma State to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.
Briefs: Texas RB DJ Monroe to see more action; Texas Tech to go camouflage | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Sports: Colleges: Texas Tech