Football is back.  The Dallas Cowboys are the first NFL team to begin training camp.  In reading reports about the first day, I was struck by the focus of the four primary wide receivers for the Cowboys.

1.  Patrick Crayton – although he wrestled about contract issues over the summer, Jason Garrett loves what Crayton has brought to training camp.  Garrett (offensive coordinator) spoke of him doing all the big things and all the little things.  A good professional.

2.  Miles Austin – Austin has not let his sudden success in the NFL go to his head.  His last two tweets on twitter read:

• “Blocked my %#* today!
• Out of meetings. Had a good first practice but I dropped a ball I should have caught in the second one… Gotta work harder!!

3.  Dez Bryant – arrived 2 hours early for the first practice.  Was the first player on the field, 45 minutes before anybody else.  Made great plays that impressed everybody.

4.  Roy Williams – was booed when he dropped a ball and then makes a big deal out of Dez Bryant not carrying his shoulder pads for him.

Kudos to Crayton, Miles and Bryant.  Whatever is opposite of kudos to Williams.  If Roy would just play football and try to earn what has been invested in him, he would be in a much better position.  This is not the first time that we have highlighted his ability to jack his jaws.  At least Terrell Owens caught passes while running his mouth.

Congratulations to Spain for winning their 1st ever World Cup trophy.  I was able to watch quite a few of the matches and loved every minute of it.  Here are the things I will remember:

1.  Like everybody else, I had no idea what a vuvuzela was.  I even downloaded an iPhone app that had a picture of the horn and made that droning sound.  It will be interesting to see how many of these things show up at NFL and college football stadiums this year.

2.  I have lived in Italy and Germany, so I have known how big a deal soccer is to the other nations of the world.  I even played on a team of Americans in Italy that provided good practice for the Italian teams we faced.  I really enjoyed watching the fans from the nations whether they were in the stadiums or in the squares in their native countries.

3.  I am amazed at the quality of athletes, the strategy employed and the watching of a human chess match taking place on the “pitch.”

4.  I was left wondering how American sports would be different if yellow and red cards were handed out.  When key players have to sit out a game for a major infraction (red card) or two lesser infractions (yellow card), it helps enforce playing within the rules.

5.  I also enjoy that men going at it tooth and nail still demonstrate sportsmanship of a high level.  When a player is injured with the ball.  The other team gives the ball back after play resumes.

6.  It may be another 4 years until the next World Cup in Brazil, but I will be watching more of the European games in the meantime.

Like almost everybody else, I tuned into ESPN at 9pm on Thursday to find out “The Decision” of LeBron James. As we all know, he is heading to South Beach to play for the Miami Heat. Every talking head has had his say about the whole spectacle, so I only have a few comments on the actual decision.

First, like most folks, I am not crazy about the whole free agency thing in sports. All one has to say is “Yankees” to know there has to be a better way. But it is not going away. It is capitalism at work.

Second, since I lived in South Florida for a few years, I kind of like the Heat. So good for them. They played the off-season game to perfection.

Third, although Cleveland has to feel like a dumped ex-lover, James did fulfill his contract with the team. I have a bigger problem with players who are under contract that hold out or somehow fail to live up to what they had agreed.

Now here are the real problems I had with the entire announcement on ESPN:

First, James announcement certainly was anti-climatic after listening to 20 minutes of analysts telling us that their “sources” indicated James was going to Miami. It was like opening a Christmas present that somebody had already told me what was inside the wrapped package. Imagine if ESPN/ABC knew the winner of a football game that they were going to air. The announcers tell you who will win the game. Then they finally show you the game that was played earlier. I felt cheated that 4 guys in suits at the ESPN studio told me the decision before LeBron did. If that was going to be the case, just announce it on Sports Center.

Second, if these “sources” could notify the ESPN talking heads of James’ decision ahead of time, why couldn’t James let the folks know who had offered him multi-million dollars? Either notify them out of respect, or maintain a complete information silence.

Third, did Jim Gray really think that I tuned in to hear him ask James if he chews his nails? Where was Howard Cosell when you needed him?

These are my thoughts. The only way I can see this effecting my life at all, is that I will want to tune in when Miami travels to Cleveland for the first time next season. Now that should be entertaining.

Out Loud Thought #1 – Is it possible for the NBA to extend the playoffs a little bit longer?  College basketball has March Madness with the championship game in early April.  The NBA playoffs began in April of 1998…it seems.  Why do players who often play in consecutive days need to only play two times in a week?  Just when you want to get interested in a series, it goes on hiatus.  Does it really take 4 days for teams to travel from LA to Phoenix?

Out Loud Thought #2 – What happens when you have teammates in an individual sport?  NASCAR is finding out this year.  So far 3 sets of teammates have had serious flareups.  First, it was Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya taking each other out of a race.  Then Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon tangled for a few weeks.  This past week Kyle Busch warned his handlers to keep him away from Denny Hamlin.  This is part of what makes NASCAR so appealing.

Out Loud Thought #3 – Perhaps the poor showings by the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic should be attributed to the relentless play of Rajon Rondo.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a storied football legacy.  With that in mind, I will be counting down the players I consider to be the top 10 of all time.  Today I am listing players up for consideration.  I would appreciate your input on who should be on the list.  Leave a comment on who you think should be on that list.

I have one glaring omission from the list – the wishbone quarterbacks.  Clearly they were key men on some great Sooner teams.  However, none of them made any All-American teams.  If you think we should consider one for inclusion on the top 10 list, please leave that quarterback’s name in the comment section.

Here is the breakdown by position of the 27 players to be considered.  I have chosen to use national award winners, multi-year unanimous All-American picks, etc.

QB – Sam Bradford, Jason White, Josh Heupel

RB – Billy Vessels, Tommy McDonald, Steve Owens, Billy Sims, Adrian Peterson, Greg Pruitt, Joe Washington

OL – Kurt Burris, Jerry Tubbs, Jamaal Brown, Greg Roberts, J.D. Roberts, Jim Weathrall

TE – Keith Jackson

DL – Lee Roy Selmon, Tony Casillas, Tommie Harris

LB – Rod Shoate, Brian Bosworth, Rocky Calmus, Teddy Lehman

DB – Ricky Dixon, Derrick Strait, Roy Williams

Agree?  Disagree?

I have friends and family in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex.  Would somebody please take a muzzle out to Valley Ranch and put it on Roy Williams?  For a guy who caught 38 passes last year, he is being quoted more than Drew Brees.  Brees just happened to win the Super Bowl MVP.

If we can’t get a muzzle, then will some other members of the Dallas Cowboys distract the reporters?  Perhaps Marion Barber could start talking about seeing UFO’s.  Or DeMarcus Ware could ramble on about his thoughts on Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.  Anything would be better than letting another reporter get a microphone near Roy Williams.

I have previously commented about the words coming out of Roy Williams mouth (here and here).  His mouth is putting up great stats.  If only his hands were attached to the same body.

Here is the latest from Williams after workouts at the Cowboys’ facility,

You know, last year around this time we were throwing and catching and it wasn’t very good. Just to be quite honest with you, we were missing balls, and bad throws and drops and all that in the off-season that carried over to the season. But this year, we’re connecting like Montana and Rice.

Oh, my.  Let’s dissect this a bit.

1.  Williams did not need to be honest with us about last year.  Everybody believes him on that part of the statement.  Last year wasn’t very good.

2.  Did Williams just compare himself and Romo to Joe Montana and Jerry Rice?  I can’t even comment on that.

3.  If he was going to compare the QB-WR tandem, what would be wrong with some Dallas Cowboys’ greats?  Staubach to Pearson???  Aikman to Irvin???

4.  In honor of Allen Iverson, “It’s PRACTICE.  C’mon…practice.  I mean…practice.”  The quarterback and receiver should be connecting in practice in the spring.  Let’s see what happens in the fall and winter months.

In the midst of last season’s Dallas Cowboys’ schedule, Roy Williams complained that he and quarterback Tony Romo were not on the same page.  He quipped, “It’s not even funny.”  Now that it is the offseason, Williams continues to talk.  Never mind that he never has performed any where near his pay grade.  His latest comments are comical.  Cowboy fans can laugh now because if he continues to underperform, he won’t be on the field.  But why can’t he just be quiet until he does something?

This week he has been talking quite a bit.

I’m going to look at this (the arrival of Dez Bryant) as I’m the man, like I’ve always been.  And that’s never going to change.

3 problems with the short quote:

1.  He isn’t the man.

2.  He hasn’t been the man.

3.  He won’t be the man.

Miles Austin has been the man.  Miles Austin is the man.  Miles Austin and Dez Bryant will be the men.

Williams boasted about his off-season prep work to indicate that he won’t be dropping balls like he did last year.  Of what does this workout consist?  Catching 200 passes a week from an automatic throwing machine and 40-50 passes from Romo.  Let’s do the math.  On a 5 day work week, that is 40 passes from a machine daily and 10-13 from Romo.  Two questions about this.  First, what did he do last year in the off season?  Second, is that supposed to be an impressive number?  It doesn’t sound like it to me.

At a golf outing, Williams continued his affirmations of primacy.  He insisted that he is still the starting wide receiver.

Like I said when I first got here, ain’t no such thing as me sitting on the bench.  Never in my life.

We will see.  We will see.

Suzie and I moved to Chattanooga in January.  Due to our work schedules, we have not been able to experience the city like we had hoped.  But with a change in the work situations, we are looking forward to exploring this scenic city.  I will be posting things to do in Chattanooga in groups of 10′s.  Some of the outings we have already experienced.  Some we hope to experience.  If you live in or have visited Chattanooga, feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.  Facebook now has various cities with “365 things to do in (city).”  I initially liked the one for Chattanooga, but dis-liked it after the 1st entry I read was about getting a car wash.  So here we go (in no particular order):

Ruby Falls

1.  Ruby Falls – In January Suzie and I ventured along with a guide into the belly of Lookout Mountain to see an amazing underground waterfall.

2.  The Incline Railway – This train takes you straight up and straight down Lookout Mountain.  It offers a great view of the area.

3.  The Original Blue Orleans Creole Restaurant – Suzie and I thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience here in March.  Great New Orleans menu with a jazz band playing.

4.  Tennessee Valley Railroad – Last month Suzie and took a ride on this railroad.  We took the

Tenn Valley RR

Missionary Ridge Local train ride.  It was a trip back into time when the riding the rails was a prime method of transportation in the U.S.

5.  Sug’s BBQ – On our 1st night in the city we spotted this joint sitting on the ridge off of the interstate.  We walked in and knew we were in store for some wonderful BBQ.

6.  Tennesse Aquarium – This downtown attraction offers a large aquarium and 3D IMAX Theater.

7.  Chattanooga Lookouts – The Lookouts are the AA minor league team for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Games are played downtown at AT&T Field.

8.  Chattanooga Football Club – This is the soccer team with games played at Finley Stadium.  They play in the National Premier Soccer League.

9.  Chattanooga Beast Feast BBQ Festival – this will be at the First Tennessee Pavilion downtown on May 29th and 30th.

10.  The Hunter Museum of American Art

This new feature, Thursdays are for Thinking Outloud, is my opportunity to share some snippets of things rolling around in my head.  That can be dangerous territory.  The inspiration for the title comes from former Depaul Ray Meyers.  During a basketball game, he was not particularly pleased with the fellow in the striped shirts.  So he asked the referee, “Can you give me a technical (foul) for what I’m thinking?”  The referee responded, “I guess not.”  To that, Meyer said, “I’m thinking that you’re doing a pretty lousy job.”  Meyer did get a technical for thinking out loud.

Out Loud Thought #1:  I’m thinking that if The University of New Mexico followed the lead of the Phoenix Suns, they might run into copyright issues – LOS LOBOS.

Out Loud Thought #2:  I’m thinking that this is a good article on what to do in Chattanooga.  My kids need to make a list for when they come visit.  I can see hang gliding, fly fishing and riding the rapids in my future.

Out Loud Thought #3:  I’m thinking that i would rank my favorite 10 sports this way.

1. College Football
2. NFL
3. Baseball
4. Horse Racing
5. NASCAR
6. College Basketball
7. Soccer
8. PGA
9. NBA
10. NHL

Has anybody bothered to check the water supply in Philadelphia? Surely something must be in the water that changes people when they pass through the turnstile at a ball game. Perhaps not. Philly fans have notoriously been in the news throughout the years. In the “City of Brotherly Love”, fans are known for booing anybody and everybody. They booed Michael Irvin as he lay on the ground motionless after a hard hit in a football game. They even booed Santa Claus during the Christmas season one year.

2 nights ago, a 17 year old made the news after he ran onto the field and was tasered.  Last night a 30 something year old man was arrested after he dashed onto the field.  What makes this story interesting is that he was charged with defiant trespass, disorderly conduct, and NARCOTICS POSSESSION.

Narcotics possession?  I can’t claim to speak as one who uses or possesses narcotics.  But I would think that at some point the fact that I have illegal drugs in my pocket (or sock) would cause me to be a little less conspicuous.  Drug possessors are getting a bad name.  Would a self-respecting druggie drive wildly and with excessive speed if he were transporting drugs?