Year One: The Ledger Is Still Standing
Happy Anniversary To The Lone Star Sports Ledger!
Certain anniversaries call for certain celebrations.
Each year of togetherness symbolizes a benchmark for survival. The more years a relationship survives, the easier it gets. (I think)
Arguably, the first year is the hardest. Is it worth it? Am I ready for this commitment? Are we beginning to hate each other?
All valid concerns.
So as is it goes, all concerns aside, The Lone Star Sports Ledger celebrates its first anniversary this June!
From meager beginnings of a few hits a day to an average of 100 per day. From hoping at least twenty people read my blog to approaching 20,000 hits in its first year!
Ranging from personal commentaries, one-on-one interviews, statistical data, and total randomness, here are The Ledger’s Top 5 posts based off viewership.
My Interview With Bisbee The Cat: Texas A&M’s Other Mascot (1,308)
By far the funniest interview I’ve done to this point. It’s not everyday you get to interview a cat. Until I met Bisbee, I didn’t even know cats could talk let alone interview. From the streets to the college campus, Bisbee gave readers a good chuckle on his points-of-view regarding Reveille, Aggie traditions, and his hatred towards everything UT. Bisbee clearly showed readers that the importance of being an Aggie compares only to the air we humans breathe. Whoop!
Bisbee The Cat
My Interview With Donal Logue: Actor & Professional Soccer Club Owner (1,150)
I met Donal Logue through a series of happenstance Tweets. None the less, a virtual yet respectful bond was formed during our interview. A proven actor, movie director, and producer, Logue still finds time for his passion, soccer. Not only does he play and manage one of California’s most successful professional teams (Hollywood United FC), he owns them. From original players Billy Duffy & Ian Astbury of The Cult, to current actor/player Dermot Mulroney and Jason Statham, and ex-USMNT stars Eric Wynalda, Alexi Lalas, & John Harkes; Donal Logue sits among the Who’s Who in the soccer & entertainment business.
Donal Logue
Your ‘Bevos’ Weren’t As Big As You Thought They Were (744)
One of the biggest controversies in Texas last Fall was the rift between century old college rivals Texas A&M and Texas. As UT swung a mega-million dollar deal with ESPN, the message was clear to the Aggies…UT has no use for College Station. The deal set the wheels in motion for a chain of events the Longhorns did not see coming, to include the inevitable end to their storied rivalry. I lost and gained quite a few friends penning this article (to include one family member), but still believe UT’s actions caused the demise of the Big XII. I also put together a photo montage depicting the end of the rivalry ( ’Love Done Gone’)
Bevo
My Interview With Robin Carlin-Mile High Sports Magazine (718)
My interview with Robin was a good turning point for The Ledger. For a lack of better words, it was my first ‘professional piece’. The site gained some serious steam after this write up. Carlin’s opinions on Carmelo Anthony’s departure from the Nuggets to the Denver fan’s infatuation with Tim Tebow was priceless. She gave readers an inside look into her personal life on what inspired her career as a sports writer. Her passion for Colorado sports rivals those of any Texan, and her journalistic acumen is second to none.
Mile High Sports writer, Robin Carlin.
Dallas Sidekicks…Never Say Die! (522)
A spur of the moment post and one of my proudest. It had been 25 years since the Dallas Sidekicks won Major Indoor Soccer League’s 1986-87 title. I grew up as teenager sneaking into the old Reunion Arena to watch Tatu and the Sidekicks, and saw every playoff game that championship year. I decided to search the internet for footage of Game 7 one Saturday morning and found a grainy clip that brought back so many memories. Instantly inspired, I pieced together my own revival of the franchise long since dead. Unbeknownst to me, a revival was already in the works. Four months after posting this article, the ‘Never Say Die’ team rose from the grave and announced they will begin play this fall in Addison, Tx. Thank you Ronnie Davis!
Honorable mentions: My Interview With Karsten Smith-San Antonio Scorpions (350), The Other “Man With The Hat” (334), Never Say Die! Dallas Sidekicks Returning (328), My Interview With Craig Hill-San Antonio Scorpions GK (310), My Interview With Mark Followill-Voice Of The Dallas Mavericks (302)
It’s been a fun first year for The Ledger.
Writing/Blogging was ten times harder than I ever imagined. But the people I have met along the way as well as the friendships forged made it worth the while.
I have since become the Editor for the Crocketters web site, San Antonio’s Premiere Soccer Supporters Group supporting San Antonio Scorpions FC, North American Soccer League’s newest franchise,
I’ve become a busy guy juggling The Ledger, the Crocketteers gig, my everyday military career, and last but not least, my wife and daughters who have supported me every step of the way. So busy that I brought aboard two very good writers to help the The Ledger steamroll into Year Two.
Tyler Torres’-Texas Rangers Blog has already received nearly 1,000 hits in his first month and a half, and Rudy Hernandez-Dallas Cowboy Blog is gearing up for the NFL season.
I sincerely thank everyone for their support while visiting The Ledger, as well as their numerous Tweets, RT’s, and Facebook Shares!
Major Facelift In Store For Mavericks
Mark Cuban
It’s not as if Maverick’s billionaire owner Mark Cuban purposely tanked the 2011-12 season.
Blood was spilled on the court at American Airlines Center moments after the championship party ended. That would be the last time Dallas’ NBA title roster would walk under the same roof.
With very little cap-room, Cuban signed a motley-crue of veteran players to short-term contracts in a sad attempt to defend his title.
Cuban knew very well his team’s chances were about as good as those who defended the Alamo.
Spend very little now. Lose now. Spend very big next year. Win big next year. Cuban knew he’d be filthy rich in cap money next free agency.
And a filthy rich cap-spending Mark Cuban is a filthy rich dangerous Mark Cuban.
The Ledger takes a quick glance at Dallas’ 2012 ‘mix & match’ roster, analyzing who should stay and who should go.
Hint: Don’t get too comfortable with the leftover scraps in Dallas that were swept out of the NBA playoffs.
Mavericks Long Gone:
PG-Jason Kidd: Kidd has plenty left in the tank, but Dallas needs an athletic point guard on the court. He’s asking for a two-year deal, but unless he is serious about taking a back-up role to whoever Dallas brings in, Cuban would be foolish to ink the 40-year old Kidd.
Jason Kidd
SG-Jason Terry: The heart and soul for Dallas’ championship run last year. The Jet was a key cog in the Mavericks’ success over the past five years, but he’ll be looking for one last long-term contract that pays him big. Cuban unfortunately can not commit to Terry either.
C-Brendan Haywood: Dallas continued its rich history of signing bad centers to bad contracts (Bradley, Dampier, et al). Signed to a 6 yr/$54 million contract and sorely regretting it, Cuban can exercise the one-time ‘Amnesty Clause’ and wash his hands of the career back-up’s contract, and his 6 points and 5 rebounds per game average
SF- Vince Carter: The original ‘Sanity’ before Lin, the Vince Carter Revival never came to fruition. Carter proved to be nothing more than a ‘chucker’ perched beyond the three-point arc that hasn’t aged gracefully in basketball terms. Let another NBA team try to rediscover Vinsanity’s magic.
PG-Delonte West: Experiment 2 of 3. Signed as a hopeful guard to take over Kidd or Terry’s predicted departure that didn’t take shape. West is a loose-cannon that prefers on court antics such as giving ‘wet-willies’ to his opponents instead of guarding them.
Delonte ‘Wet Willie’ West
SF-Lamar Odom: The biggest failed experiment for Dallas in 2012. Odom never gelled in the locker room nor with coach Rick Carlisle. It came to the point that Dallas just removed him from the lineup all together. Not benched. Removed. To cement their dislike for Odom, Dallas players voted to not share their portion of playoff money with the locker room cancer.
Mavericks Staying Put:
C-Ian Mahinmi: The closest thing to a center Dallas has, and that’s not saying much. Mahinmi showed micro-signs of life every 11th game, but is raw an inexperienced when matched against premiere NBA big men. If they can get their hands on a serviceable center, Mahinmi will flourish in a back-up role, but not as a starter.
F-Brian Cardinal: Solid off the bench for the occasional 3-pointer and taking a charge every now and then. Every team needs a ‘Custodian’ on the bench.
Brian Cardinal aka ‘Custodian’
Under Contract
It goes without saying, Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion are the only two players entrenched in the starting lineup.
PG Rodrigue Beaubois is lightning quick and can push the rock up court, but has yet to take advantage of his opportunities. Beaubois still remains an important piece to the Mav’s plan however.
Spare parts and faceless players will fill out the bottom end of the roster. If Carlisle requires more than trash time from them, hello 2013 NBA Lottery!
The Unrestricted Free Agent market doesn’t bode too well for an upgrade, nor does Restricted Free-Agency, as both lists provide nothing more than mid-level talent at best.
Names like Deron Williams & Dwight Howard continue to be thrown around Dallas trade rumors, but to acquire any player of this quality, Mark Cuban will have to involve a third and possibly a fourth team in a major trade.
The best possible news for Dallas is the front-office will have an entire off-season to plan their attack.
Rest assured, I’m sure Mark Cuban had this in mind as soon as the victory party ended at American Airlines Center last year.
San Antonio Scorpions Dominate Tampa Bay, 2-0
The goal of every expansion team is to make progress throughout their first season.
San Antonio took another step forward Saturday night as they defeated the Tampa Rowdies 2-0 in front of 9,536 fans at Heroes Stadium.
Make that a giant step forward.
The Scorpions set the tone from the opening whistle, creating excellent scoring opportunities in the first ten minutes. The constant attack by San Antonio was a welcome sight for fans who were becoming accustomed to the Scorpion’s slow starts. It was the first game at home in which the Scorpions took the fight to their opponent.
Tampa Bay’s defense was able to weather the storm as the first half ended 0-0.
San Antonio displayed the same hunger in the second half as they did in the first. Their hard work finally paid off as forward Pablo Campos was taken down inside the penalty area.
As the penalty kick was awarded, fans quickly replayed both of Campos’ failed PK’s in the home opener against Puerto Rico. To their delight, fans were put at ease as Hans Dennisen lined up for the kick. Dennisen calmly slammed the ball into the back of the net, giving San Antonio the 1-0 lead at the 53rd minute mark.
Hans Dennisen scores on a PK.
Not content with a one-goal lead, San Antonio continued to press Tampa Bay. The pressure allowed head coach Tim Hankinson to expose a crucial weakness in the Rowdies’ back line: marking.
Recently signed and former FC Dallas defender Aaron Pitchkolan was left unmarked during a Hans Dennisen corner. Pitchkolan punished Tamp Bay for the mistake and knocked home a loose ball in the 66th minute, giving San Antonio the all-important insurance goal, 2-0.
Former FC Dallas defender Aaron Pitckolan
GK Daryl Sattler, filling in for the injured Pat Hannigan, recorded his second clean sheet in as many starts. Sattler was never challenged facing only three shots on goal, thanks in large part to his defenders who played their most organized game of the season.
Tampa Bay played as if they were ready to fly back to Florida as soon as they stepped onto the pitch. San Antonio took every bit of advantage, and are now riding a modest two-game winning streak and are unbeaten in three straight games.
San Antonio (2-2-1, 8 pts) will quickly turn around next Saturday with a rematch against the Rowdies (2-2-2, 8 pts) in Tampa Bay.
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Nutmegs
- Pablo Campos’ diva antics are wearing thin on the fans. He charismatically lets his teammates know when he disapproves of their on the field decisions. However, when he touches the ball eight times inside the penalty area instead of passing or shooting, all is well in the mind of Campos.
- Midfielder Walter Ramirez’ fancy footwork and speed on the wings stumped Tampa’s slower defenders.
- San Antonio recorded their 3rd shut out of the year.
- Aside from giving up four goals to Puerto Rico, the Scorpions have only surrendered two goals in four games.
