UT Student Arrested For Terrorism

In this case, it wasn’t 9/11-type terrorism, but Charles Whitman-type terrorism. This kid is really sick and needs help or UT just averted a major disaster — or both.

Scott Burns On Journalism, Newspapers, and More

The News personal finance columnist on why it took so long to eliminate stock listings from newspapers and other stuff. Why does he like business journalism?

It focuses on verbs rather than adjectives. It’s the language of human action.

Wishing Willie A Happy Birthday–And A Lot More

OK, Willie Nelson’s 75 today, which is wonderful. But, really, isn’t today’s DMN editorial and the Texas Monthly May extravaganza all bordering on some serious overkill? Willie’s been responsible for some great songs and he’s a Texas “icon” and all, but come on. The TM oral history is thousands and thousands and thousands (and thousands) of words about Nelson from people like Jimmy Carter and Robert Redford. Evan Smith even tells us he “reacts emotionally” when he hears the first notes of “Whiskey River.” When I hear them I think: “Oh crap; not that one again.” Happy Birthday anyway, Willie. Hold one in for me.

FrontBurner Poll: The Mavs’ Next Coach

Avery Johnson is Dead to Me, Mavs

Avery Johnson has been fired by the Mavericks, sources in our offices tell me. I know the body isn’t cold, but I would like to officially announce that I am interested in the position. I’m a hard worker, a self starter, I watched almost every game over the past five seasons (many from the confines of the AAC, as I am a half-season ticket older), and I played varsity basketball at a 3A high school (and even started a bunch of games!). So, as you can see, I’m totally qualified. Plus, I look awesome in a suit and wouldn’t hesitate to have some pipe-wielding MFFLs go to town on Stack’s knee.

Lone Star Park Mixtape Publicity Ploy Works (On Me)

(Full disclosure right off the bat: I’ve met Lone Star Park Vice President G.W. Hail a few times and he’s a nice guy. Nice enough that if he asks me to do him a favor, I’m inclined to oblige. I’m especially inclined when the favor involves promoting me as an almost pseudo-celebrity. And yes, I realize I’m falling in to his publicity trap by mentioning this stunt on FrontBurner … just as he planned it. Well played, G.W.)

What am I talking about? A week or so ago, G.W. asked me to create a Lone Star Park music mix to be broadcast during live racing days — songs to be played during downtime. G.W. said he was going to ask other media types to contribute (people like Norm, Newy, and Clarice). Apparently I was the first to turn mine in and so mine will be the first to enter the rotation — starting tomorrow, G.W. tells me. I obsessed over the mix like I am wont to do. I had to account for varying age groups, differences in preferences, sensitivity to mood (upbeat, but not too cheery for the frowny-faced bettors), yet still staying true to songs I truly like/love. For those who are curious, the final line-up is after the jump.

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When Pregnancy Is Child Abuse

As the father of four Allisonettes, ages 16-23, I am disgusted by the latest CPS announcement that 31 out of 53 girls rounded up in the FLDS raid are either pregnant or have given birth (one, in fact, gave birth today). However, I remain skeptical. For one thing, the CPS is working overtime to justify its actions, and many of its leaks to the press have been as inaccurate as the original grounds for the search warrant. For another, as Scott Henson points out, its numbers either don’t add up or are deliberately jiggled. But there’s another point that goes to the heart of the matter, which I’ll address after the jump:

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Blake Andrews Is Now Dating Jessica Simpson

That’s according to People magazine. Alan Peppard caught their boner.

Abacus Is Open For Business

Kent Rathbun has just completed a complete makeover of starship Abacus. New menu; gorgeous digs. Rathbun is back in the kitchen. They had a quick soft opening on Monday and Tuesday nights and they’re ready for you now. Beet salad, anyone? Looks like tall food is making a comeback.

Crowley Man Arrested for Trying to Cash $360 Billion Check

Now that would be a stimulus package. An alert FBvian points us to the story.

SMU Kids Know How to Party, Urinate

SMU’s student newspaper is exposing the boorish behavior of some of its students:

One doctor wrote to complain on behalf of a thousand conference attendees. In early April, the group of doctors stayed at the same North Dallas hotel a group of SMU students were also booked at. On all 15 floors, he wrote, SMU students “urinated in hallways,” “came close to physical confrontations with other guests,” kicked in doors and walked in on other guests in their rooms. He also said yelling and profane language went on until dawn.

The odd part about the story is that the revelation comes not in a story in the Daily Campus, but rather in an ad — paid for by a vice president of student affairs.

Leading Off

1. Marty Turco’s playoff beard is doing the trick, as the Stars now look to sweep the Sharks. In related news, Zac’s beard is doing the trick, too. Meanwhile, the Mavs? Josh Howard is an idiot for going out and partying it up after game four. But you know, if they had to lose (and they prolly did), then I’m glad New Orleans did it to them. That city needs all the good news it can get. And they sound pretty stoked.

2. An Irving postal carrier left an injured Chihuahua named Rambo in a box on the mayor’s doorstep. He’s fed up with the city’s lax animal control efforts. Now that’s thinking outside the box. (Thank you, Irving!)

3. Eddie Bernice Johnson Boulevard? Post Industrial Boulevard? Those are two of the 10 names now up for consideration for the renaming of Industrial. Vomit.

“It Caught Twine in the Back of the Onion Bag.”

Stars win in overtime. And the above description of the winning goal is why I love Razor Reaugh. (Side note: yes, I’m a horribly casual hockey fan, and I didn’t watch a single game this season until the playoffs started. And, yes, I realize that some hardcore Stars fans take a dim view of people like me. There’s an ownership thing at work here. “I invested all those hours during the regular season watching the team. So don’t think you can come along and get as excited as I am about their going up 3-0 on the Sharks.” Okay, would you rather people like me not get excited this time of year? If the whole city — latecomers included — jump on the bandwagon here at the end, doesn’t that make it more fun for you, too? Just asking.)

Mavs Lose. Let’s Focus on Hockey Now.

As I write this, there are still 5.7 seconds left in the game. It actually got exciting right there, toward the end. The only reason it was close: Brandon Bass. That’s what I’m taking away from this playoffs. I look forward to watching more Bass next season. And less Josh Howard.

P.S. That foul that Jerry Stackhouse put on Chris Paul, the one that got him ejected? Embarrassing.

Rock ‘n’ Roll CEOs

We know that Blockbuster is revamping stores to become cool hangouts, but it looks like CEO Jim Keyes is really trying to be popular with the kids: He’s throwing down a Guitar Hero challenge. Keyes and Mayor Leppert are calling for local CEOs and notables to pony up $5,000 for six-minute spots in the 24-hour marathon Dallas CEO/Celebrity Guitar Hero Challenge—the event benefits Education is Freedom and starts at 3 p.m. May 16 at the Blockbuster on the corner of Lemmon and McKinney in Uptown. Regular folks can enter for $5 and compete for prizes; the CEO/celeb who raises the most cash wins the contest.

Giddy-Up: Four More Days To The Kentucky Derby

My anticipation for the first Saturday in May starts earlier and grows more fervent each year, and it seems like I learn something new every spring. For instance, I didn’t know there was a famous train decades ago that ran from Dallas-Fort Worth to Louisville, dubbed the “millionaires’ special,” that signaled the start of Derby fever. It was the Gulfstream of the day for owners and horseplayers. Very cool. (If someone wants to hire me to write about 200 pages about the Texas & Pacific’s trek to Kentucky, let’s chat.)

In related Derby news, the peeps at the NYT have (wisely) asked SMU alum, fellow horseplayer, and fellow fan of Louie’s Joe Drape to contribute to the new, Derby-centric blog called The Rail. Interested parties should check it out.

Evan Smith Interviews Jim Moroney

The Texas Monthly editor queries the DMN publisher on circulation, discounted copies, web traffic, and more here. Interestingly, while circ is down (as planned), Jim says the latest Scarborough study shows readership is up .6% in the four-county Dallas area.

Bankston Chevy Picks Up Stakes, Relocates

Now you see it, now you don’t. Last week Bankston Chevrolet was occupying the northwest corner of Northwest Highway and Abrams Road in Dallas, as it has for years; this week that corner’s empty and Bankston’s moved to larger digs at 4747 LBJ Freeway, next to its Nissan location. A spokeswoman says Bankston is leasing the Northwest/Abrams property through 2011, and has yet to decide whether to sublease it or put another dealership there.

Steven Soderbergh to Visit High-Class Call Girl; Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner to Pay For It

Well, sort of. The second film in Soderbergh’s six-picture deal with 2929 Entertainment partners Cubes and Wagner will be The Girlfriend Experience, “a look into the world of a $10,000-a-night/$1 million-a-year prostitute.” Like Soderbergh’s first film for 2929, 2005’s Bubble, the movie will be released in theaters and on DVD and cable at the same time, and will be shot with mostly unknown actors. Unlike Bubble, maybe this time it will work.

Tony Romo Takes His Gunslinging Attitude to the Blackjack Tables in Vegas and Drops $2.5 Million

Allegedly. The source on this is Robin Leach, so you might want to take that with a handful of sea salt.

The House(s) of the Rising Sun Sales Price

Something weird is afoot in the Dallas residential real estate market. So notes a reader of DallasDirt and so seconds some commentors. Sales prices of some homes are actually going up. Now, they could be exceptions and a case-by-case basis, but it’s still weird.

Bobby Valentine Is Big in Japan

Ever wonder what the former Rangers manager is up to? An alert FBvian points us to the this story about his enormous popularity as a manager in Japan — and about the documentary on him in the works. In related news, there are no documentaries about Ron Washington currently under way.

Dog Problem Continues in Dallas

I’m on record as saying the stray problem in Dallas is out of control and needs to be addressed. (Rod Davis made the case very well in the print version of FB.) As Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia noted yesterday:

Of over 63,000 311 calls in 2007, 24,462 were for loose and aggressive animals.

So I’m glad the Dallas City Council is doing something about it. Doug Bedell, the former DMN investigative sports reporter who now taunts me with how much money he makes at Haynes & Boone, says I’m ill-informed and it’s a bad ordinance. His full explanation of why after the jump.

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Leading Off

1. A 17th Dallas County man will likely be exonerated today after DNA tests showed that James Lee Woodard was not the man who sexually assaulted and killed a woman in December 1980.

2. SMU President Gerald Turner has rejected a proposal to open a pub on campus, which I’m very happy about. I don’t want those co-ed party girls getting hammered on campus on Friday nights. Their Daddies wouldn’t like that. They should do what they normally do on the weekend: Kick it with Old Man Celeste on the KSP dancefloor. Next thing ya know, shawty got low, low, low, low!

3. The Dallas Mavericks had a players-only practice yesterday, while Avery curled up in the fetal position under a footstool and spoke lovingly to his championship ring. Not that the wheels are coming off. Not at all.

Adam Scott Goes From Green to Scene

An eagle-eyed FBvian passes along this scoop (albeit minor) about your newly crowned Byron champ:

I thought you might be interested to know that Adam Scott, who won the Byron Nelson yesterday, was seen at W Dallas-Victory last night enjoying cocktails in The Living Room.

[Insert quippy, golf-y rejoinder here.]