Mavs Cement Status as No. 4 Team in Southwest Division

And they didn’t have really have to do anything, other than watch Ron Artest get traded to the Houston Rockets. But don’t worry. I’m maybe five days away from perfecting time travel. So the Mavs’ new starting shooting guard is going to be 1986 Rolando Blackman. I just need to find someone to keep 2008 Ro out of sight for a few months, so there won’t be any issues with the time-space continuum.

Dallas Housing Authority Chief Hits the Bricks

Read about it here. It might have something to do with what was mentioned here before.

Fred Baron and Lisa Blue Add Two to Brood

We’re a few days late with our congratulations, but a hearty huzzah goes out to Dallas’ ultimate jurisprudential power couple, Fred Baron and Lisa Blue. Via surrogate on July 12, they welcomed twin daughters into the world. The couple requests no baby gifts, please. If you’re inclined, instead make a donation to Jonathan’s Place or Vogel Alcove.

Martina Moravcova Heads for Her Fifth Olympics

I’m just now starting to get my five rings on. Till now the only thing I’d paid attention to was the horrible smog in Beijing. But the husband of the woman you see here sent me a heads-up that has me looking forward to some natatorial action. The greatness that is Martina Moravcova will be competing this year in her fifth — fifth — Olympics. I met Moravcova in the spring of 2004, as she was gearing up for what she thought at the time would be her last Games. I’ll always remember the dollop of mayonnaise I wiped from her Slovakian chin. Since then, she was inducted into SMU’s Athletics Hall of Fame (its only female member). She and hubby Martin still live in Dallas. I’ll be pulling for them both. (photo by James Bland)

Quake Shakes LA, Hit Ordered On Suspect Roach At D

Coincidence? I think not.

Earthquake Shakes LA

Less than one minute ago.

Lisa Garza: Exclusive Video

Kyle Kearbey, our video producer, shot footage of the family-and-friends-only Next Food Network Star watching party. Here is her work of art.

The Unraveling Legacy of Henry Wade

For 36 years, as the lede here notes, former Dallas County DA Henry Wade “was the embodiment of Texas justice.” He still is, but now that title has a more sinister meaning, thanks to 19 overturned convictions and a couple of hundred more cases under review. As the evidence mounts, it’s easy enough to blame the “win at all costs” culture he brought to the DA’s office. One thing to note, though, as all of this moves forward: Wade was elected 10 times in all, even after the Dallas County approach to prosecution–the “cowboy kind of mentality,” as Craig Watkins calls it–was an open secret. So more than a few people should feel ashamed every time another man is exonerated.

Bad News for Bennigan’s

Read about the Plano-based company’s troubles here.

Looks Like More Good News For Downtown Dallas and Hobos

Downtown Dallas backers are predicting that in the next 30 to 60 days, Savannah College of Art and Design will announce a location in downtown Dallas’ West End. The notion of hundreds of students living downtown has set wonks, developers and hobos atwitter. This would be the fourth physical site for the college, which has campuses in Atlanta, Lacoste (France), and, of course, Savannah. The college also claims to have a campus somewhere on the Internet, but I suspect it wouldn’t be nearly as fun to haze freshmen there and the bonfires would probably be a letdown. The hobo on display in this posting is the late Steam Train Maury, who would have loved to hang out with a bunch of artsy kids at Sonny Bryan’s. Hobo imposters have declined to comment on this development.

How to Open a Restaurant 101: Gina Campisi Talks

Yes, she does. And Kitchen 1924 closes.

Quick Not Weekly Until October, Celeste to Gloat For Days

A little birdie at the DMN tells us that Quick won’t go weekly until October 1, which means that, technically, Timmy Rogers LOST the bet, since he said, and I quote:

“The bet, then: Quick is a weekly by September 18. You’re on, Eric.”

[Stifling giggle.]

Tim, I would appreciate my money by 10 a.m. Or you can just buy my drinks today. I’ll have an Eric’s Better, on the rocks.

Leading Off (7/29/08)

1. The Collin County tax rate roll rose more than 4 percent, and some cities, like Prosper (31.7 percent), saw huge growth. Even though the pace of growth in Frisco and nearby areas slowed, the city still saw a 9.2 percent increase in revenue, due mostly to the amount of tax money I spend during my all-night dance fests at Martini Park. (I know, technically it’s in Plano, but work with me here, people.)

2. The last Dallas police officer from the JFK era retired on Monday. He’s 67, his nickname is “Greyhound,” and, if you check the picture on the link, you’ll see that he has more hair than Tim.

3. It hit 105 degrees yesterday, but a massive cool front should keep temps to 102 today. I will be checking Mediabistro.com for jobs in Canada today, so please don’t bug me.