Articles for February, 2010
Gary Schneider Takes the Reins at Channel 11 (and Channel 21)
The full release is after the jump, but here’s the short of it: Gary Schneider had been running the show at KTVT and KTXA since Steve Mauldin left for LA. Now he’ll officially continue to run the show.
Scouting Report: Your New Dallas Mavericks
If you are a Dallas Mavericks fan, you’ve no doubt heard the big weekend trade (Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, James Singleton, and Quinton Ross for Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and DeShawn Stevenson) dissected over and over again, at least how it will affect the Mavs on the court. I won’t add to that. Here, instead, is a scouting report on potential off-the-court matters of interest, for whenever beat reporters have a slow day.
Caron Butler: Becomes the only Maverick to have appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s couch. Why? He had a troubled childhood (arrested 15 times before the age of 15) and basketball saved him from a further life of crime. His semi-official nickname: Tuff Juice. He likes to chew straws (preferably from McDonald’s) and used to be addicted to Mountain Dew.
Brendan Haywood: Pretty non-controversial player, unless Etan Thomas is on the same team. Haywood and Thomas got into at least three fights with each other during practice while Washington Wizards teammates. And he also probably shouldn’t blog ever again. Extremely unofficial nickname: Brenda.
DeShawn Stevenson: Lots of material here: Has some really interesting tattoos, even by pro athlete standards. Once called LeBron James “overrated,” then aligned himself with Soulja Boy in an astonishingly one-sided “feud” with James and Jay-Z, which did little more than make James get the giggles. Was involved in a beard-growing contest with now-former Mav Drew Gooden. Those are just the highlights.
Harold Simmons to Build Golf Course On Top of Nuclear Waste Dump?
By now you’ve read our story by Laray Polk about Harold Simmons and his nuclear waste disposal site in West Texas. It’s titled “Dallas’ Evil Genius.” State Senator Eliot Shapleigh, who represents El Paso, put up an article on his website citing our story and calling into question the wisdom of letting Simmons bury tons of waste (nuclear and otherwise) in a spot where scientists have serious concerns about possible contamination of groundwater.
But Congressman Mike Conaway has toured the site and is decidedly more sanguine about it. He jokingly said: “We’re thinking about golf courses on top of some of the stuff you’ve done and a resort kind of thing, once you’ve got all this stuff buried and contained that will make use of that surface.” To which I say: don’t give Simmons any ideas.
Leading Off (2/16/10)
1. The saga of Willis Willis continues in an Austin courtroom today. Dear Texas Lottery Commission: Seriously, give this awesomely named fella his paper already. Sincerely, Charles “Bananas” Foster
2. The Sixth Floor Museum has obtained what it’s calling the best home movie footage of JFK’s arrival in Dallas on — nope. Can’t finish that sentence. Sorry. Unless someone comes forward with a gun, a picture of someone besides Lee Harvey Oswald holding said gun, and a signed confession from the aforementioned, why are we still talking about this? Even Oliver Stone doesn’t care anymore.
3. While at Cowboys Stadium, I saw many crimes of fashion. As it turns out, one woman in town for the game committed a literal crime of fashion, making off with $90,000 worth of furs, and possibly a walk-on part in the next Young Jeezy video.
BONUS: Speaking of the ASG, here is one last video from the gang at The Basketball Jones, with a cameo from Herr Dirk Werner Nowitzki.
TBJ Does Dallas: All-Star Valentine’s Day from The Basketball Jones on Vimeo.
Former Observer Publisher Turned Fishmonger Alison Draper Takes Top Sales Gig in Chi-Town
This Tampa Bay Business Journal story got one thing wrong: Alison Draper hasn’t worked for Belo since 2008. She left to work in sales for a Texas fishmonger — where, I’m told, she sold quite a lot of fish. Anyone who ever worked with Alison wouldn’t be surprised. Girl can sell. Doesn’t matter what. And she knows how to have a good time while doing it. Which makes her a good fit as the new vice president and chief sales officer of Creative Loafing, the company that owns the Chicago Reader, among other properties. Creative Loafing has had some hard times recently (as has everyone in publishing). But the hiring of Alison would be a “buy” indicator if this were a stock.
Cheers, Alison. Have fun in the Windy City.
Dr. Steven Keating Helps Pick Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Top Pooches
The 134th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show starts tonight with the hounds, toy, non-sporting, and herding groups being judged.
Nationally known and Dallas’ own Dr. Steven Keating has been up in NYC judging the Miniature Pinschers, Shih Tzu, Silky Terriers, Toy Fox Terriers, Toy Manchester Terriers, and Yorkshire Terriers.
Talk among the kennel set is that last year’s finalist Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot (aka Sadie the Scottie) is favored to get the cup. Tabloids types whisper about her liaison with Tad the Chihuahua.
Texas Rangers Owe MLB $39 Million
An alert FBvian points us to the story in Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal (reg. req.), which begins:
The Texas Rangers have been in violation of baseball’s collective-bargaining agreement since at least last season for failing to pay $39.55 million into a deferred compensation fund, according to a letter sent on Oct. 22, 2009, by MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred to the bidders …
One presumes this debt was figured into the purchase price of the team, yes?
Plano Mayor Phil Dyer and I Should Start Book Club
The Plano Public Library’s blog borrowed a trick from our own ReadingRoom and has started asking prominent citizens what they’re reading. Their first entry comes from Plano Mayor Phil Dyer.
He’s reading a Thomas Jefferson biography. I’m interested because I’ve embarked on a goal to read a bio of each of the 43 men who have served as U.S. president. (Yes, it’s an arbitrary ambition. Some people decide that running 26.2 miles will make them feel that they’ve accomplished something in their lives. I set my sights elsewhere.) Jefferson is next on my list. After finishing David McCullough’s absolutely fantastic John Adams, I’m interested to see if a Jefferson biographer can change my opinion that our third president was a duplicitous phony and a coward.
By the way, Mayor Dyer, I’ve read Joseph Ellis’ His Excellency, George Washington, the next book on your list. I found it less satisfying than his Founding Brothers, perhaps because Washington was famously a stoic and that somewhat-distant personality limits the ability of the work to render him in vivid detail. Call me. Maybe we can pull together a discussion group at Legacy Books.
Ken Starr Named President of Baylor
Wow. Big news. The Texas Tribune has the scoop.
Dead Dog Hounds His Master
I have a friend I will call Mr. S. He woke up this morning to find his dog, whom I will call Dog, dead. Dog apparently got into some Valentine’s Day chocolate, overdosed, and went on to his great reward. Tragic. Except it gets worse. After calling his vet, Mr. S was given the name of a service that would come retrieve Dog’s carcass and treat it with a bit more respect than would the city’s Animal Services Department (all due respect to those hard-working folks). But said service can’t come pick up dead Dog because they lost power during the snowstorm. Without power, they can’t pick up any carcasses. So now Mr. S has to wait until tomorrow, while poor Dog lies there in his house. Anyone know of a faster way to deal with Dog and help out Mrs. S?
Debra Medina On The Day The Music Died
Texas Tribune reporter Abby Rapoport travelled with Medina the day of the Glenn Beck interview. Her inside account is a short but intense peek into the center of a media maelstrom.
“Everything’s Bigger in Texas”: Now An Epidemic
Remember when I noted my distaste for the phrase “everything’s bigger in Texas” recently? If you share my views, please do not click here, where you will find a round-up by Celtics Hub of the many, many times that phrase (or some derivation of) was used during All-Star Weekend. Now, please, can we all knock it off for the next forever?
NBA All-Stars Didn’t Slam Dunk All The Bling, Beauties, And Blizzard Of Snow-10
If you thought all the limousines, gorgeous women (pictured), and big names were attached to the NBA All-Stars these past few days, you might want to reconsider.
Should We Do Away With 12th Grade?
Utah is considering making it optional, with the possible goal of eliminating it entirely. The Dallas County Community College District is way ahead of them. Its collegiate program for high school students allows 11th and 12th graders to get an associates degree at the same time they get their high school degree — giving them a two-year jump on college. Studies show 11th and 12th graders are capable of a lot more than we throw at them, hence the rise of AP programs. The community college option seems like a great approach. Those guys in Utah need to catch up.
The Funeral of Carolyn Shamis: The Girl Can Still Throw a Party
Dallas real estate icon Carolyn Shamis died on February 5, and her party funeral drew out a Who’s Who of Dallas real estate last Thursday. Carolyn Shamis would not have wanted it any other way.
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