Articles for June 1st, 2011
NTTA To Close Inwood TollTag Store
If you don’t want to drive to Plano – or go to an Ace Cash Express – to take care of any toll-related issues, you better hurry. The NTTA plans on closing its Inwood location on June 10, which by my calendar, is next week.
After that, you’ll have to drive to its office in Plano or head to the aforementioned check-cashing/payday lender. Which makes me wonder: I know finding a partner with multiple locations means (theoretically) that it’s more convenient for customers, since there’s likely a closer location now than Inwood or Plano. But given how Dallas feels about payday lenders (and yes, I know that Dallas is only one component of the NTTA), wasn’t there a better choice, maybe a grocery store chain or something?
Rick Reilly Gives the Country 20 Reason To Pull for the Mavs
ESPN’s Rick Reilly thinks you should pull for the Mavs. He writes:
Pull for Dallas because Mark Cuban hasn’t opened his mouth once.
Pull for Dallas because Dirk Nowitzki deserves this title more than anybody else on the floor, more than LeBron James, more than Dwyane Wade.
Pull for Dallas because Nowitzki stayed with his team, never took his talents anywhere but to the damn gym every day.
Here’s the rest.
City Needs Your Help Gussying Up a Power Station
The Dallas Morning News reports this morning that, because of our fancy-schmancy signature bridge, the city would like to pretty up a power substation nearby. They’re taking designs from the public. Do not steal mine.
The Odds Are Still Against Lebron and the Miami Heat Besting the Mavs. The Math Proves It.
I’ve decided to take Zac’s advice to not start panicking yet. True, the Mavs are actually behind in a series for the first time this postseason, but they’re playing the same Miami Heat team I haven’t been able to take seriously once in the last nine months. I mean, between “The Decision,” the post-Decision parade, the team’s weirdly over-the-top celebration after they beat the Celtics in the second round, and the fact that the Mavs swatted Miami away in both regular season meet-ups this year, the Heat seemed like little more than a real-life version of the Monstars from Space Jam: a team that wins on paper every time, but was always destined to be felled by a Stretch Armstrong dunk from half court by their opponent’s superstar.
But then LeBron had to ruin it all last night by reminding us that he’s actually sort of good at basketball. After all, he led the Heat in scoring this season, finished second in the NBA in points per game, and generally outshined the only other Heatite that really matters, Dwyane “Dwayne” Wade.
Which got me thinking… has a team ever won a title when their leading scorer is a new guy? I figured the number had to be low – especially considering the dynastic nature of the NBA – but surely Bron Bron can’t be the first guy going for this feat, right?
Things To Do in Dallas Tonight: June 1
I’m getting pretty excited, and not just because people might actually read my post today. It’s June, which means I can start plotting how to lure my East Coast friends down here for their vacation. Some are easier to convince than others. I just talk enticingly about tacos. But we’re also embarking on the summer theater season. New shows are cropping up around town, Shakespeare Dallas is doing a play not penned by the Bard, and it’s (mostly) looking like lots of light-hearted fun.
I like the Undermain Theater quite a bit. The cavernous space might be a little funky, but the set designers always find a way to work around the big cement columns. And if you go see a show there, a real live person will actually call you to remind you about the next one. It’s adorable. Anyway, they’re opening Young Jean Lee’s The Shipment for previews tonight, offering nicely discounted $10 tickets through Friday evening for the play’s regional debut. Lee, a Korean-American woman, set out to write about black identity politics and came up with this mix of sketch comedy, song, and story that studies race relations and plucks a bit at the tension.
I missed this show when it was running off-Broadway a couple years ago, and I’m really looking forward to checking it off my incredibly dorky to-see list. By all accounts, it’s the kind of play that tickles your funny bone right before accidentally-on-purpose whacking it against the edge of the dining room table that always seems to stick out. The Undermain will have cheap drink specials during these preview performances (and you can take your beverage to your seat), but of course, there’s the Meridian Room not too far away. It’s my go-to place for decent food and drinks before or after a show in Deep Ellum.
For other options this evening, go here.
Miami Heat Fans Show Their Love for Dale Hansen
I apologize for the quality of the video. But in this clip sent to me by an alert FrontBurnervian, you’ll see what appears to be an adult beverage poured on Dale Hansen as he attempts to broadcast. Knowing Dale just a little bit, I’m surprised he didn’t turn around and try to throttle someone.
Why Jeff Van Gundy Hates the Mavs: A D Magazine Guess-tigation
I was wondering about this last night, while watching Jeff Van Gundy (pictured, hanging on for dear life) go in on the Mavericks at every opportunity, whether it was questioning Dirk’s bona fides or arguing against the refs on the Heat’s behalf or just generally being insane. And then I remembered.
Six years ago, the Mavericks lost the first two games of their opening round series against the Van Gundy-coached Houston Rockets. At home, no less. Including a game that featured one of the most embarrassing dunks ever dunked on Shawn Bradley, which, as you know, is saying quite a bit. Anyway, the Mavs came back and won the series in seven games, the final game a 40-point walkover which should still shame everyone involved to this day. So that’s why JVG is such a jerk. Probably.
“Expense Cuts” Hit Publisher at FD Luxe, Quick
The publisher of the Dallas Morning News‘ FD Luxe and Quick publications says her position has been eliminated due to “expense cuts.” In an e-mail to “friends, partners and colleagues” this morning, Tracy Martin-Taylor said she’ll focus now on growing her interior design business, called Eleven 11 Design, and consulting with companies about growing their audiences and product offerings. Martin-Taylor–who listed her DMN titles on LinkedIn as “General Manager, Arts & Entertainment & Travel & Luxury, Publisher FD Luxe; Publisher, Quick“–said today would be her last official day at the newspaper.
Reader Mail: This Woman Needs Help Torturing Her Child
In our May issue, I wrote the jokes for our back page. If you’ve got a minute to kill, go ahead and read it. The piece was promotional copy for a fictitious day camp. Like this: “You’ll find Ye Olde Medieval Campe located in an aging ranch-style house abutting an industrial area of Garland. But don’t let appearances fool you! At the chemical plant next door, there hasn’t been a fatality in more than three months. And, once inside, you’ll find that we’ve transformed the living room at Ye Olde Medieval Campe into an actual working dungeon. While installing stonework was an expense we chose not to incur, just ask your child at the end of the day if the iron leg shackles felt genuine!” And so on.
Well, the story elicited an email from a woman whose name I’ll withhold to spare her having to answer questions from Child Protective Services. Jump for our entire email exchange.
FrontRow’s New Film Series: ‘Dallas, Outlaws, and the American Dream’
We’re showing Bonnie and Clyde, Bottle Rocket, and Paris, Texas at the Kessler Theater beginning June 16. Plus, KNON’s Texas Renegade Radio is sponsoring musicians in the Kessler’s bar before each screening. It’s all about our love of sex and guns, so how could you miss it? Click for more info about the series and how to get tickets.
Collin County District Clerks Charged With Corruption Again
Last July the Texas Rangers raided the Collin County Courthouse. Twice six district clerks have been indicted on theft of county money and dismissed. But yesterday a grand jury issued new indictments on “Abuse of Official Capacity” for stealing between $20,000 and $100,000. This grand jury has indicted Hannah Kunkle, the former elected District Clerk; the current elected District Clerk, Patricia Crigger; and Rebecca Littrell, the appointed Chief Deputy District Clerk.
The clerks are charged with keeping time records to grant more than 2,000 hours of paid time off to work on the Patricia Crigger 2010 campaign.
All three face a 3rd degree felony punished by 2 – 10 years.
Who Deserves a Front-Page Obituary?
When I applied for the last of my three jobs at the Morning News (assistant editor for national and foreign news), I was given a list of famous people and asked if I would put their obituaries on Page 1A. There were no right or wrong answers; it was just a way for the bosses to gauge my news judgment. (The only name I clearly remember being on the list was Paris Hilton’s, and that’s because they asked me to explain my “yes.” My justification was that, given her age, her cause of death would likely be newsworthy.)
So, taking age out of the equation, which local luminaries do you think deserve to have their obits on the front page of Dallas’ Only Daily? For example, Wick’s a shoo-in. Tim might be destined for Page 1A as well; if a story about his daughter’s pre-K class landed there, shouldn’t the story of his entire life? Zac might make the Metro cover because of the mayoral run. Personally, I would put Wilonsky on 1A, but if anything blows up in Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Israel on the day he dies, I have a feeling he’d be relegated to the Arts & Life cover. Those types of stories always seem to trump local news for some reason.
As for me, because I worked at the Morning News for the better part of a decade, I’m pretty much guaranteed to have a Joe Simnacher-penned story inside the Metro section, along with a blurb noting that the Texas flag at 508 Young St. will be flown at half-staff for a day in my honor. I’ve made sure my wife knows this, so she doesn’t pay for a classified obit when I die.
Dirk’s Not Engaged, But he Does Have a Stunning Gal Pal
Jessica Olsson
Good for Bethany to reveal the rumors of Dirk Nowitzki’s being engaged are just that — rumors.
However, he has indeed been keeping company with the local lady in question. Her name is Jessica Olsson and she was one of the original Fresh Faces of Fashion in 2007, along with Abby Gregory, Abi Ferrin, Amy Turner, Capera, Christen Wilson, Jess Chiles, Marisa Huckin, Paige Slates, Sheila Bryant and Michelle Claassen. When not watching basketball, she’s part of the Goss-Michael Foundation.
Go, Mavs!
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