Articles for September, 2011
Bobby Rhine, R.I.P.
Just heard that Bobby Rhine, who pretty much was FC Dallas (at least the public face of it) since arriving in the 1999 MLS draft, died yesterday, apparently of a heart attack while on vacation with his family. He was 35. Devastating. He was one of the absolute great ones. I mean, he was good at soccer, but that’s not what I’m talking about. Nicest guy you’d ever meet. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.
Mark Cuban Is Wrong. Bring on the Super Conferences.
Normally, Cubes and I agree on most things, except music, fashion, technology, Entourage, the ideal taunting facial gesture, how to approach the signing of a mediocre center, t-shirt tightness, and — you know, now that I actually write this down, I guess we don’t agree on much, other than we both (me somewhat begrudgingly) consider him a genius because he brought Dallas a NBA championship.
Anyway. We don’t agree on this super conference business. After the jump, my idea.
Morning News Layoffs Have Begun
I’ve heard elsewhere and I see here that the layoffs have begun. Holding a thought for our publishing brethren across town.
Leading Off (9/6/11)
Cuban Dogs College Super Conferences. Long weekend and not a lot of news today aside from the wildfires, so you’ll allow me to point you to a post from a couple days back by Mark Cuban in which he says the NCAA football super conferences will be a big mistake. Conference talk drives me a little nervous, but Cuban makes some good points.
Dallas To Get Second Medical School. Watch out, UT Southwestern. A&M and Baylor are teaming up (sub. req.) to teach docs. The Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine will welcome 23 students in December.
Fried Bubblegum. Requisite State Fair story with punny lead about crazy new fried food. Blah, blah, blah.
Hellooo, Week 4 Most Beautiful Ladies
Introducing Christina Cewe (fearless mommy and American Idol finalist), Tiffany Wilkey (country girl and bride-to-be), Candice Benjamin (positive news reporter and Dallas lover), Carol Monteverde (model momma and world traveler), and Charlene Dizon (oil and gas software expert and bacon addict).
Julie Schults, Pat Smith, and Dawn Tongish: “Most Beautiful” Week 3 Finalists
A very big congrats to these women, who will reappear in the final round of voting, September 12 through September 19.
As usual, our least favorite part is saying goodbye. This week, we’ll be losing Tiffany McKinzie and Mary Crosland.
Check out our new ladies and come back September 12 to vote for the top 10 in the finals.
J.C.Penney Pulls “I’m Too Pretty To Do Homework” Shirts
This year’s back-to-school line included two girls’ shirts that have created quite a stir — and probably not the kind the local retailer was looking for. One reads: “I’m Too Pretty to Do Homework, So My Brother Has to Do it For Me.” The other reads: “My Best Subjects” and lists Boys, Shopping, Music, Dancing. So yeah, not the message we want to be sending girls–or any young people for that matter. J.C. Penney has said it will cease selling “Too Pretty to Do Homework.”
A statement from the company reads, in part:
“We agree that the ‘Too pretty’ t-shirt does not deliver an appropriate message, and we have immediately discontinued its sale. Our merchandise is intended to appeal to a broad customer base, not to offend them. We would like to apologize for any concern we may have caused and assure you that we are taking action to ensure that we continue to uphold the integrity of our merchandise that [our customers] have come to expect.”
The “Best Subjects” shirt is still available (on sale, actually).
For more on the struggles of J.C. Penney, check out Joseph Guinto’s story in this month’s issue of D CEO.
What Happens When Your Priest Tries to Friend You on Facebook?
Here’s some more stuff from the September issue that didn’t make it online till here and now, with this up-to-the-minute update: I still haven’t approved Father Roch’s friend request. But I did call him to let him know about the story, in case he hadn’t read it yet. I told him I loved him and that I hoped he’d read it in the spirit in which it was intended. Still haven’t heard back from him. So, you know, see you hell, friends.
Why isn’t Ron Washington Listed in the Credits of Moneyball?
So, I wanted to talk to the actor playing Ron Washington in the upcoming Moneyball movie. If you’ve read the Michael Lewis book upon which the new Brad Pitt movie is based, you know Ron Washington was an important part of the success of Billy Beane and those Oakland A’s teams. Wash’s character even has a speaking part — and the best joke — in the movie trailer, around the 1:00 mark. (Note the snazzy Cosby-style sweater he’s wearing around the 1:10 mark.) But there’s absolutely no mention of Ron Washington on the film’s IMDB page. There are about three dozen uncredited fans, players, trainers, and coaches listed, but no Ron Washington. What gives?
My Personal Project: Rooting for Thomas Jefferson
No, not the dead president. The high school football team. Last week, Fort Worth South Hills handed the team its 34th consecutive loss, winning 60-0. Thirty-four losses.
So since I’m not from Dallas, and I love high school football, I have decided, this year, to root for the Thomas Jefferson Patriots, and I’m hoping at least a few of you without Dallas ties and high school allegiances will join me.
Now, I’m not doing this to embarrass the group of student athletes who are giving their best. If you will, I’d like to explain why I love high school football, and why I have a soft spot for the underdog. (more…)
Things To Do In Dallas This Labor Day Weekend: Sep. 2-5
Oh, hey, everyone heading out of town. See you guys Tuesday. Everyone else, come with me. We’re going to have a good time if it kills us. And should that eventuality come up, it won’t be due to heat stroke because it’s going to dip under 100 at some point. Which reminds me of a song, which leads me to this video, which would be infinitely funnier if the resolution on those Mario brothers was about 100 percent better.
Friday
It’s the first Friday of September, so of course I’m all over the Modern in Fort Worth. They’ve turned this month’s event into an Argentine-inspired tango dance party. I’ve linked that adorable short film, Tanghi Argentini, before, so I won’t do it again. But I feel like it’s safe to say that you all have a decent idea of how I feel about ballroom dancing. MonTango, made up of professional musicians and dancers, will show us all how it’s done. You know what they say: alcohol not only loosens the tongue, but the feet. Dance, people.
Meanwhile, on our side of the river, Drive-By Truckers is playing at the Granada with Denton’s Centro-matic. The Granada has taken to calling this part of an ongoing “honky tonk Friday” series, which I have deemed a factual statement.
10 Most Beautiful: Don’t Forget to Vote Over the Weekend
It may be Labor Day weekend, but you’re not off the hook. These women need your votes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, too, and you’ve got to provide them. Check out Dawn Tongish; serious reporter, serious athlete. Emitt Smith’s wife, Pat, is there, too, talking about her charity, Treasure You. Salon Lucien owner Mary Crosland is also available for your viewing pleasure. How about interior designer and hot momma, Tiffany McKinzie? We’ve got Julie Schults, model mom and jewelry designer, over there, too. Get to it. Don’t forget to hop online Monday and check out the Week 4 contestants.
Leading Off (9/2/11)
The FBI Ate His Homework. John Wiley Price says he can’t file campaign finance paperwork on account of the FBI being all up in his grill.
Schutze No Likey the Copacetic-ness of the Dallas Fed and Perry. Dallas Observer scribe Jim Schutze points out that Gov. Rick Perry and Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher agree on stuff, and he thinks it stinks. Also, is it safe to wear sunglasses when trying to look through a site on a gun? I ask as a gun rube, and a safety maven. And because I care. And because A Christmas Story is not just a movie, but a tragic epistle on the capriciousness of a loaded weapon deprived of the proper respect.
We’re Number 4! The Dallas-Fort Worth area (not metroplex) is the fourth largest such metro area in the U.S., according to a new analysis.
If a Team Falls In the Preseason … does anyone care? The Cowboys lost last night to the Dolphins, 17-3. Only, Dallas tagged 31 of its players as inactive, with only three starters playing. Nearly the same story with Miami. So what’s the point?
Forget that, because … College football starts this weekend. Finally. Real football. Between high school football and college football, do we need the NFL?
What’s on John Wiley Price’s Mind?
Here’s a little behind-the-scenes fun from our September issue that didn’t make it online until now. We were wondering what all must be going through John Wiley Price’s mind, what with the FBI and Brett Shipp getting all up in his business from every conceivable angle. So we thought we’d illustrate the commissioner’s brain. I drew the rough black-and-white sketch you see here, and then our art department sent that off to the great illustrator Steve Brodner (you’ve seen his work in the New Yorker, among other places) to make it look presentable. Hope you enjoy.
Al Jazeera Takes On Rick Perry
This lengthy piece from Al Jazeera English is essentially a roundup of Texan opinions on the Governor. Included in the discussion are the San Antonio Express News’s Scott Stroud, Texas Monthly editor Jake Silverstein, the DMN’s Wayne Slater, Ross Ramsey of the Texas Tribune, UT journalism professor Robert Jensen, and Texas Observer reporter Abby Rapaport. There’s also this choice quote from Perry, apparently taken from an interview he did with Fox News in June: “A prophet is generally not loved in their hometown.”
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