Articles for October 13th, 2011
State Fair of Texas Picture of the Day: Oct. 13
Photo by Jason Janik
Check out our guide to plan your own trip to Fair Park.
Bruce Felps, RIP
Monday I mentioned that last week EastDallasTimes.com editor and publisher Bruce Felps was in a coma after suffering a brain aneurysm. Now comes word that he passed away this morning.
As Jason mentioned in the comments of that Monday post, Felps worked for the D Empire for a time, as a reporter for Lakewood People. In the comments of that initial post, you can also see that Kathy Felps updated us this morning on the sad news.
Bruce Felps was 55.
Alice Walton Arrested on DWI Charge
The Walmart heiress was arrested Friday night, her 62nd birthday. Not a great mugshot. If I were worth $20 billion, I wouldn’t do much of my own driving. But then again, Walton is a lot cooler than I am. She’s not your typical heiress.
A Rangers Story That Made Me Cry
If you’ve been a Rangers fan for a fair to goodly amount of time, you know about the duo of nuns that have been die hard fans of the team for decades – Sister Frances Evans and Sister Maggie Hession. The two had prime seats behind home plate, and Sister Frances always has her drum with her.
WFAA’s Jim Douglas brings us news now that the duo is now more of a single, as Sister Maggie’s Alzheimer’s now prevents her from attending games. Sister Frances is now the only one that remembers the two being the first two people through the turnstiles of the Ballpark, and the only one that remembers their trip to Yankees Stadium.
It’s a wonderful story, and a sad one, too.
Things To Do In Dallas Tonight: Oct. 13
I was a pretty crafty kid, but only in the sense of popsicle sticks and glue. My idea of a clever hiding spot was the corner behind my dad’s big leather chair, which, really, was about the only spot to hide in my house. My mom found me every time. Devious, I am not. Anyway, my craftiness never extended much past the hideous Christmas tree ornament phase.
Chairman Chip, by Chet Phillips. www.etsy.com/shop/chetart
Alas, some things are better left to people who don’t have trouble free-handing straight lines (my high school geometry teacher despaired of me). The folks of Etsy Dallas contribute their considerably greater talents to a good cause tonight with an event they’re calling Sit Down to Stand Up For Kids. David Patton of Ferrochie designed and created small handmade chairs; 20 local artists made them pretty. Chairman Chimp to your right is just one of these super cute things up auction, and even if you’re not bidding, there’s food and drink and music. Proceeds benefit the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, which aids abused children in Dallas County. Admission is free, though of course donations are accepted.
Abstract artist Mark Bradford still has a few more days until his big exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art opens all official-like. But ahead of that, he’s joining KERA’s Jeff Whittington and Vicki Meek, manager of the South Dallas Cultural Center, for the museum’s State of the Arts discussion tonight. The series, which started last year, pairs up arts leaders from different fields to discuss the creative process and take the temperature of the cultural scene. I think one of the coolest things about the DMA devoting so much space to a living (and deserving) artist is the opportunity to see and hear the artist reflect on the world and the work that he or she is doing in it. You can’t exactly go shake hands with Caravaggio, though his exhibit opens over at the Kimbell this weekend, too. Peter recently sat down with Bradford, so you should read the interview over on FrontRow before you go. The event is free with museum admission, but these things fill up fast. I recommend reserving a spot.
For more to do tonight, including a free screening of the classical film Giant, go here.
Former Dallas Cowboy Dwayne Goodrich Gets Out of Prison
After six years in prison, former number one draft pick for the Cowboys Dwayne Goodrich was released last week. Goodrich, you’ll remember, was convicted of a hit-and-run in which his vehicle struck three good Samaritans, killing two and severely injuring another. ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap was on hand for Goodrich’s release, and had a touching story on last night’s E:60. You can check it out here.
Neiman’s Changing Its Visa, MasterCard Policy?
For the longest time, Dallas-based Neiman Marcus shunned accepting everyday plastic in its tony specialty stores. Intent on protecting its exclusive image, and apparently worried about exposing its customer list to mass marketers, it stuck for years to accepting only its proprietary card, cash and checks. Eventually, the store agreed to begin accepting American Express cards. Now, word is that Neiman’s will make an announcement soon that could pertain to accepting Visa and MasterCard at its 40-plus stores as well. Christine Perez has the scoop over on our RealPoints blog.
Texas Rangers Manager Ron Washington Produces National PSA About Dangers of the Intentional Walk
Wash was two steps ahead of me last night during last night’s big win for the Rangers. I was incredulous when he walked Miguel Cabrera, who represented the go-ahead run for the Tigers, with the bases empty and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. To pitch to Victor Martinez. Who promptly singled, sending Cabrera to third. But Wash wasn’t worried, oh no. He knew he had Nelson Cruz waiting in right field to make a terrific play to gun down Cabrera at home plate when Delmon Young hit a fly ball to right.
So what was the Texas Rangers’ crafty manager really up to? It’s got to be the knowledge that he had a national audience watching, and he wanted to demonstrate just how easily an intentional walk might blow a game for a team. We should thank him for devising such a useful demonstration of this most-abused of baseball tactics. And without losing the game to boot!
Because, and I’m not sure how Washington managed it, but he somehow got Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland to play along as well. In the bottom top of the 11th, after Josh Hamilton doubled and Michael Young struck out, Leyland had Adrian Beltre intentionally walked so that his pitcher could face Mike Napoli, who was only the best hitter in the American League during the second half of the season. You know what happened then. Napoli knocked in the winning run, and then Cruz tacked on three insurance runs with his homer. Genius.
Leyland and Washington must really hate the intentional walk, with their willingness to risk such an important game just to teach baseball fans about its evils. It’s time we take their lesson seriously, and that Major League Baseball makes a rule change to save managers from themselves.
My solution: Anytime a pitcher throws four consecutive balls to a batter, the batter is awarded two bases rather than just one. This will prevent umpires from having to make judgments about what is an “intentional” vs. an “un-intentional” walk, and will help remove this scourge from the national pastime.
Leading Off (10/13/11)
Texas Rangers 7, Detroit Tigers 3. Once again, they did it with a home run in the 11th inning. So now the series is Nelson Cruz 2, Texas 1, Detroit 1. (UPDATE: Yes, I know Cruz’s home run was merely insurance. And that his bigger contribution may have been his throw to nail Cabrera at the plate. ON THE OTHER HAND, while Cruz’s home run was just insurance, it could be argued that it completely demoralized the Tigers, much more than Mike Napoli’s go-ahead single. So, whatever.)
Occupy Dallas Going to Court to Continue Occupying Pioneer Plaza. A judge is expected to look at the case on Friday morning.
Fort Worth Hog Policy Backfires. That’s how they killed Peanut, the pet potbelly pig of Mary Kelleher.
Man Who Never Should Have Been Out of Prison Going Back to Prison. Still trying to figure out how Edward Lynn Russell, who’s admitted to molesting more than 20 children, was eligible for a civil commitment anyway.
FC Dallas Clinches a Spot in the MLS Playoffs. And, as you know, the loss puts the Chicago Fire on the verge of missing the postseason.
Home |
Masthead |
News from D |
About Us |
Contact Us |
Subscribe |
Advertise |
Privacy Policy |
Customer Service |
Awards | Archives | Reprints | d custom | Jobs | Advertiser's Index
Awards | Archives | Reprints | d custom | Jobs | Advertiser's Index