Articles for March 9th, 2012
Ebby Still Bullish on Namesake School
When someone proposed naming something like a street after him, Stanley Marcus used to decline with thanks. He’d hate to hear, “Man murdered on Stanley Marcus” on the evening news, the retailing legend would chuckle. Then he’d add, “I’d much rather have a statue” — which only the pigeons could desecrate.
Ebby Halliday showing off "Golden Ruler"
Mr. Stanley’s view came to mind when businesswoman Ebby Halliday helped dedicate the relatively new Ebby Halliday Elementary School in southeast Dallas today, on the occasion of her 101st birthday. That school, you might recall, was rocked last year by allegations of abuse by staffers against some of its Hispanic students.
Mark Cuban’s Ill-Considered Gay Joke, Ctd.
A longtime, very close, super awesome friend of FrontBurner points us to Mark Cuban’s take on the whole “gay joke” affair, which Cuban titles “Am I a Homophobe?” Sample:
I guess what I am doing is admitting that at some level I am prejudiced and that I recognize that I am . Â There are a lot of things in my life that I need to improve at. This is one of them. Sometimes I make stupid throw away comments that I quickly realize are wrong. It doesn’t happen often, but it happens. It was a mistake and I realized it. I learned from it.
I’m the last to be politically correct and the last thing I am trying to be here is politically correct. I honestly don’t give a shit what you think about me. But I think being the person I want to be includes not blurting out throw away jokes about sexuality, race, ethnicity, size,  disability or other things people  have no say in about themselves.  I’m the guy who still feels bad about punching Michael Cooper in the stomach in  6th grade purely because he was overweight, even though I made the point to apologize to him when I ran into him at a reunion years later.
Read the whole thing. This is why, at his best, Cuban can be so endearing. He sounds genuinely contrite. And, above all, he sounds honest. With Cuban, there is very little filter. I appreciate that.
Vote on the Best Food and Drink in Dallas in Best of Big D Readers’ Poll Starting Monday, March 12
It’s almost time for round two of our annual Best of Big D Readers’ Choice poll. Starting Monday, you’ll have a chance to vote for your favorite spots for dining and imbibing in Dallas.
As always, you’ll have two weeks to cast your ballots, and you can vote up to once a day on your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Visit Dmagazine.com after 12:00 a.m. March 12, and it should be obvious where you can vote. Then return every day through March 25 to do it all over again.
The results of the Best of Big D Readers’ Choice  – which will include our recently concluded shopping poll, plus three additional rounds of voting in the coming weeks – will be published in the August 2012 issue of D Magazine.
We’ve added some new categories to vote on this year. Take the jump to see the full list, and start thinking about your favorites.
Sad News, Texas Rangers Fans: No More Robin Ventura-Nolan Ryan Brawl at the Ballpark
The video above is the famed fight between young Chicago White Sox third baseman Robin Ventura and old Texas Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan. Prior to the last couple years, an argument could have been made for it being the greatest moment in Rangers franchise history.
The club certainly treated it as such. It was frequently shown during games at The Ballpark/Ameriquest Field/Rangers Ballpark, including before every game last season. But, ESPN Dallas reports, the clip is being put out to pasture. Partially this decision seems driven by the fact that Ventura is now manager of the White Sox, the team that the Rangers will open the season against on April 6. But it may only be played once this year.
I understand: Now that the Rangers are no longer a perennial also-ran, and are the two-time defending American League champions expected to remain a powerhouse team for at least the next several years, they don’t necessarily want to be seen touting an on-field brawl as one of their all-time great moments.
But I also understand that Ventura vs. Ryan is an all-time classic clip. Do the Rangers have anything to replace it in terms of sheer entertainment value?
Mark Cuban’s Ill-Considered Gay Joke
Mark Cuban was in front of a live audience to tape a podcast of “The B.S. Report,” an ESPN joint hosted by Bill Simmons. Cuban made a gay joke about Simmons (who is straight). A reporter from the Boston Phoenix said it went like this:
Cuban began telling the story of how he’d almost fired a Mavs employee for encouraging Dallas fans to do the wave. Cuban hates the wave. “I’d rather have 60 minutes of Kiss Cam,” he said, to laughs. Simmons has long been on record as being a fan of the Kiss Cam and piped up in favor of it. “I like the Kiss Cam,” Simmons said.
“That’s because you and your boyfriend are always on it,” Cuban spat.
Over on Yahoo Sports, Dan Devine does a better job than I could analyzing just exactly why Cuban’s remark is so lousy. He sums up thusly:
Irrespective of what’s in his heart, what came out of Mark Cuban’s mouth during that interview made him sound like a 12-year-old whose parents aren’t doing such a hot job.
Interestingly, ESPN edited out the joke when the podcast was posted. I think that’s pretty weak. Now that the remark has come to light, the question is: what’s the NBA going to do about it?
(And here comes Jack E. Jett in the comments to lob a grenade my way in 3 … 2 … )
Things To Do In Dallas This Weekend: Mar. 9-11
I know I talk about my heavy-duty rain boots a lot. The working title of my future memoir is I Didn’t Need These Rain Boots, After All. But can I just say, in anticipation of wading all over Denton for 35 D this weekend, I’m happy to have them? Because I am.
Friday
Tonight, there’s a special dinner at Asador inside the Renaissance Hotel. The menu, all “seasonal and local,” is created by Chef David Trubenbach, and all the offerings are paired not with wine or beer, but with tequila. Which means it should be an extra good time. Andrew Chalk gave you all the details on Asador back when it opened last year over on SideDish, and I’ve been assured that if you’d like to attend, you can still make a reservation by calling the restaurant.
And of course, there’s musical happenings not taking place in Denton. Girls will play the Granada with supporting act Unknown Mortal Orchestra. I’ve dubbed this San Francisco-based group “most likely to give me an earworm.” It’s a close contest between them, anything by Genesis, and the song “Turn It Off” from Book of Mormon. And if you are making the trek to Denton, The Hood Internet is headlining 35D‘s Indie-Verse showcase at Hailey’s, and Sleep ∞ Over is on late at Andy’s.
Flight Attendant’s Comments Send an American Airlines Flight Back to the Gate This Morning
Joe Tone over at Unfair Park has the story of an American Airlines flight sent back to the gate this morning after a flight attendant started going off on the PA system about the flight crashing. Please no one show this to Tim. He has to fly this weekend, and he’s a really nervous flyer.
Bugs Henderson, R.I.P.
Just learned that local blues guitarist Bugs Henderson has passed, after a battle with cancer. I knew him a little bit from my days at the Dallas Observer, and he was a fantastic help with a book I wrote a few years ago. He was a genuine guy, and a real gentleman. Condolences to his family.
Leading Off (3/9/12)
Inmate Escapes While Cleaning Up Courthouse Flood. Dallas County inmates were cleaning up “brown water” from a flood at the Frank Crowley Courthouse Thursday when one of the prisoners decided to absent himself from the courthouse. Juan Ramirez, as of the last report I could find last night, is still at large. For the record, that’s inmates + brown liquid from pipes 2, authorities 0.
Emily Horton’s Client Is Not Justin Bieber. So he’d appreciate it if you quit calling him, because even though the Biebs kinda tweeted his number this week, hinting he’d answer, he is indeed not Justin Bieber, and doesn’t want to be your baby, baby, baby or your boyfriend. Sorry. He’s sure you’re very nice, though.
White Powder Letters Originating from Dallas, Grapevine. Â More white powder letters were found in Washington D.C. with Dallas and Grapevine postmarks. If this is you, stop it. It’s stupid. Send these instead.
FW PD: The Internet is NOT for Porn. The Internet is for porn, unless, of course, you’re at work and especially if you are a police captain and you are um, doing what the third paragraph of this story says.
Dallas Blooms Is Dallas Boon. According to MSN.com, Dallas Blooms at the Dallas Arboretum is one of the 10 places in the whole entire world you should go see spring blooms. The whole world, people.
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