The Kingpins of Cowtown

Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts benefits from a coat drive at Bedford Boys Ranch Activity Center, 2801 Forest Ridge Dr. Drop clean, gently used coats, jackets, scarves, hats and gloves into a donation box next to front desk during business hours through Dec. 31 — 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7 to 6 Friday; 8 to 2 Saturday and Sunday.

Firefighters work Stock Show

Grady Young, left, Lt. Heath Turner and Kyle Omberg are among Fort Worth firefighters taking care of Stock Show guests this season. Photo by Terry Evans

Will Rogers Memorial Complex has its own fire station.

For the entire run of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Fire Station 80 is staffed by firefighters from various other stations — four per 24-hour shift — under the supervision of Lt. Heath Turner.

“We’re responsible for handling every sick and injured person and every fire inside the WRMC grounds,” Turner said.

The only exceptions are injuries that happen inside the rodeo arena in the Will Rogers Coliseum, because that’s the purview of a special team of medical professionals.

Station 80’s seasonal crews worked the Stock Show since 1944, said Lt. Tim Hardeman, the fire department’s spokesperson, adding that a typical day brings eight to 10 “customers.”

“Most of the injuries are so minor that the person refuses additional medical attention,” he said. “The call volume fluctuates.”

Indeed, Hardeman said the crew was so busy Sunday they had to call in an extra company to help handle the number of “slips, trips, falls and minor cuts.”

Medstar handles ambulance service. But the firefighters have a 1991 Spartan engine if they need it.

To handle fires – mostly limited to trash cans and the occasional car or truck – the engine carries 500 gallons of water and pumps 1,250 gallons a minute. To handle firefighters, the station has four Murphy beds, a mobile communications center and a cozy kitchen.

– Terry Evans

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Dampier said he didn't party with the Mavs

DALLAS _ Miami Heat free agent center Erick Dampier is not a happy camper.

After the Dallas Mavericks finished off the Heat in six games to win the NBA championship on June 12, it was widely reported that Dampier was out partying with the Mavs. Not so, Dampier said.

“That’s a damn joke,’’ Dampier said Wednesday. “Why would I want to party with the Dallas Mavericks when they just beat us?’’

Dampier said an ESPN reporter tweeted that he was partying with the Mavs. He also said his handlers and representatives of the Heat contacted the reporter and supposedly had the matter corrected.

Still, Dampier was upset that something of that nature got widely reported when it wasn’t true.

“It all started with a tweet,’’ Dampier said. “With all the pictures that were posted online, show me one picture where Erick Dampier was in it hanging out and partying with the Dallas Mavericks.

“Just show me one picture. They can’t, because there’s not one. You can’t invent one and you can’t find one.’’

-- Dwain Price

Follow me on Twitter

@DwainPrice

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Forest Hill city offices are closed because of the bad weather. Tonight's city council workshop and meeting are cancelled.
Elizabeth Campbell

Weather forecast: 100% chance of snow on No. 9

We're enjoying sunny skies and beautiful weather on the course today, but beware of the blizzard on the 9th teebox, courtesy of a nearby cottonwood tree.

With puffs of white floating down on the players as they tee off, and the gallery looking around in wonder, it's like a scene out of a Felini film -- if he made golf movies.

Overheard near the 18th green

"This is it where it got me last year. The Margarita Monster."

Jim McMahon's Colonial shuffle

  So I saw this guy near the No. 1 tee on Wednesday when Phil Mickelson was getting ready to tee off. His black-and-white checked shorts were, well, an impressive and bold fashion statement.

Or at least that's what I'm saying now that I know that dude is Jim McMahon, the Super Bowl shuffling champion QB from the 1985-86 Chicago Bears.

McMahon has his own line of golf duds called Swang Wear and if you check out his web site, you'll see that his outfit Wednesdsay was downright subdued compared to some of the color collisions in his clothing line. But that seems to be the thing these days in golf. See also Ian Poulter and John Daly -- just don't look directly at the pants for fear of burning your retinas.

Truth is, I didn't recognized McMahon right off the bat. I was drawn to his funky shorts and floppy hat and thought it made a good photo. But when I chatted up he and his buddies, I got a closer look and recognized him as the former punk rocker leader of that great Bears team, proving that you never know who you're going to run into at Colonial.

Playing hookie at Colonial

One of the recurring themes at Colonial on pro-am day was teachers and administrators playing hookie from school. I can't think of a better reason.

I took several photos of fans who asked that I delay posting their pictures because they were supposed to be at work. But with only a couple of weeks left in the school year, they couldn't resist.

One administrator actually landed a spot as a caddy for the pro-am and initially he said he didn't want his picture taken and then he said, what the heck, maybe he'll get canned and go on tour.

So here he is, with the bag on his shoulder and a beer in his hand.

My favorite, though, was a guy who said he didn't want to be photographed not because of his job.

"My wife. doesn't know I'm here," he said.

Here is the rest of the photos I shot Wednesday. They tell the story better than I can.

I'm back (at Colonial), baby

After two years in the Guantanamo Bay of journalism, the Kingpin has returned to share his ramblings, er, wisdom, from his favorite annual Fort Worth event, The Colonial, (The picture gives you an idea why.)

Where have I been, you ask?

Never you mind. Just know that bowling and beverages (White Russians) were involved.

I'll be capturing the scene at Colonial this weekend, and snapping pictures. And I've already got some big news: Kevin Jonas is playing in the Pro-Am.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On my way to get his picture. I had to shove Phil Mickelson aside to get to him. AAHHHHHH!!!

Will post pictures and full analysis of JoBros. swing soon. (Just a reality check for Kevin: The Colonial flyer alerting us media-types that he's in the pro-am field has a picture of his brother, Nick. Colonial knows its pro golfers. Jonas Brothers not so much.)

Also in the Pro-Am, TCU football coach Gary Patterson, teeing off at 12:20. Apparently he's a 21 handicapper and a real grinder. He's playing with TCU alum J.J. Henry.

I'll be back later with lots more photos. Stay tuned.

-- Rick Press

Denny's Grand Slam day

At the Dennys on Western Center Boulevard, the line spilled into the patio even at 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, at the Denny’s at I-20 and Hulen St., the line was wrapped around the building at lunch time. Watch John Metz's video here.

And early morning discussion about Denny’s was all the rage at the 24 Hour Fitness in Bedford – as more than a dozen or so spin class enthusiasts at the gym talked about the crowds at Denny’s on Industrial Boulevard at Highway 183.

Some folks in class said they had friends go as early as 5 a.m. for the Grand Slam breakfast and took their small children. One spin class enthusiast said he had gone to the breakfast at one Denny’s and would travel for more free food to another Denny’s for lunch -- after his 8 a.m. spin class in Bedford.

A taste of Vienna in Plano

Had a lovely day in Plano on Saturday (that's not a sentence you get to type very often.). We met friends at the Plano Super Bowl, one of the few 24-hour bowling centers left in this country.

And after our share of strikes and spares, we had lunch in historic downtown Plano at Jörg’s Cafe Vienna. (Be warned, if you click on the link you will hear accordian music.)

I had the schnitzel with the Hungarian paprika creme sauce, and it was wonderful. Not too heavy and seasoned to perfection. The smoked bratwurst sandwich in pretzel bread earned raves as well.

For dessert, I snagged a taste of the Apfel Strudel and wished I'd ordered one just for me. There's always next time, right?

There isn't a lot of authentic German or Austrian food in the western half of DFW, so that makes Jorge's definitely worth the trip to downtown Plano, which also has a nice little park with ponds and the Interurban Railway Museum, which features a restored train car from the early 1900s. My 4-year-old was wide-eyed during the free tour. Check it out.

In defense of Jerry Jones

I'm no fan of the Dallas Cowboys' owner, who, like the Steinbrenners, tries to buy championships. But I give him a lot of credit for sticking with Coach Wade Phillips. As a lifelong sports fan, I am fed up with the bloodthirsty mentality of media, fans and management that dictates heads must roll immediately (if not sooner) when things don't go your team's way.

It's childish, really.

And the blame game in the NFL is out of control. So is the hype machine. 

The Cowboys just weren't that good. Neither were a lot of other teams. They had injuries. They had unrealistic expectations (Super Bowl or Bust! Will they go 16-0?) They failed.

It happens.

Raging Rudolph

Funny, this is not how I remember the holiday classic. But it's funny.

Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah

Now here's the perfect way to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah -- on the lanes with a bowling pin menorah. 

 

Mark Cuban gets Simpsonized, at it's pretty hilarious

Dallas Mavericks owner and veteran of Dancing With the Stars Mark Cuban added another notch to his pop culture belt on Sunday when he appeared on The Simpsons.

Mr. Burns tries to take billionaire tips from Crazy Uncle Cube, but it backfires, literally, and a man dressed in a gorilla suit pays with his life.

It's funny. Trust me. You can watch part of the episode below. And see more clips here.

In defense of Elisha Cuthbert

I love sports, but I hate sports starswho think, by virtue of playing football or hockey or jai-alai better than 90 percent of the population, they have the right to be a rotten human being.

Guess what? You don't, Sean Avery.

And while the NHL has suspended the Dallas Stars left wingerand leading misogynist for his crude remarks, I feel the need to do some high-sticking up for my bowling bud Elisha Cuthbert.

That's right, I went bowling with Cuthbert for a column back in August 2006, and she could not have been any cooler. We bowled two games and, despite all the drooling press she gets in men's mags, she is very down to earth and a genuine sports fan. She used to blog for the NHL, and her brother and mom played hockey when she was growing up in Canada.

Elisha was a volleyball player -- too small for hockey. And, I might add, she's a decent bowler -- as you can see from the photos.

More importantly, she's a decent human being who deserves more respect from an ex.

The most vile part of Avery's comments is that they were calculated. Nobody asked him about Elisha. He waited till cameras were rolling to call her "sloppy seconds," a disgusting way of referring to anyone, much less a woman he once supposedly cared about. And all because she is now datingCalgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf. Sounds like wittle, bitty Sean is jealous.

Oh, go dump some of your $15 million contract on therapy. Or call Dr. Phil.

The other unfortunate thing about this story, which has attracted more attention to hockey in two days than all the action on the ice has in two years, is that it gives yahoo bloggers license to brand Cuthbert as a "hockey hag" and crack jokes about her "stickhandling."

And to that I say: Mean people suck, and so does Sean Avery for starting this.

Good thing the Elisha Cuthbert I met is tough enough and classy enough to ignore it all.

The anatomy of a White Russian

For those of us who live our lives according to tenets of The Big Lebowski, it's gratifying to see The Dude's beverage of choice, the White Russian, getting the full-bodied thumbsucker treatment by the New York Times.

This eggheady analysis is wonderful, chronicling the rise and fall and rise again of The Caucasian. I particularly love the quotes from Esquire Magazine's "drink correspondent." (We've got one of those here, too. He's called Billy the Boozer.)

But the article is further proof that The Big Lebowski is, in the parlance of our times, a metaphor for all that is good and pure.

Next up, 60 Minutes reveals The Stranger's favorite sasparilla! 

RIP, Zima

Like Dudley Moore and the Backstreet Boys, Zima had its moment in the spotlight. Back in the '90s, the clear malt liquor in the come hither bottle was all the rage in the clubs.

Its popularity lasted about as long as the Macarena, and tasted just as bad.

But contrary to popular belief, Zima did not go away and die a much-deserved death ... until last month. Miller finally pulled the plug on its "malternative," to which I say farewell sugary sweet drink.

We hardly had a chance to thank ye for Mike's Hard Lemonade.

Sarah Palin's turkey pardon gets bloody

Bless her heart, Sarah Palin keeps making news for all the wrong reasons. Apparently, during a stop at an Alaska turkey farm to pardon one lucky clucker for Thanksgiving, a less fortunate bird can be seen in the background struggling for its last breaths. Below is a tame version of the video from the Anchorage Daily News. But for those who like a little more gore with their holidays, here's the You Tube version that's generating quite a bit of buzz, or is that gobble, gobble.

One editorial comment: As someone who has shot video for our web site, I think the camera person for KTUU could have framed the shot differently so we didn't have to see the bird bloodbath. I'm no fan of Sarah Palin's rants against the media, but this slaughterhouse video just gives her ammunition.

Bottoms up, DFW: A look at the most liquored up establishments

Ever wonder just how many longnecks get sucked down at Billy Bob's in a month? Or Bloody Mary's at the House of Blues? Well, here's a nifty little gadget you can use to check the liquor receipts of some of your favorite DFW watering holes.

For example: Aqua Lounge in downtown FW paid just over $10,000 in taxes in August. City Streets nearly $22,000. (Must be all those suggestive sounding shots served in test tubes.) The Library, a whopping $28,000 (some serious TCU drinkers in there.) Pour House, $23,000.

Billy Bob's: How about $47,460? That's a lot of hooch. But guess who isn't far behind? Joe T. Garcia's, $43,194. Killer margaritas = big moola!

Not surprisingly, strip joints do pretty well, too. New Orleans Nights, $27,841. Baby Dolls, $36,320. Not that I'd know about those sort of places.

In Big D, Escapade 2001 on Finnell St. is far and away on top with $89,380 just for the month of August.

House of Blues and Ghostbar come in at around $50,000 each. Dragonfly at Hotel ZaZa, $43,000. Station 4, $40,900. Purgatory, $36,000. Capitol Pub, $24,000. Gilleys of Dallas, $47,643 (just a couple hundred more than Billy Bob's).

The Dallas Gentlemen's Club, $43,200.

But enough of my discoveries. Search for yourself. It's fun peeking at their books.

Own a piece of Cowboys history

The starting bid on urinals from Texas Stadium is $300. But what I really want it the Cowboys Helmet golf cart. Anybody got $6,000 they can loan me?

A day that will live in Kimbell history

On Tuesday, Fort Worth's beloved Kimbell Art Museum will announce its plans for expansion -- a second building designed by famed architect Renzo Piano (Nasher Sculpture Center) will nearly double the size of the world's best small museum.

I guess it was inevitable. The Kimbell has been a good neighbor, and stood by applauding as the Amon Carter expanded and the Modern constructed its architectural masterpiece to the east.

Now it's the Kimbell's turn, though I can't help feel like by getting bigger, the Kimbell will lose some of its inherent charm. Hope I'm wrong about that.

Details of the expansion will be released Tuesday, and the big question among dog walkers and Frisbee football players is where will the new building go? On their beloved greenspace to the west of the original Louis Kahn building? Or to east side, in a parking lot between the Kimbell and the Modern.

Dunno, but I'd say Frisbee footballers better prepare for the worst. Look for details tomorrow.

'God wants us to have sex, honey!'

Married men everywhere have a new hero this morning -- one who'll probably never appear on SportCenter.

He's Ed Young, senior pastor at Fellowship Church in Grapevine, who is suggesting that married couples have sex every day for a week ... which would bring their grand total to 10 for the year?!?

Young's nudge toward nookie was part of his Sunday sermon, Seven Days of Sex. But Young, who seems horny for this topic, preaches about sex regularly. Check out his Sexual Revolution DVD with a personal study guide.

The story is getting plenty of attention on our site, and I bet guys are cutting it out to present to their wives tonight. When she says, I've got a headache; they'll say: I'm on a mission from God.

Whatever it takes to get people in the pews ... and papa a little piece, right?

John Angeles: We knew him when

I don't want to brag about my ability to spot talent ... but I will.

John Angeles, the super-talented tap dancer/drummer, was on our radar screen nearly two year ago. And we couldn't be any happier for him as he's finally getting the recognition he deserves.

He's in the current cast of Stomp, performing in town again tonight. Check it out. And check out the video we did way back when. Needless to say, he doesn't have to work at Best Buy any more.

Bowling ball stops bullet from striking teen

Told ya bowling could save your life.

Here's mud in your eye, and mouth and ....

You know you’re in trouble when the best part of your vacation is spent on your hands and knees, crawling through a giant, gloppy pit of mud.

No, I did not go exploring the rainforests of South America. Or spend a week in basic training.

Instead, I slogged my way through an adventure race called The Muddy Buddy.

My “Buddy” was cousin Joe, a dyed-in-the-wool Chicago sports fan and jock who e-mailed me back in August to say he’d love to bring the family for a visit, and, hey, while he’s in town, we could run and ride bikes in this lil’ ’ol race with a harmless name.

It’d be fun, he said. We’d bond, he said.

And besides, I was the only person in our family remotely in good enough shape to survive it. (Not high praise, mind you. We’re more iron-deficient than iron men in our family.)

But how could I say no?

And this is how Cousin Joe became Joe the Torturer.

Countdown to hilarity

This is Ben Affleck's best performance since Good Will Hunting.

Chasing perfection can be deadly

When I was on vacation last week, I had the pleasure of bowling (as a celebrity?!?) in the Sam Hornisch Jr. classic, put on by Texas Motor Speedway charities. I got to roll a couple of games and knock back a few beers with some nice folks -- and one particuarly competitive lady (Linda Daymude) who broke a nail, but fought through the pain to finish with a 136. Brave soul.

But I bowled like crap. Two games in the 160s, both of which made me realize that I'm only a good bowler in my mind. Everywhere else, I'm a middle-aged man who has lost his mojo.

Deep depression was about to sink in, and then I came across a couple of stories that made me think, hey, things could be a whole lot worse.

First, consider the bowling coach who rolled a 299. (On his final shot, he threw a perfect ball and left the 10 pin.) No shame in that.

But he does have to live with the fact that both his sons have already bowled 300s.

At least he's living.

What about this poor man, who bowled a 300 game -- and promptly dropped dead?!?

Mediocre bowling is just fine with me, thank you.

Newspapers: We're not dead yet

People have been awfully quick to pronounce newspapers DOA. But to steal a line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, we suggest that "we're not dead yet ... we're getting better. ... we feel happy!"

That's because this morning we received an unsolicited photo from Grapevine readers David and Debbie Simon of their three children (from left) Skyler, Kirby and Reilly perusing the Star-Telegram at the breakfast table.

Says Debbie in an e-mail to her folks: I don't think there is any photo of the kids that could make me more proud! Unprompted, they are all sitting there reading the newspaper at breakfast!

David forwarded the photo and suggests that Skyler, Kirby and Reilly are part of "the next generation of newspaper junkies."

We can only hope. Thank you, Simons, for sharing a slice of your life ... and making our day!

Hap-hap-happy news! You can win big bucks

I'm just back from a week's vacation, which made me quite happy.

But I'm freakin' ecstatic to tell you about a chance to win some serious cash -- just for being happy. Don't delay. Send in your entry in our Get Happy Sweepstakes, and you could win some serious cash.

It's a tie-in with the uber-cute new film Happy Go-Lucky, but in these sometimes bleak times, we want to hear from the hap-hap-happy people out there, if only to bring some joy into our miserable lives.

Star Wars bowling balls

I'm barely a fan of Star Wars, but these bowling balls are cool ...

Holy mole!

I've lived in North Texas for 7 1/2 years, but I've never found mole that could rival the savory sauce I became addicted to in Lexington, Ky., at a Mexican restaurant a few blocks from my house. It was called Rincon, right near the University of Kentucky campus; if you're ever in town, tell 'em Rick sent you.

But last night that changed, when my wife mentioned that her co-worker and carpool buddy had celebrated his birthday at El Asadero on North Main in Fort Worth. He said the mole was the best he'd ever tasted, and Billy Bob grew up in these parts, so he should know.

We packed the fam into the car and went on a mole mission. And we weren't disappointed. El Asadero's mole is awesome -- so sweet and spicy that I sopped up every last drop with chips (and then a finger or two). At only $7.99, the enchiladas mole put to shame the mole at Cantina Laredo downtown, which was solid but too pricey ($12.99) for lunch.

In general, I've been disappointed by my mole choices around here -- Mi Cocina's is weak and Benito's, while traditional, just doesn't have enough sweetness or spice. So I'm declaring El Asadero's the best mole in all the land, but I know there are mole devotees out there who can prove me wrong.

Please do, because I'm worried that I'll start eating at El Asadero 2-3 times a week.

Finally, I always love it when I discover a great place that I've passed hundreds of times and that has been in business in for 25 years. Great detective work, huh?

Overheard in the Stockyards: Cut it off!

While out at dinner last night, I couldn't help but eavesdrop on a conversation about the Cowboys' current plight.

This is the best of what I heard: "Aw, he should just cut it off. He's already got the girl!"

This, of course, was about Tony Romo's broken pinkie, and how the QB didn't need the digit because he already had Jessica Simpson -- and a few other vital appendages.

Lest you think our random Cowboys crusader is extreme, consider the case of the Mesa State College lineman who had his shredded pinkie lopped off rather than miss the last few games of his football Division II career.

Kinda makes Romo look like a wuss ... or a sane person. I can't decide.

Leggo my giant ostrich sandwich!

The problem with building a mile-long ostrich sandwich is that it looks so darn tasty that onlookers will devour it before you can officially set a Guiness World Record.

Happens every day... in Iran ... right?

It's a sad, but true tale of a hulking hoagie gone bad.

More than 1,500 Iranian cooks spent two days constructing the 1,500 meter sandwich, and it took only minutes for a ravenous crowd to make it disappear.

Damn, Iranians. They're not all terrorists, but they sure are hungry.

You can watch the BBC video, which was clearly filmed before the chaos and carnage ensued.

George W. Bush: Forehead of state

President Bush has this uncanny knack for getting caught in awkwardly affectionate poses with foreign leaders.

He can turn nearly any photo op into a photo oops. It's one of the few truly endearing qualities about the man.

And it does provide some awesome caption contest material. Check out W. here, giving some forehead to the Italian prime minister.

Can't tell if they're two of the most powerful men in the world or teenagers on a first date. Don't let us have all the fun. Add your comments below.

Politician bobblehead smackdown

I love when we reduce flesh-and-blood politicians to bobblehead form. This is how we should do all elections.

Dallas councilman John Wiley Price is selling his bobble self to generate money for his re-election campaign. At nearly 25 bucks, that's one pricey synthetic desk ornament.

A few months back, the Fort Worth Cats enticed crowds to LaGrave Field on Mayor Mike Moncrief bobblhead night. The likeness is pretty uncanny, especially the whole nodding thing.

An anthem for the 'Chicken Fried' nation

Randy Galloway, the dean of DFW sports radio, likes to call North Texas "The Chicken Fried Nation." I love that term, in all its thick, white-gravied glory.

The only thing we need now is a theme song.

How 'bout Chicken Fried, and undeniably hooky anthem from a Georgia group called The Zac Brown Band. They're not singing specifically about Texas, but why split horse hairs. Listen to the song and watch the video (Brown looks like a less-menacing version of Jack Black), and I bet you won't be able to stop bopping to it in your head.

They're like the male version of The Dixie Chicks -- country with rock 'n' soul and edge.

Chicken Fried is the first single off ZBB's upcoming CD, The Foundation, and its racing up the Billboard country charts. The video debuts Monday on CMT. But you can watch it right 'chere.

Speaking of the Chicks, I miss 'em. Was sad to hear that they're deal to have a song in the movie The Lucky Ones fell through, but smiled when I read that Natalie Maines sang at Howard Stern's wedding. Woulda like to have been a fly on the wall at that reception, which included a performance by Billy Joel and gifts from the likes of Donald Trump and Joan Rivers. Oy.

Good news is that the Chicks are working on a new album. But in the meantime, I'll just have to jam to Chicken Fried.

Bowling with basketball stars

You might be tempted to watch the Dallas Cowboys play the Rams on Sunday at noon, just to see if Tony Romo keeps his pinky intact, but I've got a better option for ya:

It's a slam-dunk bowling event airing at the same time on ESPN. NBA stars Chris Paul, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and former UT standout Kevin Durant will be teamed with pro bowlers for a tournament that's likely to be more entertaining than watching the 'Boys struggle to eek out a win over a dreadful St. Louis squad.

At the very least, set the DVR.