blitzweekly.com
VOL. 2 - ISSUE 19
January. 6 - 12, 2010 3
Burger King, Carl’s Jr. pull out oldest ad trick in book: Sex BLITZ News Shorts 3 Hollywood Profile / Movie Reviews 4 Blitz Music: Scott McCurry at HOB 5 Mavs and Stars Previews 6 UNT / SMU / TCU Previews 7 Bill Bates Shares His Thoughts 8 COVER STORY: Cowboys Playoff Preview A Look Back and a Look Forward 9 Cowboys vs Eagles III 10-11 BLITZ BABE: Christina 12 More NFL Playoff Previews 13 Restaurant Review: Ziziki’s 14 Blitz Toys 15 The Fan Top 10 with Sybil 16 Crossword / Jokes / Horrorscopes 17 Last Call: Fair Weather Forecast 18 PUBLISHER Kelly G. Reed EDITOR Jennifer Wayne CREATIVE DIRECTOR / WEBSITE / GRAPHIC DESIGN Damien William Mayfield COVER: Photographer: James D. Smith Cover Design: Damien William Mayfield CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Manny Flores, Tim Gravens, James D. Smith, The Bum PHOTOGRAPHERS Ronnie Baker, Darryl Briggs, Steven Hendrix, Matt Pearce, Jason Ryan CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joe Avezzano, Kris Boudreau, Geoff Case, Vivian Fullerlove, Robin George, David Goodspeed, Andrew J. Hewett, Frank LaCosta, Jayson Larson, Pat Moran, Tunde A. Obazee, Richard S. Pollak, Craig Smith, Eddie Stephens, Joe Stumpo, Sybil Summers and The Bum
Call it the battle of the virtual burger babes. In one corner, there’s Kim Kardashian, the sexy cable star, eager to chat via webcam with Carl’s Jr. customers on “The Ultimate Salad Lunch Date” on their Facebook page. In the other corner, there’s Burger King’s “Shower Babe,” an anonymous 20-year-old from South London. Folks can watch and hear her online while she showers in a bikini and sings. Viewers are asked to vote for what song she’ll sing — and what bikini she’ll wear — the next day. One “seriously lucky” person in the U.K. who visits the website, www.singingintheshower.co.uk, will win a breakfast date with her. This may be the virtual future of fastfood advertising. Never mind that BK is pitching breakfast items and Carl’s is pitching salads with these promos. Chains such as BK and Carl’s, which mainly target teens and twenty-somethings, find that the triple combo of hot babes, fast food and webcams work well to draw hard-to-reach teen guy prime customers to their sites and, ultimately, into stores. But critics abound. “It’s as if we’re back in the 1950s the way pop culture portrays women, but with New Age technology,” says Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for
Women. Marketing consultant Martin Lindstrom questions whether sex in ads really sells. “While viewers are quick to recall sexual imagery, they mostly forget what brand is behind the ad,” he says. “What does sex really have to do with burgers?” That’s not the point, says Andy Puzder, CEO of Carl’s Jr. “You can say 1,000 times that you have a great burger and no one will listen to you, but if you put a beautiful woman in the ad, they will.” Consumers who buy new Carl’s salads between Dec. 30 and Jan. 12 will be given a special code granting access to ask Kardashian questions during the Jan. 13 virtual lunch date. No code is required, however, to watch the event via streaming video. The BK site advises fans to “watch our shower babe shake her bits to the hits at 9:30 every morning.” The campaign, which began Dec. 8, ends on Thursday. The site has had 70,000 unique visitors. “While we know (it) won’t appeal to every consumer,” BK spokeswoman Michelle Miguelez says, “we do know that it does resonate with our key male superfans in the U.K.”
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK “If you are prepared, you will be confident, and will do the job.” -- Tom Landry
Escaped otters delay Ohio-bound flight in Houston Passengers on a Continental Airlines flight couldn’t believe it when they saw an otter scurry from the plane’s cargo hold and onto the tarmac at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport. The daring escape by a pair of otters delayed the Ohio-bound flight for about an hour last Tuesday night.
One passenger said that most on board thought the delay was a joke at first. But another said they watched one of the otters scurry across the tarmac. Airport workers managed to catch the otters and return them to their cages and the flight took off for Columbus.
Andrew J. Hewett
www.chewednews.com
A PLACE TO LEARN TO HATE ART, A MILE AT A TIME The Winter Palace and adjacent Hermitage in Leningrad, in the former U.S.S.R., has 322 sections, displaying three million valuable objects and works of art. It is the world’s largest art gallery, and covers a total walking distance of 15 miles. THIS FELLOW GOT HIS FEATHERS RUFFLED OVER CHICKEN The Dallas Morning News reported May 21, 2006, Michael Williams, 17, brought home a box of fried chicken, only to have his brother, 21-year-old Marcus Williams, swipe a piece. This made the younger Williams upset, causing his brother to take a kitchen knife and stab him. Quoting the News, “Ft. Worth police and paramedics were called at 6:19 p.m. Friday. Michael Williams died at John Peter Smith Hospital.” WELL, THERE GOES THE WATER FRONT PROPERTY, TOO November 21, 1980, Texaco oil workers had a surprise while drilling in 1,300acre Lake Peigneur near New Iberia, Louisiana. When their drill bored into salt caves under the lake, the water above began to swirl and empty down the hole like a bath tub. As the water level sank lower, along with it went two oil rigs, eleven barges and one tugboat. Eventually a half-mile wide crater appeared where the lake had been.
blitzweekly.com
4 January. 6 - 12, 2010
HOLLYWOOD PROFILE
BLITZREVIEWS By: Joe Stumpo - www.darthstumpo.com
Wa s t i n g o u r m o n ey s o yo u d o n ’t h a ve t o !
with Michael Oher & Quinton Aaron
by: Vivian Fullerlove
“Enterainment’s Real Critic”
Baltimore Ravens Michael Oher recently spoke out for the first time since the release of the hit movie The Blind Side, which chronicles his rise from the meanest streets in Memphis to a loving affluent home with the Tuohy family, a stand out football career at Ole Miss to the NFL draft. The Blind Side has proven to be the feel good film of the year for good reason. We were thrilled to talk with Quinton Aaron, who starred in the film as Oher and how this movie, in many ways, saved his life. We also spoke with Michael about having his life story unfold before the eyes of moviegoers everywhere! Yours is truly an unbelievable and inspiring story. Why do you feel it was important to get your story out there? MO: I know more people that have way more talent than I do and they never made it out; so, people hear my story and they know that if you give somebody a chance, there’s hope for that person. How do you feel about Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy? MO: They’re my family and I love them to death. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am. They showed me all kinds of love. They’ve taught me so much. I’ve grown to be a better person because of them. They just taught me a lot of things. Can you even believe how far you’ve come since your childhood days in Memphis? MO: It’s crazy. Just to be a first-round pick and knowing where you came from. Knowing that you almost didn’t get into college. Knowing that nobody makes it out where you’re from, and you’re the first. It’s unbelievable. The miracles don’t end with the real Michael Oher’s story. The young actor cast to play Michael in the film was facing homelessness himself when he received the opportunity of a lifetime. What were your circumstances when you landed the lead role in this movie? QA: We were about to lose our home. Finances were horrible. My mom saw the audition notice in the newspaper, so, I thought,“what the heck.” I had wanted to try acting, so I auditioned for the role.
And the rest, as they say, is history. What did you think was at the heart of this story? QA: I think basically the heart of the story is showing the care that the family showed for this individual and the love they showed towards him. And in return what they got out of taking him in was more of a reward than they ever had planned. Lots of powerful messages in this. QA: I think the message this film has for people is that even if your life wasn’t like Michael’s or even if it was, you can still go for what you want in life and be great at it. And if you don’t know what you want [in life] there’s someone there that can help you that you can turn to and don’t give up on what you want to do.
Avatar: I would love to put my negative feelings aside about the huge anti-American
rhetoric Avatar’s plot exhibits (that has audiences embracing Titanic director James Cameron’s latest sci-fi epic with open arms). That is, if Avatar delivered characters we could care about or offered us an intriguing story that is as “out of this world” as the planet Pandora that’s inhabited by blue human-like creatures called the Navi. Trouble is, Cameron’s long-awaited $250 million spectacle is visually stunning, but emotionally empty and overlong (not to mention predictable). It doesn’t take brain surgery to figure out who comes out triumphant in the end given the film’s liberal message that the American military and its corporations are evil and that we should not be out pillaging other countries for oil, much less infiltrating and taking over planetary societies in the future. This is what I get for embracing Titanic.
PICK OF THE WEEK
In stepping into the life of Michael Oher, what do you think he learned from the Tuohy’s and what did they learn from him? QA: When the Tuohy’s took in Michael, not only did he grow and achieve something from the experience, he got the family he had never had, but they were able to experience changing someone’s life in a way that not many people can say they have. Congratulations Quinton on all the success of the film. I certainly hope this is the first of many star turns for you as an actor. And for anyone that has been living in a cave and hasn’t gone to see this movie, why should they? QA: I think everyone would want to see this movie. If you love football, if you love comedy, if you love Lifetime dramas, then you will enjoy this movie. I mean, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Kathy Bates, how can it get any better than that? And folks, it really doesn’t get much better than this movie. It is definitely one of my top five for 2009. So, if you haven’t seen The Blind Side, get to the theater this weekend and check it out. You might just find some inspiration for the New Year! The film is in theaters everywhere and is rated PG-13. Check out my television show Reel Critics for more of the biggest films and all of your favorite celebrities. Email me your favorite movie of 2009 at trivia@reelcriticstv.com for your chance to win a pair of movie tickets to The Studio Movie Grill!
Family Guy Two Pack: Something Something Something Dark Side/Blue Harvest: George Lucas is reportedly a fan of Seth McFarlane’s
long-running animated sitcom, which would explain why the producers have gotten away with parodying the original classic trilogy. The latest sequel to Family Guy – Blue Harvest has the Griffin family taking on the roles of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and Darth Vader in a parody of The Empire Strikes Back. Call it The Empire Strikes Back done mock-u-mentary style in 44 minutes.
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January. 6 - 12, 2010 5 “One Ear on the Street”
MUSIC: Scott McCurry 1. Don’t Do It
Scott McCurry – Like The Sun
2. Saturday
Scott McCurry and The Mercenaries Performing
Scott McCurry – Like The Sun
3. All Over The Road
Scott McCurry – Like The Sun
L i v e J a n u a r y 9 t h a t T h e H o u s e O f B l u e s
4. Make Me Happy
From the City of Angels to the Big Apple, and all points in between, Scott McCurry has been turning on eager music fans to his blend of psychedelic-power-pop for several years. This Texas native has been producing creative and infectious material in studio, as well as translating his brand of fist-pumping sunshine-rock in the live setting. Just recently wrapping up his newest release, Go On & Do Your Thing, McCurry and The Mercenaries, demand your attention. One part Beatle-esque melodies, one part rawindie rock reminiscent of the Pixies, sprinkle in some Motown soul, the sound of a thousand high-fives at once and then and only then will you be close to the Scott McCurry sound. Scott’s most recent release, Go On & Do Your Thing, is already being talked about as a commercially viable hit. Hardbeat Magazine says, “The Scott McCurry Band is comprised of so much genre-bending talent, it’s a feast for the ears.” McCurry’s music from his previous releases of Birdies don’t bark and Like the Sun, has
5. Dr. Doctor
already been featured in tv, film and radio. On his third album, Scott McCurry cranks out compelling, addictive music like the Federal Reserve cranks out cash. His highly anticipated release is a mix of ‘60s rock and R&B, as well as contemporary eclectic folk and pop. The catchy, blended sound is unique with a familiar chord. Because of his unique sound, McCurry was named one of Clear Channel’s most promising “Artists to Watch” in 2008. On top of that, he’s been riding the wave of success from playing at venues like the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW. Scott’s upcoming performance will be an audible delight.
Photos Courtesy: Jason Ryan / jasonryanphotography.com
“The Scott McCurry Band is comprised of so much genrebending talent, it’s a feast for the ears.”
The January 9th show will also feature two other great Texas Acts, Bob Livingston and The Killdares.
“I’m really excited about this event,” McCurry said. “This is the best blend of music we’ve produced to date and it has been fun to play it live.” Tickets are currently on sale at the Dallas House of Blues box office and Ticket Master. Call 214.978.BLUE or order online. Doors open at 7:00PM. Show begins at 8:00PM. All ages admitted. /www.hob.com/venues/ clubvenues/dallas/
Scott McCurry – Like The Sun Scott McCurry – Like The Sun
6. When You
Scott McCurry – Like The Sun
7. I Can’t Even
Scott McCurry – Like The Sun
8. One Good, Three Bad
Scott McCurry – Like The Sun
9. Revolved Around the Sunshine
Scott McCurry – Like The Sun
10. Like The Sun
Scott McCurry – Like The Sun
blitzweekly.com
by: Frank LaCosta
Photo Courtesy: Manny Flores
MAVS:News
by: Geoff Case
“Mavericks Analyst”
Joint Operations If the Mavericks stick with their roster through the trade deadline, it should be taken as a vote of confidence for the players. The Mavericks have a great record despite having multiple starters out with injuries throughout this season. Something is working. The one critique that you could lay on the team is that they haven’t truly reached their potential. They haven’t had everyone playing on a high level at the same time. It could also be looked at as resiliency because when someone has struggled, his teammates have stepped up to fill the void. The Mavs have enough versatility to get the job done, but they need everyone in rhythm to reach championship caliber. The fact that this hasn’t happened this season hasn’t escaped the player’s minds
STARS:News
by: Richard S. Pollak “The Hockey Guy”
Down on the Farm with the Future Dallas Stars either. “Everybody has to contribute,” Jason Terry said. “We have plenty of pieces. The thing is we’ve all contributed at one point or another throughout the season, but we’re trying to get on the same page where everybody is contributing at the same time, and then it’s going to be scary.” Upcoming Opponents: 1/8 at San Antonio – The well-known division rivals have finally started stringing wins together. They finally got Manu Ginobli healthy and are playing their best basketball of the season. 1/9 vs Utah Jazz – The Jazz can’t seem to get into rhythm (dropping games to inferior opponents). This squad is looking to make some moves at the trade deadline so expect them to be a little distracted come game time. 1/13 – vs Los Angeles Lakers – The Mavs fans are always pumped up for the Lakers visit to the AAC, but that only stokes the fire. Expect Kobe and company to be focused after losing to the Mavs at home earlier this season. Prediction for this stretch: 2-1
While spending my holidays in San Antonio, I had the opportunity to see Dallas Stars farm team, the Texas Stars of Austin, play the San Antonio Rampage. The baby Stars currently lead the AHL Western Division because director of player personnel Les Jackson and GM Scott White have compiled too good of a roster for their minor league affiliate. They should package groups of players and trade them for NHL veterans who can help Dallas now. The best player in Austin is goalie Brent Krahn, who leads the AHL with the lowest GAA (goals against average). Pressure will be on Stars GM Joe Niewendyk whether or not to re-sign Marty Turco or put the Stars’ future in Krahn’s hands. The best bet is to give Turco only a one year deal and let Krahn split goal-tending time so as to challenge Turco. The Stars should hire power play specialist Serge Zubov to coach Vishnevsky, who has great puck control. The baby Stars coaching staff is too busy trying to teach him fundamentals and position play. It’s obvious that Ivan is being held back from playing with that wide open style that made Zubov
so dynamic. Top prospect Ray Sawada, who will take Jere Letinen’s spot after he returns from the Olympics with another groin injury, is untouchable. I’m happy to see Letinen play for Finland and sorry that Dallas icon Mike Modano wasn’t selected. However, the rest for Modano during the break and the exhaustion for Letinen will dictate balance of play for the the rest of 2010. Currently, Dallas seems to be drifting away from the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, but perhaps the upcoming road trip to the Big Apple to face the Broadway Rangers, featuring former teammate and nemesis Sean Avery, will improve their play.
Photo Courtesy: Matt Pearce
blitzweekly.com
6 January. 6 - 12, 2010
January. 6 - 12, 2010 7 - Eddie Stephens
- Jayson Larson
One Mean Hot Streak
Remaining hopeful...
And off they go...
The Mean Green beat Texas Southern 71-69 at home when freshman Jacob Holmen hit a shot with three seconds left. They had four players score in double figures. Tristan Thompson was leading scorer with 21 points and 5 assists. He has been on a hot streak since the ULM game. On New Years Eve, they traveled to University Arkansas-Little Rock where they scored another win, 83-78. The win gave Johnny Jones the second most in school history with 135. Tristan Thompson lit it up again with 26 points including six three-pointers. George Odufuwa had a nice game, as well, with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Their three-game winning streak came to an end when they lost at Arkansas State 71-56 in a game they never led. “We were beat from start to finish tonight, they did a much better job tonight, they were the aggressor and the team that played with a little more energy than we did,” said Johnny Jones after the game. The Mean Green are now 9-5 as they travel Thursday to face Louisiana-Lafayette who is 4-10. They are one game behind Denver in Sun Belt-West and should win their next two.
The SMU Mustangs season is starting to go from bad to worse. They have now lost four of their last five games. There could soon be rumors surfacing for the dismissal of coach Matt Doherty. They are currently 5-7 and .5 game out of last place in Conference USA. After coming off of a big win at home against Army last week 71-63, that momentum shifted as they were defeated on the road by Texas State 91-86. Derek Williams is averaging 16.2 PPG and Papa Dia is averaging 8.8 RPG. With that said, why are the Mustangs losing games? Well, other than Derek Williams, no one else is really scoring any points of note. This team needs to step up and play defense if they want to win games and compete. They will be taking on UTEP this week on the road, who are 9-2, so that will be a challenge to get them back in the win column, but who knows. Pressure sometimes makes for better play. They will return home on the 9th to play the N.C. Central Eagles, who are 2-11. Maybe this is where the Mustangs can pick up a win and some momentum.
Lost among the Fiesta Bowl hoopla surrounding the fourth-ranked TCU football team, the TCU men’s basketball team quietly began the season on a high note with a 70-58 win over Rice. Duncanville High School product Kevin Butler and Nikola Cerina from Serbia combined on 14-of-16 field goal attempts and 33 points to lead the Horned Frogs to victory. Butler, who finished with a career-high 18 points, also added five rebounds and two steals. Cerina also had a career-high with 15 points in only 18 minutes on the court. Another performance worth noting was that of freshman guard Xavier Robinson. Robinson had a career-high with 11 points, two rebounds, a steal and an assist. The Frogs finished the game connecting on 52.8 percent of their field goal attempts. They held the Owls to 39.2 percent for the contest. Mountain West Conference play begins Wednesday at 8:05 at Daniel Meyer Coliseum as the Horned Frogs host the Air Force Falcons. Saturday, the Frogs travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Utes. Tuesday, TCU returns home for another conference battle with Wyoming at 6:30.
The Sound Heard ‘Round The ‘Rena On December 22, the Texas A&M men’s basketball team was in Washington for a match up between these two toptwenty teams. Early in the second half, Washington had a one-point lead. At the 17:30 mark, Aggie guard Derrick Roland, the second leading scorer on the team and top defender, went up for a shot and landed with a loud pop that was heard throughout the arena. It looked like an ordinary play. Washington grabbed the ball and headed down the court the opposite way. As the other nine players headed back down court, Roland laid on the floor
underneath the basket. When the play came to a stop, Aggie forward Bryan Davis started screaming with his head in his hands. The sound heard ‘round the ‘rena was Roland breaking his tibia and fibula. I was horrified at the sight of his leg, bent below the knee and bone sticking out of the skin. It’s an image I can’t get out of my head. Donald Sloan, who played with Roland at Seagoville High School, was visibly upset. Sloan pulled his jersey over his head and was very emotional. The trainer almost passed out when he saw the
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injury and had to be helped off the court, as well. The Aggie players were devastated as they huddled together. Many had tears in their eyes for the rest of the game. The next morning, Roland had surgery in Seattle where a rod and three screws were inserted into his injured leg. Head coach Mark Turgeon and Donald Sloan stayed in town with Roland. Sloan planned to stay with Roland until Christmas day when he could take a medical flight back to College Station. That’s what I call a true friend --”Never leave a man behind.” He flew back on a Christmas day he
by: Craig Smith “Sportsologist” - csmith@blitzweekly.com
will never forget. He received over a thousand messages on a get well site set up at www.aggieathletics.com. The doctors said it was a clean break and should not be careerending, but his college days are likely over since he is a senior. A medical redshirt may be hard to get since he had already played so many games. “I’ve overcome injuries before. I’ll just have to do it again,” Roland said. With his attitude and support in Aggieland, DRo will one day be playing the game he loves again.
blitzweekly.com
- Craig Smith
Texas vs
(2)
Alabama
(1)
Thursday, Jan 7 – 7PM – Rose Bowl – ABC This one is for the BCS championship and the national title. The Longhorns are seeking their second title in five years and the Crimson Tide, their first since 1992. Alabama has a staunch defense and Texas is facing odds similar to the game against USC.
Eagles vs Cowboys
Saturday, Jan 9 – 7pm – Cowboys Stadium – NBC A rematch from earlier in the week. The Eagles will have their explosive offense on overdrive and will blitz the Cowboys on defense. The Cowboys are trying to win their first playoff game since 1996. Which team wants it more?
Mavericks vs Spurs
Friday, Jan 8 – 7:30pm – AT&T Center – KTXA The intrastate rivalry continues when the Spurs host the Mavs. Earlier in the season the Spurs pulled off the impossible by beating the Mavs with a very depleted roster in San Antonio. The Mavs beat the Spurs in Dallas a week later. Season series in tied 1-1. Should be a great way to start the weekend!
Lakers vs Mavericks
Wednesday, Jan 13 – 7:30pm – AAC – KTXA The Mavericks welcome Kobe and company to the AAC. The Mavericks won earlier in the year, so expect the Lakers to try and return the favor. We will see the return of DJ Mbenga as well. Can the Mavs get in sync for this one? Can they dominate?
NFL PLAYOFFS
WILD CARD LINES Sat., Jan. 9 At Cincinnati At Dallas
LINE -2.5 -4
Underdog NY Jets Philadelphia
TIME 3:30pm 7:00pm
Sun., Dec. 13 LINE At New England -3.5 At Arizona -2.5
Underdog Baltimore Green Bay
TIME Noon 3:40pm
blitzweekly.com
8 January. 6 - 12, 2010
2008 Dallas Cowboys
by: Jayson Larson
“Dude with a Plan”
– Where Are They Now?
Following their 2007 campaign (13-3 NFC East division crown and subsequent home playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants), the Dallas Cowboys’ 2008 edition appeared on HBO’s Hard Knocks with aspirations of a Super Bowl championship in their last season at Texas Stadium. Instead, they wound up 9-7 and missed the playoffs entirely. With their move westward to Arlington and the shiny new Cowboys Stadium, player changes were also on the horizon. Here is a quick glance at our old friends and where they ended up after the Cowboys bid them farewell: February 9, 2009, the Cowboys released Adam “Pacman” Jones. Pacman agreed to join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers decided to go in a different direction when he publicly announced he was going to play for Winnipeg in the UFL (Winnipeg is in the CFL). Adam Jones is currently not making it rain anywhere in professional football. February 26, they said adios to both of their backup QBs, Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger. While Johnson did not catch on anywhere, Bollinger played for the Florida Tuskers of the UFL and won league MVP via text message voting by fans.
The big one came down on March 4 when the Cowboys released fivetime All-Pro wide receiver Terrell Owens. Four days later, he signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. This season Owens became the sixth player in NFL history to have 1000 receptions and he also caught a careerlong 98 yard TD pass. Others who are no longer with the team include defensive players Chris Canty (New York Giants), Kevin Burnett (San Diego Chargers) and Greg Ellis (Oakland Raiders). The Bengals became the new home for Tank Johnson and safety Roy Williams. Williams is out for the rest of the season after re-injuring his forearm. Zach Thomas decided to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, who released him following preseason. Last, but not least, former Pro Bowl kicker Nick Folk was waived December 21 after a pitiful season. The 2009 Dallas Cowboys without all of the characters, are heading back to the playoffs in their first season in Cowboys Stadium.
Bill Bates Shares His Thoughts The Cowboys have made the playoffs. What are your thoughts on this year’s team?
Bill Bates: First of all, the NFL is so competitive. There are great players on every team. The chemistry that each team has creates the chance to win games. The chemistry with the Cowboys has gotten a lot better this year. Injuries are a huge factor in the NFL. Fortunately this year, unlike last year when injuries were tough on the Cowboys with key guys going down, the guys have been pretty healthy. They are peaking at the right time. They are playing pretty good football right now. Now you have to win every game. Lose and you go home.
Your first playoff appearance was in 1985. What were you thinking the first time you stepped on the field?
Bill Bates: My first playoff game was during my rookie year and we were playing the Los Angeles Rams. I had pretty much played special teams all year. Coach Stallings benched Dextor Clinkscale and had me start. That happened to be my first start at safety. It had rained the night before and froze the next day. The stadium was one cold place. They had Eric Dickerson and he ran all over us.
How sweet was the 1991 playoff victory over the Chicago Bears?
Bill Bates: That was awesome! We were back
in the playoffs. It was cold. Steve Beuerlein was the quarterback. We had Coach Johnson and we just knew we were getting better. Intercepting the pass at the end of that game was very rewarding. We knew we had turned the corner. We were becoming a much better football team. We were making great strides with our team chemistry.
For the playoffs, how much preparation is put in by the special teams to get ready for a game?
Bill Bates: The thing that you try to do as a coach and as a player is to have a routine every year and every week. You don’t stray from it if it works. Practice the same way. Intensity is always there. There may be a trick play or two you have for the upcoming team that may work. The routine is the same, just the stakes are different. Either you win or you go home.
What do you think this year’s Cowboys team needs to do to insure playoff success?
Bill Bates: It’s the same theme: finish. Finish every play. You care for one another on the field and that you are striving to be your best on each and every play. If you’re not doing that in the offseason, preseason, at practice and in every game during the season, then you are behind the 8-ball. You can’t just turn it on, turn it off. It’s not that easy. You’ve got to work together as a team. You’ve got to finish. Finish with great energy and don’t
let things get you down. I think this season with the Cowboys they have been doing that. They have been rising throughout the year and you want to be playing your best when get to the playoffs. The Cowboys are doing that.
You spent your entire NFL career with the Cowboys, given today’s era of free agency, how special was that?
Bill Bates: There is no question that it was awesome! From seeing my locker to the first day of training camp to the end. My high school uniform was the same uniform as the Cowboys. A dream come true. To live that dream. I’ve overcome a lot of adversity and played with pain and injury. For my dream to last 15 years was incredible. I was blessed.
What’s it like to be the first player to be elected to the Pro Bowl because a position was “created” for you?
Bill Bates: That was icing on the cake as far as my dream coming true. I was the first one out to practice. I was holding for field goals and extra points, punting and fielding punts. I wouldn’t light the field up, but I could catch punts. I just understood from my first
day that the quickest way that I was going to get on the field and that I could make an impression on the coaches that I’m a football player was through special teams. Having a guy like John Madden point you out was just icing on the cake.
Are there any charities that you work with that the Blitz Weekly reader can contribute to?
Bill Bates: Wednesday’s Child is the closest one that I work with. That would be great if your readers can help make a difference. I’ve been working with them since my first year. Helping the kids out means a lot to me and I will continue to do so. It is very fulfilling.
January. 6 - 12, 2010 9
Photos Courtesy: Ronnie Baker
“The Coach”
The Dallas Cowboys have finished the regular season with an 11-5 record, the NFC East Championship and the number 3 seed in the NFC playoffs. Many people don’t consider the regular season to mean much. They say the playoffs are the only thing that matters. Those people are out of touch with reality. We get so focused on the Cowboys that we don’t think about how this franchise compares to most others around the league. What were the aspects of this season to remember? First, it was the off-season decisions to get rid of the “me first” guys. Good move. This year’s team showed that they were together, never turning on each other or the coaches when things didn’t go their way. They believed in themselves when the media constantly dug away on issues that were meaningful only to themselves. The development of young talent was a bright spot for this team. On offense, the emergence of Miles Austin was maybe the most important development. From a third or fourth man on the depth chart to a pro bowl selection added a dimension that was greatly needed due to the non productivity of Roy Williams. The continued development of Tony Romo played a key role in the consistency of the team. Excellent skill, improved protection of the football and noticeable leadership allowed Romo to have as good of a year as any QB in the league. On Defense, Mike Jenkins progressed to being one of the better corners in the game. His development, along with Jay Ratliff and Anthony Spencer, made the defense a true force that finished the season with back-to-back shutouts for the first time in franchise history. This kind of defensive play gives the Cowboys a chance to win any game. The top draftee from a suspect draft--kicker David Buehler! The field position derived from his KO’s helped the defense, which in turn helped the offense. Along with vastly improved coverage units, this made a winning combination. Now the playoffs and a return visit by the Eagles. OK, the question you will hear all week will be, “Can a team beat another team three times during a season?” Answer: Yes! Since the merger, this situation has been presented 19 times and the team with two wins has been victorious 12 of the times. Expect the Eagles to play better than they did last week. If they do so, this should be a closer game. I don’t see 24-0, but I do see a Cowboy victory because the kicking game has been very good, the Offense has taken care of the football and the Defense has been outstanding. Continue this and they get rid of the playoff drought. This has been a very entertaining, productive year for this team and now the second season begins. Enjoy! Coach Joe can be heard on KHYI 95.3 on Tuesday nights 7-9pm and on ESPN radio. Come by and say hello at Hat Tricks Sports Bar and Grill in Lewisville. Your home to great sports and great music.
blitzweekly.com
by: Joe Avezzano
blitzweekly.com
10 January. 6 - 12, 2010
Saturday, Janaury 9th:7:00pm
EaglesOffense The Philadelphia Eagles offense is, in a word, “explosive.” They are led by star quarterback Donovan McNabb and his slew of weapons that include Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson, tight end Brent Celek and rookies Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy. They still have running back Brian Westbrook, who has been a thorn in the side of the Dallas Cowboys since coming into the NFL nine years ago. Let’s not forget the ultimate secret weapon, QB Michael Vick, who has shown signs of dominance this season and could be a major factor in the playoffs. If Eagles head coach Andy Reid wants to throw the Cowboys defense a curveball, Vick could come in as a “wildcat” option or a regular quarterback as he proved against the Atlanta Falcons that flashes of the “old Michael Vick” are alive and well. Don’t forget that as a member of the Falcons, Michael Vick led his team in Lambeau Field and won a playoff game against the vaunted Brett Favre-led Green Bay Packers, so he has shown the ability to step up in big-game situations. Philadelphia missed out on a chance to secure the second seed in the NFC, which comes with a first round bye and second round game at home. Therefore, they will have to return back to Cowboys Stadium, where they were dominated for four quarters by the Dallas Cowboys. They appeared to have the legs of a boxer who got stunned in the first round and tried to hold on for a unanimous decision. Tight end Brent Celek was the only Eagles offensive player to have any sort of success in Week 17. Rookie WR Jeremy Maclin missed a wide open pass across the middle of the field that could have led to major yardage. Pro Bowl starting wide receiver DeSean Jackson will have to make a much bigger impact if they are to have a chance to avoid being beaten three times in one season by their division foes. He appeared a little slow in the second half, so it is possible he may have been a little banged up. The Eagles advanced to the NFC Championship as a sixth seed last season, so if they are hoping for a repeat performance, Andy Reid will need to begin the playoffs with a completely different scheme than the one he featured in the final week in Arlington. He’s a smart offensive mind and you can bet he has a few tricks that he did not show during the regular season that will make the playoff game a much different story.
EaglesDEFENse The Eagles defense was torched by the Dallas offense last week, giving up 24 points and 474 yards of offense in a game they needed to get the bye and a number two seed. Dallas moved the ball at will on them. The only bright spot of the day was an interception by Joselio Hanson inside the ten yard line off a deflection by Asante Samuel. In 2009, the Eagles defense picked off opposing quarterbacks in 13 of 16 games and had 38 take-aways (25 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries), their highest total since also compiling 38 in 2002 (15 interceptions, 23 fumble recoveries). It was also the highest interception total by the Eagles since picking off 28 in 1999. They rank 12th in the league in total defense which puts them a little above average. They tied with two other teams for third in the league with 44 sacks. They couldn’t put much pressure on Romo although they did manage two sacks after the game was pretty much in hand for the Cowboys. That is troubling for a blitz happy team who prides themselves on pressuring the quarterback. “He’s a good quarterback,” said cornerback Asante Samuel. “It seemed like he knew every formation that we lined up in. All of his reads were correct. Their offense did a good job today.” “It brought us back to reality,” Eagles defensive end Trent Cole said. “The NFC East [title] doesn’t mean nothing. It’s not the Super Bowl. That’s what we’re playing for.” Asante Samuel and Trent Cole were named to the Pro Bowl. The defense laid off the blitz in the first half last week against Dallas and got burned. They must pressure Romo or they will be done for the season. Stopping the Dallas run will be crucial.
Photos Courtesy: James D. Smith
January. 6 - 12, 2010 11
cowboysOffense The Dallas Cowboys proved to be the Beast of the NFC East when they blew out the Philadelphia Eagles 24-0. They are 2-0 against them this season and are the hottest team in the NFC, winning three straight including a win against unbeaten New Orleans. Tony Romo got the December monkey off his back and is once again playing like an All Pro. He set a new team record for most passing yards in a season and most completions in a season. Both records he had set in the 2007 season. He threw for 311 yards against the Eagles so called “defense” and will do the same this week. He has only two interceptions in the last six games and no distractions, i.e. Jessica. His ball security is a big part of the Cowboys success. Miles Austin is having a good season, too. He was named to his first Pro Bowl after finishing the season with 81 catches for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns. He finished third in the league in receiving yards, which is amazing since he didn’t start until the fifth game. He seemed to have his way against Philly last week with 7 catches for 90 yards all with a big smile on his face. Jason Witten is playing well as usual and had 6 catches for 76 yards and a score against the Eagles in their latest win over them. He was named to his sixth straight Pro Bowl and has been solid all year, but has only reached the endzone twice. Marion Barber had a 35 yard run on the second snap of the game against Philly and looked like “The Barbarian” of old bowling over a helpless defense. Felix Jones may be the x-factor as he seems to break a few long runs every time they play. The offensive line has been solid giving the running backs holes to run through and Romo enough time to throw the ball.
cowboysDEFENSE The Dallas Cowboys defense enters the NFC playoff on a roll after pitching the first back-to-back shutouts in the illustrious history of “America’s Team.” The defense, led by Pro-Bowlers DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff, has been functioning as a cohesive unit in the last few games. Off-season acquisitions safety Gerald Sensabaugh and defensive end Igor Olshansky have helped fill holes vacated by Roy Willams and Chris Canty. The major difference, however, may prove to be the addition of linebacker Keith Brooking, who came over as a free agent from Atlanta. He filled the void left by Zach Thomas on the field and became the emotional leader that has been sorely lacking in recent years. Brooking is a five-time Pro Bowl selection that brought a wealth of knowledge of Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense after playing under Phillips in the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Fellow linebackers Bradie James and Bobby Carpenter were also able to frustrate the Eagles offense with blitzes in Week 17, so expect to see more in the playoffs. The secondary has been shining with the stellar play of second year cornerback Mike Jenkins and the steady presence of veteran Terence Newman. Safeties Gerald Sensabaugh and Ken Hamlin have also played well. Jenkins stepped up in his role as a starter opposite Pro Bowler Newman following the trade of Anthony Henry to Detroit for backup QB Jon Kitna. This defense is anchored around DeMarcus Ware. When he signed his sixyear $78 million contract, he joined a neighborhood he belonged in: the top five paid defensive players in the NFL. After being carted off the field against the Chargers, Ware returned to play the very next week against New Orleans and was the primary reason the Saints’ perfect season came to an end as he had two sacks for fumbles.
Blitz Weekly Prediction: Eagles 28 - Cowboys 17
(See Page 13 for more Playoff Previews)
blitzweekly.com
by: Craig Smith & Jayson Larson
January. 6 - 12, 2010 13 blitzweekly.com
by: Frank LaCosta
by: Geoff Case
by: Kris Boudreau - “Football Fanatic”
Saturday, Janaury 9th:3:30pm
Sunday, Janaury 10th:Noon
Sunday, Janaury 10th:3:40pm
In a recurring theme in the first round of the NFL playoffs, the Jets face the Bengals in Cincinnati on Saturday night. The Jets are on a hot streak, winning their last two games to make it to the post season. On Sunday night, the Jets blanked the Bengals. Cincinnati, which had already locked up a home playoff game, had little to play for and it showed. When the Jets are on offense, rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez will be asked not to lose the game. He will be afforded opportunities to pass the ball when the game is not at risk. He has passed for 2,381 yards with 12 TDs while completing 54% of his passes. The tell-tale stat is the fact that he has thrown 20 interceptions throughout the season. Look for the Jets to run the ball at all costs. The steady Thomas Jones will continue his usual workload of 20+ carries. RB Shonn Greene will spell Thomas at times. Rapport between Sanchez and wide out Jerricho Cotchery is important for obvious passing downs. Midseason acquisition Braylon Edwards could be the wild card in the game. The Bengals are led by Carson Palmer who has had an excellent season. The field general has over 3,000 yards through the air with 21 TDs and only 12 picks. He will choose his spots wisely. RB Cedric Benson was rested on Sunday night but look for him to have 25 touches in the game with back up Bernard Scott getting some playing time. Chad Ochocinco left the game early Sunday night, but should be back for the limelight. Who knows what his touchdown celebrations will be. Former Jet Laveranues Coles will play his best against his former team. The Jets have a great defense and the Bengals have a serviceable one. The Bengals have overcome adversity all season long. With home field advantage, they should win a close one.
The Patriots lost a huge part of their offense last week when Wes Welker went down with a torn ACL and MCL. Welker was Tom Brady’s favorite target this season with 122 receptions and compiled 1336 yards. He was the work horse for this offense and this injury will alter their game plan. In their first meeting this season, New England had a tough time running the ball against the stout Baltimore defense (only gaining 2.8 yards a carry). They relied on quick passes to receivers to beat the Ravens pass rush and those passes are what Welker specialized in. The biggest goal the Ravens have is getting Tom Brady out of his comfort zone and they’ve proven able to do so. They sacked Brady three times in their last meeting and returned a fumble for a score. The Patriots won’t beat you by running the ball, so it will be up to the Ravens’ secondary to provide enough cover for the pass rush to get to the quarterback. The Ravens don’t get any headlines for their offensive production, but they’ve quietly averaged 24.4 points a game this season. Things get even more intriguing when you realize that Joe Flacco threw for more yards and touchdowns than Tom Brady in their match-up earlier this season. The Ravens got down early, but slowly started to exert their will as the game wore on. A crucial drop by Derrick Mason sealed the Patriot win, 27-21. The Ravens will run the ball and make no excuses. The Patriots allowed 6.8 yards a carry last meeting and had no answer as Ray Rice ripped off a 50 yard run. New England’s defense is a shell of its former self but is well-coached and should have a few new wrinkles for the Ravens to digest.
The third time could be a charm…at least it will have to be or the Cardinals will be going home early. The Packers and the Cardinals will face each other again for the third time and for the third rematch of a week 17 match up in the first round of the playoffs along with the Eagles/Cowboys and Jets/Bengals. Both the Eagles and the Cardinals will be looking for their first win against their opponent this year. This match up with the Cards and Packers will be particularly hard to predict. Sure, both games have been blowouts in the Packers favor, but the first time they met was in the preseason and essentially the same held true in this match up with the Cards playoff position secure. What we do know is that Aaron Rodgers had a Pro Bowl year and Charles Woodson is not only a Pro-Bowler, but arguably the best cover corner and defensive Player of the Year candidate. He anchors a Packers defense that is second in yards given up. The Cardinals, to put it blandly, put up no fight in both games and were embarrassed both times in front of their home crowd. What the Cards have going for them is that they are playing at home. They were in a similar situation this time last year when they limped into the playoffs after embarrassing losses to the Eagles and Patriots. This team, for some reason, is unlike many teams and can turn on a light switch when they need to. Last Sunday, the Packers looked on-point in every aspect of the game, while the Cardinals looked like they had somewhere else to be. The old adage is that it is hard to beat the same team three times in a year. Most of the time I don’t believe these sayings but I do think the Cardinals will come out with something to prove, bouncing back in a big way.
Prediction: Bengals 27 - Jets 17
Prediction: Ravens 24 - Patriots 17
Prediction: Cardinals 31 - Packers 23
FOOD REVIEW
The Pick of the Week:
by: The Bum www.dallasrestaurantreviews.com
Photo by: The Bum
blitzweekly.com
14 January. 6 - 12, 2010
Ziziki’s Restaurant & Bar has probably the best Greek food in Dallas. It rises above anything Greek I’ve ever had outside of Greece.
SETTING A very pretty (and very popular) little restaurant in the courtyard of the Travis Walk building in the hip Knox-Henderson area.
APPETIZERS Every time I try a new appetizer, it becomes my new favorite.
Right now, my favorites are the Mediterranean Pita Bread topped with tomatoes, Greek herbs, feta cheese, basil and olive oil; and also the Dolmades: rolls of grape leaves stuffed with seasoned rice and served on a bed of marinated onions. That pair alone can make a fine lunch.
ENTREES The Spanakopita is wonderful: paper-thin layers of crispy dough
topping blocks of baked spinach, sweet onions, and feta. I love the Gyro plates, sliced leg of lamb, highly seasoned and served on pita with their signature Ziziki (creamy cucumber) sauce. They have excellent Souvlakis – medallions of meat and vegetables grilled on a skewer and accompanied by pita bread, roasted new potatoes, and onion marinade (your choice of lamb, chicken, salmon, or straight vegetarian). Good selection of salads, too.
WINE Ziziki’s has a very good and reasonably priced wine list. They also offer an amazing number of wines by the glass – over 30 of them.
AMBIANCE It’s a cozy, narrow, rambling room with a long bar along one side – classic Greek bistro. The decor is relaxed and warm (not touristy Greek) with a European black-and-white checkerboard floor. It draws an eclectic crowd – business people, locals who live in the nearby condos and affluent Highland Park types.
PARKING Parking can be tricky in this older part of town with all the restaurants and night life, but Ziziki’s is in the courtyard of a building that has a free and easy parking garage underneath.
BOTTOM LINE You won’t find better Greek food in Dallas than what you’ll find at Ziziki’s.
Ziziki’s • 4514 Travis Street 214-521-223 • www.zizikis.com Second location: Preston Road at Forest Lane
January. 6 - 12, 2010 15 blitzweekly.com
Jaguar and Land Rover spice things up but hold the curry by: David Goodspeed
They may not be serving hamburgers at the corporate cookouts anymore, but luxury marques Jaguar and Land Rover still have the heart and soul of the British Isles. The 2008 purchase by India’s largest automaker, Tata, is yet to be readily apparent and each luxury brand is still about twothirds UK-sourced and about one-fifth German. For 2010, each line gets some minor touch-ups (okay...the Jag XJ is all new and Land Rover upgrades LR3 to a 4), but the biggest news is under the hood. New V-8 engines all around for the two brands, complete with more power and improved efficiency. We recently spent time with the Range Rover Sport from Land Rover and the XF from Jaguar, each with all-new normally-aspirated 5.0liter powerplants spinning the tires. For the Jaguar lineup, the new eight is the third-generation AJV8 with power up to 385 ponies and 380 lb. ft. of torque. The Land Rover version is coded LR-V8 and power is rated at 375 horses and 375 lb. ft. torque. Each is still backed by a slick, smooth six-speed automatic gearbox with manual and sport shift modes. The XF even adds shift paddles to the steering wheel. Operated normally, the vehicles are silky smooth and dynamically quiet, but push the pedal a bit further forward and a familiar audible grunt will accompany the laws of physics settling you further back in your seat. Craftsmanship and quality still shine through each of the examples we tested, with the Range Rover Sport arriving in HSE trim and the XF in the Premium package. Each vehicle is loaded to the teeth with the latest technology and engineering for absolute comfort, convenience and safety, including HD and Satellite radio inte“A Heavy Foot and High Opinion”
grated into high-end audio systems with surround sound, world-class leather and wood appointments, touchscreen GPS navigation systems with rear view backup cameras, rear seat entertainment systems with headrest-mounted monitors, side curtain airbags, adaptive front headlights, dynamic stability control, four wheel disc brakes with ABS, advanced active suspension systems and more, much more. The Range Rover Sport also features Land Rover’s Terrain Response System with presets for varying driving conditions. In today’s battle of needs versus wants, needs are winning out more and more. But for those consumers ready to reward themselves with something they’ve been wanting, you need to take a look at the 2010 Jaguar and Land Rover models. Immodest? Sure. Pricey? Of course. Impudent? Quite possibly. Necessary? I will leave this one up to each of you individually. The 2010 Range Rover Sport HSE starts at $59,645 with our tester coming in at $64,295. The 2010 Jaguar XF Premium begins at $56,150 and our test model finished out at $59,325. My personal DNA is just about the exact reverse of the makeup of the Jaguar/Land Rover brands (sans new ownership based in Mumbai – she lives in Duncanville). In the end though, what’s still very clear to me is, the Rover still roves and the Jaguar is still one badass cat.
DOOMSDAY
EAGLES MET DOOMSDAY The Philadelphia Eagles must have known the side of the Cowboys and their hungry that they didn’t have what it would take fans and wasn’t ready to bail out the birds. when they flew into DFW airport in a big By the third quarter, it was clear that we iron bird instead of flying with their own were having hot wings for dinner. The best wings. It was the very first indication that of the big birds were methodically toasted they had a hunch that they needed all their over the Dallas Cowboys hot grill, mariwing power to fly past the Cowboys. At nated with a specially made Arlington hot game time, it seemed that the world stood sauce. All in the stadium had enough to eat still. The usual industrial hum of Dallas- and plenty more to share with the millions Fort Worth seemed to have quieted down far and wide. I called the game play-byand I could hear my own heartbeat. play, over the phone, to my cousin who is Rev. Tony Romo had promised feeding currently visiting family members in Benin the multitude in the fully packed Cowboy City in Nigeria. Stadium with a few birds but all the nonThe Dallas Cowboys are back. The spirit believers doubted the possibility. With just of their predecessors has finally synchroa few shots, the Cowboys nized with the roped in the Eagles and team’s spirit and plucked their feathers. The are riding “While I personally they Philadelphia Eagles tried to high again. While do not like eating fly away again and again but I personally do Doomsday was upon them. the same meal back- not like eating the Everywhere they flew; there same meal backto-back, I will not was never a lift off. to-back, I will not By halftime, it was obvimind another dish mind another dish ous that the Eagles were beof Hot Wings next of Hot Wings next ing slaughtered for dinner. Saturday night. Saturday night.” The Doubting Thomases For those who are were expecting a miracle still questioning from above but the only one the superiority of above is the Big Man who watches Amer- the Dallas Cowboys, I will strongly recomica’s Team on weekends. He is always on mend that they not book a flight with the
by: Tunde A. Obazee
Philadelphia Groundways not Airways. They don’t fly anymore; in fact they have been grounded by the horse back riding Cowboys. So ladies and gentlemen, saddle up! We’ve got to clean up the grill because we’ve got more hungry Texans to feed this week. Rumor now has it that the Philadelphia Eaglets have decided to take refuge in Texas hoping to grow new wings. Some are saying that the Dallas Cowboys cannot beat the Philadelphia Eagles three times in one season, but they are not considering the Doomsday effect. If you believe that the Big Cowboy up there created the Cowboys in his own image, and with him all things are possible, then with the Dallas Cowboys, all things are possible. I am a believer are you? Or are you still wondering WWCBD? Listen to Tunde Obazee on the Point Blank Show on Rational Radio 1360am 10AM-NOON, Monday - Friday. The Talk You’ve Been Missing www.rationalbroadcasting.com
By: Sybil Summers
sybilsummers.com
Top 10 Predictions for 2010 TEN:10
Four more women will come forward making a full 18 holes for Tiger Woods.
NINE:9
Fox will debut a new reality show called “Baby Bachelor” where all contestants are under age 5.
EIGHT:8
Gone are the days of the Swine Flu. Introducing a new super-sickness called “Goat Mouth.”
SEVEN:7
America’s Sweetheart Carrie Underwood will go the way of the Lohan--partying, posing nude, dating chicks and getting a DUI after wrecking her car.
SIX:6
The Duggar family will have two more kids...in a 12-month span...but not twins.
FIVE:5
The phrase “got Kanye-ed” will be regularly used to describe getting shafted, i.e. TCU totally got Kanye-ed in this year’s BCS.
FOUR:4
YouTube will enact a subscriber fee, so you’ll have to start paying to see stripper pole aerobics and music videos (c’mon...like I’m the only one who watches those).
THREE:3
Kim Kardashian will win an Oscar for her role as Susan Boyle.
TWO:2
News of an Obama affair surfaces-knocking Tiger’s indiscretions outta the headlines.
ONE:1
The Dallas Cowboys will go 18-0 on their way to Super Bowl XLV at home!
January. 6 - 12, 2010 17
DOWN 1. Obscure 2. Feint 3. Territory 4. Male hawk 5. Vagabond 6. Biblical garden 7. Tableland 8. It comes from a hen 9. Traffic circle (British) 10. Distinctive atmosphere 11. Counterfoil 13. Wet 14. Twilled fabric 20. Russian emperor 21. Not our 25. Smell 26. Trousers 27. Obsolete 28. Discharge 29. Armada 30. Really bad 31. Is, formerly 33. Barley bristle 35. Golf ball support 37. Aspersion 39. Biggest 42. Fifty-three in Roman numerals 44. Avid 47. Livestock farm 49. Swear 52. Arrangement holder 53. Chilled 55. Throat-clearing sound 56. Story 57. Honk 58. Part of an archipelago 59. 1 1 1 1 60. Semiaquatic salamander 62. Secret agent
Blitz Weekly Funnies for the Week Q: Why did the blonde have to drink a hot Pepsi? A: Because she couldn’t fit any ice into the bottle.
Magic Beer A man is sitting in a bar drinking a beer when a young lady walks up and says “So what are you drinking?” The man replies casually “Magic Beer,” and the Q: Why did the lawyer cross lady asks, “What kind of magic beer?” the road? “What’s so special about it?!?” says the A: To get to the car accident man. He proceeds to get up and flies on the other side. around the room 3 times and sits back down. The lady snaps, “I bet you couldn’t Q: How many feminists does it do that again even if your life depended take to change a light bulb? on it!” So he gets up and flies around A: None, because they never the room 3 more times. The lady says, change anything! “I’ll have what he’s having!” She chugs it down and goes to the roof and jumps Q: What does a redneck girl - falling to her death. The bartender say after losing her virginity? looks at the man sitting at the bar and A: Get off dad, your crushing says, “Superman, you’re a jerk when your my Marlboros! drunk.”
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)
Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20)
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22)
Gemini (May 21 - Jun. 21)
Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)
Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)
Cancer (Jun. 22 – Jul. 22)
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)
Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19)
Leo (Jul. 23 - Aug. 22)
Sagittarius(Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)
When walking down the street, trying not to step on the cracks in the stone, you must take care to avoid all steaming piles. You may become a danger to yourself this week.
Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)
Your ability to perform open heart surgery may be brought into question this week as you attempt to help an asthmatic in the local park who is having breathing difficulties. Google is about to take over your life - play responsibly. If there’s one thing you can take for granted this week, it’s that things cannot be taken for granted.
Express yourself in a nonflamboyant and unexciting way. Buy a nice brooch. A hard life will get harder for you this week as you start drinking heavily.
MARGARITAS & MEXICAN FOOD
NIGHTLY SPECIALS! DINE-IN ONLY
MONDAYS ENCHILADA PLATE
TUESDAYS
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MEXICAN BEERS ALL DAY
Horrorscopes
Solʼs Nieto Mexican Grill is XTENDED HAPPY HOUR a fun friendly 4PM TO CLOSE place with a jukebox THURSDAYS atmosphere, FAJITA SPECIAL BREAKFAST, LUNCH neighborhood feel, amazing & DINNER food and great SERVED DAILY FROM 9AM margaritas.
WEDNESDAYS
6434 E.MOCKINGBIRD DALLAS, TX 75214 214-826-5564
Tax will start to upset you later this week as recriminations begin. Don’t be embarrassed by your actions this week, embrace your flamboyant side. Music plays a large part in the day when you suck off a roadie in order to go backstage at a rock concert and are promptly gang-banged by an entire band and infected with VD. Make yourself a coffee, sit down and read the internet. Hell, it’s what you do everyday, right? The only conspiracy theory you need to worry about is the one that involves you. Malicious gossip may reach your ears this week and cause a great deal of paranoia. Good fortune is raining down on everyone but yourself this week.
All the best plans go awry, so please make sure you’re ready for any surprises. This week will see “a new hope” arrive in the form of a whiny sand-farmer boy. Monday is the best day you’re going to have for a while - so let loose. It may be in your “letting loose” that you cause the accident that sees you in traction. As the fella once said, ain’t that a kick in the head. For all I know you “are” going to get kicked in the head, so just wear a helmet for the rest of the week.
Whilst we are not all superhuman, some of us are at least able to go to sleep without pissing ourselves in the night. Brown is your unlucky color. Avoid it whenever possible.
blitzweekly.com
ACROSS 1. A very troublesome child 5. Fold over and sew together 8. Historical periods 12. Entice 13. Ways 15. Inflammation of the big toe 16. ___-friendly 17. Overweight 18. Expert 19. Extremely conservative 22. Arrest 23. S 24. Morally admirable 26. Roof of the mouth 29. Medieval 31. Pale 32. Majestic 34. Android 36. Picnic insects 38. Handrail post 40. Dissolute man 41. Motionless 43. Move stealthily 45. Anagram of “Sue” 46. Spurt 48. Accord 50. Murres 51. Obtain 52. By way of 54. Neglect 61. Exploits 63. Pandemonium 64. Feudal worker 65. Leak slowly 66. Serf 67. Killed 68. Swirl 69. Encountered 70. Exam
blitzweekly.com
18 January. 6 - 12, 2010 by: Pat MoranThrone”
“Man on his Throne” - pmoran@gmail.com
Fair Weather Forecast Well, it’s time to say good bye to the NFL’s regular season. With 17 weeks in the bank, we find ourselves facing the post season with an infinite amount of possibilities. Oh yeah...did you see that the Cowboys made it in? Right about now, you can probably name about a dozen friends who are cheerfully gloating about how “They called it all along” and “Dude, I totally told you they would make it” and blah blah blaggity blah. Chances are that some (if not most) of those who are bouncing around in celebration were the same ones who were ready to burn down Wade Phillips’ house at the beginning of the season. They were the same ones who equated Romo’s name to that of a freshly used toilet. They are the few, the unproud...they are the “Fair Weather Fan.” A fan has the right to be upset when a team is down in the dumps. A fan has the right to
get pissed off with poor performance. At the same time, though, a true fan is someone who sticks with their team even in the face of a tough season. Now, I’m not throwing every Cowboy fan under the bus. Not at all. But listen to the critics. Listen to the talkshow hosts. At the beginning of the season, the anti-Cowboy sentiment was so loud that it probably shattered a few eardrums. But now, everywhere you turn you hear people saying, “This is the year...” More than once, I have turned on the radio to hear this crap being said as if it had been obvious that they felt this way all season. But you know what? A year doesn’t start at the beginning of the post season. It begins at day one. It’s okay if you doubted. It’s okay if you took a flying leap off the bandwagon. A lot of people do it and will do it again. But just don’t expect it to be easy to get back on again.
Crossword Solution