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County makes P&Z history Commission yet to be named will work out details; vision plan also wins approval By JULIE DAFFERN THE ZAPATA TIMES
In a historic moment for Zapata County, the Commissioners Court approved both a planning and zoning ordinance as well as a vision plan at a special meeting Tuesday. While the ordinance has been approved, there’s still a long road ahead before county residents will see full enforcement of the law.
“Basically, this is the first step toward zoning and regulations,” said County Judge Rosalva Guerra. The county still lacks detailed maps to mark the different zones and is pending a land-use study. The Commissioners Court will next appoint members to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustment. The zoning commission will be responsible for the land-use
study and adding more detail to the ordinance. The county will also need to appoint a zoning administrator. Work on the county’s vision plan included maps of the area, but does not include streets or blocks. The Falcon Lake Planning Commission first presented the zoning ordinance in August and recommended approval of the vision plan, which was drafted in 2008.
The commission also included an amendment to the plan to allow for a truck relief route from an outer loop around Zapata, and Manuel Gonzalez, contractor on the project, said Premier Engineering has suggested several alternative routes along the southern and eastern part of the loop. The Commissioners Court approved the plan for a truck route. It will be up to the planning commission to choose a
preferred route. The vision plan calls for “construction of an International Bridge north of Zapata, in conjunction with the City of Laredo and Webb County to create an alternative transportation link to support the regional economy and facilitate the flow of goods and commodities through the IH-35 Corridor.” It also includes a provision to
See COUNTY PAGE 9A
COMMUNITY SERVICE
THOUSANDS LINE UP FOR TOYS
Photo by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Ricky Muñoz, lead singer for Tejano/Norteño musical group Intocable, poses for a photo with 4-month-old Angel Daniel Leal and his aunt Diamantina Leal on Wednesday in Zapata.
Intocable’s Ricky Muñoz, family show Christmas spirit By DENISE BLAZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
T
housands of children lined up along with their families at the Zapata County Pavilion on Wednesday in hopes of receiving a Christmas present and to enjoy the festivities that the members of Intocable and countless other volunteers helped put together. In all, a total of 150 bikes and 2,000 toys were given away at the event with Santa Claus making a special appearance, arriving by helicopter.
Marisela Muñoz, 54, one of the main organizers of the event, said the drive got its start during the first year with the distribution of Happy Meals at local elementary schools. The next year, toys were presented at schools to give away. This year, however, the event received even more response as several local sponsors donated to the cause. “This is the first time that we decided to do it different so everyone can have a chance. We wanted it to be fair,” said Muñoz.
Zapatans gather at the Zapata County Fair Pavilion for the Intocable Christmas event Wednesday. Kids saw Santa and received candy; the lucky ones received presents, too.
See CHRISTMAS PAGE 9A
Border Patrol nets major pot seizure Tip leads agents to marijuana-packed trailer, suspect; officials praise community-law enforcement cooperation By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
U.S. CBP Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Zapata station made one of the biggest pot busts this week in an area already known
for major seizures. More than three tons of marijuana, packed in plastic-wrapped bundles, were found inside a travel trailer Wednesday, officials said. A man was apprehended, but no details were availa-
ble about his name or whether charges were filed against him. The case began when Border Patrol agents responded to a call about suspicious activity in the vicinity of Falcon Shore Drive
early Wednesday morning. At the site, agents spotted numerous stacks of bundles through the windows of the trailer. A Border Patrol K-9 team detected the possible presence of contraband and a search ensued. “This shows how smugglers want to bring their illegal contraband into the United States in innovative ways,” said Jason Darling,
Border Patrol public information officer. Agents recovered 284 bundles from the trailer, according to an agency news release. The bundles contained marijuana with a total weight of 6,254.5 pounds and an estimated street value of $5 million. Darling said combined efforts between the communi-
ty and the agents were key in finding the illegal drugs. “This seizure displays the cooperation between the community of Zapata and U.S. CBP Border Patrol to make their community safer,” Darling said. Darling said the community and the agents working together are essential to
See POT PAGE 9A
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Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
AROUND THE NATION
TODAY IN HISTORY
Monday, Dec. 28 Hawks play at the Falfurrias basketball tournament through Tuesday. Lady Hawks play at the Border Olympics basketball tournament through Tuesday.
Tuesday, Dec. 29 Hawks play at the Falfurrias basketball tournament. Lady Hawks play at the Border Olympics basketball tournament.
Saturday, Jan. 2 Hawks basketball team hosts La Feria Lady Hawks basketball team plays at La Feria
Tuesday, Jan. 5 Hawks basketball team plays at Raymondville Lady Hawks basketball team hosts Raymondville
Friday, Jan. 8 Hawks basketball team hosts Port Isabel Lady Hawks basketball team visits Port Isabel
Photo by Manuel Balce | AP
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., left, listens as Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., right, drives home a point while answering questions on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, after the Senate passed the health care reform bill. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. is at center.
Senate OKs health bill By ERICA WERNER
Monday, Jan. 4
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Zapata County ISD resumes operation after holiday break. No classes today. For more information call 765-6546.
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama’s legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country’s history. “This will be the most important piece of social legislation since Social Security passed in the 1930s,” Obama said shortly after the Senate acted. The 60-39 vote on a cold winter morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It was the Senate’s first Christmas Eve vote since 1895, when the matter at hand was a military affairs bill concerning employment of former Confederate officers, according to the Senate Historical Office. The Senate’s bill must still be merged with
Tuesday, Jan. 5 Students return to classes in the Zapata County ISD For more information call 765-6546.
Wednesday, Jan. 6 FLW Outdoors Stren Series T1 begins today. For more information contact the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, or customercare@zapatachamber.com
Thursday, Jan. 7 FLW Outdoors Stren Series T1 continues today. For more information contact the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, (800) 292LAKE, or customercare@zapatachamber.com
Friday, Jan. 8 FLW Outdoors Stren Series T1 continues today. For more information contact the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, (800) 292LAKE, or customercare@zapatachamber.com
Saturday, Jan. 9 FLW Outdoors Stren Series T1 ends today. For more information contact the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, or customercare@zapatachamber.com FLW National Guard College Fishing, Texas Division, takes place today. For more information contact the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 7654871, (800) 292-LAKE, or customercare@zapatachamber.com
15-month-old child OK after ingesting meth SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — California police say a 15month-old boy is in the care of Child Protective Services after ingesting methamphetamine. The boy’s mother took him late Monday to a hospital, which notified police when the toddler tested positive for the drug. Clark says the boy has fully recovered. He was released from the hospital and turned over to CPS officials Wednesday. The child, who lived with his mother and father, will remain in protective custody while police investigate. Police did not identify the parents.
Court to consider harsher terror sentence NEW YORK — A federal appeals court in New York City says a judge who sentenced a disbarred lawyer to just over two years in prison should consider a harsher sentence in light of the case’s ter-
legislation passed by the House before Obama could sign a final bill in the new year. There are significant differences between the two measures but Democrats say they’ve come too far now to fail. Both bills would extend health insurance to more than 30 million more Americans. The Senate legislation would ban the insurance industry from denying benefits or charging higher premiums on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions. For the first time, the government would require nearly every American to carry insurance, and subsidies would be provided to help low-income people to do so. Employers would be induced to cover their employees through a combination of tax credits and penalties. The legislation costs nearly $1 trillion over 10 years and is paid for by a combination of taxes, fees and cuts to Medicare. rorism connection. The Manhattan federal appeals court on Wednesday reissued its decision upholding the conviction of ex-lawyer Lynne Stewart, saying it has serious doubts whether her sentence of two years and four months is reasonable.
College staffer charged in phony-receipt scam NEW YORK — Prosecutors say a former New York University staffer passed off thousands of receipts mined from a liquor store’s trash as spending on lab supplies and college events, finagling $409,000 in bogus reimbursements. The receipts were marked with the wine shop’s name, authorities say, but the tactic apparently went unnoticed for about six years. Wednesday, John Runowicz was released without bail after pleading not guilty to charges including grand larceny. Manhattan prosecutors say the now-fired chemistry department administrator submitted more than 13,000 bogus receipts for repayment. -- Compiled from AP reports
Tuesday, Jan. 26 FLW Eastern Series fishing tournament begins today and continues through Saturday, Jan 30, at Falcon Lake. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871.
Saturday, Feb. 20 Bass Champs Tournament Trail, South Texas Division, is scheduled for today at Falcon Lake. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, or online at www.basschamps.com.
Friday, Feb. 26 Winter Texan and Senior Appreciation Day. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871.
Thursday, March 11 The Zapata County Fair begins today. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, or go online at www.zapatacountyfaironline.com
Friday, March 12 The Zapata County Fair continues today. For more information call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, or go online at www.zapatacountyfaironline.com To submit an item for the daily calendar, send the name of the event, the date, time, location and a contact phone number to editorial@lmtonline.com
AROUND TEXAS Decorated Army colonel dies at 70 WACO — A man considered to be the country’s most decorated soldier has died. Retired Col. Robert Lewis Howard died Wednesday. He was 70. The Army veteran will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Howard grew up in Opelika, Ala., and served in the Army from 1956 to 1992. He was nominated three times for the Medal of Honor, the nation’s most prestigious award for combat veterans. He was wounded 14 times in Vietnam and was awarded eight Purple Hearts.
Eagle Pass mayor said he wasn’t target EAGLE PASS — A Texas border mayor said he doesn’t think he nor the Mexican officials he was with were targets of a driveby shooting in front of a popular restaurant in Piedras Negras. A woman died in the attack Tuesday afternoon. Eagle Pass Mayor Chad Foster was at the Charcoal Grill with the Piedras Negras mayor, Coahuila state attorney general and
Today is Saturday, Dec. 26, the 360th day of 2009. There are five days left in the year. The seven-day African-American holiday Kwanzaa begins today. This is Boxing Day. Today’s Highlight in History: On Dec. 26, 1799, former President George Washington was eulogized by Col. Henry Lee as “first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” On this date: In 1776, the British suffered a major defeat in the Battle of Trenton during the Revolutionary War. In 1908, Jack Johnson became the first African-American boxer to win the world heavyweight championship as he defeated Canadian Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia. In 1917, during World War I, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation authorizing the government to take over operation of the nation’s railroads. In 1941, Winston Churchill became the first British prime minister to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress. In 1944, during the World War II Battle of the Bulge, the embattled U.S. 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne, Belgium, was relieved by units of the 4th Armored Division. In 1947, heavy snow blanketed the Northeast, burying New York City under 26.4 inches of snow in 16 hours; the severe weather was blamed for some 80 deaths. In 1972, the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, died in Kansas City, Mo., at age 88. In 1996, 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey was found beaten and strangled in the basement of her family’s home in Boulder, Colo. (To date, the slaying remains unsolved, despite a widely publicized “confession” by John Mark Karr.) In 2006, former President Gerald R. Ford died in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at age 93. Ten years ago: The crew of space shuttle Discovery packed up its tools and prepared to return home after an eight-day mission of repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope that NASA declared a success. Alfonso Portillo, a populist lawyer, scored a resounding victory in Guatemala’s first peacetime presidential elections in nearly 40 years. Five years ago: More than 200,000 people, mostly in southern Asia, were killed by a tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean. An unmanned cargo ship docked at the international space station, ending a shortage that forced astronauts to ration supplies. Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts broke Dan Marino’s single-season touchdown pass record when he threw his 48th and 49th of the season against San Diego. (The Colts defeated San Diego in overtime, 34-31.) Reggie White, one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, died in North Carolina at age 43. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Donald Moffat is 79. Actor Caroll Spinney (Big Bird on “Sesame Street”) is 76. R&B singer Abdul “Duke” Fakir (The Four Tops) is 74. Record producer Phil Spector is 70. “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh is 64. Country musician Bob Carpenter (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) is 63. Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk is 62.
CONTACT US Photo by Paul Moseley/Fort Worth Star-Telegram | AP
Vehicles are all but obscured during a snowfall near Interstate 30 in Fort Worth on Thursday. A cold front blew into Texas just in time for Christmas. other Mexican officials. Foster said his group didn’t even hear the shots and said no one in the restaurant was hurt.
Exonerees file suit over ‘excessive’ fees DALLAS — A wrongly convicted man freed by DNA evidence is suing his civil lawyer and an Innocence Project of Texas official who helped secure his freedom. Patrick Waller contends Lubbock lawyer Kevin Glasheen and
Jeff Blackburn of the Innocence Project of Texas want too large a chunk of the nearly $1.3 million he received for spending 16 years in prison. Waller is on a growing list of Texas DNA exonerees upset over what they contend are excessive attorney fees. Glasheen says he earned his fees and dismissed the suit as “a weak claim.” Blackburn’s attorney says his client should be commended for his work freeing the wrongly convicted, not sued. now faces charges of 911 abuse. -- Compiled from AP reports
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SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
Zlocal
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HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS
Villarreal-Bonoan seeking reelection SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Mary Jayne VillarrealBonoan has announced that she is seeking re-election to the office of Zapata County Clerk in March 2010. “Since my election in 2006, the support I’ve received from Zapata County voters has been extremely gratifying. It has been both an honor and privilege to serve the public and the residents of Zapata County and consider myself very fortunate to have so many friends and supporters,” she stated. Villarreal-Bonoan said she is seeking re-election because she cares about the reputation and future of the office. She started working for Zapata County in 1993 as secretary for the County Attorney’s office and was promoted to office manager before being elected to the county clerk’s seat. “I believe that I’ve deliv-
Santa made an early stop at Villarreal Elementary last week to wish all the boys and girls a "Merry Christmas" in a joyful event that delighted kids and adults alike. Shown left to right are Kristyn Ramirez, Elsa Angelica Alvarez, Santa Claus, Selene Garza and Celinda Canales. The children are all second graders at Villarreal Elementary.
“
I believe that I’ve delivered on my campaign platform and together with my staff.” MARY JAYNE VILLARREAL-BONOAN, COUNTY CLERK
ered on my campaign platform and together with my staff,” she stated. “I have implemented a property recording and document imaging system a case management system for criminal, probate, guardianship and other civil cases; digitized, preserved and re-indexed most of our county maps.” Villarreal-Bonoan added that the office is currently converting paper and microfilm records dating from 1984 to the present into digital images. “I would like to continue to build on these achievements using modern tech-
Courtesy photo
nology, in order to provide the people of Zapata County a superior level of service,” she stated. The duties of the County Clerk’s Office consist of administering all county and state elections, including early voting, general and special elections; serve as clerk of the county court and the commissioners court and keep records of the proceedings; act as recorder of deeds and other instruments; record wills and last testaments for probate; issue marriage licenses; and account for all funds paid to the office by way of fines and fees.
There’s nothing like home By DORA MARTINEZ
Road Toward Home Suddenly coming home makes my Heart Happy! when I start to see the green grass grow, oil wells, gas stations, and much more … finally I feel like I am home I’ve missed the beautiful waters, and sands
COLUMN
but nothing like being back Home.
the wonderful highways and roads, windmills and great waterfalls. finally I feel that I am home.
Here’s wishing everyone a Happy New Year. We appreciate your business and look forward to a joyful, healthy 2010 for everyone.
Missing the sounds and laughter of loved ones abroad... I think I have missed all of these
(Dora Martinez is a native of Zapata who was publisher of Hispanic News in San Antonio for 21 years. She can be reached at thezapatatimes@att.net)
THE BLOTTER BURGLARY Deputies responded to a burglary of a vehicle call around 11:48 a.m. Dec. 17 in the 5300 block of Siesta Lane. The complainant stated that an unknown subject(s) stole the tailgate to her 2003 Chevy Silverado.
ASSAULT Deputies responded to an assault call around 6:37 p.m. Dec. 18 in the 500 block of U.S. 83. The victim
stated that a known person assaulted her by pushing her with his personal weapons. The accused also advised that he, too, was assaulted by the complainant. Deputies responded to a sexual assault call around 12:58 p.m. Dec. 20. The complainant stated that she believed that she was drugged up and that something had occurred to her because she woke up Dec. 19 around 3:00 p.m. without her underpants and pants. The complainant further stated that she did not recall anything
that had occurred the night before. Deputies responded to an assault call around 7:41 a.m. Dec. 20 in the block of 1st Street. According to the report, the complainant stated that a known person had physically assaulted her over the night.
RECKLESS DRIVING Sergio Edelmiro Valadez was arrested around 2:15 a.m. Dec. 20 at the intersection of 26th Avenue and
Brazos Street for reckless driving.
DWI Jose Manuel Garcilazo, Jr. was arrested around 3:34 a.m. Dec. 20 on U.S. 83 and Irene and charged with driving while intoxicated. Ernesto Hernandez-Garcia was arrested around 5:43 p.m. Dec. 17 at the intersection of U.S. 83 and Siesta Lane and charged with driving while intoxicated. A deputy reported pulling over a
driver after receiving an anonymous call stating that the driver was failing to maintain driving in a single lane.
INCIDENT Deputies responded to an incident call around 3:07 p.m. Dec. 17 in the 300 block of Madison Street. The complainant stated that a known person continues to call her and assault her verbally by calling her names. Deputies responded to an incident call around 7:53 p.m. Dec. 20
on U.S. 83. The complainant stated that she was driving northbound on U.S. 83 when she collided with a deer that crossed from west to east on the highway.
THEFT Deputies responded to a theft call around 2:08 p.m. Dec. 17 in the 10 block of Jackson Street. The complainant stated that two females had taken her quilts from a laundry facility.
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Zopinion
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Here’s to a better year By JOHN KELSO COX NEWSPAPERS
A
USTIN — The Christmas tree is up in the living room, a sparkling jewel in front of the bookcase. As usual, on the tree are the female movie star ornaments my wife, Kay, refers to as “the girls,” my Maine ornament with the lighthouse and the lone seagull flapping past, and the pictures of family. Thank God for the youngest and strongest of the family, our daughter Rachel, 18, for pushing this project through. As we sat in the living room a few days ago she reminded us that the Christmas tree is a unique symbol of happiness, and we were going to have a Christmas tree at our house this year if it killed her. My wife and I may not have had the strength. I’m still recuperating from cancer radiation, and Kay has a bad back. You should have seen the three of us wrestling with the heavy ornament box on that really high shelf in the garage, me on the stepladder, trying to slide it off so the other two could carry it into the house. This tree was a major effort. It’s a fake tree — Rachel is also going to save the planet — and it took repeated trips to var-
ious stores to get the job done. The first tree came home and it was kinda like country singer George Jones — pre-lit. (I may have a sore mouth, but I can still make up jokes). Trouble was, one of the light strands wasn’t working, and the festive green storage bag had a broken zipper. So it was off to the store again to find another synthetic tree. This one was not pre-lit. Trouble was, we couldn’t find our light strands. Who knows where those got off to? So it was off to do even more shopping and buy some lights. I should admit that I didn’t go on any of these shopping sprees. I just didn’t have the zip. Fortunately, Rachel and Kay did. So this year’s tree was an effort like never before. On the other hand, it has real meaning this time around. As we look at the twinkly, green jewel sparkling in front of the bookcase, we have hope that our problems will go away. And the same for you in the new year. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. (Reach John Kelso, who writes for the Austin American-Statesman, at jkelso@statesman.com)
EDITORIAL
COLUMN
Don’t judge on looks alone By VERLYN KLINKENBORG NEW YORK TIMES
U
nless you live in Helena, Mont., you’re unlikely to have any notion of who Ben Kennedy was. And even if you live in Helena, you may have never known his name. You might have seen him on the street or in the alleys behind buildings downtown, collecting cans and flattening cardboard boxes for recycling. He probably would have caught your attention if
you drifted downwind of him, for, in truth, his scent was high and overripe. His hair was wild, and his mouth had long been going bald of teeth. You could be forgiven for thinking he was homeless, but he died in his subsidized housing in Helena on Dec. 2 , just short of his 87th birthday. On Dec. 16, the anniversary date of his birthday, there was a posthumous celebration of Ben Kennedy’s departed life at the Windbag Saloon. The party — crowded and filled with
emotion, according to reports — wasn’t just to commemorate a perplexing local figure. It was to honor the passing of a benefactor. Ben Kennedy lived on little more than his Social Security. Out of that pittance, he regularly scraped together enough to make sizable donations to a number of charities, including the Nature Conservancy and the Montana Land Reliance, a land trust. His gifts were usually made in cash, in person, after a considerable, and sometimes daunt-
ing, search of his pockets, and often in crisp hundreddollar bills. There’s surely a lot more to tell about Ben Kennedy, nearly all of it beyond telling now. He was a public figure but a private man. It would be good to know what impelled him to make the gifts he made. But then, it would also be good to know just why his gifts surprise us, why his charity seems so exceptional. Perhaps he saw it as his responsibility, as the sign of a wealth he felt lucky to have — and a duty to share.
Obama cuts COLUMN plane torture Show our military we care NEW YORK TIMES
Y
ears before the era of tarmac strandings, of airline passengers trapped in metal tubes without food or working toilets, waiting for hours in filth and foul air and frustration for a departure time that might or might not come, the writer Ian Frazier imagined a commercial flight piloted by Samuel Beckett. “The time of the dark journey of our existence is not revealed,” says Captain Beckett, on a trip from nothingness to empty bleak eternal nothingness, via O’Hare. “When we deplane, I’ll weep for happiness.” Frazier was being funny. But time has greatly blurred the distinction between Beckett’s fictional void and the reallife runways on which airlines imprison tens of thousands of passengers a year, neither traveling nor not traveling, unable to escape. This happens when an airline refuses to return a delayed plane to the terminal, lest it lose its place in the takeoff line. On Monday, the Obama administration imposed a solution that Congress has only talked about. It declared that customer torture cannot be a part of an airline’s business plan. After two hours, it said, give the poor souls food and water. After three hours, let them off the plane. Stop cramming your schedules with too many flights that will never be on time. The administration, speaking in the language air-
lines understand, mandated stiff cash fines for violators: $27,500 per passenger. The decisive action by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood punctures the absurdist fiction offered by the airlines — that self-policing and consumer complaints are power enough to get them to act decently and sensibly, and that when long delays occur, it’s best for suffering passengers and crew to pull together to help the bottom line. Predictably, the airlines responded by warning, or threatening, that the new rules will only create more delays. The flying public has learned to tolerate a lot of discomfort and inconvenience in return for lower fares and higher security. As it should. But when indignity turns to horror — as it did in August for the passengers stuck overnight on a runway in Rochester, Minn., as food and water ran out and toilets overflowed, with the terminal only yards away — some basic protections have to apply. Having enough pretzels and bottled water, clean toilets and rational schedules — and being willing to let passengers off the plane when the wait grows absurd — should not be beyond the capabilities of even a marginally competent airline, even in straitened times. Perhaps the belief in corporate progress is a vain illusion, but we are glad that the Obama administration is clinging to it.
By JONATHAN GURWITZ SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
O
n Flag Day, June 14, 1942, with American military forces engaged in two theaters of war and the fate of the free world hanging perilously in the balance, President Franklin Roosevelt took to the radio to lead the nation in prayer: “Grant us brotherhood, not only for this day but for all our years — a brotherhood not of words, but of acts and deeds. If our brothers are oppressed, then we are oppressed. If they hunger, we hunger. If their freedom is taken away, our freedom is not secure. “Grant us a common faith that man shall know bread and peace, that he shall know justice and righteousness, freedom and security, and an equal opportunity and an equal chance to do his best, not only in our lands, but throughout the world. And in that faith, let us march toward the clean world our hands can make. Amen.”
The prayer was written for the occasion by literary prodigy Stephen Vincent Benet, the son of an Army general, best known as the author of “John Brown’s Body,” for which he won the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in 1929. That epic poem of the American Civil War, in addition to its unabashed patriotism, had a central message: There are some goods — as in rights and values — worth fighting for, and some evils that it is obligatory to fight against. In accepting his Nobel Peace Prize this month, President Barack Obama spoke to a European audience that is deeply skeptical of this proposition, one that also has a very short memory of the American contribution in blood and treasure that twice in the last century prevented a reign of tyranny from descending over their continent. “Evil does exist in the world,” Obama told the crowd in Oslo. “A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler’s armies.
Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaida’s leaders to lay down their arms.” He addressed the general ambivalence about using military force — and the particular resentment of using U.S. military force. And he delivered a clarion message to the detractors in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and most especially here in the United States who reflexively denounce America’s role in the world: “Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this: The United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms.” It is one thing to use the words of peace and justice, freedom and security. It is another thing to actually create them. Sometimes it can be done peacefully with the force of moral authority, as the lives of Mohandas Ghandi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. attest. Other times, as Obama and Roosevelt before him ac-
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
knowledged, a different brotherhood of acts and deeds is required. As 2009 draws to a close, we are a nation at war, though relatively few citizens actually share in that burden. Those who do are engaged in a struggle against a global menace of medieval fanaticism, though the international community is as likely to libel their actions as give thanks. Few ways exist for ordinary Americans to show their gratitude to the men and women who bear this burden. One way is to donate to one of the many non-profit organizations listed under the “Support for Our Troops” links at www.OurMilitary.mil that assist soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen, Marines, National Guardsmen and their families. Another is simply to say, “Thank you,” and keep them in your prayers during 2010. (To reach Jonathan Gurwitz, e-mail jgurwitz@express-news.net)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
Zlifestyle
TOASTING THE 12
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MISS MANNERS
Too many gifts for New Year’s traditions hold fast for believers thank you notes? By NICK GEORGIOU THE ZAPATA TIMES
When some Laredo women crawl out of bed this New Year’s Eve, the color of the panties they put on will decide their fate for 2010. Will it be red for passion and love? Or what about yellow for a good job and financial health? Or could it be green in the hopes of raking in the money? Either way, they’re carrying on one of several Mexican New Year’s Eve traditions, or beliefs that can become a reality if they put their mind to it, said Laredo resident Paty Orduña. “They aren’t superstitions when they do them with faith,” she said.
Ringing it in Orduña is a Guadalajara, Jalisco, native whose large, extended family keeps intact numerous Mexican New Year’s traditions, from the cleansing of the home to the grape-eating and the bacalao. It all takes place at their north Laredo home, where more than 50 relatives and friends gather to ring in the New Year with lots of food, lots of drinks and a lot of sparklers — with the occasional cowbell thrown in for good measure. “It gets kind of crazy,” Orduña said. People typically arrive at their home between 10 and 11:30 p.m., as most of the activities take place after the clock strikes 12.
Photo by Ricardo Segovia | Laredo Morning Times
The Orduña family, including, left to right, Rafael, Robert, Julia and Paty, make a toast to the new year.
Grapes for good luck But one of the most popular and famous traditions happens in the chaotic moments leading up to the stroke of midnight. During that time, the Orduñas and all those gathered at their home down a grape with each of the 12 chimes of the bell during the New Year countdown. The 12 seeded grapes, half white and half purple, are placed in a champagne glass. Each grape represents one wish per month. Then once the clock strikes 12, there’s a halfhour process of hugging, kissing, crying, making a lot of noise with whistles and bells and wishing all those around a happy New Year. “It’s a big celebration,” Orduña said, adding that the moment is about people leaving behind and releasing their troubles from the
past year.
The eats After the excitement has died down a bit, it’s time to eat and drink. First up is bacalao, the Spanish word for codfish, which is dried and salted and covered with tomato sauce, garlic and roasted red pepper, though everyone has a different recipe, said Karlo Orduña, Paty’s nephew who owns Blue Olive Catering and will be cooking. The codfish, he said, is traditionally cooked in clay pots. It should be soaked in water for at least 24 to 48 hours before cooking to leach out the salt. Another popular New Years food is romeritos, a Mexican dish composed of dried shrimp and potatoes served in a mole sauce. “Many do tamales, but
(romeritos) is more festive, glamorous and expensive,” Paty Orduña said.
Other traditions Other traditions include people burning a rag doll made from their old clothes and taking a trip around the neighborhood carrying luggage, an act that’s supposed to bring travel in the new year. Also, for those hoping to tie the knot in 2010, another unusual superstition is to alternate between sitting and standing every minute before the stroke of midnight, Orduña said. Still yet another tradition is thoroughly cleaning the household prior to midnight. “It’s a cleaning of your body, your soul, the environment,” she said. “It’s a clean slate for the new year.”
DEAR MISS MANNERS — My children, who are 6, 7 and 12, have three sets of grandparents, 14 aunts and uncles and eight cousins. We live a good distance from all of them but visit as much as we can. We usually spend Thanksgiving with the relatives, so Christmas time is a time for just us. It has become an especially difficult time concerning the gifts my children receive. In the past, we’ve allowed Christmas morning to be joyous and crazy and full of laughter as the packages are ripped open. Thank you notes are written in crayon with drawings and x’s and o’s but not specific to the exact gift given. I think they’re precious. But the last time the kids did this “vague” type of thank you note, I got a very rude response from my mother-in-law. Basically, “If the kids can’t recall what I gave them, don’t bother having them do a thank you note.” So to appease her, I hand out a notebook and pen on Christmas morning and made the kids report to me one at a time what each gift was and who it was from so the thank you notes could be more specific. It was torture. For them and myself. It ruined Christmas morning for me wanting to see my kids dive into the gift opening, and I’m sure it drove them crazy. I was writing and missed their expressions. Yes, it teaches patience,
“
JUDITH MARTIN
and yes, it makes them more aware of the giver. But because of the sheer amount of gifts and the writing necessary — it just seemed ridiculous. We can’t video tape it — our camera has been broken for the last few months and with my husband out of work, the chance of purchasing a new one is doubtful — at least for now. For the sake of family harmony, I will continue doing it this way, but I was curious about what you thought. My children are being brought up in a strict but loving home and have always been taught to be appreciative — and they are. I just don’t get why Christmas morning has now had to turn into this overorganized, list making Bruha-ha. GENTLE READER — Torture? Did you actually say this was torture? Forgive Miss Manners, but she is not as charmed as you are by the spectacle of your children tearing into one package after another without pausing for a moment. However, if you enjoy it so much, why shouldn’t you draw out the pleasure by putting down your pad and pen and watching their faces at each opening, before calling them over to report?
PAGE 6A
Zentertainment
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
Let the battle begin THE ZAPATA TIMES
Courtesy Photo | Warner Bros. Pictures
Jude Law, left, plays Dr. John Watson and Robert Downey Jr. plays Sherlock Holmes in a new film.
Downey’s no Sherlock but this version works By DAVID GERMAIN ASSOCIATED PRESS
REVIEW
Take it from a lifelong fan of Arthur Conan Doyle: Robert Downey Jr. is so NOT Sherlock Holmes. That’s not a hindrance — in fact, it’s a big help — as he and director Guy Ritchie bring Conan Doyle’s dusty Victorian-age detective into the modern world. Enough of the trappings are left in their action romp “Sherlock Holmes” — the lightning-fast cerebrations, the encyclopedic knowledge of London, the compulsive single-mindedness, the vain one-upmanship — to make Downey a reasonably faithful embodiment of the figure Conan Doyle created. And of course, this is Downey, whose career resurgence rests on his ability to make the most unlikely role his own. He doesn’t look like the classic Holmes, he plays the man as a scamp, he’s after
laughs as much as lawbreakers. But Downey does a great Brit, he lives large in the part, and he brings a human spark to cold egghead Holmes that will help pack in huge audiences for a character on the fringes since the Basil Rathbone days. Revisionists have done a number on Holmes before — he was psychoanalyzed by Sigmund Freud in “The Seven-Per-Cent Solution” and spoofed by Gene Wilder in “The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother.” So why shouldn’t Ritchie put his London-rogues-andrascals spin on Holmes and cast the detective into a brawn-over-brain action epic? After all, Conan Doyle’s Holmes tales — particularly the novel-length ones — could be action rip-roarers.
The failing of Ritchie — and a team of four writers who share story or screenwriting credit — is the drab plot they built around Holmes, an uninspired tale of a secret society and potentially supernatural doings. It’s nonsense, a dumb Hollywood treatment that’s beneath Holmes but is made watchable, even exhilarating at times, by clever chases and scuffles, a superb recreation of old London in its splendor and squalor, and the amiable interplay of the actors. Jude Law heads the supporting cast as Holmes’ colleague, Watson, less a loyal sidekick in Ritchie’s creation than an odd-couple roomie in a bickering-buddy bromance. Ravishing in every scene, Rachel McAdams was born to wear the sort of velvety, frilly Victorian garb she
See SHERLOCK PAGE 8A
Hailing from all over the city, bands are preparing to take their skills bass to bass. In its second year, the Battle of the Rock Bands, an event organized by Radio Star Entertainment, will host eight local bands in a one-night-only competition to win a top spot opening for New Yorkbased band Nine Days during the first installment of the Six Pack of Rock, set for Jan. 16 at the Casa Blanca Ballroom. Although fewer bands are participating this year than last, Joseph Garcia, president of Radio Star Entertainment, said audiences would definitely be in for a real show. “We’re really trying to keep the music scene alive and consistent,” he said. Bands will be judged according to musicianship, originality and performance, Garcia said. A separate competition will evaluate the various groups’ self-promotion by“fan points” and “digital points,” which are earned via social networking sites, as well as for the number of supporters who
Courtesy photo
Winner of last year’s Battle of the Band contest, On Hiatus, is composed of Johnny “Snooze” Arias, rhythm guitar; Danny “Hiatus” Arambula, bass; Roger Salazar, lead vocals; Roy “Nicky Styxx” Escobedo, drums; and Fred “Baretta” Barrera, lead guitar. show up to the concert. In addition to the grand prize of opening for Nine Days, the first-, secondand third-place winners will be awarded a professional electronic press kit by Sonic Bids. All the participants will also be automatically included in the upcoming Laredo Emerging Artists Festival, Garcia said. Among the bands included in the lineup are Above Reproach, Bacchanalian Bliss, Somewhere in Between, Beneath the Flames, Erebus, For the Taking, Never ForSaken
and On Hiatus. To be held at Bottoms Up, 5320 Santa Maria Ave., beginning at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, the all-ages show has a $10 cover at the door. Presale tickets for $8 may be purchased at Hungry Howie’s until 4 p.m. the day of the competition.
SÁBADO 26 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2009
Agenda en Breve JUEVES 31 DE DICIEMBRE LAREDO - La Época de Oro Social Club tiene hoy su Baile Annual de la Víspera de Año Nuevo de 9 p.m. a 1 a.m. en el Salón de Baile del Laredo Civic Center, con música en vivo de la Ennery Orchestra. Los boletos tienen costo de 25 dólares en la puerta. Preventa por 15 dólares de 10 a.m. al mediodía en el salón de baile hasta el día del vento. El último día para comprar una mesa es el 26 de diciembre. Más información llamando a Enrique T. De la Garza en el 319-6604.
Zfrontera
PÁGINA 7A
Tamaulipas da apoyo a Paisanos ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
VALLE HERMOSO – Con el objetivo de mostrar a los Paisanos que Tamaulipas es un destino seguro, se puso en funcionamiento durante la semana el programa estatal “Tamaulipas, Bienvenido a Casa”, donde se brindó información y atendió en forma las inquietudes de connacionales que cruzaron por esta localidad fronteriza hacia diversos puntos del Estado y del resto del país. En el operativo participaron elementos de Seguridad Pública, Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado, C-4, Comisión Estatal de Derechos Humanos y municipios fronterizos.
“Tamaulipas, Bienvenido a Casa” fue iniciado por el Gobernador del Estado Eugenio Hernández Flores durante una gira en Matamoros, el cual se suma al programa Paisano del nivel federal. El operativo tiene entre otros objetivos vigilar el comportamiento de las autoridades hacia nuestros compatriotas, garantizar que los paisanos tengan un libre tránsito por Tamaulipas sin contratiempos y cuidar que no sean víctimas de actos deshonestos al momento de realizar sus trámites de internación. “Se vuelve imprescindible e impostergable que existan acciones útiles y contundentes”, dijo Hernán-
dez. “Para que así (los paisanos) retornen al país con la seguridad y pleno convencimiento de sus derechos y deberes”. Hernández dialogó con connacionales que cruzaron por este municipio y destacó el valor e importante rol que juegan nuestros paisanos en el desarrollo de las economías regionales, del Estado y país, así como la importancia de Tamaulipas como uno de los principales accesos por los que retornan más del 50 por ciento de los migrantes de Estados Unidos en esta temporada decembrina. “Estimamos que casi 200 mil personas pasarán por la Entidad en esta tempo-
Gobierno de Tamaulipas
Un paisano recibe el saludo del Gobernador de Tamaulipas Eugenio Hernández Flores en el módulo de trámite organizado por el gobierno del Estado en Valle Hermoso, el lunes. rada, por lo que existe el compromiso de otorgar todas las facilidades para
que el tránsito hacia sus lugares de origen se de sin contratiempos”, concluyó.
SÁBADO 2 DE ENERO
Grupo especial rinde frutos
LAREDO - Una venta de libros se llevará a cabo hoy en la Widener Room de la First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave., de 8:30 a.m. a 1 p.m. Se invita al público en general. La entrada es gratuita. Igualmente se aceptan libros y revistas para donación.
MIÉRCOLES 6 DE ENERO
ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
ZAPATA - La Serie de FLW Outdoors Stren T1 inicia hoy. Más información contactando a la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata al (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, ó escribiendo a customercare@zapatachamber.com
JUEVES 7 DE ENERO ZAPATA - La Serie de FLW Outdoors Stren T1 continúa hoy. Más información contactando a la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata al (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, ó escribiendo a customercare@zapatachamber.com
VIERNES 8 DE ENERO ZAPATA - La Serie de FLW Outdoors Stren T1 continúa hoy. Más información contactando a la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata al (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, ó escribiendo a customercare@zapatachamber.com
SÁBADO 9 DE ENERO LAREDO - El equipo de Softból Lady Longhorn de United High School realizará un campamento de softból el día hoy. El campamento es para alumnas del 4to al 8vo grado en el nuevo campo de UHS de 10 a.m. a 1 p.m. El costo es de 25 dólares. El campamento se enfocará en bateo, campo y lanzamiento. Más información llamando a Javier Morin al 645-0931 ó Raymond Rodriguez al 333-9713. ZAPATA - FLW National Guard College Fishing, Texas Division, takes place today. For more information contact the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at (956) 765-4871, (800) 292LAKE, or customercare@zapatachamber.com ZAPATA - La Serie de FLW Outdoors Stren T1 concluye hoy. Más información contactando a la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata al (956) 765-4871, (800) 292-LAKE, ó escribiendo a customercare@zapatachamber.com
DOMINGO 24 DE ENERO LAREDO - La Orquesta Filarmónica de Laredo presenta “Anticipated Return” hoy en TAMIU a las 3 p.m. Más información llamando al 326-2654.
VIERNES 26 DE ENERO ZAPATA – El Torneo de Pesca FLW Eastern Series es a partir de hoy y hasta el sábado 30 de enero en el Lago Falcón. Más información llamando a la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata en el (956) 7654871.
Gobierno de Tamaulipas
Niños que por cuestiones de salud se encuentran en distintos hospitales de Tamaulipas, reciben sus clases de parte de docentes en el mismo nosocomio. El programa fue creado por la Secretaría de Educación para evitar que los niños se retrasen en sus estudios.
Dan clases en los hospitales ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
La Secretaría de Educación en Tamaulipas inició durante el presente ciclo escolar en varias ciudades de la entidad el programa “Sigamos Aprendiendo en el Hospital” que atiende a niños que por alguna enfermedad no pueden acudir a la escuela. Actualmente se aplica en 10 hospitales, como el Civil en Victoria, Reynosa, Valle Hermoso, Madero y Nuevo Laredo; en los Hospitales Generales de Reynosa, Mante, Matamoros y Tampico; y en el Hospital Infantil de Tamaulipas. A corto plazo se espera implementarlo en los Hospitales Generales de Nuevo Laredo, en Reynosa y San Fernando. El Secretario de Educación José Manuel Assad Montelongo dijo que el programa proporciona atención educativa y recreativa a los pacientes menores de 18 años, que por cuestiones de enfermedad requieren de hospitalización temporal o permanente, dando continuidad a su proceso formativo. La educación hospitalaria que se está proporcionando se orienta a construir un espacio educativo for-
mal y al mismo tiempo flexible para contribuir a elevar el retraso escolar, además el espacio físico del programa busca responder a la diversidad de necesidades con una estrategia que incluye el desarrollo de clases en aulas y camas de los niños hospitalizados, así como el material educativo, la capacitación de los docentes para poder abarcar todas las edades y niveles de la educación Básica, indica un comunicado de prensa. Durante el ciclo escolar anterior 50 docentes atendieron 5 mil 285 pacientes-alumnos. La Coordinadora del Programa María Yasmín Mansur Arbola dijo que el Programa está dirigido a los alumnos en niveles de preescolar a secundaria, dando continuidad a su proceso formativo. “El servicio se proporciona en el espacio físico asignado por cada hospital para que funcione como aula hospitalaria”, dijo Mansur. “(Ahí) los docentes ofrecen actividades pedagógicas y recreativas a los pacientesalumnos”. Mansur explicó que cuando los pacientes no pueden desplazarse al aula, las maestras acuden a las camas donde se encuentren los niños, llevándoles material didáctico para que
trabajen de acuerdo a su estado de salud. Es importante destacar que dentro del hospital, la educación funciona como interconsulta, por ello es primordial adaptar su diseño, incluyendo su ubicación y organización a la realidad y condiciones específicas que presenta cada Clínica. El comunicado de prensa explica que existen aulas externas ubicadas en consulta externa para la atención de pacientes no hospitalizados; hay aulas ambulatorias, son móviles diseñadas para atender a pacientes que no pueden desplazarse; y también aulas hospitalarias ubicadas generalmente en el área de pediatría a donde acuden a recibir clases. El programa brinda diversidad educativa requerida al sumar recursos materiales, humanos y administrativos en su operación; asimismo se retoman todos los programas y proyectos que operan en forma regular en los centros educativos a través de diversos elementos que se les oferta a los pacientes-alumnos en educación básica como son los Libros de Texto gratuitos, Bibliotecas de aulas, la tecnología en las aulas hospitalarias, entre otros recursos y herramientas didácticas.
Entregan cartas de finiquito a colonos ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
NUEVO LAREDO – El Jefe de Gobierno Ramón Garza Barrios hizo entrega de cartas de finiquito a 436 familias residentes en la Colonia Las Torres, concluyendo así 22 años de espera. De esta manera las familias aseguran jurídicamente el patrimonio de sus hijos y dejan de vivir en la incertidumbre, indica un comunicado de prensa. A decir de Garza Barrios con esta acción la incertidumbre se aleja y la seguridad jurídica rendirá frutos inmediatos ya que los habitantes de Las Torres podrán disfrutar su vivienda, venderla o donarla si así lo desean. “A esto se le llama justicia social, porque se les está dando lo que es justo, porque a partir de ahora, ustedes, sus hijos y seres
urar sus propiedades. Una vez adquirido el crédito, dijo Cantú Rosas, por convenio de cesión de derechos suscrito entre el Ayuntamiento y la FONHAPO y negociada la deuda, fue saldada por acuerdo de Cabildo. Informó que fueron las gestiones de Garza Barrios las que permitieron que las escrituras de las 436 personas ya no tengan otro adeudo. “(El trámite incluyó) gastos de notario, gastos de operación, impuestos y Gobierno de Nuevo Laredo un testamento público simEl Jefe de Gobierno de Nuevo Laredo Ramón Garza Barrios es rodea- plificado para que en caso do por residentes de la Colonia Las Torres, tras que varios de ellos de que falten los titulares se vieron beneficiados con el trámite jurídico para la legalización de siga existiendo certeza jusus viviendas, el lunes. rídica para los beneficiarios”, indica un comunicaqueridos no tendrán que Cantú Rosas explicó que do de prensa. preocuparse”, dijo Garza fueron las gestiones llevaEn el acto también parBarrios. das a cabo por el Cabildo ticiparon César Valdez PeEl Director general del de Nuevo Laredo las que ña, primer síndico y conInstituto Municipal de Vi- permitieron saldar ante la sejero del mismo INVISU; vienda y Suelo Urbano FONHAPO el adeudo que y, el notario público Rey(INVISU) Carlos Enrique impedía a los colonos aseg- naldo Flores Villarreal.
CD. VICTORIA, México - Como parte de los compromisos que el Gobernador del Estado, Eugenio Hernández Flores firmó en el Acuerdo por la Seguridad, la Legalidad y la Justicia, fue la creación del Grupo Especial Antisecuestros de la Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado. Cuerpo que se conformó con elementos, que han recibido una amplia capacitación por parte de organismos especializados lo que les permite contar con la preparación para enfrentar cualquier tipo de circunstancias, además de que su personal, compuesto por Un Comandante y 23 elementos, pasaron el Examen de Control de Confianza, en la Secretaria de Seguridad Publica Federal. Los cursos que han recibido han sido: Intervención en Secuestro y Manejo de Crisis; Curso de tiro practico; Teórico practico para contrarrestar el secuestro y la extorsión; Modelo de secuestro (información sustantiva), Introducción al delito del secuestro fase Tronco Común, este curso se llevo a cabo en las instalaciones de la Policía Federal en San Luís Potosí y en México; Actualización del secuestro y extorsión y han participado en la Conferencia Nacional de Procuración de Justicia 10 Reunión del Grupo de Planeación y Análisis Estratégica para el combate al delito de secuestro. Ello le ha permitido intervenir durante el presenta año con eficacia en el desmantelamiento de 12 bandas de los cuales 58 personas han sido procesadas, 40 actualmente están detenidos, 5 con ordenes de aprehensión pendientes de ejecutar, cinco están libres bajo fianza, Uno esta libre y 7 causaron sobreseimiento por causa de muerte. Además el Grupo Antisecuestros ha sido dotado de equipamiento con alta tecnología para enfrentar a la delincuencia, para cumplimentar el compromiso del Gobernador del Estado, Eugenio Hernández Flores de garantizar la seguridad de la ciudadanía.
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
More room to roam for S. Texas ocelots By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
RAYMONDVILLE — Few things would venture into the dense thorny scrub favored by the endangered ocelot. But with little of South Texas considered suitable habitat for the remaining 50 or fewer rare cats, the ocelots remain vulnerable. The Nature Conservancy hopes to give another 1,300 acres of that forbidding thicket of mesquite, huisache and other shrubs to the spotted cats with a conservation easement it bought from South Texas rancher Frank Yturria on Tuesday. Yturria, 86, spent much of his life fighting back such scrub on the thousands of acres of open grasslands where his cattle graze, but decades ago stopped clearing some of those areas when he realized ocelots live there. This week he and his wife, Mary, went a step further to protect ocelot habitat, selling the easement on their San Francisco Ranch. The swath of land, less than 15 miles inland from the Laguna Madre, straddles Willacy and Kenedy counties. It is adjacent to three easements Yturria already has made for the ocelot, and more than doubles the amount of land he has set aside. The San Francisco Ranch easements are part of one of only two documented ocelot breeding grounds in the country. The other is at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, about 25 miles to the south. “I hope that 50 years from now ... those little cats will have a place that is theirs,” Yturria said Monday at the ranch. “The worst destructive element this Earth has is man.” Ocelots are about twice the size of a house cat and
Courtesy Photo | Warner Bros. Pictures
Robert Downey Jr., left, and Rachel McAdams are surprised in a scene from “Sherlock Holmes.”
SHERLOCK Continued from Page 6A
Photo by Lynn McBride/The Nature Conservancy | AP
An ocelot growls in this undated photograph. The Nature Conservancy bought a 1,300-acre conservation easement at what was called a “bargain price” on the San Francisco Ranch near Raymondville this week, hoping to restore the grasslands to the thick thorn scrub habitat favored by the endangered felines. also are found in Central and South America. The conservancy says on its Web site that it is the rarest cat in America, having been hunted down for its distinctive yellow and black spotted fur. Loss of habitat and collisions with automobiles also have been blamed for the declining population. A male ocelot, and two or three females traveling with it, ideally would have about 1,200 acres of habitat, said Sonia Najera, the conservancy’s South Texas program manager. Much of South Texas has been cleared for farming and ranching over the years. Now some landowners have started dotting their pastures with large wind turbines, but the Yturria land covered by the easement will be preserved in perpetuity.
“I want to be sure when I’m gone my heirs won’t consider things like that (wind turbines),” Yturria said, as he bounced across the land in his truck pointing out deer, wild turkeys and exotic species like the nilgai, a horse-sized antelope from India. “It’s all about leaving this like it is.” The new easement encompasses sandy hills with live oak and ephemeral wetlands as well as the thorny scrub for ocelots. The Nature Conservancy hopes other landowners will consider similar arrangements. Yturria says he sold the easement at a bargain price and will claim the difference between the selling price and the appraised value as a charitable donation. Neither the conservancy nor Yturria would disclose the costs.
dons as Irene Adler, a cunning foil to Holmes as well as his romantic interest, the most-extreme revision by Ritchie and company. Conan Doyle’s Holmes was a monk who had no time or respect for women, save, in one thin story, a schemer named Irene Adler, the only woman who ever outsmarted him. The literary Holmes admired Irene for her mind. Downey’s Holmes admires McAdams’ Irene for the whole comely package, and purists will groan over the puppy-dog caresses of Sherlock in love. But did we mention that McAdams is ravishing in every scene? Holmes’ big mystery is the case of Lord Blackwood (Ritchie regular Mark Strong, who physically resembles Conan Doyle’s Holmes far more than Downey). Hanged for a series of ritual murders, Blackwood won’t stay in his grave, returning to terrorize London with an assault on Parliament aimed to bring him absolute power. Skirting the fringes is shadowy Professor Moriarty, the criminal mastermind of Conan Doyle’s tales, introduced here as Holmes’ next great enemy
for the inevitable sequel. Eddie Marsan is perfectly cast as Scotland Yard Inspector Lestrade, the professional who deigns to let Holmes dabble in detection, happy to take credit when his ally cracks a case. The few playful putdowns between Holmes and Lestrade outshine the wall-to-wall discord between Holmes and Watson, the latter about to move out of their Baker Street flat as he prepares to wed Mary (Kelly Reilly, a strong presence in a small role). Doubtless, the disharmony’s there because you can’t have an actor of Law’s stature standing around forever marveling at Holmes’ ingenuity. But Downey and Law have a pleasant, wisecracking fraternity, Holmes the inspired headcase, Watson the stalwart comrade and caretaker. The story didn’t need the artificial friction of their squabbling, a distraction in a film already heaped with distractions. Ritchie piles on the excess. It serves him well in fashioning a dazzling, detailed version of 1880s London, with the pardon-ourdust construction of the
landmark Tower Bridge a pivotal element. The director should have toned down the manic, quick-cut style he honed on such modern crime tales as “Snatch” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” Holmes was a quick thinker, but Ritchie cranks up his thought processes to such wink-of-an-eye speed that you begin to suspect it’s meant to disguise the fact that no one is thinking much at all, at least when it comes to the story. Anyone who wants their Holmes unsullied by revisionists has two great choices: the supreme 1980s and ‘90s TV adaptations of Holmes stories starring Jeremy Brett, an ideal incarnation of the detective as the author wrote him in those enduring Conan Doyle tales. Who knows? Maybe the movie will make a few viewers go discover Conan Doyle for the first time. “Sherlock Holmes,” a Warner Bros. release, is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some startling images and a scene of suggestive material. It is playing Cinemark Mall Del Norte and Hollywood Theaters.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
No need to kill that poinsettia SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
OVERTON — After East Texas growers take great pains to produce beautiful poinsettias, plants free of diseases and pests that could live for years, most consumers will take the plants home and kill them within a couple of weeks due to improper care, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service experts. “Poinsettias are not poisonous. That’s an urban myth,” said Karl Steddom, AgriLife Extension plant pathologist. “But from a poinsettia’s viewpoint, most consumers are lethal. Consumers don’t mean to kill the plants. They just don’t know how to take care of them.” Each year, East Texas plant nurseries will produce several million poinsettias in 6-inch pots for the holiday season, according to Steddom. “Color Spot Nurseries in Troup alone will market more than a million poinsettias this year,” said Scott Ludwig, AgriLife Extension integrated plant management specialist. “And that’s only one of many nurseries in Cherokee County.” Both Ludwig and Steddom, who are based at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, work closely with the ornamental plant growers in northeast Texas, whose sales total more
Photo by Scott Bauer/USDA | Courtesy
Not only is the poinsettia the most popular Christmas plant, it is the No. 1 flowering potted plant in the United States despite having a short growing season. than $500 million annually, they said. Pythium root rot is the most common scourge of poinsettias in the home, Steddom said. The slick holiday paper wrapped around pots prevents drainage. On top of that, consumers are prone to over-watering the plants. “If they want to keep their poinsettias alive, remove the wrapper as soon as possible,” Steddom said. “And don’t over-water. Simply stick your finger in the soil and if it feels damp, don’t water it. If you let the pot sit in standing water for any length of time, you’ll probably kill the plant.” Steddom said they can
put the holiday wrapper back on after they let the pot drain. “Except in South Texas, where poinsettias might survive in an outdoor landscape, to keep the plants alive, consumers are going to have to give them lots of light and keep a close eye on soil moisture levels,” Ludwig said. Poinsettias can be made to re-bloom for the next Christmas season, but it’s an arduous chore, Ludwig said. The plants need about 14 hours of darkness alternated with 10 hours of bright light for eight to 10 weeks, he said. Even a few hours of too much light
will scuttle the process. The temperature has to be regulated too. “Most people will kill the plant trying to get it to re-bloom,” Ludwig said. “Considering all the work that goes into commercially grown poinsettias and the low cost consumers pay for them, it’s easier to just compost them and buy a new plant the next holiday season.” Technically, “bloom” isn’t the right word. “We say ‘bloom’ but that’s actually a misnomer, because it’s the leaves that change color, not the bloom,” Ludwig noted. The brightly colored plants are native to Mexico and have a long history.
CHRISTMAS Continued from Page 1A Ricardo “Ricky” Javier Muñoz, the lead singer and accordionist of Intocable, had a big hand in the preparation of the event. Muñoz, a native of Zapata along with two other members of his band, assessed the needs of the community to start the drive a few years ago. “A lot of people, our fans, have given a lot to us,” the singer said. “We wanted to do something because unfortunately a lot of kids don’t see a present during Christmas. “It’s all about seeing children smile.” The families at the event were treated to hot dogs and were given goodie bags. Some families lined up around the corner to gain access into the pavilion. Celeste Zavala, 16, was one of those toward the end of the line. Zavala brought her two siblings; her 6-year-old brother is an Intocable fan. “I brought them both to have something to do, to get involved,” Celeste Zavala said.
MARIO GARZA JR. ZAPATA — Mario Garza Jr. passed away Dec. 21, 2009, at Laredo Medical Center. Mr. Garza is survived by his mother, Minerva Martinez; sisters Marta (Major Jose) Rivera, Dr. Minerva (Dr. Louis) Garcia; and Dr. Marissa (Paul C.) Charles and by numerous nephews, nieces and many friends. Visitation hours were held Dec. 23, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession departed Dec. 24, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. for a 9 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 U.S. 83 Zapata, Texas
COUNTY Continued from Page 1A construct a highway from the bridge to the Zapata County Airport “to spur the development of a logistics center and Free Trade Zone and to provide access to air cargo facilities.” The plan also contains a detailed section on improving the area around the Zapata Courthouse by forming a “Downtown District Boulevard.” “The existing Courthouse Plaza is small and underutilized,” states the vision plan. “The County Sheriffs office lies between the Plaza and Courthouse, restricting the use of the Plaza. The consultants recommend the relocation of the Sher-
iffs office to the site that has been purchased to the north of Zapata off Highway 83.” Consultants also suggested a center median boulevard with tree-lined sidewalks from First to 13th avenues. “The existing right-ofway along U.S. 83 (120 feet) is adequate in pavement width to support the development of a boulevard treatment that is pedestrian oriented,” the plan states. “This segment of U.S. 83 should also be renamed to help reinforce the identity of the downtown district.” (Julie Daffern may be reached at 728-2565 or jdaffern@lmtonline.com)
POT Continued from Page 1A
Photos by Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Hundreds wait in line outside the Zapata County Fair Pavilion Wednesday morning for the Intocable Christmas event. Ricky Muñoz, lead singer for the popular Tejano/Norteño musical group hosted the event where toys were given away and the children got an opportunity to see Santa, get some candy and something to eat. Inside the venue it was the same vibe with people enjoying quality time with their loved ones. “We come because of the kids,” said Armando Ramon Jr. His daughter, Priscilla Jeann Ramon, 5, re-
ceived a Barbie costume during one of the giveaways. “We’re just grateful because there are a lot of needy people here.” (Denise Blaz may be reached at 728-2547 or dblaz@lmtonline.com)
maintain security along the border. “This is how important it is for the community and the Border Patrol to work together toward making our community a safer place,” he said. The drugs and detained man were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. While this particular operation didn’t directly involve the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Department, the two agencies are partners in the war against illegal drugs in Zapata County. “We do our best effort to catch as much as we can,” Gonzalez said.
The department has enhanced its measures to stop drug trafficking, he added, including increased patrols, more electronic surveillance with thermal cameras and towers. “We’re modernizing to prevent the drugs from coming across,” he said. Gonzalez said the increased patrols help deter smugglers and help keep illegal drugs off the streets. “We trying to do the best we can,” the sheriff said. “We’re catching a load almost every day, so that’s good.” (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
Christmas Eve 2009 | Around the World
Photo by Ramon Espinosa | AP
Haiti’s President Rene Preval, center, and his wife Elisabeth Debrosse, left, attend a Christmas celebration with children at the presidential palace on Christmas Eve in Port-au-Prince on Thursday. Photo by Gregoria Borgia | AP
Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful as he arrives to celebrate Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Thursday. A Vatican spokesman said a woman jumped barriers and knocked down the pontiff as he was arriving for the traditional Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica; the pope appeared unhurt and continued calmly on his way to start the Mass as scheduled.
Photo by Maya Alleruzzo | AP
Members of the U.S. Armed Services participate in a candlelight service marking Christmas Eve at alFaw Palace in Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday during holiday observances.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors Playing to stay alive Dolphins stand in Texans’ way as teams’ Week 16 matchup approaches By STEPHEN WINE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MIAMI — For the Miami Dolphins, the situation may be hopeless: To stay in the playoff race, they must beat the Houston Texans. Houston is the only team Miami has never beaten. The Dolphins are 0-4 in the series, losing
each of the past three years. Miami will try for a breakthrough Sunday, when both teams need a win to stay in playoff contention. The Dolphins and Texans are 7-7, and even a sweep of the final two games might not be enough for a postseason berth.
What’s at stake “We are both playing for our playoff lives,” Houston coach Gary Kubiak said. “Whoever comes out of there with a win will still be alive. That is where you want to be in this business. You want to play in those games.” The Texans, who are in their eighth season, have
never made the playoffs or finished above .500. But they’ve been a major pain for the Dolphins, winning four times by point margins of 1, 2, 3 and 1 against four different coaches. “Every time we play them, it comes down to the last play,” Houston receiver Andre Johnson said. “I’m glad things have been working out for us, and
hopefully they can end up that way on Sunday.”
Early upsets The series dates to 2003, when the Texans pulled off an upset at Miami to open their second season, a result that eventually kept
See TEXANS PAGE 2B
Perfect season not top stress Colts just trying to ‘get it done’ at 14-0 By BARRY WILNER ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS COWBOYS FOOTBALL
RIVALRY SET TO BE RENEWED WITH PLAYOFF BERTH AT STAKE
Photo by L.M. Otero | AP
In this Nov. 22 file photo, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) calls a play from the line behind center Andre Gurode (65) as guard Kyle Kosier (63) lines up against Washington Redskins defensive tackle Kedric Golston (64) during the Cowboys’ 7-6 victory in Arlington. The teams will meet again on Sunday for the 100th time in their history.
’Boys meet ’Skins for 100th time, look for wild card By JOSEPH WHITE ASSOCIATED PRESS
L
ANDOVER, Md. — As the rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins hits the century mark, Bruce Allen still has a painful twinge in his voice at the mention of one three-word phrase. “The Mad Bomber.” “Thanksgiving is ruined forever for
that,” the Redskins general manager said. “I never even liked turkey sandwiches after that.” “The Mad Bomber,” of course, is Clint Longley, the backup quarterback who led the Cowboys to a 24-23 come-from-behind stunner on Thanksgiving Day in 1974. The Redskins — coached by Allen’s father, George — had knocked Roger Staubach from the game and led 16-3, but onehit-wonder Longley came on to throw his
first NFL passes, including a 50-yard touchdown to Drew Pearson with 28 seconds remaining.
No. 100 Cowboys-Redskins, Edition No. 100 takes place Sunday night, appropriately
To be perfect or not to be? The Indianapolis Colts don’t consider it much of a dilemma, really. They certainly aren’t going to sit Peyton Manning for long as he pursues an unprecedented fourth MVP award and the career 50,000-yard passing mark. And on Sunday they host the Jets, a team that has shown little ability to keep up offensively. So Manning could get in his work, lift the Colts to 15-0, knock the Jets out of playoff contention and finish off an unbeaten home schedule before heading to Buffalo for the finale. And a share of history. “You don’t want to lose a game. As a competitor, as an athlete, you want to go out every single game and win,” defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “That being said, we’re going out there and playing hard every game no matter who is out there. Maybe the starters may not be out there the whole game, but that’s no excuse. We still have to try to get it done.” Baltimore (8-6) at Pittsburgh (7-7) Back in January, the winner of this game was headed to the Super Bowl. Now, the loser — particularly if it’s the defending league champion Steelers — might see playoff hopes disappear. Denver (8-6) at Philadelphia (10-4) Think they’re getting nervous in Colorado, where the Broncos might be in the midst of another Mile High plummet? From 6-0, they are now scrambling for a wild-card berth and their home loss to Oakland last Sunday was particularly damaging. Kansas City (3-11) at Cincinnati (9-5) Two straight defeats to division winners shouldn’t dampen enthusiasm in Cincinnati, particularly after the Bengals performed so well in San Diego. A victory or a Baltimore loss hands the AFC North to Cincinnati. Jacksonville (7-7) at New England (9-5) For all their struggles, the Patriots are about to win the AFC East again. They’re unbeaten at home and Randy Moss reemerged last week. His receiving partner, Wes Welker, is on pace
See COWBOYS PAGE 2B See NFL PAGE 2B
Some coaches headed for the chopping block By BARRY WILNER ASSOCIATED PRESS
The coaching carousel has begun to spin in the NFL, with seven teams possibly stepping on once the season ends. Those teams certainly know who is out there for the hiring: Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden and Brian Billick for starters. Mike Holmgren already has landed in Cleveland, although he is not likely to be on the Browns’ sideline in 2010. Holmgren was hired as president of the team, even though the
coaching bug has never really left him. But don’t expect to see him wearing a headset next year. What might we expect in coaching moves? Here’s a look at teams that might be headed for the merry-goround, not including Tampa Bay or Dallas. Some believe Raheem Morris is a one-year fill-in before the Buccaneers go for a bigger name with more experience, but there’s been little evidence ownership is thinking that way. And Jerry Jones wants to find every reason to keep Wade Phillips at
the Cowboys’ helm, although failing to make the playoffs surely could change Jones’ approach.
Cleveland Holmgren’s coaching genes tell him it’s unfair to fire a coach after one season, no matter how disappointing and dysfuncational that season has been. But Holmgren also understands holding on to Eric Mangini for 2010 could mean delaying Holmgren’s
See COACHES PAGE 2B
Photo by Tony Dejak | AP
In this Dec. 6 file photo, Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini, center, watches a replay with wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (11) and an official during the second quarter of a 30-23 loss to the San Diego Chargers in Cleveland. Mangini is one of several NFL coaches with his job in question.
PAGE 2B
Zscores
National Football League Injury Report TAMPA BAY @NEW ORLEANS: BUCCANEERS: LIMITED: WR Antonio Bryant (groin), WR Michael Clayton (knee), TE John Gilmore (illness), S Tanard Jackson (knee), RB Carnell Williams (not injury related), TE Kellen Winslow (knee). SAINTS: DNP: CB Randall Gay (concussion), WR Lance Moore (ankle), LB Scott Shanle (concussion), S Darren Sharper (knee), S Usama Young (hip, abdomen). LIMITED: RB Reggie Bush (hamstring), T Jermon Bushrod (thumb), TE Darnell Dinkins (foot), DT Sedrick Ellis (knee), G Jahri Evans (toe), LB Scott Fujita (knee), C Jonathan Goodwin (ankle), CB Jabari Greer (groin), DE Bobby McCray (back), TE Jeremy Shockey (toe), T Jon Stinchcomb (knee), LB Jonathan Vilma (knee). BUFFALO @ATLANTA: BILLS: DNP: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (ankle), S Todd Johnson (hamstring), S Bryan Scott (head). LIMITED: LB Ashlee Palmer (ankle). FALCONS: DNP: CB Chris Houston (hamstring), LB Curtis Lofton (shoulder, hamstring), QB Matt Ryan (toe), RB Michael Turner (ankle). LIMITED: DE Jamaal Anderson (chest), DT Jonathan Babineaux (shoulder), T Sam Baker (elbow, hamstring), G Harvey Dahl (ankle). DENVER @PHILADELPHIA: BRONCOS: DNP: S David Bruton (illness), WR Eddie Royal (neck, head), LB D.J. Williams (ankle). LIMITED: RB Correll Buckhalter (ankle), S Renaldo Hill (ankle), CB Ty Law (hamstring). EAGLES: DNP: QB Michael Vick (quadricep). FULL: DE Victor Abiamiri (knee), C Nick Cole (knee), DE Trent Cole (hamstring), WR Kevin Curtis (knee), S Quintin Demps (ankle), LB Akeem Jordan (knee), WR Jeremy Maclin (foot), DT Mike Patterson (wrist), RB Brian Westbrook (concussion). HOUSTON @MIAMI: TEXANS: DNP: T Duane Brown (knee), LB Brian Cushing (foot, ribs). LIMITED: TE Joel Dreessen (shoulder). DOLPHINS: DNP: LB Jason Taylor (shoulder). FULL: LB Reggie Torbor (hamstring). SEATTLE @GREEN BAY: SEAHAWKS: DNP: WR Nate Burleson (ankle), LB Aaron Curry (shoulder), RB Julius Jones (rib). LIMITED: WR Ben Obomanu (hamstring). PACKERS: OUT: LB Jeremy Thompson (neck). DNP: LB Nick Barnett (knee), DE Johnny Jolly (knee), DT Ryan Pickett (hamstring), CB Charles Woodson (shoulder). LIMITED: S Nick Collins (calf), DE Cullen Jenkins (quadricep). FULL: CB Brandon Underwood (hip). CAROLINA @NEW YORK: PANTHERS: DNP: QB Jake Delhomme (right finger), CB Richard Marshall (ankle), RB Jonathan Stewart (Achilles), RB Tyrell Sutton (calf), RB DeAnge-
lo Williams (ankle). FULL: QB Matt Moore (right shoulder). GIANTS: OUT: TE Darcy Johnson (shoulder). DNP: LB Michael Boley (triceps), RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankles, foot), T Kareem McKenzie (knee), G Rich Seubert (knee), CB Corey Webster (knee). LIMITED: LB Chase Blackburn (ribs), S C.C. Brown (hamstring), CB Kevin Dockery (ankle), LB Jonathan Goff (hamstring, rib), WR Hakeem Nicks (hamstring), CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), K Lawrence Tynes (right hamstring). FULL: QB Eli Manning (foot). OAKLAND @CLEVELAND: RAIDERS: DNP: DE Greg Ellis (knee), RB Justin Fargas (knee), QB Bruce Gradkowski (knee), WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot), WR Nick Miller (shin), TE Brandon Myers (concussion). LIMITED: G Cooper Carlisle (knee), CB Chris Johnson (ankle), TE Zach Miller (concussion). FULL: QB Charlie Frye (concussion). BROWNS: DNP: T John St. Clair (ankle), DT Corey Williams (thigh). LIMITED: LB David Bowens (knee), DE Kenyon Coleman (knee, elbow), G Rex Hadnot (knee), DE Robaire Smith (groin), T Joe Thomas (thigh), S Ray Ventrone (finger), RB Lawrence Vickers (hamstring). FULL: RB Chris Jennings (shoulder). JACKSONVILLE @NEW ENGLAND: JAGUARS: DNP: CB Rashean Mathis (groin). LIMITED: DT John Henderson (shoulder). PATRIOTS: DNP: LB Tully Banta-Cain (not injury related), QB Tom Brady (right shoulder, right finger, rib), WR Randy Moss (not injury related). LIMITED: WR Sam Aiken (shoulder), DE Jarvis Green (knee), T Nick Kaczur (shoulder), G Stephen Neal (ankle), DT Ty Warren (ankle), DT Vince Wilfork (foot). FULL: CB Leigh Bodden (thigh), WR Julian Edelman (forearm), DT Myron Pryor (chest), CB Shawn Springs (knee), RB Fred Taylor (ankle), TE Benjamin Watson (knee). KANSAS CITY @CINCINNATI: CHIEFS: DNP: S DaJuan Morgan (chest), LB Justin Rogers (thigh). LIMITED: DE Glenn Dorsey (knee), CB Brandon Flowers (shoulder), DE Alex Magee (hamstring), G Brian Waters (hamstring). FULL: T Ryan O’Callaghan (knee). BENGALS: DNP: S Chris Crocker (ankle), TE J.P. Foschi (not injury related), DT Domata Peko (knee). BALTIMORE @PITTSBURGH: RAVENS: DNP: T Jared Gaither (foot), LB Tavares Gooden (groin), C Matt Katula (forearm), S Ed Reed (groin). LIMITED: C Matt Birk (neck), WR Mark Clayton (knee), CB K.J. Gerard (thigh), LB Jarret Johnson (knee), NT Haloti Ngata (ankle), DT Kelly Talavou (knee), WR Kelley Washington (ankle). FULL: TE L.J. Smith (ankle). STEELERS: DNP: DE Brett Keisel (neck), CB Anthony Madison (illness), RB Willie Parker (knee), S Troy Polamalu (knee), WR Hines Ward (hamstring). LIMITED: CB Keenan Lewis (back), RB Rashard Mendenhall (hip), WR Mike Wallace (knee).
ST. LOUIS @ARIZONA: RAMS: OUT: QB Marc Bulger (knee). DNP: CB Quincy Butler (knee), RB Steven Jackson (back), DE Leonard Little (knee), T Jason Smith (concussion). LIMITED: CB Ron Bartell (hip). FULL: G John Greco (thumb). CARDINALS: OUT: T Mike Gandy (pelvis). DNP: WR Sean Morey (head), TE Ben Patrick (head), K Neil Rackers (right groin). LIMITED: LB Will Davis (knee), WR Larry Fitzgerald (knee), CB Bryant McFadden (hamstring), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (toe). FULL: DE Kenny Iwebema (shoulder). DETROIT @SAN FRANCISCO: LIONS: DNP: CB Phillip Buchanon (shoulder), LB Larry Foote (foot), QB Matthew Stafford (left shoulder). LIMITED: S Louis Delmas (ankle), DT Grady Jackson (knee), WR Dennis Northcutt (groin). FULL: DT Joe Cohen (knee), WR Calvin Johnson (knee), C Don Muhlbach (concussion), DE Dewayne White (toe). 49ERS: OUT: K Joe Nedney (left hamstring). DNP: WR Isaac Bruce (ankle), CB Nate Clements (shoulder), RB Glen Coffee (hamstring), DE Justin Smith (not injury related), LB Takeo Spikes (hamstring). LIMITED: T Joe Staley (knee, elbow). FULL: CB Marcus Hudson (back), RB Moran Norris (toe), RB Michael Robinson (shoulder), CB Shawntae Spencer (ankle). NEW YORK @INDIANAPOLIS: JETS: DNP: WR Braylon Edwards (knee), RB Thomas Jones (not injury related), RB Tony Richardson (not injury related). LIMITED: DE Shaun Ellis (knee). FULL: CB Marquice Cole (back), S Jim Leonhard (thumb), CB Dwight Lowery (ankle), QB Mark Sanchez (knee), T Robert Turner (knee). COLTS: DNP: DE Keyunta Dawson (knee), DE Dwight Freeney (abdomen), WR Pierre Garcon (hand), WR Anthony Gonzalez (knee), T Charlie Johnson (foot), LB Freddy Keiaho (not injury related), DE Robert Mathis (quadricep), CB Jerraud Powers (hamstring), LB Clint Session (knee). FULL: RB Joseph Addai (knee), S Antoine Bethea (foot), LB Gary Brackett (foot), RB Donald Brown (chest), S Melvin Bullitt (shoulder), T Ryan Diem (foot), S Aaron Francisco (ankle), RB Mike Hart (ankle), CB Tim Jennings (ankle), CB Jacob Lacey (biceps), QB Peyton Manning (glute), G Jamey Richard (shoulder), RB Chad Simpson (chest), T Tony Ugoh (knee), K Adam Vinatieri (right knee), WR Reggie Wayne (foot). DALLAS @WASHINGTON: COWBOYS: DNP: RB Deon Anderson (knee, illness), T Marc Colombo (ankle), S Pat Watkins (knee). FULL: TE Martellus Bennett (concussion), S Ken Hamlin (ankle), CB Terence Newman (knee), S Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb), LB DeMarcus Ware (wrist, neck). REDSKINS: DNP: WR Devin Thomas (ankle). LIMITED: DE Andre Carter (biceps), DT Cornelius Griffin (shoulder), DT Anthony Montgomery (hip). FULL: CB DeAngelo Hall (knee), T Stephon Heyer (knee).
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
NFL Continued from Page 1B for 9.1 receptions per game, which would break Marvin Harrison’s NFL record of 8.9 set in 2002. Seattle (5-9) at Green Bay (9-5) The first time Mike Holmgren is not involved in this matchup since 1990. While the injury-ravaged Seahawks can’t wait for the season to end, the Packers seem headed to the playoffs. Carolina (6-8) at N.Y. Giants (8-6) Carolina comes off its best game of the season, a 26-7 manhandling of Minnesota. Panthers QB Matt Moore had a career-high 299 yards passing and three touchdowns, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart form a formidable rushing pair, and New York is vulnerable on defense if it can’t manufacture a rush. Minnesota (11-3) at Chicago (5-9) This Monday night appearance will be Minnesota’s third in prime time in four weeks. The Vikings
lost the previous two badly, and for the first time all season, there’s some discord thanks to coach Brad Childress’ thoughts about removing Brett Favre from the loss at Carolina last Sunday. Tampa Bay (2-12) at New Orleans (13-1) OK, that silly undefeated stuff is out of the way for the Saints. Yeah, we know they really wanted to shoot for 16-0, but with the loss to Dallas last Saturday night, it’s time to get everyone organized and healthy for the postseason. St. Louis (1-13) at Arizona (9-5) That No. 1 spot in the draft is the Rams’ pick to, uh, lose. They aren’t likely to get a second victory in the Valley of the Sun, even though the Cardinals own the NFC West and are almost locked in as the fourth seed in the conference. Oakland (5-9) at Cleveland (3-10) Two bad teams playing a
bit better. The Browns have won two straight, with record-setting showings at Kansas City by Joshua Cribbs and Jerome Harrison. Oakland has wins over Philly, Denver and Cincinnati, all playoff candidates, but has trouble with prosperity: The Raiders have been outscored 119-23 after victories. Detroit (2-12) at San Francisco (6-8) San Francisco needs to win its final two games to avoid a seventh straight losing season. Running back Frank Gore is looking for his third straight 100-yard rushing game and needs 58 yards for his fourth straight 1,000-yard rushing season. Buffalo (5-9) at Atlanta (7-7) Now in its 44th season, Atlanta never has managed winning records in consecutive years. After going 11-5 in 2008, it comes down to this: sweep the Bills and Bucs or extend the ignominious string.
TEXANS Continued from Page 1B the Dolphins from making the playoffs. “We were supposed to be one of the best teams, and they came down here and beat us opening day,” recalled Miami’s Ricky Williams, a 1,000-yard rusher then and now. “It seems like every time we play against them, they find a way to beat us.” Nick Saban’s play-calling drew criticism following Miami’s loss at Houston in 2006. A repeat defeat in 2007 accelerated the collapse of the short-lived Cam Cameron regime in a 1-15 season. And last year, the Texans scored the winning touchdown with 3 seconds left to revive their season after an 0-4 start. “History is what it is, and Sunday is Sunday,” said safety Yeremiah Bell, who has been with the Dolphins since 2003. “But when you don’t beat a team, you can’t
“I can actually walk from my mom’s old house right to the stadium,” he said. Johnson caught 10 passes for 178 yards last season against the Dolphins, and they’ve been prone to surrendering big pass plays this year. They’ve allowed a league-worst 14.4 yards per completion.
totally discount it.”
On the brink Now, the Dolphins face their nemesis while on the brink of elimination from the playoff picture. The defending AFC East champions have been scrambling all season to overcome an 0-3 start, and an overtime loss last week at Tennessee cost them control of their destiny. “It’s what we created for ourselves,” guard Justin Smiley said. “We can’t do anything about it now except try to win Sunday.” For a different result against Houston, the Dolphins need to contain the Texans’ passing attack, which won’t be easy. Matt Schaub has thrown for 4,181 yards and 25 scores, and Johnson has been unstoppable the past couple of weeks,
Getting beat
Photo by Dave Einsel | AP
In this Oct. 12, 2008, file photo, Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) scores the winning touchdown on a 3-yard run as Miami Dolphins’ Quentin Moses (74) pursues the play during the fourth quarter of their game in Houston. The Texans beat the Dolphins 29-28 for their first win of the season in that game, but it will be a different story as they seek to jump above .500 when they face the Dolphins this Sunday. becoming only the second receiver to top 190 yards in consecutive games.
A homecoming Johnson’s excited about
playing in his hometown for the first time since his rookie year in 2003.
Vontae Davis, one of Miami’s two starting rookie cornerbacks, was beaten twice for touchdowns last week. “If you’re going to be in this league a long time, you’ve got to expect games like that,” Davis said. “It’s part of learning.” The Texans could provide a real education. They’re second in the NFL in passing yardage, and Schaub has eight 300yard games this season.
COWBOYS Continued from Page 1B enough in prime time. The Cowboys (9-5) hope to be in position to clinch a playoff berth, while the Redskins (4-10) are playing out the string for lame duck coach Jim Zorn. The cold numbers say the Cowboys lead the series 58-39-2, although both playoff meetings were won by the Redskins. Emotionally, players and fans say there’s nothing like it, especially in Washington, where the rivalry has always been taken more seriously than in Dallas. “The only one that’s probably in that same class is Bears-Packers, just because it’s forever,” Bruce Allen said. “It’s Cowboys and Indians. For so long, these franchises, every game is meaningful. It’s a great rivalry for the NFL.”
after Allen was hired by the Redskins. After all, it was his father’s scorn for stoic counterpart Tom Landry and the team from Texas that stoked a passion that still burns decades later. “It was George Allen, who didn’t believe in the draft, vs. the Cowboys, who believed in the draft,” longtime NFL running back Calvin Hill said. “It was over-the-hill players against players who were young. It was two coaches who were diametrically opposed; one was very reserved and one was very emotional. “I think George actually made an effort to create a focus and a goal — we have to get through Dallas. So he ratcheted up that whole thing. ‘You’ve got to hate Dallas.”‘
both teams — and thus both Hall of Fame coaches — during the 1970s. “I remember George came into the Dallas week and he said he just wished he could meet Tom Landry on the 50-yard line, just him and Tom, and they could fight it out,” Hill said. “He started talking about what he’d do to Tom. This was during the week, a speech to the team. He was saying all this that he’d do to Tom, blah-blahblah. “Then he dismissed the meeting. I remember I was walking down the stairs and Larry Brown said, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘You know, Tom Landry’s in pretty good shape.”‘
were starting to call themselves “America’s Team.” “The image-building they were doing in those days was different than what he wanted the Redskins’ image to be,” Bruce Allen said. “He was very proud of the group of players he was playing with, and they were never going to take a back seat to the Cowboys.” Because Allen and Landry never did duke it out at the 50, two of the most memorable games in the series are remembered simply by a nickname and a chant: “The Mad Bomber” and “We Want Dallas!”
beat the Redskins during the strike-shortened regular season, and Washington’s subsequent Super Bowl victory wouldn’t have felt quite the same if the Redskins hadn’t exacted revenge. “It wouldn’t have been worth anything if we didn’t get to beat Dallas,” said Joe Jacoby, a longtime member of the offensive line known as the “Hogs.” “That game is still vivid. Just seeing the stands move and the crowd and how loud they were.”
Shaking cheers
‘America’s Team’
Allen connections
Unique perspective
It’s timely that the game comes less than two weeks
Hill has a unique perspective, having played for
Bruce Allen said his father wanted to draw a deliberate distinction between the franchises at a time when the Cowboys
“We Want Dallas!” was the cry that literally shook the flexible bleachers of RFK Stadium during Washington’s 31-17 win in the NFC championship game on Jan. 22, 1983. The Cowboys were the only team to
There are too many other great moments to count: —Ken Houston tackles Walt Garrison at the goal line to preserve a Redskins’ 14-7 victory in 1973. —Harvey Martin tosses a funeral wreath into Washington’s locker room after a 35-34 Cowboys win that clinches the NFC East on
Top moments
the final day of the 1979 season. —Dallas wins 24-21 over a Washington team that was 11-0 in 1991, ending a shot at an unbeaten season. The list goes on.
Winding down But, as great as the rivalry has been, it is limping its way to its milestone. No. 99 wasn’t much of a game — the Cowboys won 7-6 on Nov. 22 — and No. 100 has been overshadowed in Washington by a season so dysfunctional that even Dallas Week feels like an afterthought. For Redskins players who were a big part in the rivalry’s heyday, it’s been hard to watch. “It hurts, I admit that,” Jacoby said. “It does pain you to see what’s going on now, and you want it to be better. You want that history that we had, that we were part of, to continue.”
COACHES Continued from Page 1B own program for rebuilding the Browns by another year. Besides, Mangini hardly has been the most popular, diplomatic or understanding coach in the league, both in Cleveland and New York. All three of those traits defined Holmgren when he led the Packers and Seahawks.
Oakland Don’t be surprised to see Tom Cable return. Yes, the Raiders remain losers, and JaMarcus Russell has made virtually no progress at quarterback. But remember that Cable had
nothing to do with Al Davis selecting Russell at the top of the draft in 2007, and his decision to go with Bruce Gradkowski late this season worked well enough. Plus, nobody can predict the whims of Davis, who might just decide a Super Bowl-winning coach needs to be brought to Oakland. Of course, Shanahan and Gruden already have been down that Black Hole.
Chicago Three seasons back, Lovie Smith was the toast of Chitown, as secure as any coach or manager in the
Windy City. Now, followers of Da Bears are ready to bring out Da Ax. And not just for Smith, but for general manager Jerry Angelo.
Carolina John Fox is an excellent coach who has been hamstrung by some poor contract situations (Julius Peppers) and decisions (Jake Delhomme). Fox was part of those choices by the Panthers, of course. Carolina has been up and down for most of the decade, going 7-9, 11-5 (and a last-second loss in the Super Bowl), 7-9, 11-5 (and a
trip to the NFC title game), 8-8, 7-9 and 12-4 under Fox.
Washington Since Daniel Snyder bought the Redskins in 1999, he has had six head coaches, one of them interim. It’s clear that Jim Zorn won’t be around for 2010, and new GM Bruce Allen had a long working relationship with Gruden in Oakland and Tampa Bay. Snyder loves big names, doesn’t mind spending big bucks, but Gruden has indicated he will stay in the broadcast booth next year. Plus, there’s another megacoach out there in Shana-
han, who wants back in.
Buffalo Dick Jauron couldn’t stick around long enough to go 7-9 for a fourth successive season. Perry Fewell has to win his last two, including beating the Colts, to get that high as he finishes out Jauron’s term. Owner Ralph Wilson says he will spend to get a quality coach and he had a long meeting with Shanahan after firing Jauron.
Houston This was supposed to be
the Texans’ year after not making the playoffs or managing a winning record since their 2002 inception. It hasn’t happened, although victories over Miami and New England would give them a 9-7 mark and at least slim hope of making the postseason. Gary Kubiak has built a strong passing offense, but the Texans don’t make the big plays in tight spots. He is 29-33 since taking charge, hardly the return on his investment that owner Bob McNair expects. McNair, one of the league’s most respected owners, could make a run at the big names if he parts with Kubiak.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
THE ZAPATA TIMES | 3B
HINTS BY HELOISE Dear Heloise: I am passing along a way to deal with COBWEBS that hang from cathedral ceilings. I had a cobweb for several years that I couldn’t figure out how to get down because the ceiling was two stories high and beyond the reach of any industrial ladder. I decided that I might throw something at it and came up with the idea of using a roll of toilet paper! Because it was so high, I had to throw it many times, and it hit the big hanging mass several times before bringing it down, but IT WORKED! -- Peggy Anderson, Laurinburg, N.C. Peggy, that’s one way to get those impossible-to-reach cobwebs! I’ve used a tennis ball inside the leg of old pantyhose and played "cobweb tennis" in those hard-to-reach spots. -- Heloise SEND A GREAT HINT TO: Heloise P.O. Box 795000 San Antonio, TX 78279-5000 Fax: 210-HELOISE E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com COFFEE CONTAINERS Dear Heloise: I have a hint
“
HELOISE
on using the plastic 34-ounce coffee containers. I fill them with plastic grocery bags and keep them under my sinks to put in small garbage cans or use as needed. -- Kathy Donovan, Fort Pierce, Fla. LAUNDRY DETERGENT Dear Heloise: If you have to go out to a laundry center to wash and dry clothes, don’t take the big, heavy bottle of detergent. I use my smaller bottles of dishwashing liquid to carry my liquid detergent in. It’s less mess, and I can either throw away the bottles or reuse them. -- Z.D.W., Washington, D.C. TOY STORAGE Dear Heloise: Do your children have too many toys and not enough places to put them? Use a sturdy molded child’s swimming pool as a storage container. It can be slipped under the bed when not in use. -Frankie in Arkansas
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Sports
4B LAREDO MORNING TIMES
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009
Baseball’s steroid scandal is top story of 2009 By NANCY ARMOUR ASSOCIATED PRESS
The dark shadow that performance-enhancing drugs continue to cast on baseball was picked as the sports Story of the Year by members of The Associated Press. Some of the biggest names in the game — Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and David “Big Papi” Ortiz — were linked to performance-enhancing drugs this year, and the story received 800 points in voting by editors at U.S. newspapers that are members of the AP.
Tiger’s votes The balloting was unusual in that a major story — Tiger Woods’ accident on Nov. 27 and the sex scandal that followed — happened after voting had started. By then, 37 of 161 ballots had been submitted. Given the extraordinary nature of the Woods story, the AP added it to the top stories ballot Nov. 30 and gave editors who had voted
prior to that the chance to submit a new ballot, which about 10 did. In the end, the Woods’ scandal received 41 firstplace votes, compared with 27 for the steroids crisis.
he did test positive, whether it was for steroids or a substance contained in a supplement. Miguel Tejada was sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty in federal court to misleading Congress about the use of performance-enhancing drugs. And Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are still in limbo, their legal cases related to drugs working their way through the system.
Bigger story Nonetheless, baseball’s drug woes was still rated a bigger story overall by editors than the Woods’ scandal. Even if only the votes cast after the Woods’ scandal broke were counted, editors still picked the steroid scourge as the year’s top story. “The impact that that story had made it the story of the year,” said Lance Hanlin, sports editor of the Beaufort (S.C.) Gazette and The (Hilton Head) Island Packet. “It was a big, ongoing, overall story.” Though only one MLB player tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in this, the first full year of a toughened program, steroids continued to taint America’s pastime.
Top 10 Photo by David J. Phillip | AP
In this Nov. 12 file photo, a spectator holds up a sign as New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez warms up in the on deck circle during the fifth inning of Game 5 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia. Steroids’ blemish on baseball has been picked as the Story of the Year by members of The Associated Press.
Start to finish Spring training began with A-Rod, the highest-paid player in the game and one of the New York Yankees biggest stars, admitting that he used banned substances from 2001-03 while playing
for the Texas Rangers. Almost three months later, Ramirez was suspended for 50 games after baseball obtained records that showed he used a banned female fertility drug. The summer brought reports that Ortiz and Sammy
Sosa were on the infamous “list,” the 104 players who tested positive in baseball’s anonymous 2003 survey. Ortiz insisted he’d never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs, and there’s no way to know whether he actually tested positive or, if
Woods’ woes finished as the fifth-biggest story of the year (617 points), following Jimmie Johnson’s historic fourth straight NASCAR championship (690), Roger Federer winning his 15th Grand Slam (639) and Brett Favre ending his (second) retirement to lead the Minnesota Vikings to the division title (637). Woods was part of two top 10 stories, however. His comeback prior to his precipitous fall found the 10th slot among the top stories.
Economy kept many sports fans at home By EDDIE PELLS
revenue producer — declined. Sutton said that as corporations try to justify paying for them, they should no longer be marketed as suites, but “business development centers.” The Arena Football League folded, though in a bit of good news, a new league is being formed to replace it, with some of the old teams coming back. The WNBA reduced roster sizes and suffered the loss of a signature franchises, the Houston Comets.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Take me out to the ballgame,” the old song goes. Americans, however, may have been too busy channel surfing to do that this year. Television, it turns out, was where Americans turned to satisfy their craving for sports in the recession-plagued year of 2009. With fewer dollars to spend, many fans resorted to the “cave model,” hunkering down at home to watch the game instead of heading to the ballpark to see it live.
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TV on the up Buoyed by the Yankees in the World Series, baseball’s TV ratings were up. The NFL is still the NFL — no slowing down America’s favorite televised sport. College football ratings increased over 2008 and the NBA enjoyed its best viewership since the days of Michael Jordan. Advertisers could bank on more eyeballs for their buck, though they weren’t always so fast to sign on. “One thing you might see more of in the future is that people are going to take the money they would’ve invested in tickets and invest in a home theater system, so they can stay home and watch it on TV,” said Bill Sutton of University of Central Florida’s DeVos business management department. “I call it going back to the cave model.”
Blacking out Through 14 weeks this year, 20 NFL games had been blacked out because they failed to sell out, compared to only nine all last season. The league also reported a 3 percent decline in attendance. But games on TV were averaging 16.7
Photo by Julie Jacobson | AP
In this April 21 file photo, New York Yankees fans watch from the third base side of the field as Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte delivers against the Oakland Athletics during a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Yankees opened their new stadium and tried to sell front-row tickets for $2,500, but quickly found there was little market at that price during a year that saw the economy keep many spectators in front of their televisions. million viewers, the highest average at this point in the season since 1989 — an encouraging statistic for advertisers though it still didn’t prevent Pepsi from ending its 23-year run of placing ads on the Super Bowl telecast. “In 2010, each of our beverage brands has a strategy and marketing platform that will be less about a singular event and more about a movement,” spokeswoman Nicole Bradley explained.
Changing landscape Indeed, the changing media landscape brought about new business models, while the shrinking economy restricted profits — making it a mixed-bag
kind of year for the sports industry. Baseball attendance decreased by 6.9 percent, to its lowest levels since 2003, though part of the decline could be attributed to the Yankees and Mets moving into smaller ballparks. The Yankees opened their new stadium and tried to sell front-row tickets for $2,500, but quickly found there was little market at that price and discounted them by $1,000. As the season progressed, they found that the old formula of winning — and being in New York — keeps the turnstiles moving.
Price slashing A number of NBA teams
went on aggressive priceslashing programs, trying to sell affordability — never a hallmark of a league that pays some of its bench players $9 million a season — to fans who were feeling priced out of the game even before the downturn hit. Many NHL and baseball teams did the same thing. Take out a few exceptions — notably, the Yankees, Mets and Dallas Cowboys, with their inflated prices in new stadiums — and the price of tickets for America’s four major sports went down slightly in 2009. “The term ’downselling’ is becoming part of the nomenclature,” Sutton said. “If you had a full seasonticket holder, you’re trying to keep him connected by selling him half a season. People are moving down.
They’re going to fewer games. But the teams want them to keep going to some games. The whole idea is to maintain the relationship.”
Making sacrifices NASCAR, facing a money drain because it’s one of the most sponsor-heavy leagues in sports, suspended preseason testing before the Daytona 500 to help teams save money. NBA commissioner David Stern conceded that betting on NBA games might be a way to create a new revenue stream — a consideration that has long been thought of as heresy for almost all American sports. The sales and demand for luxury suites — a big
Some NFL teams started selling advertising space on their practice jerseys. Sutton predicts that by 2011, one of America’s major sports leagues will expand that practice — common in Europe but not anywhere close to accepted in the United States — and either sell space on game jerseys or name a team or teams after a high-paying sponsor. “The Cleveland Nike Air Maxes?” “The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, brought to you by Budweiser?” Indeed, the economy has forced fans to look at sports differently, and forced the sports themselves to imagine things they’ve never thought of before.
Still competing The main message, however, stays the same: Eager for diversions, Americans still love their sports — even when they can’t afford them so much. “It bounces back, I just don’t think it bounces back to 2006 levels,” Sutton said. “We used to say we were competing for the entertainment dollar, but we’re not doing that anymore. “Now, we’re just competing for the dollar.”
Cotton Bowl’s new start no promise for title game By RALPH D. RUSSO ASSOCIATED PRESS
A new era for the Cotton Bowl begins Jan. 2 when Mississippi plays Oklahoma State at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium. The Cotton Bowl game ditched the antiquated Cotton Bowl Stadium last season. Not only will the game be played in Jerry Jones’ palatial new home but Cotton Bowl officials also have offices in the stadium. The Cotton Bowl, once one of the jewels of college football’s postseason, is ready to rise again. The Cotton Bowl’s new home in Arlington has already landed some big sporting events: the NCAA
men’s basketball tournament and the Super Bowl. Then there is the Big 12 and the Fiesta Bowl. The ties between to the two are also relatively new, but both have benefited from the relationship. Big 12 fans like heading to the desert in the winter and the league often provides the bowl one of college football’s signature programs. The Big 12 played its championship game at Dallas Cowboys Stadium earlier this month and commissioner Dan Beebe has said the idea of making it a permanent destination is up for discussion. But that would probably hurt the Cotton Bowl’s chances of getting into the
BCS. It’s unlikely the Big 12 would want to send its champion to the same site as its championship game. Few bowls can match the history and tradition of the Cotton Bowl. It dates to 1936 and has hosted seven games that decided national championships. Even when it was being played in a second-rate facility, the Cotton Bowl has always been praised by participants as a first-rate operation. And now it’s being played in the Taj Mahal of football stadiums. With all that and Jones in the background ready to provide influence, the Cotton Bowl’s chances of the BCS down the road are still murky at best.
Photo by Ian Halperin/Cotton Bowl Athletic Association | AP
In this file photo proved by the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, fans fill the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas to watch Texas Tech play Mississippi in the 73rd Cotton Bowl in Dallas. January’s game was the last in the bowl’s namesake stadium. A new era for the Cotton Bowl begins Jan. 2 when Mississippi plays Oklahoma State at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium.