05/16/2008

An early shot is Dallas Stars' only shot

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Loui Eriksson (bottom left) gave the Stars a 1-0 lead in Game 4, Dallas' only victory thus far in the series.

The Dallas Stars, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes, have one chance to beat Detroit in Game 5 today (12:30 p.m., Ch. 5) and extend the best-of-7 Western Conference finals series one more game. That chance is to score first.
Video: Game 5 preview | Best effort needed
Blog: Dallas Stars

05/15/2008

Carlisle knows: Howard is key for Dallas Mavericks

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Josh Howard (right) shot 29.2 percent for the Dallas Mavericks during a disappointing playoff series with New Orleans.

The Dallas Mavericks, as currently constructed, aren't a playoff team in 2009. That, however, will change if Josh Howard plays like the guy who was an All-Star in 2007, not the scrub we saw in the playoffs, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor.
Blog: Dallas Mavericks

05/13/2008

Sadly, ex-Dallas Cowboy Hambrick never grew up

DMN file

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Troy Hambrick rushed for a career-high 189 yards on Dec. 14, 2003 against Washington.

Troy Hambrick never grew up. That's the primary reason the 31-year-old former Dallas Cowboy was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for selling crack cocaine, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor. How sad.
Archives: Career day for Hambrick
Hambrick's career statistics
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

05/11/2008

Dallas Stars stymied by Detroit's defense

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

Brad Stuart and the Detroit Red Wings defensemen have kept Brenden Morrow (foreground) and the Dallas Stars from getting up in the series.

Know why Dallas Stars captain Brenden Morrow hasn't stamped his name on the NHL's Western Conference finals? The Red Wings refuse to let him, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes. The same goes for Mike Ribeiro and Jere Lehtinen.
Video: Game 3 preview
Video: Stars before Game 3
Tell Us: Hope left?
Blog: Dallas Stars

Red Wings still have Turco's number

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

With Saturday's 2-1 loss in Detroit, Stars goalie Marty Turco is 0-9-2 at Joe Louis Arena.

The Red Wings faithful serenades Marty Turco loudly and lustily - sometimes for no apparent reason. Clearly, they revel in his failure. It's up to Turco to shut them up, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor. He didn't do it Saturday night. Again.
  Photos
 Tell Us: Can Stars win series?
Blog: Dallas Stars

05/09/2008

Time for Dallas Stars' Tippett to hit the switch

G.J. MCCARTHY / DMN

Dallas Stars defenseman Matt Niskanen is likely to replace Mark Fistric for Game 2.

Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett is planning to scrap all of the defensive pairings he used in Game 1. Good for him. There's no guarantee anything he tries will work in Game 2 today (6 p.m., Versus), but change is considerably better than the status quo, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor.
Game 2 preview
Blog: Dallas Stars

05/08/2008

Dallas Stars better rise quickly, or say goodnight

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

Dallas' Brenden Morrow (10) is surrounded by Red Wings after missing a chance to score in the second period.

If the Dallas Stars, the team that played with bravado and arrogance in the first two rounds of the playoffs don't show up in a hurry, the Western Conference finals will end in four games, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes.
 Photos: 2008 playoffs
 Tell Us: What happened?
Blog: Dallas Stars

05/05/2008

Dallas Stars' unsinkable Morrow proves C-worthy

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Dallas Stars Brenden Morrow (left) and Mike Modano celebrate Morrow's winning goal in the fourth overtime of Game 6.

Brenden Morrow showed in the four-overtime win over San Jose why the Dallas Stars put the captain's C on on his sweater before last season, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor.
Blog: Dallas Stars

05/04/2008

Rookie DE a free spirit for Dallas Cowboys

TOM FOX / DMN

Marcus Dixon is trying to make the Dallas Cowboys' roster as an undrafted rookie defensive end.

An elaborate tattoo stretches from the top of Marcus Dixon's left shoulder and contains a passage from Revelation 20:1-3. On the inside of his left forearm, Psalms 91 is tattooed in cursive. If you had been to hell and back like Dixon, you'd understand why he's permanently engraved religious passages on his body, writes DMN columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor.
 Blog: Dallas Cowboys

05/02/2008

Deep thoughts: Tippett has Dallas Stars believing

G.J. McCARTHY / DMN

A win tonight will give coach Dave Tippett his first trip to the conference finals with the Dallas Stars.

The mark of a good coach is the ability to get his team to buy into his philosophy, which is what Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett has done, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. Dallas looks to close out San Jose in Game 5 tonight (9 p.m. Versus).
• Game 5 preview
Blog: Dallas Stars

05/01/2008

Dallas Stars' greats give Game 4 away

G.J. McCARTHY / DMN

Dallas Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov (right), talking to Brad Richards in Game 4, has made two costly errant passes in the series.

Sergei Zubov and Mike Modano are two of the best players in the Dallas Stars' history, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. But each made an uncharacteristic miscue Wednesday night, forcing the Stars to make at least one more trip to the West Coast to end their series against San Jose.
 Tell Us: How many games?
 Photos: Game 4
 Video: '08 vs. '99
Blog: Dallas Stars

04/29/2008

Jones or Mendenhall? You make the call

AP

If Jean-Jacques Taylor had his way, the Cowboys would have drafted Illinois' running back Rashard Mendenhall (above) instead of Felix Jones.

Time will judge the Dallas Cowboys' 2008 draft class. But in selecting running back Felix Jones over Rashard Mendenhall with their first pick, the Cowboys passed on a player who is better, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes in the latest installment of Inside the Dallas Cowboys.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

04/28/2008

Dallas Mavericks a collection of ill-fitting parts

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Dallas Mavericks players wait for an officials' ruling on what would be a flagrant foul and an ejection of jason Kidd in the fourth quarter of Game 4.

Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor writes after watching the Dallas Mavericks play without passion and urgency in a pathetic, 97-84 loss to New Orleans in Game 4 of their best-of-7 series, it's pretty obvious substantial changes must be made.
Photos: Game 4
 Tell Us: Frustrated?
Blog: Dallas Mavericks

04/27/2008

Wrong selection for Dallas Cowboys? 

Getty Images

Felix Jones (25) rushed for 2,939 yards in three seasons at Arkansas.

You don't draft a complementary player in the first round when you have an opportunity to select a franchise back. Ever. But that's what the Dallas Cowboys did Saturday by picking Felix Jones over Rashard Mendenhall, writes DMN Jean-Jacques Taylor.
 Video: Day 2 review
 Blog: Dallas Cowboys

04/23/2008

Dallas Cowboys players won't police Pacman

AP

Pacman Jones hands out boxes of food and personal-care items to families at Word of God Ministries in Atlanta on April 1.

Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor writes now that the Dallas Cowboys have acquired Pacman Jones, it's up to him to grow up and stay out of trouble. The players insist they're not going to be part of Jerry Jones' security force.
• Deal struck for Pacman
 Tell Us: Like the deal?
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

04/22/2008

Right now, it looks bad for Dallas Mavericks ... and Avery

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Avery Johnson (right) is 2-10 in his last 12 playoff games, with six of those losses coming by double-digits.

If the Mavericks lose this series to New Orleans, Mark Cuban must decide whether Avery Johnson can lead his team to a championship, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes. A few months ago, the question would've been laughable. These days, it's legitimate.
  Photos: Game 2
 Tell Us: Can Avery lead Mavs to a title?
Blog: Dallas Mavericks

04/21/2008

For series to last, Dallas Mavericks must go fast

AP

It will be primarily up to Jason Kidd (left) to get the Dallas Mavericks' up-tempo game going.

Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor has a word of advice to Avery Johnson before tonight's Game 2 (6 p.m., TNT, Ch. 21) of the Dallas Mavericks' playoff series against New Orleans: Do whatever it takes to get the Mavs' running game going.
• Game 2 preview
• Whose tattoo is it?
Blog: Dallas Mavericks

04/20/2008

Dallas Mavericks can't afford another all-Paul performance
No one stops Chris Paul. He's too good.

04/18/2008

Turco there when Dallas Stars needed hero

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco defends his net from Anaheim's Teemu Selanne.

Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco was at his sprawling, acrobatic best, stopping 27 of 28 shots, and coming within 7.6 seconds of a shutout as the Stars beat the Anaheim Ducks, 3-1, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. Game 5 of the series is tonight (9:30 p.m. Ch. 27).
Photos: Game 4
Blog: Dallas Stars

04/16/2008

Dallas Stars' energy was lacking in 4-2 loss

BEN FREDMAN / DMN

Dallas' Stu Barnes (left) shows his frustration as the Anaheim Ducks celebrate their third goal.

None of us really figured the Dallas Stars would sweep Anaheim, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. But Dallas came out with all of the intensity of a Sunday afternoon beer league softball game, and 15 minutes into the contest, Game 3 was essentially over.
Photos: Game 3
Blog: Dallas Stars
 Tell Us: What happened?

04/15/2008

McAllister's deal proves there's no loyalty in NFL
Next time you hear players complain about their contracts, think of RB Deuce McAllister, columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor writes in his latest installment of Inside the Dallas Cowboys.

04/13/2008

Ribeiro gives Dallas Stars slight advantage

AP

Dallas Stars center Mike Ribeiro (right) has four assists in two games against Anaheim in the playoffs.

Mike Ribeiro had a goal and two assists Saturday as the Dallas Stars smacked around Anaheim, 5-2, in Game 2. Ribeiro has elevated his game in the playoffs, which is what good players are supposed to do, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. In the series' biggest play, Ribeiro stripped the big, bad Ducks of their bravado.
Photos: Game 2
Blog: Dallas Stars

04/11/2008

Turco makes transformation in net for Dallas Stars

MIKE STONE / Special to DMN

Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco has had four shutouts in his last eight playoff games.

Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco remade himself two summers ago, and so far, he seems to have undergone a transformation in the postseason as well, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. That bodes well for the Stars going into tonight's Game 2 (9 p.m., Ch. 27) at Anaheim.
Blog: Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars see Ducks turn into dodos

AP

Steve Ott (right) and other Dallas Stars got under the skin of the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.

You could make the argument that Anaheim is the NHL's dumbest team after watching Game 1 against the Dallas Stars, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. The Ducks committed 10 penalties in the first two periods and gave the Stars a boost of confidence and a 4-0 win.
Photos: Game 1
Blog: Dallas Stars
Tell Us: Road sweep?

04/09/2008

Dallas Stars' Tippett can't afford to play it safe

Getty Images

The Dallas Stars are 2-8 in playoff overtime games under coach Dave Tippett.

The Dallas Stars have the personnel to oust Anaheim from the playoffs starting tonight with Game 1 of their first-round series (9 p.m., FSNSW). But it's going to take an attitude adjustment from coach Dave Tippett to get it done, columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor writes.
 Tell Us: Prediction?
Blog: Dallas Stars
Video: Series preview

04/08/2008

Dallas Cowboys don't need to rush Pacman deal

Getty Images

Dallas has affixed a value – a fourth- or fifth-round pick – to cornerback Pacman Jones (left).

Pacman Jones will be a Dallas Cowboy, unless some other team decides it can't live without the troubled cornerback. If that happens, so be it, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes in the latest installment of Inside the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas doesn't need Pacman to win the Super Bowl.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

04/05/2008

Even without QBs, SMU's Jones has options
The best quarterback on the SMU campus, the one who has tossed 51 touchdown passes the last two seasons, is suspended and won't play in today's spring game.

04/03/2008

Energized Dallas Mavericks a little shocking

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

The Dallas Mavericks had reason to congratulate each other in Wednesday's win over the Warriors.

The Dallas Mavericks – who ran a tired Golden State team into submission – are the team we need to see play each of the final seven games this season, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor.
• Mavs-Lakers preview
Blog: Dallas Mavericks

03/30/2008

Memphis' Rose flips script on Texas' Augustin

MICHAEL AINSWORTH / DMN

Texas guard D.J. Augustin (left) and Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts fight for possession.

The classic showdown between Texas' D.J. Augustin and Memphis' Derrick Rose, the two best point guards in the nation, never materialized Sunday afternoon, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. That's because Rose was fantastic, while Augustin was overmatched.
Photos: UT-Memphis
Blog: Colleges
• More coverage

03/29/2008

Augustin, Rose are focal points of UT-Memphis matchup

AP

Texas' D.J. Augustin (left) and Memphis' Derrick Rose are two of college basketball's top point guards.

Memphis point guard Derrick Rose will be an NBA lottery pick in June. Texas point guard D.J. Augustin is a lottery pick in waiting. Table that for now, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes, because the of the NCAA Tournament matchup today.
• Scores | Bracket
Blog: Colleges
• More NCAA Tournament

03/28/2008

Augustin has UT pointed toward Final Four

MICHAEL AINSWORTH / DMN

D.J. Augustin, listening to Texas coach Rick Barnes, had 23 points, seven assists and five rebounds against Stanford.

Texas point guard D.J. Augustin, who should get consideration for Player of the Year, showed what a force he can be in the Longhorns' 82-62 rout of Stanford, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes. Augustin must play that way again for UT to beat No. 1-seed Memphis. There's no reason he can't.
 Photos: UT-Stanford
• Scores | Bracket
Blog: Colleges

03/27/2008

Even in Houston, Texas isn't home free

MICHAEL AINSWORTH / DMN

Texas coach Rick Barnes and A.J. Abrams should have plenty of fan support against Stanford.

It will take more than a frenzied crowd and a favorable locale to get Texas to next week's Final Four in San Antonio, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. This region is too tough. Texas plays Stanford in Houston tonight (6:27 p.m., Ch. 11).
• Schedule | Bracket
• Tall order | Preview
Blog: Colleges

03/25/2008

Pacman Jones coming to Dallas Cowboys still a bad idea

COURTNEY PERRY / DMN

Pacman Jones told his side of the story on Michael Irvin's radio show.

Even after Pacman Jones appeared on the Michael Irvin Show to plead his case, all the embattled cornerback did was show why he wouldn't be a good fit for the Dallas Cowboys, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor in this week's Inside Valley Ranch.
Subscribe: Inside Valley Ranch
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

03/23/2008

Texas has gone far with long-range shots

MICHAEL AINSWORTH / DMN

Texas head coach Rick Barnes relies on A.J. Abrams (right) and others to be perimeter threats on offense.

Texas controlled its game with Miami from start to finish because of its dazzling long-range shooting, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. If UT shoots that well the rest of the way, then it's more than capable of beating any other team left in the tournament.
Photos | UT wins
•  Schedule | Bracket
Blog: Colleges
NCAA coverage

03/22/2008

Memphis must improve to March on
John Calipari glanced at the stat sheet following Memphis' win over UT-Arlington on Friday and proclaimed everything was all right with his team.

UTA no match for Memphis, but the Mavs didn't back down
We all knew 16th-seeded UT-Arlington was no match for mighty Memphis the moment the pairings for the South Region were announced.

03/21/2008

Longhorns don't give underdog hope
Texas did exactly what it was supposed to do against an inferior opponent like Austin Peay, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor.

03/20/2008

Texas' target should be no less than Final Four

AP

Texas guard D.J. Augustin (left) and head coach Rick Barnes start their NCAA Tournament experience today against Austin Peay.

The time is now for Rick Barnes to make his second trip to the Final Four, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. There's no reason he and the Longhorns shouldn't. No one said it would be easy. Getting to the Final Four never is, which is one of the reasons Texas has only been there three times in school history. But UT fears no one, and it shouldn't.
• Scoreboard | Bracket
Blog: Colleges
NCAA coverage

03/18/2008

Spending less can lead to more for Dallas Cowboys

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

The Cowboys took care of their own this off-season, re-signing safety Ken Hamlin (left) and tackle Flozell Adams.

The Dallas Cowboys have not gone on a spending spree during free agency. And that's the right approach for a team that sent a record number of players to the Pro Bowl – and has two first-round picks in next month's draft – writes Jean-Jacques Taylor in this week's Inside Valley Ranch.
Subscribe: Inside Valley Ranch
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

03/13/2008

Lighter burden helps Dallas Mavericks' Nowitzki raise game

JOHN F. RHODES / DMN

Dirk Nowitzki's statistics (28.1 points per game, 53.4 shooting percentage) since Jason Kidd's arrival are something to smile about.

The pressure of leading the Dallas Mavericks is no longer Dirk Nowitzki's burden to bear alone. It's shared by Jason Kidd and Avery Johnson. That, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor, will make Dirk better. Much better. It already has.
Blog: Dallas Mavericks

03/11/2008

Stackhouse as Dallas Mavericks' shooting guard worth a shot

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Jerry Stackhouse (top) helps the Mavericks as a starter because he's a good passer and attacks the basket, Jean-Jacques Tayor writes.

Avery Johnson has no idea how to solve the Dallas Mavericks' issues at shooting guard. All he can do, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes, is hope that Jerry Stackhouse can fix a problem that has plagued the Mavs, who host Charlotte tonight (7:30 p.m., Ch. 21), virtually all season.
• Lue set to debut | Mavs-Bobcats preview
Blog: Dallas Mavericks

03/10/2008

If Dallas Cowboys invest in Pacman, it's game over

File 2006

Tennessee's Pacman Jones (left) hugs Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens after their game in 2006.

Memo to Jerry Jones: Don't even think about acquiring Pacman Jones, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. You can't trust him. How could you? We have 44 strip clubs in Dallas. Another 14 in Fort Worth. And eight more in Arlington.
Tell Us: Sign Pacman?
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

03/09/2008

Advice to Texas Rangers, prospects: Stay patient

AP

Shortstop prospect German Duran hit .300 with 22 homers, 32 doubles and 84 RBIs for Double-A Frisco last season.

German Duran and the Texas Rangers' other top prospects need to play every day, and having them sit on a bench in Arlington helps no one, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor.

03/06/2008

It's time for the Dallas Mavericks to toughen up

JOHN F. RHODES / DMN

The Dallas Mavericks' bench watches the conclusion of their third straight loss.

Dirk Nowitzki's one-game suspension Thursday night gave the Dallas Mavericks a perfectly good excuse to fall apart against Houston. They readily accepted, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor. Houston 113, Dallas 98. Can you say embarrassment? This team simply isn't mentally tough enough.
• Mavs lose
Photos: Mavs-Rockets
 Tell Us: Playoffs?
Blog: Dallas Mavericks

03/04/2008

Veteran RB Dunn could be a deal for Dallas Cowboys

Getty Images

Warrick Dunn averaged only 3.1 yards per carry in 2007 but also caught 37 passes for a 6.4-yard average.

Warrick Dunn, released this week by Atlanta, is interested in signing with the Dallas Cowboys. If it's for the right price, and he's willing to accept the right role, then it could be a good deal for the Cowboys, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor in the latest installment of Inside Valley Ranch.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys

04/27/2008

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No columns available.