Cheap Seats

Ponder's Boxell leaves Lions for college gig

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:10:10 -0600

It is official. Ponder head coach Doug Boxell has left the Lions to coach at the University of the Ozarks, according to Josh Peppas, the university's sports information director. The University of the Ozarks is located in Clarksville, Arkansas and is a Division III school. Peppas said Boxell signed the contract yesterday after interviewing for the job on Monday. This is a nice promotion for Boxell. Not a lot of coaches jump from the 2A high school basketball level to the college ranks. Boxell was at Ponder for 13 years and led it to back-to-back state championships in 2008 and 2009. I am still waiting to get a call back from Mr. Boxell. I'll have more on this as soon as I hear from the coach.

Video: NHRA drag racing

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:55:42 -0600

Assistant sports editor Trevor Williams profiles NHRA drag racer Peggy Llewellyn and her day at the Texas Motorplex on Sept. 21. NHRA drag racer Peggy Llewellyn

Video: Texas Motor Speedway & Charity

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:07:20 -0600

Assistant sports editor Trevor Williams chronicles two instances of how Texas Motor Speedway helps out in the community. Texas Motor Speedway & Habitat for Humanity Texas Motor Speedway & Laps for Charity

Let's talk racing: Texans, Richmond, Chicago

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:12:11 -0600

Assistant sports editor Trevor Williams and copy editor Matt Crider have a two-part racing podcast. In part one, Texans in racing is discussed, including Bobby Labonte's chances at Richmond. Texas Racing Report In part two, Williams and Crider discuss news in NASCAR and IndyCar, including whether David Ragan or Clint Bowyer could make the Chase. Motor Sports

Let's talk racing: Bristol, Sonoma

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:54:58 -0600

Assistant sports editor Trevor Williams and copy editor Matt Crider have a two-part racing podcast. In part one, Texans in racing is discussed, including Brad Coleman's debut in the Sprint Cup. Texas Racing Report In part two, Williams and Crider discuss news in NASCAR and IndyCar, including the debate whether the Chase for the Championship is now just between Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. Motor Sports

Let's talk baseball

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:58:57 -0600

Assistant sports editor Trevor Williams talks Rangers and MLB baseball with staff writers Adam Boedeker and Jeff Andrews. Subjects include Matt Harrison and the Tampa Bay Rays. 0821 Baseball podcast

Let's talk baseball: Rangers (before 19-17 loss)

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:16:21 -0600

Assistant sports editor Trevor Williams and staff writers Adam Boedeker and Jeff Andrews talk Rangers baseball, the Adam Dunn trade and the Tampa Bay Rays on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 12th. 0812 Baseball podcast

Smashing Americans

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:21:28 -0600

What happened in the men's 4x100 freestyle relay yesterday at the Water Cube in Beijing was probably the greatest moment this Olympic Games will see, and we're only three days in. This race had all the makings for a classic. The French team, which was the favorite and has the 100-meter freestyle world-record holder (each swimmer swims 100 meters), Alain Bernard. Yes, his name's Alain. But that's beside the point. Bernard was quoted as saying the French team was coming to Beijing to "smash the Americans." The NBC announcers even said they'd broken down the race hundreds of times in their heads and saw no way the Americans could win and keep Michael Phelps' hopes of eight gold medals in a single Games alive.

Let's go racing: Watkins Glen, Kentucky

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:17:15 -0600

Assistant sports editor Trevor Williams and copy editor Matt Crider discuss NASCAR and IndyCar. Issues include the upcoming Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen and the IndyCar race at Kentucky. 0808 Motor Sports podcast Also, take a look at Trevor Williams' latest column and read about his experience at driving at the Lake Country Speedway in Ardmore, Oklahoma . Click here

Principal Goodell wants to send fans to ISS

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:30:32 -0600

Trying to discipline NFL players' personal lives off the field with no due process, no precedent and no checks and balances is one thing. Trying to do it to the fans? No, no, no, no, no. NFL principal Roger Goodell is taking his fight against "bad behavior" to the public with a conduct policy for fans at NFL stadiums. Punishment for not representing NFL fans in a manner become of the beacon of integrity that is the NFL is not only ejection from the game, but banishment from the stadium.

Georgia's the top Dawg, but may not be BCS title winner

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:29:35 -0600

The first USA Today Top 25 coaches poll was released today, a poll that unfortunately goes a long way to determining the national champion. So which team was basically handed the pole position for the BCS title game? Georgia, which finished No. 2 in the nation last year after wasting unworthy Hawaii in its bowl game. Georgia very well may be the best team in the nation, but in the SEC, the Bulldogs will lose two or three games. What it all comes down to is who they lose to, when they lose and how many undefeated teams there are.

Rangers: No deals, no advancement

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:05:08 -0600

I must say I'm more than a little disappointed that the Texas Rangers didn't pull the trigger on a deal to rid themselves of a spare part in order to gain a prospect at the trade deadline. Hank Blalock, Eddie Guardado, Jamey Wright, Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padillia, four catchers, Frank Catalanotto, Milton Bradley -- basically anyone not named Hamilton, Young or Kinsler -- came up in trade talks. No one was delt. All the movers and shakers in the MLB said teams were being very protective of their prospects at the trade deadline, so that makes me want to give Jon Daniels and Co. a pass on this one. But seriously. You couldn't find something you liked in the Marlins system that would have made dealing Gerald Laird worth it? Surely there was something to be done at the deadline.

Coming soon: Shockey drunk in New Orleans

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:46:41 -0600

Yes, I am a Giants fan. No, I am not a Jeremy Shockey fan. That's why I'm fairly happy to see that the outspoken, angry, drunken hillbilly was shown the door by the team in the form of a trade to the New Orleans Saints for second- and fifth-round draft picks. This is the same deal the Saints offered the Giants before the 2008 draft, which New York turned down, for whatever reason. Sean Payton coached Shockey in New York in Shockey's formative years, and should be a good fit there. Look for him to be pissed off and motivated to have a big year.

So much for the Hank experiment

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:25:03 -0600

Well, looks like Crush (Chris) Davis made enough of an impact in his first few weeks as a major leaguer. I mean, six home runs in 18 career games is a pretty decent start, right? Davis still has a lot to learn before becoming a great major league hitter but he's shown the promise and has flashed some serious leather at first base, so he's earned an everyday spot in the lineup. That means Hammerin' Hank Blalock will not move to first base as originally planned and will be in the lineup tonight back at the hot corner where he came up as a big leaguer. I'm still kind of lukewarm on this whole Hank comeback effort, but this decision opens up a lot of possibilities for the Rangers. The hope is that Hank will rake over the next week and a half and build up some good value so he can be shipped out of town. Blalock started the season off pretty well before getting hurt and appeared to be back to his old self at the plate.

Previously on 'The National Football League' ...

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:57:37 -0600

I made a random trip to Best Buy last night and went home with a little piece of heaven -- a DVD set of the original broadcasts of the last five games of the 2007 season for the New York Giants. In case you don't remember, that includes the regular-season finale against the Patriots, the Wild Card round against Tampa, the Division Round win over the Cows, the NFC Championship Game against the Packers, and of course, Super Bowl XLII. I watched the Super Bowl last night and relived the glory of spoiling the Evil Empire's precious perfect season. Here are a few observations: -- Eli Manning's pocket-presence is as good as anyone in the league. He recognized the defense early, and despite not being the most mobile QB, managed to avoid the rush with sound decision-making. Some of his escapes were down-right unreal.