Kyle Lawrence's Dallas Mavericks fan blog

The NFL announced Wednesday that Cowboys' safety Roy Williams' appeal
to overturn a one-game suspension was denied. The suspension came as a result of Williams using the illegal horse-collar tackle, a technique that has become synonymous with his name since it was outlawed under the "Roy Williams Rule".

Williams it seems is unable to break the habit of dragging down opposing players by the back of the collar which has led to numerous severe injuries. In fact, it was his use of the horse-collar that broke Terrell Owens' leg in a 2004 game against the Eagles, an injury which arguably cost the Eagles the Superbowl that year.

The tackle that broke TO's leg was also the straw that broke the camel's back. The league outlawed the move during that offseason. Perhaps the memo got sent to Williams' junk mail folder.

Continue reading "Cowboys' Safety Roy Williams Horse-Collared for One Game"

I know it's more traditional to do this kind of report after the first twenty games. I, however, am a very non-traditional fellow. So here is your twenty-six game report.

Let's start with what we know about the Dallas Mavericks: nothing. Okay, we know a couple of things. However, if you take everything we know and shine a light on it, what you end up looking at is, well, nothing. At least nothing of any significance. But let’s try anyway.

First, they are playing poorly against the East. After finishing last season a blistering 27-3 versus the Eastern Conference, the Mavs are a lackluster 6-5 so far. If nothing else in basketball universe is knowable, it is certain that the best way to pad your record is by playing teams in the East. How else could the Toronto Raptors make the playoffs? To be considered an elite team, the Mavericks must put away Eastern Conference opponents.

Continue reading "Dallas Mavericks Early Season Report"

It's been noted numerously the suspicious nature of professional athletes. Perhaps after Sunday's loss, Tony Romo will stop inviting celebrity girlfriends to Texas Stadium when hosting the Philadelphia Eagles. After Carrie Underwood, of American Idol fame, witnessed the Cowboys lose to the lowly Eagles last season, Romo found new depths of suckitude to display for current love interest Jessica Simpson.

The typically outstanding performance we've come to expect from Romo was absent Sunday. In it's place was Romo's worst game of his career netting him a QB rating of, wait for it, 22.2 on 13-of-36 passing for 214 yards and three interceptions.

Much has been said of Romo's Hollywood style ascension to one of the most glamorous positions in all of sports. In fact, it could be argued that somewhere along the line Tony Romo stole the career Matt Leinart was expecting when he left USC for the Arizona Cardinals. Leinart has been accused of spending too much time mugging for cameras and not enough concentrating on his playbook. His limited time on-field this season did little to dispel such statements.

Continue reading "D'oh! Romo Looks Downright Lienart-esque In Simpson's Presence"

The Dallas Mavericks have opened the season 16-9. By comparison, the Mavs didn’t lose their ninth game until January 25th last season. And that was after starting out 0-4.

The most glaring reason for this drop off is a lack of production from reigning MVP, Dirk Nowitzki. On the surface Dirk’s numbers (21.4 pts, 8.3 rebs, 3.8 asts) aren’t bad. But in actuality, Nowitzki’s game doesn’t pack the same punch it has over the past several seasons.

Number 41 may simply be suffering from a MVP hangover and could end up with a great year. But his lack of consistent scoring leaves the Mavericks with an offense that needs more bite. This has been especially true in their inability to close out games or put bad teams away.

Nowitzki’s field goal percentage is down from last year, but he’s shooting 47%. Where he’s really losing his offensive power is behind painted lines. A career 86% foul shooter, he’s currently at 83%, which is down from the past two seasons when he averaged over 90%. From three-point range he’s hitting a horrible 29%, the lowest of his career except his rookie year.

Continue reading "Slumping Dirk Makes Mavs Look MVP-less"