DAL-LA Dallas Destroys Defending Champs Get First Win 94-80

The Los Angeles Lakers could not over come a sloppy, sluggish start and the Dallas Mavericks took full advantage downing the defending champion Lakers 94-80 before a stunned silent Staples Center crowd.

Wow. Who knew the Mavericks could play defense?

Early foul trouble for both Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest forced Lakers head coach Phil Jackson to make abnormal substitutions and the Lakers were not able to find their stroke after a spirited first quarter that ended with Dallas nursing a slim three point lead.

Soon after the start of the second quarter, Dallas began to click on the defensive and offensive glass, building on the three point first quarter lead, taking a seven point lead into the half. Ball handling miscues caused in part by mental lapses and a stifling Dallas zone helped contribute to the Lakers' demise in the first half.

After the break, the real Lakers must have been kidnapped by early-bird trick-or-treaters because the team that showed up to play the second stanza of the game were not the champions of last season and they surely did not play like a team that will win anywhere near 72 plus games this season. Dallas' slim seven point lead would be short-lived, eventually exploding into double digits, thanks in part to poor Lakers shooting from the 3-pt arc (7-23, 30.4%) and a pedestrian free-throw shooting performance (9-14, 64.3%).

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Wizards Cast New Look Mavs Aside Open Season With 102-91 Win

New season, same old Dallas Mavericks. Tuesday night a rowdy American Airlines Center crowd filled the arena and watched helplessly as the Washington Wizards performed magical tricks on the new-look Mavericks 102-91, helping them to start the new NBA season the way they ended the last, with a loss.

Andray Blatche (20 points, 7 rebounds, assist) Gilbert Arenas (29 points, 2 rebounds, 9 assists) and Randy Foye (19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, assist)paced the rejuvenated Wizards playing for the first time with veteran head coach Phil Saunders leading the bench.

Meanwhile, the aging Mavericks not only looked like they had tired legs but played without any real flow or consistency on either side of the ball. Playing without the services of forward Josh Howard while he rehabs from off-season wrist and ankle surgery, the Mavericks relied too heavily on their only scoring threat Dirk Nowitzski (34 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, assist) and got little to no help from newcomers Shawn Marion (16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks) and former SMU stand-out Quinton Ross (2 points, no rebounds, no assists, 4 fouls)

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Motivational Music - Aint no Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

This song is a true testament to the power of love. I chose a few of my favorite lyrics from the renowned Motown classic "Aint No Mountain High Enough" and listed them below:

"If you need me call me, no matter where you are, no matter how far!" ~ Tammi Terrell

"Remember the day, I set you free, I told you can always count on me darling. And from that day on, I made a vow, I'll be there when you want me someway somehow..." ~ Marvin Gaye

"My love is alive, way down in my heart, although we are miles apart" ~ Tammi Terrell

"If you ever need a helping, I'll be there on the double, just as fast as I can!" ~ Marvin Gaye

Listen to the lyrics of the song and let them move you! What are your favorite parts of the song??

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President Obama Signs Bill to Expand Veteran Benefits

First Lady Hula Hooping!!!

First Lady Michele Obama showed her skills with a famous American invention, the Hula Hoop, in support of a healthier America. She swiveled and hooped an astounding 142 times before her hoop hit the ground. According to AP reports, the first lady hosted a "healthy kids fair" on the South Lawn of the White House on Wednesday and invited about 100 children and parents from local elementary schools.

"There's nothing that the first family loves more than a good burger, right?" Obama said. "And look, my favorite food in the whole wide world are french fries. I love them. Dearly. Deeply. I have a good relationship with french fries and I would eat them every single day if I could."

"I tell my girls this: If you're getting the right foods for most of the time, then when it's time to have cake and french fries on those special occasions, then you balance it out." (AP)

Cowboys outlast Chiefs 26-20 in OT

The Dallas Cowboys have a new No. 1 receiver and his name is Miles Austin. Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense got going it in second half as Dallas torched the Kansas City secondary, finally sealing the victory with a spectacular 60-yard touchdown score by Miles Austin for the overtime win 26-20 at Arrowhead Stadium.

No Roy Williams, no Felix Jones, no problem. Right? Not so fast.

Playing against the winless Chiefs (0-5) on the road on a cold windy day, the Chiefs benefited early from Cowboys (3-2) miscues in the first half.

After Cowboys kicker Nick Folk, missed a 40-yard field goal attempt late in the first quarter, the Chiefs failed to move the ball down the field and had to punt. But, thanks to a muffed punt from Patrick "thumbs" Crayton, the Chiefs were back in business at the Dallas 23-yard line on the next play.

The Dallas defense pestered Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel all day and sacked him on second down for a big loss. Then the defense was able to hold strong on third and 15 forcing Kansas City to kick a field goal early in the second quarter for a 3-0 lead.

Then on the ensuing drive the Cowboys stumbled and fumbled the snap from Gurode to Romo on second down. The Chiefs recovered inside the Cowboys 20-yard line after a brief run back by safety M. Brown.

A befuddled Cowboys defense lost contain on Matt Cassel on third and goal from the Cowboys one-yard line. Cassel took advantage of the extra step then heaved a throw across his body and found the venerable Mike Vrabel wide open in the endzone for a touchdown and 10-0 lead.

The Cowboys offense was having another Sunday meltdown when suddenly things started to click just before the half.

With 5:34 remaining in the second quarter Romo started to get his rhythm. Tony found fourth-year receiver Miles Austin (10 catches, 250 yards, 2 TDs) on two pretty passes during drive for 18 and 20 yards respectfully but Austin could not hold on to a sure touchdown pass at the two-minute warning and the Cowboys would ultimately settle for a field goal and go into the half down seven points, 10-3.

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Army Times - Memories of my time in the service

BREAKING NEWS!!! OBAMA WINS 2009 NOBEL PRIZE FOR PEACE

Barely awake and drifting in and out of sleep thanks to a symphony of storms rolling through the Texas morning, I awoke to the news of another monumental moment in the exuberant and historic presidency of Barack Obama.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee made a surprise announcement that was received by gasps and applause from a small group of journalists at the institute in Oslo, Norway. For the first time since 1919 a sitting US president has been given the prestigious and internationally recognized award for peace.

The committee sites "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," according to Associated Press Reports.

"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population." (AP)

The magnitude of the hope and the encouragement to the world that he emits continues to grow. Rumors of his honeymoon with the media and world being over are grossly overrated.

In just over nine months as president and leader of the free world and on the heels of his failure to secure Chicago's 2016 Olympic-bid, Barack Obama has won the highest award for peace in the world. His selection over 205 other potential nominees that includes 172 individuals and 33 organizations is significant if not shocking.

The outrage will surely be fierce from the right as the jaw-dropping news permeates the airwaves. Many of tea-bagger masses will say, *hmph! "What has he done to win the award?"

In truth, leading two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, facing mounting opposition to his health-care plan, surging domestic unemployment numbers and a recessed but recovering economy, Obama still has a full plate to digest with very few results to show.

Although, to his credit Obama has not shied away from the pressure or heat of the debate. He has remained at the forefront of the discussion most notably to a recent joint session of Congress when he stood firm to support his health-care agenda despite open disrespect from his opposition.

Still winning this fantastic award so soon in his presidency will be viewed as a down payment on the hope of peace to come. A down payment that for far too many at home and abroad has to be paid in full now not later.

Congratulations President Obama on winning the award, now get back to work!

DEN-DAL: Denver Dumps Dallas...

The Denver Broncos played with the stamina of a champion against a stout Dallas defense rallying to score 17 unanswered points, and the only points of the second half with the final 10 coming in the fourth quarter at home to win the game 17-10 and remain unbeaten.
The game was a defensive slugfest for most of the afternoon and was finally broken open by the Broncos when Kyle Orton connected on a 51-yard touchdown strike to brazen and brash wide-receiver Brandon Marshall giving Denver their only lead of the game with 1:46 on the clock.
The Dallas Cowboys (2-2) arrived at Invesco Field to face the Broncos (4-0) with many unanswered questions about the mindset of their quarterback. They will leave with many of the same questions.
Staring a chance to overcome another forgettable Sunday afternoon Romo (25-42 255 yds, INT, 0 TDs) watched his chance at redemption fall harmlessly through the outstretched arms of Sam Hurd in the back of the endzone on a desperation fourth and goal play from the Denver 2-yard line with :01 remaining.

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