Dennis de la Pena's Blog

The Longhorn football team reports for pre-season workouts on Sunday... and they'll be packing plenty of question marks as they roll their luggage into the Jester dorms.         

No... I'm not worried about the RB situation.  As long as Mack Brown's at UT, there will always be a couple talented backs to plug in (Vondrell McGee and Fozzy Whitaker will provide a solid 1-2 punch).

And no... I'm also not too concerned with John Chiles' playing time.  Greg Davis will find plenty of ways to use him (think Ramonce Taylor without the off-field drama). 

UT will miss Limas Sweed...  but one of the the talented youngsters will step up to join Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley.  True Freshman Dan Buckner's already wearing the #4 jersey... and he's already  flashed some skills that would make Limas and Roy Williams proud.  

For me, the biggest question mark has to be the UT defense against the pass (big limb I'm out on, right)?  The 'Horns gave up a school-record 278 passing yards per game last season... and lost three of four starters in the secondary.  This year, they'll go against some of the nation's most prolific QBs (Chase Daniel, Graham Harrell, Todd Reesing, Sam Bradford, etc.).  I know Will Muschamp is a great defensive mind... but he'll definitely earn that 425 grand in '08.

What do you guys think? 

Next week, we'll be in Kansas City for the Big 12 Football Media Days.

We'll be chewing the fat with all the head coaches.... and MOST of the league's top players.  I say MOST, because I see Texas Tech isn't scheduled to bring Heisman hopefuls Graham Harrell or Michael Crabtree.  Guess we'll have more time to ask the Red Raiders' defense about holding Texas to a mere 59 points last season.  Should make for some compelling t.v. 

So... do you guys have any burning Big 12 gridiron questions? 

Post them here before Monday... and I'll take the best ones with me to KC!

(Just don't ask me to ask Bob Stoops if he's "slipping" as a head coach).

Unless you're self-employed, you've likely been miffed a time or three at your boss.  But did you ever grab him by the neck,  throw him down, and jump on him?  Apparently you don't play by Shawn Chacon's rules.

Maybe the Astros' starting pitcher was still feisty after starting the season with a major leage record nine straight no-decisions.

Perhaps Chacon's 2-3 record and beefy 5.04 ERA had made him a bit irritable.

And sure... no one likes getting called to the GM's office in front of the fellas during a meal. After all, you don't want the pasta getting cold.

Nevertheless, how in the name of Latrell Sprewell did Chacon feel he needed to go WWF on Astros GM Ed Wade?!  Somebody needs to test Mr. "Choke on" for 'roid rage (but you better hit him with a tranquilizer dart first before dragging him into the lab).

Chacon has now been suspended indefinitely for insubordination, but he's lucky not to be locked indefinitely in the slammer.  That's where most of us would be if we tried to polish our company's Top Brass with the floor.

First Rocco Mediate teaches the world how to compete with dignity.... now we learn that Tiger Woods showed us how to perform through SERIOUS pain. 

Two golfers.  Two lessons.  Two incredible stories.

Us media types would salivate over ONE of these intriguing storylines per sporting event... much less TWO! (in one of golf's biggest events to boot)!

So who's more of "Da Man"?  Rocco and his unshakable sportsmanship... or Tiger and his refusal to lose?

Cedric Benson wants to be caught... right?

I seem to remember something in Psychology 101 that referred to some people who "want to be caught"... and subconsciously allow it to happen.  This has to be Cedric's scenario.

Why else would he put himself in a DWI situation just a month after his BWI/resisting arrest charges?

Perhaps he's simply so frustrated after three underachieving years in Chi-town.. that this is his subconscious solution.  He's simply too intelligent to be this much of a numb-skull.

Any fellow pop psycholgists out there agree?

Unfortunately... that is NOT the real question for bummed out Spurs fans.

How about something like: 

Why is Brent Barry taking the final shot? Or...

Where is the real Manu Ginobili hiding?  Or...

Why have the Spurs been so wildly inconsistent this series? 

Any answers Spurs Nation?

Was that really the defending NBA champs?

The winningest pro franchise of the millenium choking away a 20 point lead late in the 3rd?

Will a Spurs die-hard/apologist please tell me how the refs and countless NBA conspiracies kept the Spurs from finishing off  last night's game in LA?

Maybe it was Jack Nicholson's fault... although I didn't see him hit anyone with a golf club.

I value cyclists.  After all, they leave a much smaller carbon footprint than us gas-guzzling, motor vehicle types.  However... I have one major beef:

Why can a bicycle have it BOTH ways on the street?

The same cyclist who chooses to ride with the big boys in the car lanes (and who usually slows down the already brutal Austin traffic), can then cruise through the red lights when the cars are forced to stop!  And what's with the boldest bikers who "upgrade" their red light position by weaving through stopped cars?

Is this legal? 

Right now it's simply too easy to pile on Cedric Benson and Roger Clemens.   They both had the world at their feet... but both tarnished their respective reputations by continually making poor choices.

As we all shake our heads in bewilderment... is this really that hard to figure out?  

Tragically, like many of America's elite athletes, Ced and the Rocket both grew up kings of their respective sports... and thus, were placed on thrones at a very early age.  In a country that loves/craves/needs its entertainment... star athletes hear what they want to hear all the time... get what they want all the time... and eventually begin existing in a much different orbit than the majority of us.

Why wouldn't Clemens think he could get away with different levels of cheating?

Why should Benson politely deal with an aqua security guard who was buzz-killing his boat party?

If I grew up never hearing the word "no"... and never had to be accountable for my actions.. I'd probably make some pretty bad decisions too.  Rabid sports fans will be the first to tear these guys up for being "above the law'... even though these same fans help make those athletes feel "untouchable".

Am I a Clemens apologist?  No way.  Do I agree with Benson's off-field antics?  Of course not.   But I'm not baffled by their actions either... and I won't be surprised when the next superstar in ANY arena lets us down again. 

We all knew DJ Augustin was NBA-bound... but his teammate AJ Abrams?  I certainly didn't see that one coming.

Don't get me wrong: Abrams has NBA 3-point range... and is an intelligent, likeable kid.  But as a sub-six footer, his only ticket to the NBA is at point guard... and he simply hasn't been able to show that skill-set at the college level.  Until NBA scouts can watch him at the 1...  it will be hard for them to give AJ much of a draft rating.

Anyone see this one differently? 

...April Apathy?

It's a tough week for a lot of us sports fans (if you've ever driven a stick shift - picture going from fifth gear to first - the sound alone makes you wince.).  I already miss the mayhem of the NCAA hoop tourney.., and all the bracket-induced, emotionally invested rooting that goes with it. 

Sure the NBA homestretch and baseball will ease my pain...  but the next couple of weeks are always tough. 

Anyone out there have a cure for post-March Madness sadness? 

I was fortunate enough to be in San Antonio's Alamodome back in March of '03.

TJ Ford and the 'Horns had just clinched UT's first Final Four appearance since the 40's... and roughly 30,000 burnt orange-clad fans were voicing their appreciation.  That scene is still one of my favorite sports memories.

I'm hoping this weekend in Houston will have a similar feel.  Very few basketball teams will ever play in front of a football-sized crowd (with most of the fans rooting for the "home" team).  Fewer still will have a shot at clinching a Final Four birth in these incredible playing conditions.  Hope the 'Horns can harness all that energy.

Any of you sports-bloggers headed to the game(s)?  If so... say hi to Fox 7's John Hygh while you're there... and share your experience with us on the Fox 7 Sports blog!   

A lot of us are going to have to make some pretty big decisions Sunday evening.  Most of those head-scratchers will involve our NCAA Basketball Tournament Bracket.

Perhaps the toughest question to answer for Austinites:  How far will the hometown 'Horns advance?  Most of us will confidently scrawl the 'Horns into our Sweet 16..  but then what?  Elite 8? Final 4? Title Game 2?

On one hand, I love UT's chances.  They have the nation's best point guard, play solid defense, and have plenty of scoring options.  On the other hand, they haven't looked "Final 4" worthy their last four times out (a loss in Lubbock, a nail-biter against Nebraska, and most recently,  two close wins against Oklahoma State).  The three aforementioned opponents are the 7-9 seeds in the Big 12... and each of them gave the 'Horns all they could handle.  And this is the UT bunch I'm gonna pick to win it all?

Fortunately, I have a couple more days to make up my mind.  

What do you bloggers think? 

To hear all the gushing tributes about Brett Favre the last couple of days... I'm thinking HE should make a run at the presidency.  After all, how hard could national defense be for a guy who torched the world's best defenses for 17 years?  (Plus, Favre's expertise with pain-killers would surely help produce an affordable health-care plan).

"Political football" sarcasm aside,  I think Favre IS worth all the fuss.  Sure, he's thrown more interceptions than anyone in NFL history... but that comes with the territory when you throw for the most completions, yards and touchdowns.  He accomplished all the above without ever taking himself too seriously... an extremely rare trait in the look-at-me sports/entertainment world.

I know Favre-liking is cliche and overdone... but there's a reason it's overdone.  He's one of the most humble sports legends you'll ever meet.  What's not to like?

... who's the better ATHLETE?

From what I've read, Obama can handle himself on the basketball court.... and he did catch a few passes from Colt McCoy Thursday.

Not sure about Hillary.... but I know she has that "tenacity" intangible that coaches love.

What do you guys think?