One for the record books

The Boys are back? In spite of the odds, the Cowboys secure a big win againstthe Giants

Tony Romo was 22-for-29 for 307 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Dallas Cowboys/Facebook
Kevin Ogletree caught eight balls for 114 yards and two touchdowns in theCowboys 24-17 win against the Giants.
Dallas Cowboys/Facebook

The good news for the Dallas Cowboys is that the NFL deemed the team worthy to kick off the season against the New York Giants. The season opener is the fans’ first impression, so the league has to choose wisely.

The bad news is that, if you believed the overwhelming stats and predictions, the NFL set up Dallas to start the season with a big loss.

The best news is that the Cowboys won. The team shook off the hostile crowd, the defending Super Bowl champs and history.

The Cowboys beat a division rival on the road in the most harrowing of circumstances. This is the kind of win that sets the tone for a championship season.

Since 2004, the NFL has engaged in an important inaugural-game ritual: pit the past year’s Super Bowl champion against a (seemingly) worthy foe. During that time, the host team has performed 8-0. Not to mention that Dallas’ biggest weakness — its offensive line — would line up against the Giants’ heralded defensive line, considered by many to be the best in the league. The outlook seemed bleak for the visiting Cowboys.

But the Boys persevered. A year ago, a key third-down penalty would have caused the Dallas players to hang their heads and accept their eventual defeat. On Wednesday, the key penalties were there to tempt them, but this time the team fought through and held onto that lead like a new parent holds his precious bundle of joy.

It could be the beginning of something special. The Cowboys beat a division rival on the road in the most harrowing of circumstances. The team got big performances from the usual players (DeMarcus Ware) and new faces (Kevin Ogletree). Tony Romo once again made statisticians swoon, but this time without the signature meltdown. This is the kind of win that sets the tone for a championship season.

Not that any Cowboys fan should start making Super Bowl reservations. There are so many more games, so much more to overcome.

It was a start, though. For the first time in years, Dallas fans can dream of a return to glory — at least for another week.

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Baseball News

Texas Rangers and MLB set jam-packed schedule for All-Star week

Photo by Kelly Gavin / Courtesy of Texas Rangers

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The 2024 annual MLB All-Star Game, along with its accompanying All-Star Week festivities, were awarded to the Texas Rangers and the Cities of Arlington and Fort Worth way back in 2022.

The week has finally arrived, now with events taking place in Arlington, Fort Worth, and Dallas.

Also known as the "Midsummer Classic," the All-Star Game is an annual professional baseball game sanctioned by Major League Baseball (MLB) and contested between the all-stars from the American League (AL) and National League (NL).

The 2024 game will be played on Tuesday, July 16, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, for the first time since it opened in 2020. The last time the Rangers hosted an All-Star Game was back in 1995 game at their previous home, then known as The Ballpark in Arlington.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Friday, July 12: HBCU Swingman Classic at Globe Life Field, which highlights the history and legacy of HBCU baseball programs while also providing HBCU baseball players with the opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage.

July 12-15: Two MLB youth tournaments, the All-Star Commissioner’s Cup and Jennie Finch Classic, both of which will be played at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy in Dallas.

The All-Star Commissioner’s Cup features teams of youth baseball players (ages 17 and under) from MLB Youth Academies from around the country and in Puerto Rico.
The All-Star Jennie Finch Classic features teams of youth softball players (ages 17 and under) from MLB Youth Academies and Jennie Finch softball programming.

July 13-16: The Capital One All-Star Village, a one-of-a-kind baseball theme park that will also encompass Esports Stadium and the North Lawn, will be open at Choctaw Stadium (formerly Globe Life Field in Arlington). It will feature a variety of family-friendly activities, including current and former player appearances.

July 14: MLB Draft Opening Night will take place at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth and will be open to the public. This is the fourth consecutive year that the MLB Draft will also take place during All-Star Week. The draft will continue on July 15 and 16.

July 15: The T-Mobile Home Run Derby will feature a variety of the best home run hitters in the league. Given his participation in the Derby in 2023, his performance in the 2023 playoffs, and this being a hometown game, don't be surprised to see Ranger right fielder Adolis García as one of the participants again.

July 16: MLB All-Star Game, at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Event-specific ticketing and broadcast information will be announced in the coming months. For additional details, fans can go to AllStarGame.com.

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This story was updated on July 11, 2024.

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