👋 Good morning! What year were you born? I’ll give you a hint for me: I’m too young to remember Jimmy Johnson as Cowboys head coach, and officially too old for drafts. Cooper Flagg, for example, was born when I was 15. The Rangers just drafted a ton of dudes who entered the world right around then. I used to be able to shrug off my contemporaries’ accomplishments by saying “eh, I’ve got time, too.” But I don’t anymore! I’ve been passed up!

We’re spending all week here at DLLS Sports looking back at years past to discuss what could have (or should have) been, and some of this happened before I was sports-conscious, which is humbling in its own way. All these drafts, though, man... Flagg has no memory of the worst sports moment of my Mavericks life. There’s a decent chance he doesn’t even know who Jimmy Johnson is. (Has he ever even watched a Cowboys game before?) I’m learning more and more that life moves fast. Just make sure you stop and smell the roses once in a while along the way. — Bobby Karalla

Considering I’ve already outed myself as a youngster, I can’t pretend like I know all about the intimate, toxic details of the most disappointing divorce in Dallas sports history.

But Clarence Hill and the DLLS Cowboys crew most certainly do, and they were all over this and nine other “what ifs” from throughout Cowboys history in a special show that aired Monday night in primetime. (We’ll be doing the same thing with Stars tonight, Rangers tomorrow, and Mavs on Thursday. Join us!)

Clarence also wrote a little thought exercise about Jerry and Jimmy on our site. He theorizes in a way only Chill can. Had Jerry and Jimmy never parted ways, Clarence writes, “there would have been an all-out brawl either on the sideline of a game or at a press conference with Jones storming in to let the world know he was just as much of a part of the team’s success as Johnson.”

What do you think, Cowboys fans? Did they really dislike each other that much? Was there that much tension? If so, how?! The Cowboys were the class of the league for half a decade! There should’ve been less fighting and more partying! OK, OK, there probably should’ve been less partying too, but definitely less fighting!

Some “what ifs” are fun, some are painful. I’m sure for Cowboys fans this one is a little of both. Dallas ended up winning another Super Bowl under Barry Switzer, but the good times pretty much immediately came to an end thereafter. Maybe Jimmy Johnson was never going to be the coach here for 15 years, but it’s hard to imagine the franchise fading to football irrelevance so quickly had he not been able to stick around for just a bit longer. Maybe the drought never would have happened. Or maybe all roads, no matter what you do, will always lead to Jerry Jones.

Sam Nestler can do a bit of everything. He can update you on Joe Pavelski’s golf exploits. He can give you intel on new assistant coaching hires. And he can also explain the salary cap intricacies of the Matt Dumba-Vladislav Kolyachonok trade. All in one place!

Simply put, the Stars needed to move on from Dumba. Three-time GM of the Year Jim Nill doesn’t miss very often, but that one was a whiff. It was essential for cap reasons to move on from the veteran D-man, and in return the Stars got a former second-round pick on the minimum who’s played fewer than 100 career games. It’s not clear at this point if Kolyachonok will play often (or at all), but Dumba’s salary was pushing the Stars over the salary cap. The club saves more than $3 million and gives them a little wiggle room under the threshold with one more forward spot yet to fill. In the meantime, the Stars’ multi-year search for a right-handed defenseman will continue.

ESPN Sr. NBA writer Marc J. Spears joined our Kevin Gray in Las Vegas to discuss Cooper Flagg’s brief (but impressive) Summer League performance, Jason Kidd’s additions to his coaching staff, expectations for the team heading into the season, and a whole lot more. Check out all the good stuff here!

Ben Abeldt makes me feel old. The McKinney native and TCU product has been a Rangers fan for most of his life. (Warning: You’re about to find out how young he is.) “My first time ever watching Major League Baseball was a little sliding catch in foul territory by Mitch Moreland in Tropicana Field,” he said.

Um, hello? Help??

Abeldt was born in December 2003. He became baseball-conscious sometime around 2010, if not later, meaning he kinda missed out on the golden era of Rangers baseball. Hopefully he’ll be here for the next one, but still! For reference, I was in college in 2010 and was about as all-in on baseball as a student could be. This only goes in one direction, doesn’t it? It won’t be long before the Rangers draft a guy who’s baseball memory began by watching Ben Abeldt. And on and on we go.

Anyway, Jeff Wilson has a nice write-up on Abeldt and fellow local Owen Proksch here.

Our Abby Jones is in Atlanta for all the MLB All-Star festivities. It looks like Cal Raleigh owes her a laptop.

Be sure to subscribe to our shows wherever you listen to your podcasts. Traffic can be the worst, and one of the best ways I get through it is by listening to the audio versions of our DLLS shows. You should, too!

Bobby Karalla
DLLS Sports Head of Content​
[email protected]