I heard the drawer where I keep my crystal ball rattling. I opened it and up popped the orb. “Hey,” it groused, “aren’t you forgetting something? You haven’t asked me
for my prediction on the Dallas Cowboys.”
I shook my head. “Well, to tell you the truth, I’m tired of your predicting 8-8 seasons,” I said. “They’ve had three in a row just like you’ve said so I thought of skipping your prediction on the ‘Boys this year.” “You can’t do that,” it screamed. “What would my fans think?”
“You have fans?” I said, laughing.
“You bet,” it replied. “And I bet you’ve been getting some requests for my Dallas picks.”
I admitted I had and told it to go ahead and tell me its thoughts on the Cowboys.
THE CRYSTAL BALL cleared its throat in that obnoxious way it usually does and proclaimed:
“Well, I’m tempted to say they’ll be 8-8 for the regular season again. Their defense is still questionable.
“Yet, I’ve watched football for many years and I can tell you teams can surprise. This season may be the last hurrah for coach Jason Garrett and/or quarterback Tony Romo. How much longer can owner Jerry Jones keep putting up with them not producing? Somehow, call it a feeling or a vibe or whatever, I think the Cowboys may surprise this year just on the law of averages and maybe get into the playoffs. Sooner or later the breaks have to go their way. Maybe this will be their year.
“BESIDES, I was impressed with what I saw from the Cowboys in pre-season games. I know, I know, they didn’t win but when they had their first string in on either offense or defense I was surprised how well they did.
“Most experts are predicting the Cowboys will finish the regular season 7-9. I’m going to turn that around, keep my fingers crossed and say they’ll finish 9-7.” I thanked the crystal ball and quickly put it back in its drawer.
TRIVIA QUESTION: How many fillies have won the Kentucky Derby and can you name them? Answer at end.
UTEP BEATING University of New Mexico, 31-24 last Saturday, was no small victory. The Lobos are coached by a former Notre Dame coach, Bob Davie, who had two 9-3 seasons with the Irish against the toughest competition in the country. Not only that, the Miners’ victory was on the road.
What a sweet start to the season.
ANOTHER OF my favorite fund raising golf tournaments is coming up. It’s the 26th annual Irish Open Golf Tournament sponsored by Cathedral High Alumni Association. It’ll be held Friday, Oct. 10, at Painted Dunes Desert Golf Course. Proceeds go to support scholarships for students in need who wish to attend Cathedral High School. If you are a frequent golfer or just want to have some fun for a good cause, this is a meet for you. For a $100 entry fee, you get 18 holes of golf, a goody bag and shirt, breakfast burritos, tampiquena steak lunch, a “tamalada” ticket, prizes and more. To enter or for more information: Andy Portillo at 581-0893, Eric Lowenberg at 490-6426, Jose Negrete at 449-5955 or Julius Lowenberg at 526-7743.
NEW MEXICO horse racing lost two of its most outstanding women in the space of a few weeks this year: Rita Danley and Wilma Arnett. Cancer was the culprit in each case.
Both of their husbands, Fred Danley and Bob Arnett, have been among the leading trainers in the state for decades and both were at the opening of Sunland Park Racetrack in 1959. Their wives were invaluable assets to their husbands in the handling of their horses.
The sport will miss them dearly. Not only were they hard-working persons but they were a joy to be around. I mourn deeply.
ANSWER TO trivia question: Three. Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980) and Winning Colors (1988).