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Chat with Hate
UPDATE: Hate Chat is on hiatus in August while Jen covers the Olympics. Be sure and check out her blog, Jen and Charean's Excellent Adventure, for the latest from Beijing.
The Little Ball of Hate offers her unusual take on the Cowboys, Rangers, Mavericks, Stars and other North Texas teams from 1 to 1:30 each Tuesday. POST QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME.
Most Recently Answered Questions
Questions 11 - 20 of 221 (Page 2 of 23)Submitted by Vince from Telluride, CO.
Q: Jen the Cowboy site is making me nervous as everything is going "great" and the team is set to forgo the regular season and just show up for SB 43. I want them in the SB yet Tony Romo has December let downs and Phillips is 0-4 in the playoffs. Course Coughlin never made it to the SB until this year, but at least he had a playoff win under his belt. So give us the jengeI low-down. What's your view of the offense/defense/special teams direction of America's Team? For example, is Kevin Burnett a bust? How did Ken Hamlin go from being persona non grada in Seattle to franchise tag in Dallas? How does Dallas make up for the loss of Akin Ayodele? Do you think Tashard Choice could overtake F. Jones for playing time? God help us if J. Jones returns to form when we play Seattle.
Answered 07/29/08 13:22:29 by Jennifer Engel
A: I have bad news for you Vince because news really is good for this Cowboys camp (Terence Newman's injury at camp notwithstanding). They really are exceptionally talented on offense, special teams and defense. You are right, though, to note that talent has yet to produce a playoff victory for Coach Wade and for this group of Cowboys. That is the challenge; to keep this talent playing at a high level through December and into the playoffs. And, no, Burnett is not a bust. He may just surprise people this year. Hamlin had his unlucky moment in Seattle but always has been a good player. And I do not think losing Akin is that big of a deal. He seemed to be more flash than substance. And let's dial down the Choice love. He has a chance to be good. Felix Jones has a chance at great.Submitted by Sundberg Fan from
Q: Howdy Jen! With the trades already made in MLB, it seems like the Rangers might not be doing anything as teams that were linked to them seem to have filled needs the Rangers could provide. I've read where Francisco Liriano might be available. Would he be an upgrade for the rotation, and could he be had for less than Blalock/Laird? Hank's defense seems good and if he could learn to hit to left field again he could probably regain his all-star form. He seems the best option at 3B right now and an affordable next year. His value would probably be best next year at deadline anyway. Also, it seems Washington understands Laird is his best catcher, hopefuly Jon-boy sees that too and trades Saltawhatshisname. With 48 hours to go to non-waiver deadline, do you see anything on the horizon that will be done and actually help improve this club? Hopefully they keep Padilla. BTW, on another blog I was accused of being you because I was defending Padilla and his style. Good minds think alike, huh? Take up the cause - Tom Grieve for RHOF!!!
Answered 07/29/08 13:16:57 by Jennifer Engel
A: Wow, wow, wow, you have a lot of Ranger questions. What I know for sure is Hank Blalock does not have nearly the trade value everybody thinks. He has been too hurt, for too long. Teams have a tendency to do crazy at the deadline, though, so cross your fingers. There is more interest in Gerald, as well as the rest of Texas' glut of talent at catcher. I could see him being dealt, which is too bad because the Rangers have screwed this year up by forcing Wash to basically platoon him and Salty. I get the feeling that was not a Wash idea, nor was it a good one. I think the Rangers have a chance to improve themselves at the deadline but am not expecting anything with a big wow factor.Submitted by Peter from Fort Worth
Q: Jen, When the Stars traded for Brad Richards, they gave up Mike Smith as Turco's backup. Smitty was a very capable backup and now in Tampa with the trades they made in the off-season he should do well. How do you think the Stars will do if Marty gets injured? Are the Stars set in the goaltending department?
Answered 07/29/08 13:09:55 by Jennifer Engel
A: Happy Tuesday LBOHers. Welcome to Tuesdays with me. I realize much consternation has been taking place about whether there will be chats with me in Beijing, with the Olympics, etc. Yes, yes and yes. I am, in fact, counting on y'all to keep me updated on any and all Cowboys news. So let's get started. Starting goalies are like QBs in the NFL. Any team who loses theirs is in trouble. The Stars are no different. Think about all of their young kid goalies who are elsewhere. It takes time to reprime the pump. So pray for Marty's health. Even all of you Turco haters and you know who you are.Submitted by kevin from n.r.h.
Q: Love your columns on anything and everything related to the world of sports from olympic swimming to the "owner jones". I have a simple question that none of my friends can answer. In baseball, when a batter tics a pitch into the catchers glove with less than 2 strikes is it an out?
Answered 07/22/08 14:28:59 by Jennifer Engel
A: I love you, too. And I love your question. I used to ask my dad, a diehard baseball nut, these kinds of questions all the time and still consider him my go-to source (along with TR Sullivan) for all things baseball. To answer your question, it is a strike unless there are two strikes at which point it is an out. Let's do it again next week, shall we? Love and smooches to all of you, jenSubmitted by Jordan from
Q: So if you were the Mavs, would you have made the rumored Josh Howard for Ron Artest trade? I know Dallas has become home to the reclamation project, but is Artest worth the risk? I guess a little crazy is alright, but Artest seems borderline schizo.
Answered 07/22/08 14:26:01 by Jennifer Engel
A: Yes, yes and hell yes. I like Artest (unlike some) and do not quite trust Josh Howard to turn his act around (like most). Forget his stupid drug talk. His fourth quarter Casper act has worn thin on me. So, yes, yes I would have done that deal but maybe the Mavs think they can get more. What is becoming obvious is they are trying to get something for Josh and he is not nearly as untouchable as they'd have everybody believe.Submitted by Mike from
Q: As training camp gets ready to open, do you think the Cowboys would be wise to keep the Super Bowl or bust talk to a minimum? I know that's the goal and rightfully so, but should a team that has done absolutely nothing in the playoffs be talking about the Super Bowl?
Answered 07/22/08 14:24:24 by Jennifer Engel
A: I know what you are saying, Mike, but it does not really matter if they say it or not because everybody knows that is the criteria by which this team will be judged. So embrace what Coach Wade said the other day: "Get the ring finger ready." This is the new Cowboys rallying cry.Submitted by Matt from
Q: Who do you think is under more pressure this year, Wade Phillips or Tony Romo? Wade has never won a playoff game and is now coaching a team expected to go to the Super Bowl. At the same time, Romo is as hyped as any player in the league, but he hasn't won anything either. I know the pressure is on both big-time, but if you had choose, who's got the bigger bullseye on him?
Answered 07/22/08 14:23:14 by Jennifer Engel
A: Coach Wade. Because he is the only one who is going to get his butt fired if they are not in the Super Bowl. Oh sure, the fire under Romo's butt will get hotter but he is here, to stay. Coach Wade is not. In fact, this is probably his last year either way.Submitted by Kevin from
Q: Do you think it's a good thing that Jerry pretty much took care of every player with a contract issue before the season started? Some people think it's better to have players in their contract years since they will be supremely motivated, but darn near every player on the team has been paid.
Answered 07/22/08 14:22:04 by Jennifer Engel
A: Yes, I do. Because a few of the guys he rewarded (T.O. springs to mind) do better with insurance and most everybody he handled is not an OK-I-got-my-money type. And I think Owner Jones willingness to spend money on players who have been good to him and to the Cowboys is why players want to come here and play here and stay here. Of course, I also think Owner Jones ponied up because he thinks this team should contend now and in subsequent years.Submitted by Justin from
Q: What type of impact do you expect Zach Thomas will have on the Cowboys this year? Do you still think Thomas has enough left in the tank to make a big difference and be a significant upgrade over Akin Ayodele?
Answered 07/22/08 14:19:48 by Jennifer Engel
A: You are going to hate me for saying this, but I think Zach Thomas' impact between the chalk will be minimal. He's a leadership guy. He'll make some plays. And he'll be an upgrade over Akin Adoyele but his presence is being overhyped, IMHO, because he's from Texas and he's a good guy and people like him.Submitted by Keith from
Q: If you were a betting man (or woman), would you bet that Terry Glenn will be in Oxnard for the start of camp? It seems like both side have cooled off a little bit and want to come up with a compromise so TG can at least try to play for the Cowboys again. It seems like when push comes to shove (as with Ken Hamlin's contract deadline last week), Jerry finds a way to get it done.
Answered 07/22/08 14:17:45 by Jennifer Engel
A: As a non-betting woman (because, really, if I am going to throw money away, I'd rather do it on shoes) but I'd put a lot down on Glenn being in camp because a) he wants to play and b) Owner Jones does not want any second guessing room. He has set everything up to win and win now and is not going to let a couple of hundred thousand dollars get in his way.