WHITT'S END: 10.31.13

      Whether you're at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt's End:

   *From David "Arias", relatively svelte project with the Minnesota Twins in 1997, to David Ortiz, thick-'n-hearty World Series MVP in 2013. That's about as dominant an offensive post-season performance as we can remember. The Red Sox are baseball's champs mainly due to Big Gigantic Papi.

   *The biggest loser this baseball season? Bobby Valentine. He somehow took a Red Sox squad that won the World Series in 2013 and managed them to a last-place record of 69-93 in 2012. Boston was an 18/1 Vegas long-shot to win it all before the season.

   *How many among ESPN's stable of 43 baseball experts picked the Red Sox back in Spring Training? Zero. In fact, none of them predicted Boston or St. Louis in the World Series. We in the media talk a good game, but we really know nothing. Nothing at all.

   *It worked! At least for one night. Monta Ellis was Batman, Dirk Nowitzki only had to be Robin and the Mavs started anew by beating the Hawks. We're going to have to live with Ellis' careless ball-handling (8 turnovers), but the best news was that Samuel Dalembert and DeJuan Blair hit the boards and the Mavs out-rebounded Atlanta, 42-33. I don't think the Hawks will be very good. But I think the Mavs just might be decent.

   *Swear this exchange took place in my house at 4:31 a.m. Sybil: "Hey, I'm going to Wal-Mart." Me: "whatthewhatit'sfourthirty." Sybil: "For Halloween candy!"

   *One of my all-time favorite athletes officially retired last night. Allen Iverson was listed at 6-feet, 160 pounds. But I interviewed him several times, we stood eye-to-eye and I go only a smidge over 5-8. His wiry athleticism, eye-blink quickness and uncanny knack for creating and making his shot amidst giant defenders always amazed me. Pound-for-pound, he's the best player in NBA history. Four scoring titles. 2001 MVP. 11-time All-Star. 3-time steals champ. All without needing a single day of "practice."

   *I know he's hamstrung by his unit's injuries, but Monte Kiffin needs to be better. Somewhere on Bourbon Street, Rob Ryan is having a good chuckle at Dallas' defensive debacle.

   *As a kid in Duncanville we had all had a favorite Trick-or-Treat house for Halloween. The one that gave out hot, gooey popcorn balls. No way you could get away with giving that out these days.

   *Hot.

   *Not.

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   *For as long as I can remember (or, more precisely, around 1999) I've been Paul Stanley. For Halloween, I mean. I've worn my KISS drummer mask as my costume so often that when I walk into the annual parties my friends just roll their eyes and dejectedly mumble, "Hey, Richie." This year Sybil has asked urged forced me to expand my dress-up horizons. I was Robin Thicke to her twerking Miley Cyrus last weekend, and tonight we're greeting Trick-or-Treaters with her Indian and my Cowboy. But, pssst, just between us, I'm wearing my KISS mask to Pizza Buzz. In the name of tradition, ya know?

   *Bad news for the Mavs and the rest of the teams in the NBA's Western Conference: Dwight Howard debuted in Houston last night with 26 rebounds.

   *What kind of World Series was it? Boston hit a combined .211, and won in six games.

   *This got my toes a tappin'. You?

   *You Betcha Week 10: You know what they say about blind squirrels? Last week it actually felt like I knew what I was doing as we breezed to a $1,000 win with Texas over TCU. Relatively speaking in this struggling season, we're on a roll. I think Cowboys-Vikings Sunday in Arlington is going to be high-scoring. At home this season Dallas has produced point totals of 36, 31, 48 and 31. The hapless Vikings, meanwhile, have surrendered 31+ points in five of their seven games. Cowboys will score 34 in this one, but we all know how generous their defense is as well. Take the over.
STARTING BANKROLL: $10,000
CURRENT BANKROLL: $3,925
SEASON RECORD: 3-6
LAST WEEK: 1-0
THIS WEEK: Cowboys-Vikings Over 47 combined points for $2,000.

   *Went to Jack's Pub in McKinney to watch Mavs/World Series and one of the waitresses was a girl wearing regular clothes and only furry ears as her Halloween "costume." I dubbed her "Half-Ass Cat." Her response? "Meh. Ow."

   *The NBA season is a ripe two days old but we might already have our Upset of the Year. The Sixers probably won't win 20 games. The Heat probably won't lose 20. But last night Philly jumped to a 19-0 lead on the two-time defending champs and held on for a 114-110 win. We'll look back in April and be amazed by that result.

   *Scariest players of all time: Baseball (Randy Johnson), Basketball (Shaquille O'Neal), Football (Dick Butkus). But is there any doubt the scariest athlete of our generation is Mike Tyson?

   *Today? Happy Halloween. Don't be a stranger.

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