NHL Pacific

The Rise and Fall of the Biggest Illegal Sports-Betting Ring in Dallas History

BY SEAN CHAFFIN One morning in 2011, just after sunrise, a swarm of federal agents rolled quietly down a neatly manicured cul-de-sac in Southlake, the city police's SWAT alongside them. They gathered outside the home of their target, a $750,000 spread with five bedrooms, five bathrooms and a swimmin ... More >>

Our British Texan Discovers the Dallas Stars and Falls Madly in Love with Weird-Ass Hockey

Two years ago, when I arrived in the States from the UK, I had a very vague idea of what ice hockey was. I was, though, sure that it was one of the most far-fetched sports out there. While most sports are played on the sort of easily accessible field we can all find and involve a ball, hockey is pla ... More >>

Jamie Benn: Cornerstone of a Stars' Revolution

In this week's Dallas Observer we profile 20 of the metro area's most interesting characters, with new portraits of each from local photographer Can Turk. See the entire Dallas Observer People Issue here. In Game 4 of this year's short but impressive playoff run, the Dallas Stars were down 2-0 in t ... More >>

The Hold Steady Bring a "Real Good Time" to the Granada

The Hold Steady With Oil Boom Granada Theater, Dallas Wednesday, April 30, 2014 As Craig Finn and his four bandmates in the Hold Steady walked out on the stage to the sounds of Lou Reed's "Real Good Time Together" Wednesday night, there was a change that rippled through the Granada. Finn, dressed i ... More >>

Watch Dallas Make Its Splash

Joel Salazar's Too Fresh Productions Brings Back the Battle Tonight

Joel Salazar is well-known in Dallas hip-hop, from his early days MCing at the now-closed Royal Rack on Lower Greenville to his current role as co-producer of We From Dallas, the upcoming documentary about the history of Dallas hip-hop. And the founder of the newly formed Too Fresh Productions (he' ... More >>

Here Are the Dallas Stars' New Uniforms

The anticipation building in advance of the official unveiling of the Dallas Stars' new look was dulled somewhat when the logo was accidentally (or maybe on purpose) leaked on the team's smartphone app. The club did a better job with the updated jerseys, keeping those updated jerseys under wraps unt ... More >>

The Stars' New Logo Seems to Have Leaked

Many in Dallas have no doubt been eagerly awaiting the June 4 unveiling of the Dallas Stars' new logos and uniforms. Probably not as many as are eager to glimpse Buster the Armpit Lion on the Mavs' new duds, but logo changes always generate a bit of buzz. It looks like Stars fans won't have to wait ... More >>

The Stars Showed an Empty Seat and Called it "Manti T'eo's Girlfiend" (Photo)

The above photo was snapped at last night's Dallas Stars game by Twitter user @EdCahill before making its way to Deadspin. Together with the Stars' recent handling of an exceedingly dickish Cowboys' Tweet, we're getting the impression the AAC's hockey residents don't give all that many shits. Kudos ... More >>

Rustle Up Some Used Stuff

The Ten Best Things To Do This Weekend, February 23 to 26

Is that numbing pain in your shoulder diminishing? It can only mean one thing: The weekend is coming! Unwind from your stressball career with runway shows, stand-up comedy and drag queen brunch. It's all happening this weekend, kids. Here's a little guide to cool stuff happening around town. Share i ... More >>

Dallas PD's New Year's Eve, By the Numbers

WFAA​The Dallas Police Department sends word this morning: It guesstimates 30,000 turned out for last night's Big D NYE in Victory Plaza, otherwise known as the Dallas Stars' post-game party that filled a few hours of Channel 8 airtime in between all that Dick Clarking. And while DWI numbers aren' ... More >>

Nine Bucks? Lites and Gaglardi Drop Dallas Stars Ticket Prices to Reunion Arena Levels.

Dallas StarsTom Gaglardi, at center, is new to town. He's trying to make a good impression. Jim Lites, at right, is helping him do that.​Dallas Stars President Jim Lites says: No, this was not his idea. He wants to be clear about that. Interim team president Tony Tavares was already working on a p ... More >>

Sure Mike Modano Has a Spot on Dallas' Mount Sportsmore. Well, Doesn't He?

Mike Modano is on Facebook. And out of hockey. The legendary Dallas Star used social media  to announce his retirement from the NHL yesterday, ending a 21-year career as one of the sport's all-time greatest skaters and its most prolific American-born scorer. Feels like we've delivered th ... More >>

The Luck of the Puck

This Morning's Reading Assignment: The Dallas Stars Bankruptcy Court Filings

​A Friend of Unfair Park asks this morning if we've gotten our hands on the Dallas Stars bankruptcy docs, which were filed, as expected, in a Delaware court at the end of the day yesterday. Why, as a matter of fact: On the other side you'll find a Tom Wolfe novel's worth of legalese, including, fo ... More >>

For Decades, DJ Merritt and DJ Jeff K Have Snuck Local Electronic Music Onto The Edge

Welcome to Local Music 'Mericans , where we meet some of the people behind the local music scene -- those who aren't necessarily members of local bands, but more the people who make the scene move.DJ Jeff K and the Old 97's at a Dallas Stars game.​In 2011, both DJ Merritt and DJ Jeff K remain s ... More >>

2011 NBA FINALS GAME 3 -- Heat 88, Mavericks 86: My Top 10 Observer-Ations

​10. I absolutely love ABC's The Finals open with snippets of great plays and legendary players from the past. How surreal would it be to a year from now see Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd in that production? 9. Down 45-31, Dallas came roaring back again and almost pulled off another miracle comebac ... More >>

Chef Erron Star Depew: It's OK When She Slices at TopGolf

Erron Star Depew, up to par in TopGolf's kitchen.​Erron Star Depew is the chef at the new TopGolf location in Allen. Yes, you heard me right. Chef. TopGolf. Allen. Just because folks are swinging clubs doesn't mean they don't want to eat well too. At least that's what Depew figured when she cr ... More >>

Falling Stars: Dallas Earns Its Early Vacation

​So who crumbled worse Sunday: Rory McIlroy at Augusta or your Dallas Stars in Minnesota? Hours after McIlroy ruined a four-shot lead with an 80 at The Masters, the hockey team fanned on a tap-in and missed the NHL Playoffs. After the Chicago Blackhawks lost at home to Detroit earlier in the d ... More >>

Whitt's End: 4.8.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *So Nuggets coach George Karl wants some of the Mavs, huh? "If we had to pick and choose, we would probably say 55 percent Dallas and 45 percent Oklahoma City," he says of his preferred ... More >>

The Dallas Stars -- and the Refs -- May Have Saved Their Season Last Night

​Nauseated by the Mavs last night, I turned on the Dallas Stars. And what did I see? A team maybe saving its season. The Stars have had their share of bad-luck bounces lately. But last night in Anaheim they saved a gasp of their season with two controversial calls that disallowed goals by t ... More >>

Someone Actually Wants to Buy the Dallas Stars. And Keep Them Here.

​The fear with the Dallas Stars is this: Tom Hicks would so bury the team that no one would buy them and eventually they'd leave Dallas. It appears, knock on ice-covered wood, that a savior has arisen. Goes by the name of Doug Miller. Everyone from Mark Cuban to Wayne Gretzky to Mike Modano h ... More >>

It's Official: We're Moving The Dallas Observer Music Awards Out of Summer and Into October

Patrick MichelsMike Modano and Willa Ford at the 2009 Dallas Observer Music Awards.​Last year's Dallas Observer Music Awards, if you don't mind us saying, were pretty amazing. The winners were pretty great, the nominations on point, the ceremony a great time and, oh, the showcase.Yep, last year's ... More >>

Attention incoming sports fans: If you're going to embrace our city during Super Bowl week, the first step is recognizing our Super Heroes.

The Dallas Stars are struggling to be noticed- despite a winning record.

Local Music 'Mericans: Michelle Pelissero Turned Part-Time Gigs and Internships Into a Full-Time Position with Kirtland Records

Welcome to Local Music'Mericans, where we'll be meeting some people behind the local music scene who aren't musicians, but more behind-the-scenes folk.Michelle Pelissero​Michelle Pelissero can be seen working at some of the luckiest of spots -- like rinkside at a Dallas Stars game or dead-center i ... More >>

Cowboys, Mavs, Rangers, Stars All Searching for Help in 2011

​Texas Rangers - Jim Thome. The left-handed slugging free agent would, I assume, join Michael Young for a righty-lefty platoon designated hitter. I know Thome is a sexy name with some pop left in his bat, just not real sure where he fits in. Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki. The signing ... More >>

Hungry on DART's Green Line? Here's a Big Honkin' List That Might Help

​It took four years and $1.8 million to complete the longest light-rail construction project in U.S. history -- says DART -- but a little more than one month since DART's Green Line opened, it's been for all intents and purposes a success. While the full line was officially opened on December ... More >>

Ten Items Worth a Look-See: Mavs, Stars, Cowboys, Rangers and Fox News Pundit Says Michael Vick "Should Have Been Executed"

The fans gave him a break, and even President Obama applauded Vick's return to the NFL. Tucker Carlson of Fox News? Not so much.​10. Mark Teixeira says teammate Andy Pettitte's "probably leaning toward retirement," which is good news for the Texas Rangers and everyone else aiming to win the AL pen ... More >>

After 14 Seasons, All With the Dallas Stars, Jere Lehtinen (Finally) Skates Off Into Retirement

When we spoke to Mike Modano about his will-he-won't-he-retirement-that-wasn't in April, he had this to say about a certain teammate: "Lehtinen was a real treat to play with, obviously, and what he brought. He played hard and sacrificed his body, and I don't know how much more he has left."Even the ... More >>

FC Dallas is the latest proof that the metroplex can host everything without winning anything.

Getting Over the Blues

Dallas' Other Teams are Playing Too. Who Knew?

For the last month we've all been - gladly, of course - buried up to here in the Texas Rangers. Don't look now, but the other sports in our city didn't shut down. Let's play some catch up, shall we? FC DALLAS - In the Major League Soccer's Western Conference semifinals, they have a 2-1 aggregate le ... More >>

Do-or-Die in Dallas: How Our Teams Fare in Elimination Games

​To the Texas Rangers, tonight's do-or-die game is unprecedented, uncharted territory. But as metroplex sports fans, we're accustomed to these elimination scenarios. And, you know what? We're pretty damn good at them. While the Rangers take their pathetic 3-11 playoff pedigree into toni ... More >>

We Can Do It Without Him

Now, About the Sale of those Dallas Stars

​After 15 months of delays, disputes and despair, the Texas Rangers emerged from bankruptcy. The goal now is to keep the Dallas Stars from going down the same pot-holed path. While he further dissolves his once-mighty sports empire by selling Liverpool Football Club in England, Tom Hicks is a ... More >>

News & Notes With Tom Hicks, Mark Cuban, Luke Wilson and The Wyly Bros' Broker

Kit NelsonOne of Liverpool FC supporters' myriad posters advertising their disgust with Tom Hicks's asking price for the club​Some start-o-the-week news and notes while I roll a few fat blunts in preparation for this afternoon's Public Safety Committee meeting ...Remember when Tom Hicks said, why, ... More >>

Fab 50: Half A Hundred Power Brokers Who Shape Our Local Sports Scene.

If Dirk Nowitzki and Mike Modano Are Indeed Gone, Where's Their Place in Dallas Sports History?

End of an Era? The Top 10 "Players" in the History of Dallas Sports

If this was Dallas and we needed 10 sports faces, who ya got?​I'm pretty sure one is retiring and one is staying put. But what if in the last month we witnessed the final games in Dallas of icons Mike Modano and Dirk Nowitzki? Modano is likely done as a player for the Dallas Stars, soon to ... More >>

Mike Modano Talks to Unfair Park About Why Tomorrow May -- or May Not -- Be His Last Game at AAC in a Stars Uniform

A brief history of Mike Modano's career as assembled by the Dallas Stars​The Dallas Stars' season ends Saturday night as it did last year: with a whimper, as once again Tom Hicks's hockey club fails to make the playoffs. Yet it's hard to believe tickets remain for tomorrow night's final game of th ... More >>

News & Notes: Don't Waste Water, But Do Build a Better Block. And, More Than You Needed 2 Know 'Bout Palin4Life.

A few odds and sods on this Census Day:The fine folks at Bike Friendly Oak Cliff have posted a video follow-up to our post about plans to build The Better Block at the intersection of N. Tyler and W. 7th Streets on April 10 and 11. That's it up top, and it's rather self-explanatory ...So too is the ... More >>

The Dallas Stars: Rest In Pieces

Give the Dallas Stars credit for being spunky and resilient and stubbornly fun to watch. But the season's over, right? To me it ended Saturday in San Jose. Not just with the 5-2 loss to the Sharks, but more so with another major injury. This one to Brad Richards, who broke his left hand while hurryi ... More >>

All Aboard

Being a Stars fan is cooler now

Peachy Puckers

Hockey Mouths

Three Dots and a Cloud of Dust ...

   *If you've noticed some quirky fonts or crooked pictures this week it's because Sportatorium is taking a fancy schmancy new software program for a test drive. Cool thing for you customers is that if you see a pic you'd like to see even bigger - like, I dunno, maybe the one just to the l ... More >>

Jeez, Who Wasn't Invited to the Joule Grand Opening Shindig Friday Night?

We dangled a teaser photo late yesterday, but thanks to the good people down at Dallas' newest cushy downtown hotel, we've got a dozen more shots from the Joule's opening gala last Friday, which boasted quite the guest list. Not the headiest kind of news, but there's a special kind of satisfaction i ... More >>

Sean Avery Will Kick Your Ass

Welcome to Dallas, Sean Avery. You're so awesome. --Robert Wilonsky