Texas Wild Serving Up Aces
In January, 1996, the Dallas Cowboys walked off the field in Tempe, Arizona as champions of Super Bowl XXX. Hard to believe the drought has lasted this long, but yes, it's been more than 17 years since Irving was home to a championship team.
That could change by the end of next week. Just two weeks after the Texas Wild made their debut at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas, the whirlwind Mylan World Team Tennis season comes to a close next Friday.
The Wild could be playing for a chance to host the WTT Western Conference championship match when they wrap up the regular season at 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday against the Sacramento Capitals, a match to be televised live on TXA 21.
Wild General Manager Jeff Launius has brought his aces to town to try to make a final week playoff push. 15-time Grand Slam men's doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan are making their Four Seasons debut this weekend as the Wild host Hall of Famer Martina Hingis and the defending WTT champion Washington Kastles Friday night.
The Bryan Brothers, who have won the last four majors in men's doubles including Wimbledon earlier this month, lead the Wild against the Orange County Breakers Saturday night in what figures to be a critical Western Conference showdown.
After a brief post-Wimbledon break, the Bryan Brothers joined the Wild on the road this week, splitting two West Coast matches as Texas entered the weekend with a 5-4 season record. With five matches left to play, the Wild are in a tight battle with Springfield and Orange County for the two playoff spots in the West.
While local fans are being treated to the traditional Bryan Brothers chest bump this weekend, another popular star will join the Wild lineup when they make an East Coast road trip this week. Jim Courier will don a Texas Wild blue jersey
on Monday night as he takes on the legendary John McEnroe in the featured match when the Wild play at the New York Sportimes.
After that match, the regular season concludes on Wednesday night in the TXA 21 live telecast against Sacramento, which features top ranked American men's singles player Sam Querrey. That figures to make for a classic matchup as the Wild's Alex Bogomolov has more than held his own this season with a 6-3 singles record.
If things hold true to form, that Wednesday night season finale may decide the Wild's playoff fate. And if things go well, Texas might have a chance to host a semifinal match on Thursday and possibly advance to the WTT finals on Friday.
Irving hosting a playoff match? Playoffs? Playoffs?! It's been way too long since Irving hosted a pro sports playoff match.
Recap: Texas Wild End Kastles Streak
Note: For more on the Texas Wild, check out special World Team Tennis coverage in the Irving Rambler and other Rambler Newspapers.
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