Troy Aikman's Top 10 Fave Sportswriters

     As Troy Aikman’s playful response to Tim Cowlishaw’s ranking of him as No. 10 on the “10 Greatest Quarterbacks of the Super Bowl Era,’’ the Cowboys legend composed his own list of “DFW’s Top 10 Greatest Sportswriters.’’

   Aikman’s list, as presented to Ben & Skin on 105.3 The Fan (and podcast here):

   1. “Little Ball of Hate. Yeah, Jen Engel,’’ Aikman said. “I like her a lot. I listen to her a bit and read her stuff. She’s terrific.’’

   2. “Dwayne Price comes to mind.’’

   3. “Richie Whitt. Though I’m not sure what he’s doing now.’’

   4. “Mike Fisher,’’ Aikman continued. “I thought he was good! I’m not sure he’s even in the area anymore. I think maybe he’s got a blog. But he has great skills. A top-notch journalist.’’

   5. “Spagnolia.’’

   6. “Calvin Watkins, he’s great.’’

   7. “Gerry Fraley.’’

   8. “My guy Randy Galloway. I don’t know if he’s in the market, either. I don’t see his stuff.’’

   9. “Blackie Sherrod. His Sunday column is unrivaled.’’

   10. “And then,’’ concluded Aikman, “a guy from the Dallas Morning News. Coleslaw. Coleslaw would probably be after all those I mentioned.’’

   Upon further investigation with Aikman from DB.com’s 75-Member Staff, some off-the-air truths: Three of the nine people on his Top 10 are reporters he’s never even heard of (Ben & Skin wrote down a few names they thought were funny and Troy plucked them from their list). One of the people on his rankings he chose himself as some inside joke And four or maybe five of the people on the list he actually considers “top-notch.’’

    Especially the one, we’re quite sure, who verifies Aikman’s straightness.

1115am mar 5 2009