SportsDay Rangers, Episode 30: The one where Ian Kinsler returns

New eats are dropping across the Metroplex — and we've got the scoop. We're talking a new Italian restaurant in Keller, a hot spot in Plano and a brand-new taqueria that basically grew out of Imelda's own reporting. (Yes, really.) Then we're diving into the protein craze that has completely taken over menus, grocery aisles and our entire lives. #Brotein is real, and we need to talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John and Evan continue to whittle away at the biggest questions of spring. Evan is pretty high on how the Rangers have wandered, er, walked in the desert And he also offers his potential starting lineup. And the fellas sum up the WBC. Spoiler alert: Nobody's mad. Then Rangers Hall of Famer Ian Kinsler stops by to become the first member of the two-timers club and discuss the Rangers second base situation and the vibe Kinsler has heard about all spring. Finally, in the Archives in Arlington, we stroll down the lane of memorable season-opening moments, including the one where the Rangers were pulled off the field under a hail of baseballs and why Johnny Oates didn't leave his haunted hotel room. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The University of North Texas will eliminate or consolidate dozens of academic programs that have seen low enrollment as it aims to close a projected $45 million shortfall. In other news, a month out from James Broadnax’s execution date, another man has admitted to pulling the trigger during the deadly 2008 robbery that sent Broadnax to death row; one of Dallas’ most exclusive office campuses is about to get bigger. Developer Crow Holdings told The Dallas Morning News in an exclusive interview that they plan to begin work soon on a second phase of Old Parkland East; and Rashaun Agee had 22 points and nine rebounds, and No. 10 seed Texas A&M beat seventh-seeded Saint Mary’s 63-50 on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Ruben Dominguez added 11 points for the Aggies, who advanced in the South Region to face No. 2 seed Houston on Saturday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As climate change continues to reshape the environment and our lives, another place its impact can be found is in the earlier arrival of summer heat in North Texas. In other news, for many Muslims, it is a tradition to buy new clothes to wear for Eid al-Fitr, often referred to as Eid. The holiday this Friday is a time for family, renewal and celebration; he IRS estimates about 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers miss out on the Earned Income Tax Credit each year, leaving thousands of dollars unclaimed. Ascend Dallas is hosting free virtual Tax Credit Education classes in Spanish at 6:30 p.m. on March 24 and in English March 31 as part of its Tax Credit Tuesdays series; Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dallas County’s elections chief is trying to scrap the precinct system pushed by Republicans and return to countywide voting for the May 26 runoff. In other news, as Dallas officials prepared to debate City Hall’s future, a commercial real estate broker helping analyze relocation options grew frustrated when his firm was not allowed to compete for the work; Texas’ school voucher-style program application window has been extended by two weeks, following a federal judge’s order Tuesday, citing concerns about the exclusion of Islamic schools from the program; and Big Tex, the 55-foot-tall icon of the State Fair of Texas, is getting a new pair of boots. The State Fair announced this week that Aaliyah McNeal had produced the winning design of the 2026 Big Tex Boot Design Contest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and Calvin Watkins discuss [2:04] the Cowboys' offseason moves. Calvin tells us why the Cowboys traded Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers and why a third-round pick in return was better than he thought they'd get. The guys also discuss the priorities in the draft now that the Cowboys have made the bulk of their free agent moves. [21:14] Evan breaks down a potential starting lineup for Opening Day, fills us in on a "lighter" Corey Seager and notes that a bad spring is good for Joc Pederson. We'll take his word for it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rick Welts, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, on the Luka Doncic trade, his vision of the Mavericks as a sports entertainment company and conversations about a new arena in Dallas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once a skeptic, Sen. John Cornyn has become one of President Donald Trump’s most eager allies. Cornyn’s loyalty has put him in line for Trump’s coveted endorsement in the May 26 runoff, potentially a huge boost over Paxton. In other news, Dallas is the worst major city in Texas for allergies, but conditions are improving; students will soon be able to study at Texas A&M University’s new Fort Worth campus. The downtown campus, which broke ground in 2023, is opening its first building and starting classes this fall; nd a federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked federal health officials from cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every child, and said U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely violated federal procedures in revamping a key vaccine advisory committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal died Saturday morning at Parkland Memorial Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital about 11:45 p.m. Friday. In other news, Dallas mayor Eric Johnson said the I.M. Pei-designed City Hall is aging, expensive to maintain and ill-suited for modern government operations; Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler each won their first Oscars, moving tributes were paid to Robert Redford, Diane Keaton and Rob Reiner and an absent Sean Penn won best supporting actor at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday; and nearly a decade of waiting ended Sunday for the SMU Mustangs, who are finally going dancing once again. The Mustangs enter the tournament as an 11-seed and will face Miami Ohio in a First Four game in Dayton on Wednesday night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John wants to know if there are positive signs about the Rangers offense and Evan delivers the goods. But he's got no answers for John on the state of the bullpen. Then Pete Incaviglia joins the guys to talk about the 40th anniversary of his legendary rookie season, his enduring love for the game that has him in Cleburne for the summer. He also weighs in on what he saw as Kumar Rocker's first manager in professional baseball. Finally, with Rule 5 pick Carter Baumler holding an excellent chance at making the team, John cracks open the archives to delve into the history of Ranger Rule 5 picks. Carlos Tocci anyone? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices