Table of Contents

January 2000

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Features

The 2000 Bum Steer Awards

A year of asinine actresses, bare-bottomed bongos, curious car washes, dunderheaded deejays, elongated enchiladas, furious filmgoers, Gore goofs, huge hydrants, ice in demand, jettisoned Jagger, kooky Kansans, lecherous legislators, misinformed McDonald's, newsmaker nuts, odorous ocelots, promiscuous passengers, questionable quizzes, ridiculous recipes, speedy sports-team owners, traveling toilets, ubiquitous underwear, vapid vegetarians, wrong W-2s, x-ported x-ecutioners, Y2K y'all, and zaftig Zellweger.

A Heavy Weight

In this corner, convicted rapist Tony Ayala of San Antonio—once a rising star of pro boxing, now an ex-convict on the road to redemption. And in this corner, his past—the toughest opponent he's ever faced.

The Race Is On

The changing of the calendars marks the start of the presidential campaign (this time we really mean it), and George W. Bush is still the favorite to win.

Annie, Get Your Gals!

Various specimens of that celebrated species, the Texas woman, captured on film by photographer Annie Leibovitz, who used to be one herself.

A Murder on Campus

A fraternity, a bid-night party, a random act of violence, an unnatural end: the life and death of Southwest Texas State University junior Nick Armstrong.

Columns

Travel

Mad About Madrid

For an ideal long-weekend destination, try this dusty artists colony 25 miles south of Santa Fe. It's a New Mexican version of Marfa—only a fraction of the size.

Business

Racks to Riches

Can Houston's SuperStand become the Barnes & Noble of magazines: an upscale national chain of superstores catering to affluent, educated consumers? Read all about it.

Behind the Lines

11/26/99

Texas A&M, November 26, 1999.

Sports

The Shootist

Dick Lane got to be the best pool player in Texas history by tirelessly honing his technique. Now he wants to improve the sport he loves—but it's a long shot.

Film

Set Piece

How the West was fun: Scenes from the making of Bull-Fighter, an independent film I produced in South Texas.

Reporter

Miscellaneous

Around the State

The Houston Grand Opera tells a long, long story about love, hate, and a problematic potion. Plus: Austin takes note of the state's hottest Latina performers; Dallas and San Antonio direct themselves into the film spotlight; Port Arthur sings "Happy Birthday" to its most famous daughter; and Dallas gets keyed up about a recital by Radu Lupu.

Texas Classics

Border Skirmish

Américo Paredes.

The Ex Files

Judith Ivey

Judith Ivey's drawl recall.

Face

Blake, Tres, and Brandon Davis

One family's racket.

Hot Books

Gypsy Songman

Hot CDs

Ideal

Low Talk

Pretty, Good

Hooray for Hollywood's All the Pretty Horses.

Texas Primer

Doug Sahm

To Sir, with love: Why Doug Sahm was my hero.

Reporter

Gun Fight

How a ruling by a Texas judge could put the issue of gun control back in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Roar of the Crowd

A Mexican food fight; Amarillo's values.

State Fare

Wild Mushroom-Venison Stew With Biscuits

"Deer diary, tonight I had a wonderful venison stew from Hudson's on the Bend outside Austin . . . "