The Front Row: Peeking over his shoulder

TENSION IN DALLAS: Imagine being in Wade Phillips’ shoes right now.

Not long ago, you were the toast of Texas, leading the Dallas Cowboys to a franchise-best 13-3 record and a No. 1 seed.

You were the coach who finally tamed Terrell Owens. You succeeded where the great Bill Parcells couldn’t.

How quickly perception can change in the course of an afternoon.

After the Cowboys squandered a winnable game to the New York Giants, Phillips currently stands as the lame-duck coach who can’t catch a break.

Yesterday, the Cowboys made offensive coordinator Jason Garrett the highest-paid assistant coach in the NFL, agreeing to a contract that will pay him in the ballpark of $3 million a year—a bigger salary than that of most head coaches.

Even though Jerry Jones can’t come out and say it, Garrett is being groomed to become Dallas’ next head man.

Meanwhile, Phillips will be forced to constantly look over his shoulder and wonder when the rug will be pulled from underneath him.

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NOT AGAIN: ESPN.com’s outstanding boxing reporter Dan Rafael reported yesterday that Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya are planning a sequel to their hyped summer blockbuster.

On May 5, Mayweather defeated De La Hoya in the richest fight in boxing history.

Since there is so much money involved, a rematch seemed inevitable, even if Mayweather thoroughly dominated De La Hoya with his superior quickness and defensive ability.

However, a rematch ultimately proves worthless in terms of deciding where Mayweather stands among the all-time non-heavyweight legends.

“Money May” wants to be mentioned not simply alongside, but ahead of names like Ray Robinson, Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler.

That won’t happen as long as he pursues rematches that offer little historical significance.

At this point in his career, Mayweather should be defending his status as the sport’s No. 1 pound-for-pound pugilist instead of chasing more money.

Mayweather made more than $50 million last year alone.

Instead of discussing a rematch for a bout that, in all honesty, wasn’t that exciting the first time around, he should step into the ring with Puerto Rican bomber Miguel Cotto.

Mayweather-Cotto would be the most exciting fight of 2008, and it would feature the real possibility of Mayweather losing—something that was lacking in his bouts with De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

Mayweather still has unfinished business in the welterweight division. For boxing’s sake, let’s hope he pursues it before he finally follows through on his retirement talk.

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BAY AREA BEASTS: Arizona finishes up its four-game road trip tomorrow night with a trip to Berkeley, Calif., to battle the California Golden Bears (6 p.m., FSN-Arizona).

After battling Brook and Robin Lopez—Stanford’s twin seven-footers—last night, the Wildcats’ post players won’t have it any easier trying to contain Ryan Anderson and DeVon Hardin.

Anderson is a highly skilled 6-foot-10 sophomore who can score in the paint and on the perimeter.

His skill set will remind Arizona fans of Ivan Radenovic, but Anderson is much more athletic than the former Serbian standout.

Anderson might not grab the headlines that have been bestowed on other Pac-10 stars, but at 20.7 points and 9.6 rebounds, he might be the most deceptively dominant player in the conference.

He is ruthlessly efficient, as well, hitting on more than 51 percent of his shots—46 percent from three-point range.

If not for foot problems, the 7-foot Hardin might be in the NBA right now.

As it stands, the senior is averaging just over nine points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes per outing.

While Anderson’s game is predicated on versatility, Hardin’s is defined by power.

He also makes his presence known on the defensive end, blocking nearly two shots per game.

In order to wrap up this road swing on a positive note, the Wildcats will need a big effort from their interior players, yet again.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747