Baseball

The Texas Rangers (1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington. 972/726-4377. texas.rangers.mlb.com) haven't made it to the World Series yet, but the club does have a rich history of beloved players including Nolan Ryan (now the club's president), Jim Sundberg, Oddibe McDowell, Ferguson Jenkins, Charlie Hough, and Juan Gonzalez. The team plays at the beautiful Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, one of the most pleasant parks in the majors.

Basketball

When the Dallas Mavericks (2500 Victory Ave., Victory Park, Dallas. 214/222-3687. www.nba.com/mavericks) are hot, game nights at the American Airlines Center are electric. The Western Conference team, owned by the fiery Mark Cuban, is still chasing its first championship (they came close in 2006, but fell to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals).

Football

It's impossible to exaggerate the passion fans feel for their Dallas Cowboys (2401 E. Airport Freeway, Irving. 972/438-7676. www.dallascowboys.com). You can feel the love at Texas Stadium through 2008, and at the new stadium in Arlington beginning in 2009.

Hockey

There isn't much naturally occurring ice in Big D, but the city learned to be a hockey town when the Dallas Stars (2500 Victory Ave., Victory Park, Dallas. 214/222-3687. stars.nhl.com) moved here from Minnesota. Die-hard fans were rewarded with the Stanley Cup in 1999.

Catch up-and-coming hockey stars at a Texas Tornado (2601 Ave. of the Stars, Frisco. 972/335-9800. www.tornadohockey.com) game. The minor league team fields 16- to 20-year-olds who compete in the North American Hockey League.

Soccer

FC Dallas (6000 Main St., Frisco. 214/222-3687. web.mlsnet.com) has represented the area in Major League Soccer since 1995 (they were first called the Dallas Burn). Their home field, Pizza Hut Park, seats up to 27,000 fans.