By Alex Trickett BBC Sport Online

The teams:

Baseball: Texas Rangers
American Football: Cowboys
Basketball: Mavericks
Ice Hockey: Stars

It is only fitting that a city built from oil dollars should host one of the richest sporting franchises in the world.

The Cowgirls are a national institution

And the Dallas Cowboys - estimated to be worth $750m (�550m) - have made their money count over the years, winning five of eight Superbowl appearances to earn the mantle of "America's Team".

Their success has rubbed off on the Stars, who caused a stir by becoming the first southern US team to win the Stanley Cup in 1999.

The Mavericks are yet to hit those heady heights in basketball, but are showing promise, while the Texas Rangers - who play in nearby Arlington - have invested heavily in their future.

The venue:

American Airlines Center was a long time in coming.

Modano has more than 900 NHL appearances

Plans for its construction appeared as early as 1994, but the 20,000-seater stadium - home to the Stars and the Mavericks - did not open its doors to the paying public until 2001.

At $420m, it came cheaper than a new Wembley, and can look forward to an exciting future.

The Stars, led by Mike Modano - who has made 900 NHL appearances - retain a competitive edge and are regulars in the latter stages of the post-season.

Mavericks coach Don Nelson, meanwhile, has gathered a talented young squad capable of stretching the NBA favourites.

The legends:

Texas Ranger Nolan Ryan will forever be worshipped across the "Lone Star" state, but Dallas folklore is dominated by its football greats.

'Captain Comeback': Roger Staubach

In recent times, the tremendous trio of Troy Aikman (quarterback), Emmitt Smith (running back) and Michael Irvin (wide receiver) have taken the plaudits.

But their predecessor Roger Staubach blazed the gory trail in the 1970s and deserves even more credit.

Joining the Cowboys as a 27-year-old rookie, he did not become their first-choice quarterback until 1971.

Staubach soon made up for lost time, leading his team to four Superbowls in the following nine seasons and picking up MVP awards.

His ability to rally Dallas from behind earned him the nickname "Captain Comeback."

Man about town:

Formed in 1979 - the year Staubach retired - the Mavericks have enjoyed a far less glamorous existence than the Cowboys.

Nowitzki: Future all-star

But times may be changing.

Supported by team-mates Michael Finley and Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki is putting up numbers that have lifted his team into play-off contention.

The German forward averages 22 points and 9 rebounds per game and signed off 2001 with an impressive 35-point effort in a win over Atlanta.

Nowitzky became an NBA all-star in 2002 and may well lead his Mavericks further than ever before in the post-season.