No Apologies Needed

“I'm not proud of my inability over the last 10 years to have the impact like I want to have, so I kind of feel like I owe fans an apology,’’ said Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban, on the heels of the Mavericks’ third first round playoff elimination in the past four seasons.

Mark Cuban doesn't owe anyone an apology, least of all the fans.

If it wasn't for Mark Cuban, Dallas would still be basketball hell and Mavs fans would still be wearing bags rather than ball caps on their heads. Granted, it hurts like hell to watch our guys play their asses off for 82 games a season, only to wind up going nowhere in the postseason, but Cuban has given us something to cling to: hope. Every season starts the same way, as I tell myself, This could really be our year. And nine out of ten times, I truly believe it.

Surely I’m not the only one who remembers the dark days of the 1990s, when the Mavs were not only the worst franchise in the NBA, but in professional sports altogether. Draft picks didn’t want to come here (anyone recall the Jim Jackson debacle?), traded players avoided reporting to Dallas as long as possible (Adrian Dantley), and we came within just a few games of claiming the worst NBA record of all time. About the only highlight of the ‘90s for the Mavericks was drafting Jason Kidd, who, along with Grant Hill, went on to become Co-Rookie of the Year.

And then, on January 4, 2000, the unthinkable happened: Mark Cuban rescued the franchise, as well as its fans, from basketball oblivion, by becoming the majority owner of the team. Cuban brought in Don Nelson, one of the winningest coaches in NBA history. He changed the attitude and atmosphere of the locker room, and by signing Michael Finley to a contract extension, Cuban proved that he was willing to spend money to keep key players here in town. He changed the uniforms and revamped the logo and moved the team into the 21st century. He remarketed the team to the public and helped bring in a new fan base, as well as renew old fans who had all but given up on the Mavericks ever being relevant again.

So what, exactly, should Mark Cuban apologize for? Reviving a franchise that was on life support before his arrival? Lowering ticket prices so that the common everyday fan could even afford to go? Making Dallas a premier destination for draftees and free agents alike? A decade of 50+ win seasons, two Southwest division titles, and a Western conference title? Being a passionate, hands-on owner who loves his team just as much, if not more so, than Mavs fans do? Trying to change an obviously flawed officiating system that is consistently inconsistent?

No, Mark, you’ve got absolutely no reason to apologize. You’ve done nothing but singlehandedly rescue the Dallas Mavericks and their loyal fans from basketball irrelevance. We, the fans, should be thanking you for all you have done, not blaming you for circumstances beyond your control. I’d rather have a crazed superfan of an owner, who feels the passion and pain right along with the team, than a stuffed shirt just looking to turn a profit any day of the week.

God Bless the Little Guys

I have always been one to root for the underdog. For example, in the days when Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson ruled the league, I rooted for their opponent on any given night. In the NCAA tournament, I root for the Butlers of the world, not the Dukes and North Carolinas and Kentuckys. And when it comes to basketball players, (aside from my undying adoration and admiration of the Big German), I have always loved the little guys. I don't just mean small in stature, like J.J. Barea, although for the smallest man on the roster, he probably has the biggest heart. I mean the scrappers, the hustlers, the men who aren't afraid to sacrifice their bodies, be it diving for loose balls, drawing charges, or playing pesky get-under-the-skin defense on the opponent.

I must confess, when I first started watching basketball back in the mid-80's, one of my all time favorite players was actually a Laker. But it wasn't Kareem, or Magic, or even James Worthy. Nope, those guys were not for me. Kurt Rambis was the one I loved. He may not have been the fastest, or the strongest, or had the sweetest shot, but one thing was certain every time he stepped on the court: he always gave 110% effort. Regardless of what was asked of him, he would get on the court and perform to the best of his abilities. And since that time, my love and respect for those kind of guys, the ones I like to refer to as "the scrappers," has grown considerably.

The Mavericks are fortunate enough to have several scrappers on this team, particularly J.J. Barea and Eddie Najera. What I love about Barea is that he never lets his size limit anything he does on the court. For instance, when the Mavs played Orlando at home a few weeks ago, Dwight Howard was dominating the paint, blocking (or at least altering) shots from every angle, and nine out of ten Mavericks shied away from the basket and began jacking up jump shots. The lone man who was willing to penetrate the paint and take the ball to the bucket was none other than J.J. Barea. And how many times this season (I wonder if this is an official NBA statistic?) have we seen J.J. throw his body in front of the defender and hit the floor or take an elbow or shoulder or forearm to the gut while drawing the offensive foul? Who else on this team is willing to continually sacrifice themselves in such a manner? Not many, especially not with such regularity.

And then we have Eddie Najera, one of my all-time favorite Mavericks. While Eddie is not a little guy, even by NBA standards, he has admitted that his teammates sometimes tease him about "being a 6'8" center" and thus, undersized. Even in his initial stint with Dallas, he was a scrapper, a loose ball chasing, hustling kind of player, not afraid to throw himself in harm's way to try and help out his team. I was sad to see him traded away and thrilled earlier this year when I heard he was returning to Dallas. I busted out my old Najera jersey, with the silver numbers nearly faded off from years of overuse (what can I say, it's one of my favorites!), and proudly wore it to the very next game.

In Game 4, I was reminded again of why I love Eddie so much. He's a tough guy, not one to back down from a challenge…or even a fight. After watching our guys get beaten up and no whistles blowing, Eddie came into the game and straightaway sent a message to the Spurs: We’re not gonna take it anymore! He basically horse-collared Manu Ginobili, who was already suffering from a broken nose, knocking him facedown on the floor, just seconds after subbing into the game. Najera was charged with a flagrant-2 foul and automatically ejected, but he had clearly gotten his point across. And amazingly, after reviewing the play, league officials decided against any further action against Najera, declining his suspension, as has often happened in similar situations. (Maybe there is one lone Mavericks’ fan in the league offices after all!) Najera, who proved he has his teammates’ backs, and spoke openly about the foul:

It was kind of frustrating to watch some of them hit Dirk in the face.
It was the same (type) foul. I just came in and tried to prove a point
that we’re going to fight back.

And in Game 5, Najera again escalated his level of physical play with another hard foul, this time on the Spurs’ Tony Parker. Najera was charged with a flagrant-1 foul, which does not result in an ejection. Sitting on my couch, I whooped and hollered as it happened, knowing that Eddie wasn’t going to back down. It’s that mental (and often physical) toughness that Dallas has so often lacked that really takes this team to the next level.

Listening to ESPN radio earlier, I heard it mentioned that Spurs fans are primarily only concerned with the play of one Maverick tonight – and his name isn’t Nowitzki. No, the Spurs fans are worried about Eduardo Najera, a simple role player, a guy who doesn’t even make it into every game this team plays. The fact that they’re worried shows that Najera’s message came across loud and clear. The Spurs are going to have a fight on their hands come 7:00 tonight, because neither Najera nor the Mavs will be backing down.

As I sit here typing this blog, wearing my original Najera jersey and counting the minutes 'til tipoff, I’m really lovin’ me some Eddie Najera and J.J. Barea.

God bless the little guys!

GO MAVS!

One Down, Two to Go: Mavs Stomp Spurs in Game 5

WE DID IT!!

Well, ok, they did it. My beloved Mavericks bounced back to life with one of their best performances of the season, pounding the Spurs, 103-81, in a critical Game 5, to keep their playoff hopes alive. Coach Carlisle moved Brendan Haywood into the starting lineup over Erick Dampier, and Caron Butler played like a man on a mission -- because he was. There was more than just a playoff series on the line for the Mavs; these guys, particularly Haywood and Butler, were playing for personal pride. Having not been with the Mavs but roughly half a season, neither of them was really enveloped in the Mavs-Spurs rivalry. Of course they were aware of it, but being thrown right into the middle of such mutual respect and complete and utter hatred between two top tier teams was something different entirely.

Dad and I were talking early on in the game and we decided that for Dallas to have any chance at all of pulling out the all-odds-are-against-them comeback to win this series, they would have to not just beat the Spurs, but beat the snot out of them. And lo and behold, that is EXACTLY what the Mavs did. On defense, they did it with 14 steals, 7 blocked shots, and by forcing 18 turnovers. Offensively, led by Butler's 35 points and 11 rebounds, Dallas had a +12 advantage (42-30) on points in the paint (proving how aggressive they were attacking the basket) and 23 fast break points, compared to just eight for the Spurs.

The tone was set very early on in the game, and although the Spurs did make a run to close the first half and cut the Mavs' lead to seven, when the Mavs hit the court to start the third, they kept the pedal to the metal and never looked back. They played with confidence, poise, and pride -- and they played together, as a unit. Those few minor adjustments made all the difference in the world.

Some might say the Mavs captured lightning in a bottle on Tuesday night, but I don't think so. My Mavs played like the team I know they are, the beasts I know they can be. They didn't whine about calls or non-calls from the officials, and they didn't let San Antonio dictate the pace of the game. They got out there and played their game at their speed and proved to all their naysayers, as well as Coach Popovich and his Spurs, that they aren't out of this series yet.

As Shawn Marion said, "I ain't seen no fat lady yet."

Here's hoping she doesn't rear her ugly head tonight in San Antonio.

I STILL BELIEVE!!

Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Again)

From the time I was ten years old, basketball has been "my thing." I loved playing it, watching it, reading about it. For nearly 25 years now, the Dallas Mavericks have been my team. No, I wasn't the owner, but the self-proclaimed #1 fan -- even in the lean years in the 1990s, when the team was made up of a bunch of players who have since faded into oblivion. (Who else remembers Terry Tyler, George McCloud, Donald Hodge and Randy White??) And earlier this year, I was even formally recognized as the Mavericks' biggest fan by HP when I was named the HP Insider and spent a week with the team, behind the scenes -- something very few ordinary people like myself ever have the opportunity to experience. It was the most amazing week of my life, a more awesome adventure than I ever would have imagined.

That being said, as I watched the Mavs file off the court in San Antonio last night, down 3-1 in their opening round playoff series, I couldn't help but feel the pain and anguish that I saw on the face of each and every Maverick as they headed to the locker room, and ultimately back to Dallas. A wide range of emotions coursed through my veins: anger, frustration, disappointment, sorrow, sadness, and ultimately, defeat. How could this be happening again?

Being a Mavs fan is like an endless nightmare. Every time you think you're waking up and things are getting better, you realize you're still asleep and the boogey man is breathing down your neck. In 2006, when I watched the opening ceremonies for the NBA Finals taking place on our home court and saw my Mavericks being introduced, there were literally tears in my eyes, as I honestly never thought that day would come. As much as I loved Dirk, and Avery, and the whole damn team, I never seriously thought we would be contenders. But there we were, and I was overjoyed and so proud of what the Mavericks had accomplished. And as we headed to Miami, up 2-0 in the series, I just knew a championship was right around the corner. I could see it, smell it, taste it. I felt it with every ounce of my being. But as first Game 3, then Games 4, 5, and 6 slipped away, my heart broke. Everything that had seemed right with the world was suddenly wrong. I cried again, but this time there were no tears of joy, only misery. For nearly two weeks after the Heat claimed the championship on our floor, I was nothing more than a functioning zombie, still unable to accept the loss. But as summer progressed into fall and the preseason rolled around, I again found myself believing that this could be our year.

And my gosh, the 2006-2007 was utterly unbelievable for Mavericks' fans, and even sweeter if, like myself, you had suffered through the bad times while holding out hope that their winning ways would soon return. It seemed like we won every game that season (at 67 wins, we nearly did), we were Southwest Division champions and the #1 seed in the West, guaranteed home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Dirk was on fire all season long and was rumored to be in the running for the NBA's most prestigious individual award, the league MVP. And then along came Don Nelson, Baron Davis, and the Golden State Warriors, a team that barely slid into the final playoff spot out west, but somehow managed to pull off the biggest upset in NBA history, as for the first time ever, a #8 seed beat the #1 seed in a seven game series. Two weeks later, Dirk Nowitzki was named MVP, and an occasion which should have been full of joy and excitement seemed hollow, almost tainted, since the Mavs had already been eliminated from championship contention. Again, I cried, and sunk into a funk, and felt the pain as intensely as if I, too, had worn the blue and white and been out there on the hardwoods -- because in my heart and soul, I had been.

The next season was a struggle, it seemed, to even reach the playoffs. Although the Mavs were actually tied for first place in the West just prior to the midpoint of the season, Mark Cuban and the management felt like something had to change, so they pulled off one of the most controversial trades in team history: they sent the young, up and coming point guard Devin Harris to New Jersey in exchange for the legendary, although much older, future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd. Although it seemed that having a veteran point guard like Kidd would take the Mavs to the next level, things never quite panned out, as the Little General (aka Avery Johnson) never seemed comfortable with turning the reigns over to Kidd on the offensive end of the floor. The team slid steadily downhill from the time of the trade. Had it not been for an unbelievable (I'm talking Willis Reed-esque) comeback by Dirk from a double whammy (ankle and knee) injury, we probably wouldn't have even made the postseason. But we did, and aside from Dirk, we pretty much stank it up as we lost to Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets in the first round. Another early exit, another disappointing end to the season -- one that would cost then Coach Avery Johnson his job.

Another offseason summer came way too quickly, but hope again spread through MavsNation as Dallas introduced Rick Carlisle as their new head coach. Suddenly, there seemed to be a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, and once again, fans began to believe. A new coach, who would be more willing to work with and trust in Jason Kidd and his phenomenal court vision and the thought of having Kidd with the team from training camp on provided enthusiasm and excitement to the loyal Mavs fans once again. Last season was a good, not great, season, and when the Mavs drew the Spurs as their first round matchup, there were very few naysayers in and around the Metroplex; we all had a feeling we would win the series, and possibly even a second rounder, to face off with the Lakers for the conference title. As it turned out, we were half right; we did finally manage to make it out of the first round of the playoffs, which was a big step for this team, in and of itself. In the second round, however, we ran into a much more physical Denver Nuggets team, full of guys (such as Dallas' own Kenyon Martin) who weren't the least bit reluctant to "thug it up" and take cheap shots at our guys. A hotly contested non-call at the end of a game gave Denver the lead, and ultimately, the series. Mavs fans received a hollow "victory" when the NBA, in a statement after that game, came out and said, "Oops, our bad -- there was a foul and we missed it. So sorry, but you guys are just S.O.L." -- or something to that effect anyway.

In the offseason, Dallas again made moves, most notably bringing in Shawn Marion, who in his days with Phoenix, had repeatedly given Dirk fits on the defensive end of the floor. Marion was also known for his high-flying acrobatic abilities above the rim and seemed like a perfect fit to play alongside Dirk and Jason Kidd. As the season started, Dallas looked good in spurts, bad in others, plagued by inconsistency above all else. Still, I was excited as always and unbelievably thrilled to learn I was the HP Insider and would get to spend a week behind the scenes with the team. During the few practices and shootarounds I was privy to, even I could notice something just wasn't right with this team. It was almost like a dark cloud hung over the entryway to the locker room. And although I can't and won't blame that atmosphere on any one individual, one thing that quickly became clear to me is that Josh Howard no longer belonged here in Dallas. He seemed to lack focus, seemed disinterested in much of anything really, kind of lost in his own world. (For the record, I always have been and still AM a fan of Josh Howard; the guy has issues, true, but at heart I truly believe he is a good, albeit a bit misguided, person). When All-Star weekend came to Dallas, Mark Cuban again made a splash, trading Josh Howard and a few other role players for the likes of Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and DeShawn Stevenson.

After losing their first game together as a new team, the Mavs went on to win thirteen games in a row, and found themselves closing in on the Lakers for the #1 seed in the West. Dallas was the talk of the town -- of nearly every NBA town -- and hope again sprang eternal in the DFW area. And just when it looked like then Mavs' ship had finally come in, they laid an ungodly egg against the lowly New York Knicks, basically getting their butts handed to them as they had their 13 game win streak snapped in horrible fashion, suffering their third largest loss of the season, 128-94, on their home court. In the next ten games, Dallas was mediocre -- literally -- going 5-5. They ended the season, however, on a high note, by winning their final five games, marking the 10th straight season with 50 or more victories; retaining the #2 seed heading into the playoffs; and claiming the Southwest Division title. They even drew what seemed, on paper, to be the ideal first round matchup: their much respected and much hated arch rival, the San Antonio Spurs. And even though I knew it wouldn't be easy, I still believed the Mavs would win the series, and I really believed this could be our year. I say that at the start of every season, but something about the way these guys were playing and how they ended the season truly made me believe it was a possibility.

Game One, things didn't exactly go as planned, but the end result was all that really mattered: Mavs won, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Game Two, the Mavs came out flat, looking like they had to start out so many other home games this season, and paid the ultimate price for it, letting the Spurs steal the victory and head back to San Antonio all tied up. I know it sounds crazy, but the second I heard that Dan Crawford was assigned to be lead referee for Game Three, my heart sank, and I felt the impending defeat, long before the Mavs lost the game. But it's a seven game series, so there was still plenty of hope that my boys in blue would put the pedal to the metal and claim victory in Game 4. And when I looked up and realized we had a double digit lead, it again seemed all was right with the world..until the lead, slowly but surely, slipped away, as did any hope the Mavs had of tying up the series and reclaiming their home court advantage.

As I flipped off the TV, before I could stop it, that old familiar feeling -- gloom, doom, perennial disappointment -- began creeping up on me again. No, no, no, no! the screams echoed inside my mind. I am not -- cannot -- WILL NOT go on this emotional roller coaster ride one more year. It's so agonizing and frustrating, constantly feeling like the tides will finally turn in your favor (or in this case, the Mavs' favor) just to find yourself drowning as you end up the victim of a tidal wave of perceived injustice once more. My love of the Mavericks, though it has brought me much joy many times in my life, has also brought me much pain over the past few years. I love and adore these guys so much, both on and off the court, that it kills me when I see them end another season without the one thing that they want most, that I, as a fan, wish for them to have: a championship.

I was talking to my friend Jeremy (who unfortunately, happens to be a Spurs fan), about how hard it is to watch the Mavs come so close, yet still seem so far away from ever achieving their ultimate goal of winning it all. Jokingly, I threatened to jump ship and move my allegiance to Oklahoma City. "Don't do it," Jeremy, a lifelong Longhorns fan advised me. "I stuck with the 'Horns through the bad years, and when they finally won everything, it was that much sweeter, because I'd been there all along." Thanks, J, for talking some sense into me.

Not that I, Mandi Smith, formerly the HP Insider and currently still the Mavs' biggest fan, could ever give up on my team. As much as it kills me to see our championship dreams crushed one year after another, my heart could never belong to another team. That being said, I just have one tiny request for my beloved boys in blue: kick some serious Spurs a$$ tonight. Don't let them take the series, especially not here on our home court. We've seen too much of that in recent years. Play like your basketball lives depended on it.

Because tonight, they actually do.

Call Me Crazy, But I Smell a Conspiracy

Mark Cuban is one of the most polarizing owners (and figures) in professional sports; people either love him or hate him and there seems to be no in between. (Can you guess which camp I fall into?) Among fans, athletes, and media, intense dislike or disdain for Cuban and, by association, his basketball team, the Dallas Mavericks, is perfectly understandable, even acceptable. But when that distaste for Cuban spills over into the NBA hierarchy, from officials (Dan Crawford and Bennett Salvatore) to the seemingly untouchable NBA Commissioner David Stern himself, something is inherently wrong with the system and it definitely warrants review. And unlike NBA coaches and players, the almighty David Stern's threats of fines and suspension don't extend to fans like me -- at least not yet-- so let's examine a few factors that have led me to believe that both Dan Crawford and Commissioner Stern have it out for Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks.

1. Since Mark Cuban purchased the Mavericks in 2000, Dallas has won approximately 60% of their playoff games. However, during that same time frame, in games which Dan Crawford has officiated, the Mavericks are 1-17. While I realize there could be room for some discrepancy (for instance, if Crawford only officiated games where Dallas played superior teams, such as the Lakers, Celtics, etc.), there is no excuse nor reasonable explanation for Dallas winning only 5.8% of its playoff games when Dan Crawford was a member of the officiating team.

2. I find it more than a little coincidental that once it was announced that Dan Crawford, who is publicly known as Mark Cuban's least favorite official, for obvious reasons, would be officiating Game 3 between the Mavs and Spurs, that is when Commissioner Stern decided to speak out against players and coaches criticizing officials. Stern declared that now, rather than just fining players and coaches, he would consider suspensions as well if the criticisms continued. (Read the full story here: http://www.nba.com/2010/news/04/22/stern.refs.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2).

While it's true that refereeing an NBA game is the most difficult of all pro sports, and there will always be some degree of human error as a result of the quick pace of the game, players and coaches have been complaining about calls and non-calls for years now. Some of them, such as Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich, just know how to play the game in the media. For instance, after Game 1, in which the Mavs attempted 34 free throws to the Spurs 20, Popovich made it a point in his post-game comments to draw attention to the number of free throws attempted by Dirk Nowitzki in particular. Since Game 1, the Spurs have attempted 46 free throws, the Mavs just 35. It's all too convenient that Popovich was able to get his point across prior to Stern's edict, but now that Dallas has a legitimate gripe, they are prohibited from speaking publicly about it.

3. When Dan Crawford, who has been officiating NBA games for roughly 25 years, is on the floor with Dick Bavetta, the all-time leader in NBA games officiated, how is it that Crawford is chosen to be the "lead official"? Shouldn't that job go to the man with the most experience, the most seniority, and most importantly, no known bias against either team playing in a particular game? Bavetta has been an NBA referee for 32 seasons and has never missed an assigned game, Yet, somehow, Crawford was named lead official, giving him the right to overturn any calls made by the other two on-court officials.

4. Crawford exercised his right to overturn calls on several crucial plays that actually helped turn the tide in Game 3 to favor the Spurs. Early in the second quarter, Dick Bavetta declared that Eddie Najera had drawn an offensive foul against the Spurs, which meant the Mavs would regain possession of the basketball. However, Crawford, who was near midcourt and not at an angle to properly judge the play, like Bavetta, the nearest official to the action, had been when he made the initial call, Crawford reversed the call, giving the Spurs the ball back and charging Najera with a blocking foul, claiming his heel was on the circle of the restricted area. Regardless of whether or not Crawford was the lead official, how should he be allowed to overturn a call by a referee who has more experience and basketball knowledge and clearly had a better angle on the play?

A few minutes later, Dirk was driving to the basket and was fouled. The whistle blew as Dirk released the ball in a shooting motion, and the ball proceeded to bounce around the basket before finally falling through -- at which time Crawford ruled that the foul had been on the floor, prior to Dirk going into his shooting motion, which it clearly was not. The Mavs were given the ball side out of bounds and no score resulted from the possession, which should have been at minimum a two point gain, most likely a three point turnaround for Dallas, as Dirk surely would have nailed the resulting free throw had the foul been called in the act of shooting.

5. The most telling pair of plays came late in the game, when Crawford again proved how inconsistent he can be with his whistle. When the Mavs had the ball and Dirk drove the lane, Matt Bonner moved over in front of him, never completely getting his feet set on the floor, and the call was an offensive foul on Dirk. The very next play, down at the Spurs end of the floor, the same exact scenario played out, except it was Ginobili with the ball, and the Mavs were called for the blocking foul! It was an identical situation, yet the outcome -- a five point turnaround, considering Ginobili nailed the basket and the foul shot as well -- would have been enough to change the final score to read Mavericks 95, Spurs 94. But it just didn't happen that way.

Apparently, Mavs' center Erick Dampier was unaware of the Stern edict handed down prior to Game 3, and Dampier, usually a quiet soul, had a few choice words when it came to the officiating of the game. (Read the full story here: http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=5132345). Although he didn't single out any one official, he did say that all the Mavericks were wanting was a fair shake; call it the same way on both ends of the floor. At the end of the article, it's mentioned that the league and "NBA officials" will be reviewing Dampier's comments to decide what action, if any, will be taken against him.

And if, somehow, the league finds a way to suspend Dampier over his comments, count me among the fans who won't be the least bit surprised. Is there a conspiracy against Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks? Do David Stern and his cronies really have it out for the boys in blue? I believe I've made my position perfectly clear. You've read the stories and seen the evidence; YOU DECIDE.

Spurs Steal One at Home, Lead 2-1 over Mavs

The first two minutes were pure basketball gold, from the Dallas Mavericks' perspective. Two quick baskets and two unsuccessful possessions by the Spurs, and the Mavs broke out to a 4-0 lead at the AT&T Center on Friday night. And then the Spurs came to life, as did the crowd, and things started to head south for the Mavericks. Although they never got in a hole as large as the one they faced on Wednesday night, the Mavs were down by as many as nine points at one time. And even though at times it seemed they were playing 5 on 6 (lead official Dan Crawford may as well have been wearing silver and black rather than black and white), the boys in blue never gave up.

In the second quarter, the Mavs began chipping away at the Spurs' lead, a piece at a time, led by the most unlikely of heroes, the smallest man on the court: JJ Barea. But don't underestimate his impact because of his size; the possession immediately after Barea subbed into the game, he was able to get the ball to Dirk, who scored straightaway. With the additional attention the Spurs were paying to Jason Kidd, trying to take the ball out of his hands before he could make anything happen, having Barea on the floor gave the Mavs' an extra playmaker, not to mention an active scorer. With mere seconds left in the first half, Barea knocked down a deep three pointer which trimmed the Spurs lead to three, 47-44, at the half. Barea had eight first half points off the bench for Dallas and made a huge impact in the ebb and flow of the game, turning the tide in Dallas' favor.

Barea wasn't the only hero of the game for Dallas; former MVP and future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki again came up huge for his team. In the third quarter, Dallas went on a 19-2 run, fueled primarily by Nowitzki and Barea, to claim the lead from the Spurs. Barea drew a charge on the Spurs, followed by a Nowitzki block and a Barea dribble drive to the basket to cut the lead to one. The Mavs forced the Spurs into a three second call on the next trip down the court, and then Dirk came back and nailed a three to give the Mavs their first lead of the game, 61-59, with just over four minutes remaining in the third period. Nowitzki scored 16 of his team high 35 points in the third quarter, and Jason Kidd stole the ball on the final possession of the third to end the period with the Mavs in front, 70-66.

Nowitzki finished the game with 35 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. Barea had 14 points and four assists, and Jason Terry added 17 points off the bench (including shooting 4-of-8 from behind the arc), but in the end, it was all for naught. Even a broken nose for Manu Ginobili, who caught an unintentional elbow to the face from Nowitzki, couldn't stop the Spurs. Dallas' last lead of the game was at 81-80, after Dirk hit a jumper, but the Mavs allowed Tony Parker to come back and score six straight points for the Spurs. In the end, the Mavs made too many mistakes, which the Spurs capitalized on, winning the game, 94-90, and taking the series lead, 2-1, moving into Sunday night's critical (at least from Dallas' standpoint) Game 4 matchup.

Or, if you're a conspiracy theorist like myself, Dan Crawford might have had a little something-something to do with the final outcome of Game 3. Just check out my next post and decide for yourself.

Either way, the Spurs are going to have one helluva fight on their hands come Sunday night. If there's one thing I can say about my Mavs, it's that they don't go down without a fight.

Spurs Tie Series, 1-1, After Dallas Does Diddlysquat

Panicked, I raced to the hat rack behind the front door and placed them on my head. One, two, three different Mavs hats. Trystan threw her Dirk jersey on over her clothes, and I tossed Merenda one of my other Mavs' hats to wear.

"You really should put your shoes on," Merenda said, referring to my special edition Mavericks adidas sneakers I bought for just over $100 two years ago. (It pained me to spend that kind of money on one pair of shoes; I'm a Wal-Mart shopper at heart). “They worked the last time,” she added.

I shrugged and flopped back down on the couch, unpaused the DVR, and held tight to the Dirty 41 necklace around my neck as I prayed my Mavs would complete yet another amazing comeback from a double digit deficit. But every time they shaved a few points off the 20 point lead the Spurs had amassed, the Spurs would counter with a few baskets of their own. Just when it seemed like the Mavs had closed the gap, San Antonio would tear it wide open again. Close, but no cigar, I thought grimly.

“Did we win?” my favorite wide-eyed MFFL-to-be asked excitedly as I flipped the TV off, unable (or unwilling) to watch the postgame comments.

“No, baby, it was too little, too late,” I sighed as I headed dejectedly to the bedroom, knowing my dear loving (although misguided) husband Rickey, a lifelong Spurs fan, would be much happier with the final outcome: Spurs 102, Mavs 88. Maybe Merenda was right, I thought. I should have worn my shoes!

Not that I would be the least bit superstitious or anything.

In the end, nothing I could have done, whether at home on the couch or live at the AAC, could have won Game 2 for the Mavs. After losing the series opener in what they felt was an unfair matchup (notice how Popovich drew attention to the officiating, particularly when it came to Dirk, without actually criticizing the refs?), the Spurs came out with their foot on the gas pedal from the opening tip on Wednesday night and never let up. Unfortunately, the Mavs fell victim to yet another slow start at home, and try as they might, they never could fully recover.

It was a real shame, too. Not only did the victory give the Spurs some much needed momentum headed back to their house for a pair of all-important games, but just imagine how crushing it would have been had the Mavericks been able to pull off the comeback upset. The Spurs would be forced to take a good look at themselves and ask many questions – the same ones the Mavericks are no doubt asking themselves right now.

As the Mavs pack up and head down I-35 for the next few days, one phrase keeps echoing through my mind: it’s not really a series until one team wins on the road. That’s when the excitement begins.

Recording at Red Car: Film at 11(ish)

Wow.

Being the HP Insider really is the gift that just keeps on giving. Already, the whole experience had been so much more than I asked for, than I ever could have imagined. But somehow, it just keeps getting better. And better.

Take today, for example. I had been asked to record the voice narration for an in-house promotional video about the HP Insider program. I arrived shortly before 10am (thanks, Kathleen, for remembering I am not an early morning person!) at Red Car studio in Dallas, totally unsure of what to expect. I had the script and had looked over and even practiced reading it several times, but still couldn't shake my nervous stomach. I even skipped breakfast for fear it might "revisit" me if my nerves got too shot.

But everyone I met at Red Car was so friendly. The atmosphere there was so relaxed and laidback it was hard not to feel at ease. Once everyone arrived, we headed back towards the recording studio and mixing room. Blindly following those in front of me, I was the last to file into the mixing room -- until one of the guys kindly redirected me to the studio, where the actual recording would take place. You know, the little room with the microphone. Woops, my bad!

Gabriel, a handsome man with a lovely Spanish accent (he is actually FROM Spain!), walked in behind me and snapped a few pictures, which, dressed in my Mavs T-shirt and jeans with my freshly showered wet hair thrown up in a clip, I had totally NOT been expecting. But, hey, at least I was still showing my true blue Mavs' spirit! Collier, who I think was the producer (and had performed with Starship on “We Built This City” many moons ago) walked me through everything that would happen and told me not to worry about nerves or being perfect, to just have fun with it. As I put the big headphones over my ears, he walked out, shutting the glass door behind him and leaving me all alone in the recording room.

Shortly thereafter, I heard his voice in the headphones telling me we were about to start, and to begin with, they would like me to read through the entire script nonstop once to get more comfortable and familiar with it.

“Let’s call this Take One,“ he said, and sucking in a deep breath, I began reading the script. I was so nervous I could hear the shakiness in my own voice, and I was nearly breathless by the time I finished the last line.

“Good job,” came Collier’s voice through the headset, mostly humoring me, I think. Because the voice inside my head said, What the heck was THAT?!? Too fast, too shaky, too blecch. “How do you feel?” asked the voice in the headset.

“I don’t know why but I’m still so nervous,” I said, wringing my hands and staring absentmindedly at the script on the podium before me. “I can hear my voice shaking,” I sighed.
“Just relax a little, nothing to be nervous about,” he said. “Let’s do this: let’s take it a little section at a time, and go from there.”

So I bounced around, trying to shake off nervous energy, grabbed a drink of water, and started again. I thought this time was a little better than the last, and the voice in the headset agreed, before offering a few pointers and suggestions as to words I should emphasize. So we tried again, and again, there were minor adjustments, but improvement nonetheless. Not bad for a beginner, I thought to myself.

And so it went, for approximately 30 takes and two bottles of water. When we got to the point in the script where I talked about being the HP Insider, I couldn’t seem to bring the enthusiasm into my voice. Although my face was smiling, I was concentrating so hard on saying the words right that my focus was blocking my emotion.

“Is that how you felt when you won?” asked the voice in my headset. “Were you excited when you found out?” he teased.

“Excited? You have no idea,” I retorted. “I was so happy I literally had tears in my eyes. It was the best week of my life, hands down!”

“Bring that excitement with you,” he advised, “and let us hear the smile in your voice!” So we tried it again, and this time, when they played it back so I could hear it, I finally got it right! Two more total read-throughs, and, in just over an hour, we were done. Or so I thought.

Just as I was about to step out of the solitude of the studio and into the mixing room, Gabriel and John, another of the guys I was working with, came in and started snapping pictures. Of me. Again. Then John even videotaped me reading through the whole thing before leading me to the mixing room, where the other guys, as well as Kathleen and my friend Jay were waiting. We took several more group pictures and just when I thought we were through, John and Gabriel led me to another room, so they could videotape me reciting the opening and closing lines of the video a few times. Maybe they would use the footage, maybe they wouldn’t, but they wanted to have it just in case. All I could think the whole time was, Geez, I hope my hair doesn’t look like I forgot to brush it!

Once we wrapped up at Red Car, Jay, Kathleen and I went out for lunch. We walked over to Baker Bros. deli, where we just managed to beat the lunch rush. Over two salads and a sandwich, we talked about everything from playoff basketball to cat allergies to our favorite movies. It was a wonderful lunch and, as expected, I had a great time just catching up and hanging out with Jay and Kathleen. (Thanks for lunch, Jay!)

As we said our goodbyes and I walked to my car, I couldn’t help but think how this had been such an awesome ending to the amazing experience that was being the HP Insider. Every time I think this roller coaster ride of a lifetime is over, we reach another turn and the track just keeps on going. As I looked in my rearview mirror, I grinned slyly at my reflection, wondering, was this really the end?

Somehow, I kinda doubt it…

Dallas Downs Spurs, 100-94, to Open Playoffs

When it comes to the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs, throw seeding out the window. Home court advantage doesn't necessarily factor into the equation, either. Because when it comes to these two teams, who have squared off in the playoffs more times than not over the past decade, nothing is as simple as it seems -- on the surface. So many factors make this series playoff gold. History. Rivalry. Familiarity. Similarity. Regardless of the final outcome, this series is going to be a good one.

And it started off on the right foot in game one. Dirk Nowitzki was unstoppable, his shooting unbelievable, as he went 12-of-14 on field goals and a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line, for a team high 36 points. Rather than double teaming Dirk, the Spurs decided to try and run a series of individual defenders at him, all to no avail. Jason Kidd was, in the words of Spurs' Coach Popovich, "a gnat." He was, as expected, all over the court, making things happen at both ends of the floor. Kidd, who played 41 minutes, more than even Dirk Nowitzki, had another near triple-double, with 13 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and four steals. Caron Butler was a big help on the offensive end, scoring 22 points, and grabbing three steals on defense. Although he played some decent defense (five rebounds and two blocked shots), Shawn Marion was nearly a nonfactor on offense, with just nine points and three assists. Even less of a factor was Jason Terry, who scored only five points.

In the third quarter, once it was painfully obvious that the Spurs were defenseless against Dirk, Popovich decided to switch things up a bit by stealing another move from Nellie's old playbook: the Hack-a-Shaq technique, where a player purposefully fouls a poor free throw shooting opponent, sending them to the stripe in hopes they will miss. Only this time around, it was Hack-a-Damp (Erick Dampier). After three straight fouls which resulted in six free throw attempts, four of which Dampier nailed, it was back to business as the Spurs again tried to squash the Mavs. Dampier finished the game with five points and 12 rebounds to go along with one steal and one block.

But the biggest factor in this particular game was the free throw shooting. Dallas was aggressive from the get go, earning them far more trips to the charity stripe than their opponent. Dallas shot an incredible 34 free throws, making 25, while the Spurs only attempted 14, hitting 12 free throws. Who knew Bennett Salvatore could actually call fouls in the Mavs' favor?

Game 1 was a tight one, a hard fought victory for the good guys. Game 2 promises to be a thriller as well, so tune in tonight on TXA 21 as the Mavs again take on the Spurs at the AAC.

Congrats to Coach Carlisle

Nine times out of 10, when I hear Coach Rick Carlisle's name mentioned on local radio or television, it's only to note how stoic and unanimated he can be on the sidelines. Rarely do I heard Coach Carlisle get the kind of praise he deserves for leading this season's Mavericks to another winning year. Fans and media alike too often tend to take Carlisle and his coaching abilities for granted. (Have people already forgotten what he was able to do with the ragtag team he had left in Indy after the Ron Artest debacle in Detroit? Who else could have taken that group of guys and made something out of essentially nothing the way that he did?) So I was thrilled to hear that the NBA named Coach Carlisle the Western Conference Coach of the Month for April.

During the month of April, the Mavericks went 5-2, with their only losses coming at home to the Orlando Magic and the (at the time) red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder. Dallas ended their year by winning eight of their last ten games, including a five game winning streak to close out the season. They posted the league's best road record at 27-14, to go along with a 28-13 home record. For the 10th consecutive season, the Mavs (55-27) posted 50 or more victories. Congratulations to Coach Carlisle and the Mavericks on another great season!

Pop Plays Games as Mavs Win Season Finale, 96-89, Over Second String Spurs

The Spurs had nothing to lose, and their fate was essentially out of their own hands. Come this weekend, they’d be playing either Utah or Dallas, and their choice was clear: bring on the Mavs. Which is exactly the same way the Mavs felt about the Spurs. But Spurs’ Coach Gregg Popovich took matters a step further, resting Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan and playing Tony Parker sparingly. According to most basketball geniuses, Popovich was simply trying to spare his key players from injury in a “meaningless” game, as far as the Spurs were concerned. But being the conspiracy theorist I can sometimes be, I disagreed.

To me, by playing primarily only his second string players, Popovich had decided before the game ever tipped off to “forfeit” the victory. It was a slap in the face not only to the Mavericks as a team, but to their fans as well. Basically, Popovich wanted to throw his B team on the court, so that if the Mavs should struggle at all to win the game, a seed of doubt would be planted in their collective mind moving into the opening round of the playoffs. It was reminiscent of the mind games and maneuvers that often took place when Nellie was at the Mavericks’ helm, and he and Popovich would continually toy with lineups, compliment their opponent, and pretend their team was the underdog in any matchup.

But this time, mind games be damned, Popovich's plan didn't work. The Mavs came out ready to play from the opening tip, because to them at least, this game still meant something. The Mavs were still playing for pride, playing to win, and playing to ensure their position as the #2 seed out West heading into the playoffs. No one wanted to finish the season on a losing note, especially not this group of guys, who had already seen their share of ups and downs over the last half of the season, with a 13 game winning streak followed by a string of poor performances and inconsistency. On this, the final night of the regular season, the Dallas Mavericks definitely came to play.

And play they did, from early on. Jason Kidd was phenomenal in the first half, scoring 16 of his 18 points while knocking down multiple shots from behind the arc. Unlike the Mavs, the Spurs were godawful from three point territory. They were so bad, in fact, that when I caught a glimpse of their three point shooting percentage late in the game, I did a double take: it was at 5%!! The Spurs finished the game just 2-of-22 on threes, for 9.1%.

One positive for the Spurs, however, was the play of rookie DaJuan Blair, whom the Mavericks couldn't seem to stop from anywhere at either end of the court. Blair was a beast on the boards, pulling down 23 rebounds, to go along with his 27 points. Blair was the biggest factor in the rebounding race, which the Spurs won, 52-47, despite a 15 rebound performance by Mavs' backup center Brendan Haywood. Haywood also scored eight points and was credited with five blocked shots, where the Spurs as a team had only three blocks.

It was an interesting...albeit strange..game all around. The team leader in assists? Automatically, one would assume J-Kidd. But no, it was the Big German, Dirk, who had a team high five assists. Dirk also hit two more free throws, to extend his current streak of consecutive made free throws to 74 to end the regular season. (The record does not carry over into the playoffs, but it will pick back up where he left off at the start of the 2010-2011 regular season). Caron Butler led the team with 20 points, Dirk added 19, Kidd finished with 18, and the Jet added 10 points to help push the Mavs to their eventual 96-89 victory. Butler and Jet also garnered team-high honors with three steals apiece.

"We took care of business and now we'll see Duncan and Ginobili for sure," said Jason Kidd, alluding to the fact that Spurs' Coach Popovich chose not to play his starters. Former Mavs' head coach Avery Johnson once employed a similar strategy to end the 2006-2007 season against the Golden State Warriors, choosing to rest some of his star players and start his bench. The Warriors won that game, thereby moving into the 8th seed in the Western conference playoff picture and matching up with the Mavericks in the opening round. I'm sure we can remember what happened next as the Mavs made the worst kind of history, becoming the first ever #1 seed to lose to an #8 seed in a seven game playoff series. Here's hoping history repeats itself, and Popovich's decision to rest his key players comes back to bite him in the butt!

With this victory, the Mavericks regular season record finished at 55-27, marking the 10th consecutive season of 50 or more Mavs' wins. Dallas was 28-13 here at the AAC and ended the year with the league's best road record, an unbelievable 27-14. Dallas clinched the #2 seed and will face the Spurs in the opening round of the playoffs, beginning on Sunday night at 8:30. Once again, this will be a series for the ages, so be sure and tune in to TXA 21 for all your Mavs needs!

Mavs Sink Clippers, 117-94

It’s not a championship – not yet – but the Mavericks accomplished a new feat on Monday night: Dallas ended the travelling portion of their schedule by sailing to a 117-94 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers to claim the best road record in the NBA with 27 wins and only 14 losses.

The Mavericks headed into this game in control of their own fate as they held onto the second seed in the playoff race. A win would put them one step closer to locking in the second seed, meaning that should they go deep into the playoffs, the conference finals would be the earliest the Mavs would have to cross paths with the Lakers. And the Mavs did everything right on Monday night to secure yet another win, their fourth straight.

The Clippers initially led the Mavs, 4-2, before the Mavs went on a 12-0 run, topped off with an alley-oop pass from Kidd to Roddy Beaubois for a dunk that left Roddy swinging on the rim with the Mavs up 14-4. Two possessions later, Kidd again found Beaubois with another alley-oop pass for an easy layup. At the midpoint of the first quarter, Dallas had nine assists on nine made field goals. From that point on, Dallas never let off the gas pedal as they pushed the ball and scored seemingly at will the remainder of the night.

Beaubois, who saw extended playing time with 18 minutes, was literally everywhere in the opening frame, finishing the first quarter with nine points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Shawn Marion, who had missed several games to a strained oblique, returned with a stellar shooting night as he went 9-of-12 for 21 points. Dirk had 25 points in just 22 minutes and shot a perfect 100% (3-of-3) on three pointers. He also made four more free throws to extend his franchise record streak of consecutive made free throws to 72 and counting. Jason Kidd posted yet another double-double (he leads the team in double-doubles this season) with 12 points and 12 assists.

An off the glass bounce pass to Marion for an easy basket, setup by a Jason Kidd steal, sealed an amazing first half by the Mavericks as they headed to the locker room up, 64-43. And the Mavericks just continued to expand on their lead in the second half, allowing their bench some extended playing time while providing the starters a bit of a respite. Neither Kidd nor Dirk set foot on the court in the fourth quarter as the Mavs opened the final frame up by 30 points, 99-69. Their lead grew as large as 37 at one point. DeShawn Stevenson even got in on the scoring act by nailing a three pointer.

With only one regular season game remaining, the Mavericks cruised to a much needed easy victory and moved one step closer to their goal of securing the #2 spot heading into the playoffs next weekend. Only one more team, the hated San Antonio Spurs, the Mavericks’ arch rivals, stands in their way. Wednesday night’s game is going to be a great one as the Mavs close out their season at home against the Spurs, who they will most likely face again in the opening round of playoff action, essentially making this an eight game series between the two Texas teams.

I can’t wait for Wednesday, as Dad and I will be there, in the rafters, watching every second…

No Let Down Here: Mavs Crush Kings in Cali

If Friday night was Eastern conference basketball, then Saturday night was definitely Western conference hoops. It was the run and gun, much more fun style of basketball that reminded me of the old rivalry series between Dallas and Sacramento in the earlier part of this decade. Only this time, the Kings really never stood much of a chance as the Mavericks led from wire to wire, claiming an eventual 126-108 victory at Arco Arena. Dirk Nowitzki again shined, leading the Mavericks with 39 points, including another perfect showing (13-of-13) from the free throw line. With those free throws, Dirk set a new franchise record of 68 straight made free throws (dating back to the Nuggets game on March 29), eclipsing his existing record (60) from the 2005-2006 season.

Dirk wasn’t the only Maverick to shine on offense, however. Jason Terry had a good shooting night, dropping in 25 points on 8-of-14 shots, including 3-of-4 from behind the arc. And Jason Kidd racked up his second triple double of the year, the 105th of his career, finishing with 11 points to go along with his 10 rebounds and 13 assists (both team highs). Erick Dampier was a big factor on the defensive end, leading the Mavericks with three blocked shots. One odd stat o’ the night, something I have never in all my years of basketball watching seen before: neither team had a single steal. Very strange, indeed.

On a night when the Mavericks could have chosen one of a variety of excuses (second night of a back to back, had an emotional win the night before, etc.) to justify a loss to the cellar dwelling Kings, the Mavs did just the opposite: they came out ready to play from the opening tip. Again. Just like they had done in Portland only 24 hours prior. And just like in the win at Portland, which allowed the Mavs to clinch the Southwest Division title, the Mavs were able to maintain focus and intensity and keep their collective eyes on the ball – and their ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship.

Icy Shooting Mavs Still Scorch Blazers, 83-77

Stellar defense may make for a very physical and closely fought basketball game, but it certainly doesn’t make it entertaining. Sitting on the sofa watching the Mavs take on the Portland Trailblazers in the Rose Garden last night was a bit difficult at times. As much of a Mavs fan as I am, I struggled to keep my eyes open during the game last night. The defensive effort was so great on both ends of the floor that the game had no real offensive flow, something I have become quite used to after watching the Mavericks over the past decade. What little bit of flow there was to the game was stripped away in the first half by the whistle happy officiating crew. Fortunately for Dallas, the majority of those whistles seemed to go our way on this particular night. Defense may win championships, but it definitely doesn’t make for an action-packed, edge of your seat type ball game. When the TV analyst has to inform the viewing audience, “Don’t fall asleep at home, folks, not tonight,” (thank you, Bob Ortegel) you know you’re in for a long – and late—night.

The basketball I saw on Friday night was more the Eastern conference style of play – great defense, nonexistent offense (Dirkand his 40 points not withstanding). But as ugly as it was, the Mavs played a complete game and really united on the defensive end of things, which is what allowed them to pull out the eventual 83-77 victory over the Blazers, who had been a thorn in the Mavericks’ side all season long. The Mavs’ defense was, aside from their free throw shooting (30-of-35, including a perfect 17-of-17 by Nowitzki), the only thing that kept them in the game; they couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with a basketball for much of the night. They shot only 34% for the game but still managed to win.

Another factor that played a big role in the Mavericks’ win in Portland was their age and veteran experience. Knowing the playoffs were close at hand and recalling how physically intensely Portland had played them all season long, the Mavs knew they had to get the jump on Portland from the opening tip – which they did. The Mavericks were the more aggressive team, both on offense and defense. And during the second half, when the game became more physical and hotly contested, the Blazers began to lose their cool when whistles went the Mavs’ way. Untimely technical fouls (four of them, including one on Blazers’ Coach Nate McMillan) and terrible turnovers helped the Mavs secure the lead and close out the game in the final few minutes. Even the Blazer fans couldn’t keep their cool, as one man got tossed for throwing debris onto the playing court while the game was in action. The Mavs, on the other hand, kept their cool, even when the ball wasn’t bouncing their way, and managed to maintain focus, allowing them to do what they had failed to do in three previous attempts: beat the Blazers.

Prior to this game, the Blazers had an incredible streak of 72 games this season where they had gone undefeated when holding their opponents under 88 points. But Friday night, that streak came to an end in an ugly fashion as the Mavs literally fought their way to victory in the Rose Garden. Not only could this game have an impact on the final playoff pairings out west, but it also sent an important message to Portland, who could very well be Dallas’ opponent in the opening round: You may have beaten us before, but don’t expect to beat us again.

Dirk Gets What He Deserves: Another Award

Dirk Nowitzki was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for the fourth time this season. In three games during the week of April 4-April 10, he averaged 33.7 points and 8.7 rebounds. In roughly 24 hours, Dirk managed to score 79 points as he led the Mavs to victory in back to back road games at Portland and then at Sacramento. In those two games alone, Dirk attempted 30 free throws – and made every single one of them. In fact, Dirk eclipsed the previous franchise record (which he himself had set) of hitting 60 consecutive free throws without a miss. Currently (as of Monday morning), his streak, which began on March 29 against the Denver Nuggets, sits at 68 made free throws in a row. Congratulations to Dirk on not just a great week full of fantastic performances but another phenomenal season as well!

Sometimes, It's Okay to Bend the Rules Just A Little

Another reason I was excited about the Memphis game on Wednesday is because one of my dear friends, who is almost as big a Mavs fan as I am, had scored a pair of postgame passes for us. For anyone who doesn’t know, a postgame pass does not guarantee access to the tunnel or the locker room. It does, however, get you down on the court after the game, where you can wait for players from either or both teams to come out in hopes of obtaining autographs or taking advantage of possible photo opportunities, etc. The one other time I was fortunate enough o have a postgame pass, over two years ago, I was also blessed enough to have a friend who was able to pull strings for me and get me back in the tunnel, where I was able to meet Dirk for a second time. However, Wednesday night was a totally different story.

When we first made it down to the designated waiting area for people with postgame passes, my friend and I were primarily concerned with whether or not we would be able to meet and greet any of the Mavericks ourselves. Since it was the next to last home game, we knew it would likely be our last chance, because once the playoffs start, fan access to the players is denied to keep the team focused and ready to play ball. We spoke with one of the security guards, who informed us that Dirk was supposed to be meeting with roughly 50 students and their families, so there was no possible way any of us could get back there to see him on this night. My friend and I were disappointed, but not too surprised. However, as we began talking to the couple sitting next to us, our whole attitudes changed.

The couple next to us, the Herreras, were here on leave from the military. Mr. Herrera was currently stationed in, and about to return to, Germany (I think he said Manheim?) and his wife was going to be deployed back to Iraq on Friday. They had a home in Fort Worth and had decided to spend the end of their R & R time taking in a Mavericks game. Mr. Herrera even had a 50 Euro note he had brought with him in hopes of getting Dirk to autograph it. They were so excited about having the opportunity to meet Dirk, only to have their dream snatched away from them. My friend and I decided to do anything and everything we could and pull what few strings we knew to try and get the Herreras back into the tunnel.

Apparently, during the game, Mrs. Herrera had mentioned to the female security guard working the area where they were seated that she and her husband were US soldiers and had hoped to get to meet Dirk while at the game. The security guard then offered to try and get them postgame passes and special access. The guard DID obtain and give them the postgame passes, and said she had spoken with Lesley Berry, the Mavs’ player relations manager, about the couple being able to gain access to the tunnel. But when my friend asked the security guard outside the tunnel to call and ask Lesley about it, Lesley had no idea what or who he was talking about, so the Herreras’ request was again denied. Another member of the security team came over to help out and eventually came back with someone who was a Director of some sort at the AAC, maybe something to do with events. The woman was very polite, although not particularly helpful, and said there was really nothing she could do under the circumstances. Mr. Herrera asked if she could at least take the Euro note back and have Dirk sign it, but she said she was prohibited from that as well. So even after trying to go through proper channels, the Herreras were going to be sent back to their separate corners of the world, Germany and Iraq, empty handed. My friend and I couldn’t stand to see that happen, so I came up with another idea...

One of our friends can on occasion get access to the players and get things signed and return them to us, so my friend asked the Herreras to leave their Euro note with her and she would find a way to get it signed for them and mail it back to them. She took down their contact information and promised to have it signed and send it back to them, and they were very happy that they might at least have something to show for all of their efforts. And my friend and I were just happy to help. We both have the utmost respect for any and everyone who serves in our military and were just glad we could do a little something to show some small token of gratitude. Sometimes, it’s not what you know, but who you know that makes all the difference.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Mr. and Mrs. Herrera, and we hope to see you again at another Mavs game in the near future. May God keep you two, as well as all of our troops, safe and sound until you return home again. God bless you both!

No Grrrr in These Grizzlies

As soon as I learned that April 7th was the Dirk Nowitzki bobblehead giveaway, I knew I had to get a ticket to the game. I already own one Dirk bobblehead, but the spring in the neck is broken to the point that if you tap Dirk lightly on the head, you’ve essentially decapitated him and his head will bounce completely off the body. I was actually off work on Wednesday (my schedule is very odd, a result of being at the low end of the seniority totem pole, even though I have ten years of service) and planned to leave early to make it to the AAC in plenty of time to get my bobblehead, which were only being given out to the first 5,000 fans. Alas, real life had other plans. My little MFFL in training, Trystan, had been running fever for a few days when we noticed a nasty rash on her hip, about 30 minutes before I had planned to leave home for the game. Since I have the only vehicle in the household, I dropped Trystan and her mom Merenda at the emergency room on my way to the game, which set me back about half an hour or so. Even then, I still made it to the AAC about 6:30, a full hour before the Mavs vs. Grizzlies game was set to tip off. But when I walked in the north entrance, there were no bobbleheads to be found. What a bummer!

Since I was flying solo for this particular game, I had plenty of time to wander the concourse before finally making my way to my seat, again in the upper deck. But again, for the relatively reasonable price ($15), it was a great seat. Sure, it was a little high up, but the angle was perfect, to where I could see anything and everything that would take place on the court beneath me. By the time the game tipped off, I was the only one sitting in my row, which made it even more comfortable. That way, I could be as loud as I wanted without fear of annoying anyone sitting too close to me. The game was great, as the Mavericks led from start to finish, clobbering the Grizzlies, 110-84, much the way they had done in previous seasons. Memphis continually turned the ball over (20 times, to be exact) which resulted in 30 points for Dallas. The Mavs shot an amazing 57% (8-of-14) from three point range, led by Jason Kidd (4-of-5) from behind the arc. But they were just as deadly inside the paint, where they scored 50 points. The Mavericks’ bench, led by Jason Terry with 16, outscored the Grizzlies’ reserves 49-7 as well. Every Maverick who stepped on the floor, including rookie Roddy Beaubois, who played only three minutes, scored at least two points.

This kind of blowout was the easy win the Mavericks needed to propel themselves into the playoffs. On Friday, they will face the Portland Trailblazers, their toughest remaining opponent and quite possibly their potential playoff opponent in the opening round. The Blazers have owned Dallas this season, winning the season series by claiming all three matches thus far. If Dallas really wants to show themselves, as well as the rest of the league, that they are serious about playing for nothing short of a championship, then they need to prove it on Friday night at the Rose Garden. Send a message, not just to Portland, but to any team out there who thinks that going through Dallas will be a cakewalk: think again! If they can somehow pull out a victory in Portland, it will help build momentum as they head into the final week of the regular season and let them control their own playoff destiny. Right now, Dallas is in the driver’s seat, clinging to the #2 seed, but anything can happen over the course of the next seven days. One thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a wild ride.

(By the way, in case anyone was wondering -- I did get a new Dirk bobblehead. My friend with the Mavs came through for me yet again. Dirk will soon be sitting on my shelf alongside Shawn Marion and the old occasionally headless Dirk, the one shown above.)

A Cuban, a German, and a Decade of Relevance

Mark Cuban is the Fairy Godfather, and ten years ago (on January 4, which just so happened to be my birthday), he granted three wishes to Mavericks fans across the Metroplex:

1. Make the Mavericks relevant in the NBA again

2. Make basketball enjoyable, exciting, and entertaining fun for the fans

3. Bring an NBA championship to Dallas.

Ok, so maybe he hasn't quite granted wish #3 yet. But it's certainly not for any lack of effort (or lack of funding) on Cuban's part. From day one, Mark Cuban has done anything and everything within his power to make the Mavericks a championship team. He has helped shape the Dallas Mavericks into a perennial contender, one of only two teams (the other being the San Antonio Spurs) who have won a minimum of 50 games for at least ten consecutive seasons. Since Cuban came to town, no matter how bad the Mavericks might have been at any given time, there was always an underlying feeling that this team could still win it all at any given time.

Although the Mavs have yet to win an NBA title in their 30 year history, they have come close enough to taste it, and the bittersweet disappointment that goes along with letting the title slip through your hands and watching your window of opportunity slowly come to a close. But just when local media and Mavs fans alike thought the Mavs reign of goodness might come to an end, Cuban again did what he had to do: he pulled the strings on a deal that sent the talented but troubled Josh Howard (along with bit part players Drew Gooden, James Singleton, and Quinton Ross) to Washington in exchange for Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson, and Brendan Haywood. On the heels of that trade, the Mavericks went on a thirteen game winning streak. Although Dallas has struggled a bit over their last dozen games, fans are really starting to believe in the group of guys we have here and the possibility – or probability – that they really could win the title this season…if they can just get by those pesky Lakers.

Over the past decade, few teams have enjoyed the routine regular season successes of the Dallas Mavericks. “That’s still something special,“ Dirk Nowitzki noted, speaking of the ten straight season with 50 wins. “I’m glad I was a part of this last decade. We’ve won a lot of games and had a lot of fun. But..I’d rather trade that for a championship ring any day.”

Whether or not the Mavs will finally walk away with a title this June, one thing remains certain: Mark Cuban is the best thing that ever happened to the Dallas Mavericks.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Car

So there we were, Dad and me, sifting through the clearance items at the Fan Shop kiosk just inside the front doors of the arena. The Mavs had just dropped a stinker of a game to the Orlando Magic and we were hoping to find some good deals on some new Mavs gear. As we pawed and perused our way through the offerings of the table, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see the smiling face of an older woman I'd never met.

"Excuse me," she said politely, "are you Mandi?"

Baffled, I answered, "Yes, ma'am, I am," now curious as to how a total stranger knew my identity. She must have sensed my intrigue as she smiled over at her son, standing just a few feet away.

"I read your blog, on the web site," she said. "You were the Insider."

"Really? That's so cool! Thank you," I replied, uncertain of what else I should say. "It's nice to know people were actually reading it." I wanted to say more but I was so surprised at being read (and subsequently recognized) by someone who wasn't either related to me or a friend of a friend that I just stood there. About that time, she and her son started to walk away and I noticed Dad was at the far end of the counter, paying for his new bargain bin duds.

I walked down to meet Dad and tell him what had just happened and see what he had bought. For just $15, he managed to snag a Dirk MVP T-shirt as well as a Jason Terry 6th Man of the Year shirt. Too bad I was already broke for the night. On the walk to the car, I relayed my story to him -- even though he had been standing beside me most of the time, he had somehow been oblivious to my interaction with the woman. As I finished up, he just looked at me incredulously.

"Did you point her to your new blog?" he asked.

Internally, I heard Homer Simpson yelling, "D'oh!" and saw him smacking himself in the head as I sheepishly shook my head no. "I just didn't have enough time and I didn't think about it."

"You really should have," he noted, always full of fatherly advice after the fact.

Yeah, I thought to myself, he's probably right.

And when I made it home and retold the story to my dear Rickey, he, too, questioned why I hadn't referred the woman to my blog. "Maybe," he added, "you should print up business cards with your name and the address of your blog and get people interested. Then, once you're up to about 1000 followers, maybe bigger people -- like Cuban even -- will start to take notice."

I love the idea, even though it wasn't mine. Currently, I have nine --count 'em, nine -- followers. Most of them have been with me from the start. It's a long way from 1000.

But we all have to start somewhere, I guess....

Mavs Get Win #50 in Memphis OT Thriller

I hate that I had to work tonight. But the bills still have to be paid, so there I was, sitting in my cubicle at 7:13pm with my headphones on when the Mavs tipped off versus the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum. Don't get me wrong; Chuck Cooperstein, the radio voice of the Mavs, is an excellent play by play announcer and explains the game clearly enough that I can visualize the court when I close my eyes. But nothing compares to actually being able to watch the game, be it live and in person or from the comfort of the sofa with my little MFFL Trystan cheerleading by my side. But alas, I was cursed with a work schedule that had me not making it home until 9:30, which was just about the time the game should have ended.

I listened intently all night long as the Mavericks made one sloppy play after another. We were down, we’d catch up, we’d fall back behind due to lack of energy, effort, focus or intensity – whatever you want to call it. So as I pulled into the driveway with about two minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Mavs down by only six, I still held out hope that we could win. (I’m one of those rare true blue fans who always thinks we can win, no matter how hopeless the situation.) Afraid of missing a crucial play if I tried to run inside and turn on the TV, I killed the engine and reclined in the seat, listening as Dirk nailed first one and then a second three to tie the game. I screamed and cheered and bumped the roof of the car with my fist in excitement. My niece heard me inside the house and quickly flipped the game on, so as soon as Memphis called timeout, I raced up the ramp and inside, not even stopping long enough for a “Hi, honey, I’m home” before flopping onto the edge of the sofa. This was definitely a game where the Mavericks, particularly Dirk, saved the best for last. Luckily, I was able to watch the final few minutes…the only part that really mattered, in the end.

Trystan sat on my lap and we yelled at the TV as the game headed into overtime. She was excited because it meant her bedtime was just extended by at least five more minutes; I was just excited that the Mavs still had a chance to pull out a victory they could definitely need down the stretch to better position themselves come playoff time. And for the final five minutes, the Mavericks didn’t disappoint. The game was too close for my comfort for the better part of the extra period, but in the end, my guys managed to steal one in Memphis. Sometimes, you just get lucky, and that’s essentially what happened for Dallas last night.

While the Mavs played respectable defense for the majority of the game, they were slow to start offensively in nearly every quarter. 1-of-8, 1-of-9, etc. Shooting that poorly, it’s amazing the Mavs were able to keep themselves in the game, especially coupled with the abnormally high number of turnovers (18) they suffered. They held the Grizzlies shooting to just 41%, and only 32% on three pointers. Dirk, Butler, and Kidd all had two steals apiece, and Jason Terry led the charge with a game high four steals. Caron Butler (11 points, 13 rebounds) and Jason Kidd (12 points, 10 rebounds) both posted double-doubles, but it was Jason Terry, who finished with a team high 29 points, that really helped the Mavericks remain within striking distance.

During the final eleven minutes of the game (including OT), it was again Dirk Nowitzki who came to the rescue, however. He started the charge by scoring back to back three pointers to tie the game and continued his suddenly stellar shooting into the extra period. After shooting only 3-of-16 by the midpoint of the fourth quarter, Dirk finished the game on fire, shooting 6-of-7, with 18 of his 28 total points coming during the last half of the fourth quarter and the overtime period. The Mavs held on to win it, 106-102, in overtime, their first win at Memphis in the last four tries.

As much as the Mavs might like to revel in their come from behind victory, there’s no time for celebration as they return home tonight to face the Orlando Magic and look to extend their win streak to four games. Although the Mavs remained in second place in the Western Conference with their victory, both Utah (1/2 GB) and Phoenix (1GB) won as well, keeping the pressure on Dallas to continue their winning ways.

Dad and I will again be in attendance at the AAC tonight. We’re planning on watching everything from the upper deck, but who knows what the night holds in store. I brought my camera and recharged the batteries…just in case.

GO MAVS!