I have never been a fan of Phil Jackson. I think he is overrated as a coach (let's see him take a team without a pair of future Hall of Famers and win a championship) and a pompous, arrogant jackass of a human being. He is a constant whiner when things don't go his (or his team's) way, and sometimes even when they do. But he has been playing his little mind games for many years now, so I don't know why it surprised me when he decided to talk trash about Steve Nash just days before his Lakers are scheduled to take on Nash's Suns in the Western Conference Finals.
Jackson accused Nash of carrying, or palming, the basketball when he pushes the ball downcourt. Jackson even went so far as to insinuate that referees give Nash the preferential "superstar" treatment, allowing him to consistently violate the palming rule without ever calling him for a violation. In the first place, I've seen many a player, including Phil's own golden boy, Kobe Bryant, frequently palm the ball when in transition. It's just one of those rules that is rarely enforced in the NBA, such as travelling. I don't know how many times I have seen players take three to four complete steps toward the basket without ever dribbling the ball and get away with it. Secondly, if Jackson wants to point fingers and talk about players receiving the "superstar" treatment, he need look no further than the end of his bench, at Kobe Bryant, whom officials favor like no other player in the league, with the possible exception of Dwyane "I singlehandedly shot more free throws than the opposing team in a game" Wade.
That being said, I should have expected nothing less from "Zen Master" Jackson, who will stop at nothing to give his team an advantage. I can only hope the league executives will see right through his charade and the all-too-convenient timing of his remarks, and not only fine him, but suspend him accordingly. NBA Commissioner David Stern issued an edict earlier in the playoffs which threatened to fine, and possibly take further recourse against, anyone else who made public comments about the officiating during the remainder of the postseason. Jackson has already been fined once in the playoffs, and it obviously had no effect on him, so I hope Commissioner Stern will seriously consider at least a one-game suspension for Coach Jackson. Although I know deep down, it will never happen, because Jackson and the league's beloved L.A. Lakers are untouchable and invincible when it comes to things of this nature.
Perhaps Phil Jackson's next book should be called Zen Master: Mastering the Art of Zebra Manipulation.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Misjudging the Matrix
When I’m wrong, I’m not afraid to admit it, and it seems like I’ve been doing a lot of backtracking lately.Here we go again…
Sometimes, I let my feelings cloud my judgment, especially when it comes to my beloved Mavericks. Personal and professional become a big blur when it comes to the basketball courts, and I have difficulty separating the two sides of every player. For instance, since the 2006 Finals when he was the primary force that stole our championship away from us, I have had an intense dislike and disdain for one Dwyane Wade. Off the court, he seems to be a pretty decent person, but I can’t past the fact that he was “that guy” who almost singlehandedly sent my Mavericks spiraling into the greatest collapse in NBA playoff history. Or that he later talked crap about how Dirk wasn’t a good enough leader. In my mind, even if he somehow managed to end up in a Dallas uniform after this summer, D-Wade would always be a villain to me.
I used to feel the same way about The Matrix, Shawn Marion. I couldn't stand him when he was with the Suns, mostly because he gave Dirk fits playing hellacious defense. So my dislike of him as a player caused me to just dislike him as a person as well. And then he came to Dallas, and everything (ok, maybe it was just my perception of things) began to change. I signed up to follow Matrix on Twitter, and quickly learned he is a very funny guy who likes to laugh, even at his own expense. In January, when I got to spend my week with the team as the HP Insider, that first day I was privileged enough to watch the team practice, he bounded out of the locker room and down to the court, but not without first stopping to shake my hand and introduce himself to me. At the time, he had no idea who I was or why I was there, he was just being friendly.
He ran a Mother's Day contest on his personal web site to honor and recognize single mothers and the important role they play in their children's lives. And this past Thursday, he came back to Dallas and held his own personal Fan Appreciation Day for his Twitter followers. Wednesday night, he posted a message telling everyone to meet him at a movie theater off Webb Chapel and he would send out a password the next day that would get everyone in free (at his expense). Sure enough, Marion showed up as promised and not only paid for all his fans who had arrived, but he also stayed at the theatre as they all enjoyed watching "Iron Man 2" together. Later, he posed for pictures with a few of his fans. Unfortunately, I had to work and could not attend, but I've never heard of any other athlete here in Dallas doing something that awesome for his fans. I've actually never heard of any athlete, period, who did something of that nature.
So, Shawn Marion, let me formally apologize for misjudging you completely. In your time here in Dallas, I have found you to be nothing, if not genuine. You have done much for the community, emphasized the importance of family in your own life, and even shown gratitude and appreciation for your loyal fans. I have really come to admire the person you are off the court, and I hope to see you on the court here in Dallas for a long time to come!
Wrong Again?
Ok, so maybe I was wrong. (It was bound to happen sooner or later, right?)
Maybe Mark Cuban does owe Mavs’ fans an apology after all.
Not for failing to bring a championship to Dallas, despite all his efforts and all the money he has laid out over the past decade, but for letting little Stevie Nash walk away and receiving nothing in return. At the time, his decision seemed to make sense, because Nash was looking for an extended contract, meaning he would be five years older at its conclusion, and he was already starting to show signs of aging and wear and tear. Cuban just couldn’t see spending that kind of money on a point guard whom he believed would be unable to have a real impact on the team a few years down the road.
But Cuban was wrong, too.
Nash went on to become one of a very elite group of back-to-back league MVPs, and keep his Suns in the playoff picture on a regular basis. And just a few short seasons later, when it became evident the Mavericks’ needed some veteran leadership and a higher basketball IQ from the point guard position, Cuban shook things up again and brought in future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd – who is even older than Steve Nash. I love and adore Kidd, don’t get me wrong, and many of the magical moves he makes on the court are unparalleled, even by the likes of Nash, but where was the logic in that move?
Maybe Mark Cuban does owe Mavs’ fans an apology after all.
Not for failing to bring a championship to Dallas, despite all his efforts and all the money he has laid out over the past decade, but for letting little Stevie Nash walk away and receiving nothing in return. At the time, his decision seemed to make sense, because Nash was looking for an extended contract, meaning he would be five years older at its conclusion, and he was already starting to show signs of aging and wear and tear. Cuban just couldn’t see spending that kind of money on a point guard whom he believed would be unable to have a real impact on the team a few years down the road.
But Cuban was wrong, too.
Nash went on to become one of a very elite group of back-to-back league MVPs, and keep his Suns in the playoff picture on a regular basis. And just a few short seasons later, when it became evident the Mavericks’ needed some veteran leadership and a higher basketball IQ from the point guard position, Cuban shook things up again and brought in future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd – who is even older than Steve Nash. I love and adore Kidd, don’t get me wrong, and many of the magical moves he makes on the court are unparalleled, even by the likes of Nash, but where was the logic in that move?
Steve Nash -- Where Amazing Happens
After watching my Mavericks suffer another first round exit, I had already made up my mind that 1) there was no way on God’s green Earth I would be rooting for the Spurs and 2) if I couldn’t watch Dirk get his long overdue championship ring, then the next best thing would be seeing Steve Nash in Phoenix get his. And as I watched the final twelve minutes of the Suns’ masterful elimination of the San Antonio Spurs, I wondered to myself, if the Mavericks would’ve won the series and faced Phoenix in the second round, would we have had a fighting chance? With the way Steve Nash has played so far, I really don’t think so.
Never have I seen anyone – not even my beloved Dirk – play with the passion and fire I saw in Steve Nash’s one good eye during that final fourth quarter against the Spurs. Even being half blind, Nash was the driving force that led the Suns to victory in the game, slashing to the basket, setting up his teammates, and even nailing a three pointer. The Suns won because Steve Nash refused to let them lose.
What Steve Nash did in Game 4 against the Spurs was unbelievable, even for a two-time MVP and future Hall of Famer. During that fourth quarter flurry by the Suns, the AT&T Center was truly “where amazing happens.”
Let’s hope the “aged” Nash can continue to carry the Suns past the lackluster looking LA Lakers and into the NBA Finals, where we’ll see the undersized Canadian one-eyed monster finally lead his crew to glory on the NBA’s biggest stage.
It’s just too bad he’ll be wearing the wrong team colors when he gets there.
Never have I seen anyone – not even my beloved Dirk – play with the passion and fire I saw in Steve Nash’s one good eye during that final fourth quarter against the Spurs. Even being half blind, Nash was the driving force that led the Suns to victory in the game, slashing to the basket, setting up his teammates, and even nailing a three pointer. The Suns won because Steve Nash refused to let them lose.
What Steve Nash did in Game 4 against the Spurs was unbelievable, even for a two-time MVP and future Hall of Famer. During that fourth quarter flurry by the Suns, the AT&T Center was truly “where amazing happens.”
Let’s hope the “aged” Nash can continue to carry the Suns past the lackluster looking LA Lakers and into the NBA Finals, where we’ll see the undersized Canadian one-eyed monster finally lead his crew to glory on the NBA’s biggest stage.
It’s just too bad he’ll be wearing the wrong team colors when he gets there.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
No Big D in Big D?
No sooner had the Mavericks’ season come to an end than my phone rang, and without even looking at the caller ID, I started ranting and raving, knowing full well it could only be one person on the other end of the line: my Dad. In between sentences as I grabbed a breath, Dad took over where I had left off, discussing Dirk and how no one could lay the blame for losing this series at his gigantic feet. And then Dad’s tone of voice shifted, and I knew what was coming. Tears formed in my eyes before I could stop them as I told Dad, "Don't even say it."
"Just hear me out," he said. "I love Dirk as much as anyone, but.."
"No, no, no NO NO!" I cut in.
"...Dirk deserves a ring. Even if it means going somewhere other than Dallas," Dad finished.
He's right, you know, I thought to myself. But the thought of Dirk wearing some other uniform was nothing short of soul crushing.
"He DOES deserve it," I agreed, when I finally found my voice again. "But Dallas without Dirk? And Dirk without Dallas? I can't even imagine it -- I don't want to."
What would the Mavericks be without the player who sometimes seemingly singlehandedly revived the franchise that was on life support through much of the 1990s? I would surely hate to find out, no doubt. And who, as a player and a person, would Dirk Nowitzki be without not only the Mavericks but the fans and the people of Dallas? If Dirk left or was traded or somehow moved to another team, would I still be a Mavs fan, or as fanatical as I am, or would that be the final straw that caused me to switch my NBA allegiance to some other team? I really didn’t have the answers, and I didn’t want to find out the hard way.
Bummed again with the early playoff exit and the prospect of my hero, Dirk, not remaining with the team, I vented my frustrations on my Facebook page, with a status that said something like, “Dirk without Dallas or Dallas without Dirk? It breaks my heart to even consider it,” which prompted several of my friends to chime in and start a discussion of whether or not Dirk would stay and why.
First, there was the money issue. Should Dirk choose to stay, his money (roughly $21 million) would be guaranteed. Secondly, aside from Germany, Dallas is the only home Dirk has known and he has said on numerous occasions that he loves it here and may even consider remaining in the area after his basketball career is over. Also, Dirk has stated in many interviews that he would really love to end his career as a Maverick, having never played with any other NBA franchise, all things that bode well for him staying.
However, Dirk has also mentioned that regardless of whatever individual accolades he receives, his basketball career would not be complete without a championship title, and if he didn’t think he could win one here in Dallas, he would have to consider other options. But where could he go that could guarantee him a legitimate shot at the ring he so desperately desires and definitely deserves?
As I was listening to sports talk radio the next day, the host was also pondering Dirk’s future in Dallas. He even went so far as to suggest that Dirk should take a pay cut and restructure his contract in order to help the Mavericks land a big name (think LeBron or D-Wade) during this summer’s free agency free-for-all. I was immediately incensed at the notion that it was somehow Dirk’s responsibility to sacrifice to bring in someone else. What more do the media, the city of Dallas, or the fans, for that matter, want from Dirk? Hasn’t he done enough already? Even though the Mavericks still remain title-less, Dirk is definitely not the cause, but more the symptom of a larger problem. It’s not that I think Dirk would necessarily object to a restructured contract if he thought it would bring him, and his team, the title. I just don’t think it’s fair to ask him to do it. Even Dirk himself has said before many times, it’s not about the money to him. Dirk doesn’t play for the fame, nor the fortune (he’s already a multimillionaire) nor the celebrity status that goes along with being a professional athlete. He doesn’t even worry about personal achievements and accomplishments. The only things that matter to him are playing for the love of the game, and the ultimate goal of winning a championship.
That ultimate goal is the only reason I could even fathom Dirk not being a Maverick when basketball season rolls back around in this part of the country. But it’s a big reason, one large enough that someone later in his career (see also Karl Malone) might be willing to leave town for, even if it’s the only NBA home he’s ever known.
In a perfect world, 2010-2011 really would be the Dallas Mavericks’ year. They would not only advance past the first round of the playoffs, but they would eventually win the NBA championship and be crowned the best in the basketball world. People here would celebrate Dirk Nowitzki in ways they had never done before, and he would be forever adored and mentioned alongside other legendary Dallas sports superstars such as Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, and Mike Modano (which should already be the case, in my opinion). Dirk and Jason Kidd would both finish their careers here, championship in hand, and eventually both of their jerseys would hang from the rafters of the AAC.
Here’s hoping for perfection, at least in the basketball sense…
"Just hear me out," he said. "I love Dirk as much as anyone, but.."
"No, no, no NO NO!" I cut in.
"...Dirk deserves a ring. Even if it means going somewhere other than Dallas," Dad finished.
He's right, you know, I thought to myself. But the thought of Dirk wearing some other uniform was nothing short of soul crushing.
"He DOES deserve it," I agreed, when I finally found my voice again. "But Dallas without Dirk? And Dirk without Dallas? I can't even imagine it -- I don't want to."
What would the Mavericks be without the player who sometimes seemingly singlehandedly revived the franchise that was on life support through much of the 1990s? I would surely hate to find out, no doubt. And who, as a player and a person, would Dirk Nowitzki be without not only the Mavericks but the fans and the people of Dallas? If Dirk left or was traded or somehow moved to another team, would I still be a Mavs fan, or as fanatical as I am, or would that be the final straw that caused me to switch my NBA allegiance to some other team? I really didn’t have the answers, and I didn’t want to find out the hard way.
Bummed again with the early playoff exit and the prospect of my hero, Dirk, not remaining with the team, I vented my frustrations on my Facebook page, with a status that said something like, “Dirk without Dallas or Dallas without Dirk? It breaks my heart to even consider it,” which prompted several of my friends to chime in and start a discussion of whether or not Dirk would stay and why.
First, there was the money issue. Should Dirk choose to stay, his money (roughly $21 million) would be guaranteed. Secondly, aside from Germany, Dallas is the only home Dirk has known and he has said on numerous occasions that he loves it here and may even consider remaining in the area after his basketball career is over. Also, Dirk has stated in many interviews that he would really love to end his career as a Maverick, having never played with any other NBA franchise, all things that bode well for him staying.
However, Dirk has also mentioned that regardless of whatever individual accolades he receives, his basketball career would not be complete without a championship title, and if he didn’t think he could win one here in Dallas, he would have to consider other options. But where could he go that could guarantee him a legitimate shot at the ring he so desperately desires and definitely deserves?
As I was listening to sports talk radio the next day, the host was also pondering Dirk’s future in Dallas. He even went so far as to suggest that Dirk should take a pay cut and restructure his contract in order to help the Mavericks land a big name (think LeBron or D-Wade) during this summer’s free agency free-for-all. I was immediately incensed at the notion that it was somehow Dirk’s responsibility to sacrifice to bring in someone else. What more do the media, the city of Dallas, or the fans, for that matter, want from Dirk? Hasn’t he done enough already? Even though the Mavericks still remain title-less, Dirk is definitely not the cause, but more the symptom of a larger problem. It’s not that I think Dirk would necessarily object to a restructured contract if he thought it would bring him, and his team, the title. I just don’t think it’s fair to ask him to do it. Even Dirk himself has said before many times, it’s not about the money to him. Dirk doesn’t play for the fame, nor the fortune (he’s already a multimillionaire) nor the celebrity status that goes along with being a professional athlete. He doesn’t even worry about personal achievements and accomplishments. The only things that matter to him are playing for the love of the game, and the ultimate goal of winning a championship.
That ultimate goal is the only reason I could even fathom Dirk not being a Maverick when basketball season rolls back around in this part of the country. But it’s a big reason, one large enough that someone later in his career (see also Karl Malone) might be willing to leave town for, even if it’s the only NBA home he’s ever known.
In a perfect world, 2010-2011 really would be the Dallas Mavericks’ year. They would not only advance past the first round of the playoffs, but they would eventually win the NBA championship and be crowned the best in the basketball world. People here would celebrate Dirk Nowitzki in ways they had never done before, and he would be forever adored and mentioned alongside other legendary Dallas sports superstars such as Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, and Mike Modano (which should already be the case, in my opinion). Dirk and Jason Kidd would both finish their careers here, championship in hand, and eventually both of their jerseys would hang from the rafters of the AAC.
Here’s hoping for perfection, at least in the basketball sense…
Saturday, May 1, 2010
That Old Familiar Feeling
Here comes the hurt again....
"It's just a game, babe," Rickey said, trying to calm me, but having the exact opposite effect. How could I ever make him -- or anyone else for that matter -- understand that it would never be just a game to me? Mavs basketball was -- and is-- my heart and soul, my passion and poison, and above all, my obsession. It's what wakes me up in the morning and what I so often dream about at night.
So watching my team get ousted in the first round for the third time in four years sucked. It hurt, angered, and disappointed me yet again, but the funny thing is, it hurt a little less than it did last year. Or in 2007 against the Golden State Wienies, and way less than it did in 2006, when we were so close to the championship I was already planning on playing hooky from work to attend the parade. It seems the more times the Mavericks have fallen short of their ultimate goal of an NBA title, the easier it has become for me to accept the disappointment. And if it has become that much easier for me as a fan, I have to wonder, is it that easy for the players to accept defeat and start over again in October?
Failure should never be acceptable. Not to the fans, nor to the members of the Dallas Mavericks, nor to the coaching staff. I think that defeatist attitude could be a big part of the Mavericks’ problems. I’ve believed since 2006 that the Mavericks had the primary pieces in place, give or take role players here and there, to make a legitimate championship run. I don’t necessarily believe this team’s problems can be attributed to poor coaching decisions, inadequate talent on the roster, or a lack of the desire, drive, and dedication it takes to win. I do, however, believe for these Mavericks, the trouble is all in their heads – literally. As a whole, this team lacks mental toughness. And it starts at the top, with the foundation of the franchise, none other than our fearless leader, Dirk Nowitzki.
While I would never suggest that this team was anything but tough physically (we’ve seen Dirk, Jet, and Co. play through their pain and injuries many times), what goes on inside their heads is an entirely different story. The three players who remain from the 2006 team that went to the Finals – Dirk, Dampier, and Jet – have still been unable to get past the colossal collapse that cost them the championship. Nor have they overcome the psychological aspects of their first round upset to Golden State (at the hands of former friend and ally, Coach Don Nelson) the following season. And as much as they want to win it all, until they can leave their failures where they belong – in the past – and stop being haunted by opportunities lost, things for this team will never change.
Winners don’t dwell on their mistakes, they focus on their futures. They don’t accept failure, and they realize that finishing in second place simply means you’re the first loser. Until the front office, the ownership, the fans, and especially the Mavericks themselves refuse to settle for anything less than a championship, Dallas will remain (and be remembered as) a really good, not great, team that never could quite get over the hump.
"It's just a game, babe," Rickey said, trying to calm me, but having the exact opposite effect. How could I ever make him -- or anyone else for that matter -- understand that it would never be just a game to me? Mavs basketball was -- and is-- my heart and soul, my passion and poison, and above all, my obsession. It's what wakes me up in the morning and what I so often dream about at night.
So watching my team get ousted in the first round for the third time in four years sucked. It hurt, angered, and disappointed me yet again, but the funny thing is, it hurt a little less than it did last year. Or in 2007 against the Golden State Wienies, and way less than it did in 2006, when we were so close to the championship I was already planning on playing hooky from work to attend the parade. It seems the more times the Mavericks have fallen short of their ultimate goal of an NBA title, the easier it has become for me to accept the disappointment. And if it has become that much easier for me as a fan, I have to wonder, is it that easy for the players to accept defeat and start over again in October?
Failure should never be acceptable. Not to the fans, nor to the members of the Dallas Mavericks, nor to the coaching staff. I think that defeatist attitude could be a big part of the Mavericks’ problems. I’ve believed since 2006 that the Mavericks had the primary pieces in place, give or take role players here and there, to make a legitimate championship run. I don’t necessarily believe this team’s problems can be attributed to poor coaching decisions, inadequate talent on the roster, or a lack of the desire, drive, and dedication it takes to win. I do, however, believe for these Mavericks, the trouble is all in their heads – literally. As a whole, this team lacks mental toughness. And it starts at the top, with the foundation of the franchise, none other than our fearless leader, Dirk Nowitzki.
While I would never suggest that this team was anything but tough physically (we’ve seen Dirk, Jet, and Co. play through their pain and injuries many times), what goes on inside their heads is an entirely different story. The three players who remain from the 2006 team that went to the Finals – Dirk, Dampier, and Jet – have still been unable to get past the colossal collapse that cost them the championship. Nor have they overcome the psychological aspects of their first round upset to Golden State (at the hands of former friend and ally, Coach Don Nelson) the following season. And as much as they want to win it all, until they can leave their failures where they belong – in the past – and stop being haunted by opportunities lost, things for this team will never change.
Winners don’t dwell on their mistakes, they focus on their futures. They don’t accept failure, and they realize that finishing in second place simply means you’re the first loser. Until the front office, the ownership, the fans, and especially the Mavericks themselves refuse to settle for anything less than a championship, Dallas will remain (and be remembered as) a really good, not great, team that never could quite get over the hump.
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