Now On Board!

I stand before you a humbled man, now about to eat crow and take back everything I said about a local team that now has a chance to 'represent' the city of Dallas after doing the unthinkable on the road in a Game 7. Of course I speak of the Dallas Mavericks. Having seen the Dallas Stars fall so precipitously from a #1 seed, I was sure that the same fate would befall the crew of Dirk, Damp, Diop, and company. I was so negative in my thinking to the point that I had nothing positive to say about the Mavs leading into Game 7. I now backtrack...

I believe it was back on November 1st when the NBA season kicked off and Dallas had a 9:30 tipoff in Phoenix. I had a coworker, Johnny Wags singing the praises of some late acquisitions that Mark Cuban and company made. One name in particular was DeSagana Diop. John said and I quote,'This team can make the finals, watch out!' I laughed and said,'Yeah right!' You may recall that the Suns pulled out to a 19 point lead. I remember being awfully mean spirited to John that night...until Dallas came back and won the game in OT and Charles Barkley began to preach the 'no defense' mantra. I was wrong.

I even remember within the first month of the season how Dallas put a whoop-ass on all four playoff finalists from 2005, including smoking out the Pistons in late November. It was weird combination of players, but slowly and surely, Avery Johnson was devising a plan. I commented to myself how well Jason Terry and Marquis Daniels make things happen. When Jerry Stackhouse got his knees healthy, things began to gel...

In February I was treated to three great Maverick games courtesy of Greg against the Lakers, Heat, and Grizzlies. Dallas was in the middle of a 19-2 record run. Watching them play live was a rush! The play was fast, the defense was evident, and the energy level was off the charts. Could it continue? Well...yes!

As March wound down and April kicked in, there was the fight for the #1 seed. Try though they may they didn't quite get it. No matter, they swept past Memphis and as of tonight return to the Western Conference Finals, probably against the Suns in a rematch of last year. Dirk and Steve will grab most of the headlines. I welcome it...

I said that Dallas had no finishing kick. I was wrong! I said Dirk couldn't win a big Game 7. How quickly I forgot about last year against the Rockets and 2003 against Rasheed and the Blazers bad knee and all! I said Dallas had no heart and no chance in San Antonio. See what happens when you develop a hockey bias when your favorite team bows out and the team you thought little of continues to play? I have been put in my place. As I watched the overtime, mere moments after watching the Rangers come from behind to defeat the Angels 3-2, I was watching TNT with amazement. The body language...was like watching Muhammad Ali fight Sonny Liston. If you ever wonder what it looks like when you pass a mantle from one team to another, this sight was it!

This was a GREAT seven game series! One of the best playoff matchups the NBA has ever seen. I applaud the efforts of Tim, Manu, Michael, Robert, Bruce, Brent, and Pops. To imitate Avery, 'How about them Mavericks?' I now bow my deflated head to Dirk, Jet, Damp, Josh, Marquis, Darrell, Desagana, Stack, Devin, Keith, and the Little General for a season that continues to unfold. Game one starts Weds night against Phoenix, may it go seven, and may I never lose faith again.

GO MAVS! I'M ON FOR GOOD NOW! WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!!!

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will

PS to complete a perfect day Kevin Millwood, Rick Bauer, and GM Jon Daniels were all in Las Colinas in the last 36 hours. A true treat for this sports fan...