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The NBA Finals arrive in Dallas, Texas, courtesy of the Mavericks

First off, the Mavericks won game 1 of the Finals, 90-80. I was at the game (not working it, just spectating), and took thorough notes — I plan on doing an extensive post about the game and the festivities.

But the game is only part of the story. The other part of the story is the vibe. The electricity. The excitement.

The talk of the town is the Dallas Mavericks. You can’t go anywhere in Dallas without seeing Maverick jerseys and tshirts everywhere. At work, where everyone knows I’m part of the on court presentation of Maverick games, people are stopping by my cube all the time to talk Mavericks. At “Bring Your Son / Daughter to Work” day, I felt like I was being interviewed by kids. I’m talking basketball everywhere I go. Strangers have recognized me from games and are stopping to talk basketball.

It’s a basketball junkie paradise. And I’ve been extremely fortunate to be have an intimate part in it all. No, I’m not playing basketball for the Mavericks, but I’m pretty close — and the experience has been amazing.

It’s a great feeling — I started watching the Mavericks in the waning days of Derek Harper and Rolando Blackman’s career. I cheered enthusiastically for Mike Iozzolino and Walter Bond. I watched the three Js bring basketball fans hope for the Mavericks, then bring more disappointment.

I remember watching the ping pong balls fall Orlando’s way, getting them Shaq and the Mavericks Jim Jackson, even though Dallas had the worst record.

But everything changed with Mark Cuban, Don Nelson, and Donnie Nelson. (Nelson was hired by the previous regime, but Cuban wisely kept him.) They brought in a point guard with spikey bleach blonde hair named Steve Nash and drafted a skinny German with a bowl haircut named Dirk Nowitzki.

Nash is gone, but Nowitzki is carrying the Mavericks into the NBA Finals. The city loves him. He’s finally getting national credibility. Internationally, he’s huge. Germany idols him.

And I’m sure glad the Mavericks traded Tractor Traylor for him.

Dirk said it well, when he said he was glad to be in the finals but wishes Nash and Michael Finley could be here with him. It was nice to see some sentiment in a business where sentiment is for fans, and money is for players.

But it’s Dirk in the NBA Finals — and the Dallas Mavericks. The city of Dallas just has a little extra buzz to it all the time. It’s great to see, and great to be a part of.

Now, let’s get that NBA championship, shall we?

Thu June 8th, 2006 11:41 pm

Filed under Dallas Mavericks