Dallas: Who Shot Manhood?

I do not have my own NBA team to follow here on the Gulf Coast. So, being a fan of the state of Texas, I latched onto the Dallas Mavericks. I've been watching them play since I was a kid... Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman, et. al... back when it was special for the Mavs to even be on TV at all. I've always enjoyed following them through the years in all their ups and downs, and downs, and downs and, at times mediocrity. But lately it's been greatness, championship-caliber teams with all-star players, possibly hall-of-famers. But it is also painful. Too painful to watch. I watched with horror as Dwayne Wade single-handedly beat the Mavs in the NBA championship several years ago. Remember that? Painful. I watched again as the Golden State Warriors out-muscled, out-manned, (and every other "out" you can come up with), a timid Dallas team. And, so far this playoff season, I have watched again as the team seems to shy away from being physical. I throw up a little in my mouth each time I see Jason Terry or Kidd pick up an opposing player after a foul. They actually help them off the floor! Look, I am all for good sportsmanship, but come on. I saw Kidd nearly hurt himself to keep a Denver Nugget from falling. I mean that. It happened. I have watched big man and lilliputians alike get in the face of Dirk until I am sick to my stomach! Dirk, seriously. I mentioned in another blog that you remind me of another curly, sandy-haired forward. I'm talking, of course, about the "Bird"-man... and it's not that silly Nugget flopping around now. Really, Dirk is one of the greatest players of all time, in my humble opinion. He lacks one thing though. Toughness. I would take a sweep of the Mavs by any team if just to see Dirk push somebody back. So, from a devoted fan in Mobile, Alabama, a request: please get nasty! Dallas is a great NBA team through and through. Now show it. 

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I have several friends who really don't like basketball, namely NBA. They're football people, baseball guys. No more Bird and Johnson they say. No more Jordan. No great matchups, no legendary players. I disagree. The new NBA is great. Watch the playoffs and see awesome plays and players making them. The recently ended Bulls-Celtics round one series was one of the best ever. Players like Superman, Kobe, D-Wade, King James and more are creating new legends. What about Dirk? He reminds me of Larry Bird.... kinda, doesn't he you? Paul Pierce. Magic-like? I'm just throwing some things out there. Legends become increasingly so the longer time goes by. Games become more classic the more the actual play fades from our memory. Wars seem more glorious centuries later. The NBA is good, really good. I feel like we are certainly watching heroes of the game right now, maybe some you don't even realize yet. Rondo, Mo, Noah, Ariza. Keep shooting fellas.