What the $%#&

So - we're a month into the season. Where the hell are the Mavericks from seasons gone by? The game tonight was PITIFUL! The refs were blind. Dirk was noodle-handed. Devin was a ball hog during the worst possible times. Thank goodness for Jet and Stack. Too bad they couldn't carry it for the Mavs. The Hornets snapped a 21-game skid of losing to the Mavs. I hope Dallas is proud.

It's time for our Mavs to start playing like our Mavs.

Dirk Serves as Grand Marshal at Dickies 500

NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki delivered the command, "Gentleman, Start Your Engines!" to the 43 drivers at the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. This was his first Nascar event and first trip to the TMS.

3 Games Deep

The Mavs are home v. the once-threat Kings. With Bibby and Artest injured and suspended, the team has no steam. Josh Howard returned to the lineup after serving a two-game suspension for his run-in with Kings bully Brad Miller during preseason play. JJ Barea is making his presence known. If you don't know him, you know him now! There are new faces on the team this season, with Juwan Howard returning to the squad after several seasons with the Magic and Rockets. Dallas also added Trenton Hassell, Darvin Ham, Brandon Bass, Nick Fazekas, and Eddie Jones to the mix. Gone are Mbenga, Buckner, and Croshere.

Final score: 123-102. Maybe Brad Miller will stick his head in the sand now.

Dirty Spurs Must Go Down!

(Robert Horry after Game 5)

I think I'll side with Phoenix on this one. There is absolutely NO excuse for dirty, thug-like basketball playing. I'm calling out Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry, in particular. The rest of the 'Dirty Spurs' follow - so don't be worried.

There is NO valid excuse for breaking someone's nose, sterilizing that same said person with a knee to the crotch, or catapulting him into the commentator/media area.

Amare and Boris were just trying to protect their man. I know what the rule book says - and agree that they should serve the time. I'm VERY pleased that Robert Horry is serving a suspension. He should also be forced to enroll in anger management, as well as a class to teach him the FUNDAMENTALS of playing basketball. Maybe that class is offering a 2-for-1 special and he can bring his idiot sidekick, Bowen, along.

I also hope that the Suns come out swinging, full-force, in Game 5. I want them to kick some Dirty Spur @$$ and take names. I want Dirty Spur body parts strewn all over the basketball court. Steve Nash should lead the bloodshed. Leave no Dirty Spur survivors.

He is the playoff MVP, as well as the recipient of the Lucky-to-be-Alive award.

Let there be vindication!

You May Now Shut Up, Critics!

Photo courtesy of NBAE/Getty Images

(they're THE best)


Ha ha ha! Sit and spin, all you haters.

Just Plain Dirty

First, he was a dirty King. Now, he's a dirty Spur.

RIP: The nose and crotch once belonging to Steve Nash

Temporary Shift of Focus...

Since the Mavericks' shocking and untimely exit from the NBA playoffs, I have been in mourning. However, I have decided to root for the Detroit Pistons. I can not and will not cheer for the Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, or the 'dirty' Golden State Warriors.

I'm tired of everyone dissing Dirk. So is he.

"That's the kind of person I am. I always take things very, very hard on myself," Dirk said. "I don't need media people to tell me that I did bad. I know I didn't play my best in the playoffs.

And can I hear an "Amen Brother!" for the non-traitor Nelson, Donnie?

"You can't put it on one guy's shoulders," Nelson said. "We won 67 games this year. That's no fluke. We didn't all of a sudden become stupid and poor performers overnight. I think the easy thing to do in this is pile it on Dirk or Avery. But you can't do that. If you actually open up the hood and look into things, you'll see there's a lot more reasons."

Work on that MVP acceptance speech, Dirk! :)

Hail to the Chief!

ESPN and the great Marcel Mutoni are reporting that Dirk Nowitzki will accept the MVP award next week - Tuesday to be exact. The League has delayed the trophy presentation to put some distance between the award and the shocking way in which the Dallas Mavericks exited stage left courtesy of the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the Playoffs.

The MVP-to-be said, "I'm sure 20 years from now or whatever, to see that in the [record] books, it's an amazing achievement. But right now, it's hard. Obviously, you can't feel good about the way our season ended."

"I thought this was such an incredible year. We won 67 games and then to lose in the first round, it just feels so empty right now," he adds.

Dirk will be the first European-born player to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player award.

He averaged 24.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and shot over 50% from the field during the regular season.

As for the disappearing act in the playoffs, I hope the big German gets the help of a sports psychologist in the off-season.

Congratulations on the award, Dirk. I never stopped believing.

Dirk Earns All-NBA First Team Honors

The NBA has announced that Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki was named All-NBA First Team. It is the seventh consecutive season Nowitzki has been named All-NBA and third consecutive year he has garnered First Team honors.

Nowitzki is joined on the First Team by his pal Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns), Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers), Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) and Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns).

He is the only Maverick in franchise history to be named to the All-NBA First Team. Congrats Dirk!

Diop Gets the Option

The Dallas Mavericks have announced that they have exercised the team option on the contract of center DeSagana Diop. The option better be to keep him right where he is - in Dallas as a Maverick.

Enough Already...

Stop with the Dirk bashing!

Yes, he's been off kilter. Yes, he hasn't been his MVP self lately. There are 14 other members of the Dallas Mavericks squad that were signed for reasons other than benchwarming. If Dirk is off, the others should step it up.

But...answer me this....

Name 1 NBA player (past or present) that is 24/7/365 hot and NEVER has a cold spell. One that never misses a shot. One that is never mishandling the ball. One that never makes a mistake.

And one last thing to say: At your job, do you perform 110% 24/7/365 with extreme flawlessness? I think N-O-T. So, get off your @$$ and play NBA bball and see what it's like to get knocked around. Then perhaps you'll stop your whining, b!tching, and complaining about #41.

Rise and Shine Dirk!

Game 4 was a wake-up call for the Dallas Mavericks....win or stay home. They came, they fought, they conquered. In Golden State fashion, it was a fight to the end. Baron Davis fouled out in the last minute. Stephen Jackson got his 5th foul and was happy to clap it out. He was T'ed for the 2nd time in the game - sending him to the shower before the others.

The Mavs were down 112-103. They went on a 15-0 run, including Dirk raining down 2 very important 3-pointers. Devin Harris contributed a 3-pointer and the Warriors helped by fouling. It was Golden State that went scoreless in the last 3:14 of the game. The final score: 118-112.

Perhaps Dirk's self-bashing was all a mind game (ala Nellie-style) to get him into game-mode. It worked.

Rise and Shine Dirk! You played like an MVP.

Deeeeeng!

Are those tears of defeat OR tears of joy for Luol Deng, Mr. Dickwade? Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Get Nellie some Scotch...

Game 4 is very loud, very interesting, very crazy, and very dramatic! The Mavs are clingin'. The Warriors are believin'. Nellie's drinkin'. Avery's cussin'. I'm not carin'.

That was a pretty impressive almost-half-court shot by Baron "Abe Lincoln" Davis at the halftime buzzer.

At least we've got the "round mound of rebound" (Chuck Barkley) on OUR side! :)

Do We Believe?

Do we believe in anything - like, say, moving on to Round 2? Do we believe we can beat the Warriors? Do we believe we can win it all? Do we believe that we can believe? What do we believe? The Mavs don't care, so why should I?

RIP Miami Heat (swept in 4). Poor dickwade and fish-eyed shaq. Perhaps the Mavs will get the big e in Round 1, too and that'll be a first since 1957 or something. They are S-U-C-K-i-n-g.

Thanks MToddL for the A-W-E-S-O-M-E pic!

Get those refs some glasses!

Are the refs in dire need of some coke-bottle glasses? Someone send Baron Davis a razor to eliminate that Abe Lincoln thing he's got kickin'.

Speedy Gonzalez was burning up the hardwood and the Jet was definitely on the runway in last night's 112-99 win over Golden State. The win tied the series 1-1.

The Mavs were a little careless in handling and holding onto the ball. However, their fast pace wore the Warriors down and caused them to make many more mistakes.

Darrell Armstrong (Indiana Pacers, former Mav) was sitting front row at the AAC, cheering on his former team.

Game 3 is Friday @ GS. Stay tuned...

Let the Battle Begin...

The Mavericks take on the Golden State Warriors in Round 1 of the NBA Western Conference playoffs. After a neck and neck battle, the Mavs are down 1-0 to the Warriors, losing 97-85. Game 2 is Wednesday, 8:30, on TNT.

P.S. The Spurs lost to the Nuggets, 95-89.

Spurs @ Mavericks

Holger's in town!

After all the drama in the 3rd quarter, both teams needed to make like Ari with a little "Let's hug it out, guys!"

Tim Duncan made a hasty exit in the 3rd quarter, with two quick T's while sitting on the bench. Devin Harris (aka Gingerbread Man, aka Speedy Gonzalez) did his usual best to leave us all dizzy. There was a lot of shot-blocking - but we all know that block by Elson was a GOAL TEND! Jerry Stackhouse paid tribute to class act Jackie Robinson by writing his (Robinson's) name on his shoes. The NBA denied his request to replace his name on his jersey with Robinson's.

The Mavericks fought back in the 4th quarter to beat SA, 91-86. Is it just me or should the MVP trophy go to the best player from the best team?

Clip, Clip, Clip

The Mavs did a lot more than just beat the LA Clippers, 96 - 86, at the American Airlines Center last night. The victory ensured Dallas of the Western Conference's best record and of home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Let's hug it out guys!

Welcome back J-Ho....and get well FAST Big Bear (E. Dampier)! :)

Redemption

Am I imagining things or are the Mavericks playing a little sloppy/lazy down the stretch? Last night's game v. the Jail Blazers was about redemption - holding on to seal the deal. Mavs won 86 - 74. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall (nevermind, Dirk might squash me) in the locker room after the Denver loss.

The Mavs were without Josh Howard, who suffered a nasty ankle sprain v. Denver the night before. Rest up J-Ho...WE NEED YOU! :)

My Interpretation of the BFFL

It looks like Pixie Nash is throwing Dirk out of his way. Or maybe he's tickling him. Playing leap frog? Peek-a-boo with Amare? Either way, he better look out - or the Jolly Dirk Giant is going to squash him and his little pixie powers. Don't piss off the 7-foot German - he'll snap your fairy orb to pieces.

I'm not sure if I like this or the kissy-face picture (below) better. Hmmm.

What the Mavs Have to Look Forward to...

Look - it's Dumb and Dumber. Mutt and Jeff. Paris and Britney. They're probably laughing because they just saw how silly they looked dressed like mirror images of one another.

Sacramento is the Capital of Toxic

This has happened before on more than one occasion. I'm talking about Dirk being stricken with food poisoning, while on the road. If my memory serves me correctly, it happened in the same city or area as before. Perhaps Dirk should NEVER order room service. There's something about Sacramento and it's food. Kind of like Mexico and it's water. Toxic!

Mavs @ Kings

The Sacramento Kings used to be such a competitive, high-caliber, playoff-bound team - back in the Bibby, Bobby, Vlade, Doug, Peja, and C-Webb era. I feared the Kings when they matched up v. the Mavericks. I was always thankful when the Mavs squeaked out a miraculous win. Then everybody, but Bibby, left. They got Abdul-Rahim and anger-management-bound Ron Artest. Big deal. The Kings don't bring the venom to the bball court like they used to.

So....the Mavericks play @ the Kings tonight. I'm not fearful. I just hope Dirk listens to his ankle. I hope to see the Gingerbread Man back to his silly, crazy footwork.

UPDATE: Jerry Stackhouse nailed the jumper with 20.1 seconds left to ice the victory, 97-93. The Mavs were without their MVP (aka Dirk), who was out with an upset stomach. I'd be upset, too, if I lost by 22 to the Suns on Sunday.

The BFFL Showdown

Such a beautiful disaster is the game that went down in Phoenix on Sunday afternoon. The Mavericks dazzled beyond the arc in the first half. They went absolutely frigid after that period - and couldn't make their shots fall in the basket. The Suns put on a shot party and Steve Nash was totally amazing with his non-selfish passes. Phenomenal, but no pixie dust.

The WWE would be proud - Jet's knee whacked Stoudamire in the arm, J-Ho got b-slapped in the left eye, and Dirk re-tweaked his left ankle. We didn't get much out of the Gingerbread Man (Devin Harris) either. It was a very physical, tense game. Suns won 126 - 104.

This game meant more to the Suns - with the surging Spurs on their heels. They want to stay atop S.A.

Don't forget - the playoffs are best of 7.

In the Knick of Time...

Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points to become the fourth European-born player in NBA history to surpass 15,000 points. The Mavericks survived the visiting Knicks, 105-103, on Friday. Josh Howard, who blocked a shot attempt in the final seconds, had 20 points.

Mavs buck the Bucks

The Mavericks notched win #60 with about 29 seconds left and without Dirk Nowitzki, who injured his ankle at the end of the first half. His injury was described as "two bone spurs rubbing together."

He left one point shy of 15,000 for his career.

"I don't check stuff like that," Nowitzki said. "That's something you think about when your career is over."

NOKC get stung by Mavs

The Mavs rolled over the Hornets last night, at Oklahoma City, 105 - 89. In fact, the top three (Dirk, Jet, and J-Ho) were spectators in the fourth quarter.

The Mavericks became the first NBA team to notch three winning streaks of 12 games or more in a season. They're past halfway on their way to another one.

Dallas needs one more win to match the franchise record of 60, set in 2002-03 and matched last season.

Surviving the Scare

The Mavericks turned out the survivor in the late surge by the Hawks at Philips Arena on Sunday afternoon, 104 - 97. They led by as many as 23, but the Hawks fought back to briefly lead by 2. Devin Harris was still the Gingerbread Man - running in and out of the lane and between people's legs. Devean George made his return, after being out and on the mend from a sore knee. He and Greg Buckner (who also recently returned from injury) played limited minutes. All of this on Avery's 42nd birthday!

No Erin Go Bragh for the Celtics

The Mavericks coasted to a 109-95 win over the Celtics.

A word of advice for Paul Pierce: NEVER talk sh*t to the Mavs bench, especially to one Jerry Stackhouse. Another word of advice, but this one's for all the Celtics - make your shots! Heard of making points IN the paint?

It was fun to see Devin Harris play Gingerbread Man to you guys (faster, faster as can be...can't catch me!)...

....and thanks for win #57. It's good to see JJ, Pops, and Mo get some playing time at your expense.

I'm glad nobody slammed their head on the hardwood.

Thanks Mutoni!

I would like to thank Marcel Mutoni for this blog posting on the FanHouse. We should all take this into consideration: NOBODY IS PERFECT!

Dirk Admits to Being Nervous In the Clutch
Posted Mar 20th 2007 6:13PM by Marcel Mutoni
Filed under: Mavericks, Western, Dallas

I like Dirk Nowitzki a lot. I don't just like that he's probably the best player to ever come out of Europe, that he can shoot the lights out, or that he'll probably win this year's MVP.More than anything, I love his brutal honesty: He has no qualms about admitting that he loses sleep after really tough losses, and he's one of the few NBA players that will admit to sometimes being nervous at crunch time.

"I think everybody who says they don't get tense, they're lying," Nowitzki said. "It's big games. You got to find ways to stay loose and relax. I've been doing a decent job of not letting the pressure get to me and still enjoying the moment.""I love to have the ball at the end of games. That's what it's all about," Nowitzki said. "We all know if you make it, you're the hero. If you miss it, you're the goat. That's the position you have to be comfortable in. I guess I am."

It's definitely refreshing to hear this sort of thing coming from an elite player in a League where such an admission is often seen as a sign of weakness. Nowitzki and Arenas are probably two of the most honest NBA players, and unsurprisingly, they're also two of the most popular.

The Dethroning of King James

The dethroning of LeBron James took place Wednesday evening, but not without a little drama. The Cavs fell to the Mavs 98 - 90 and LeBron fell and banged his noggin. Amazingly - it looked worse than it actually was. Devin Harris was quite the impresario, weaving in and out of Cavs on the way to the basket.

With that said and done, the Mavs notched win #56. Up next, the taming of the Celtics...

All Mavericks!

Played 66. Won 55.

Sit and spin, haters.

Kicked the Knickerbockers' @$$

Isiah Thomas said his team didn't have a chance with the Mavericks. Avery Johnson responded to Thomas' whining by saying something to the effect of 'then stay in the locker room and forfeit the game.'

Maybe Thomas should have taken Johnson up on the offer.

Channing Frye got poked in the eye by Devin Harris. Eddy Curry sucked hardcore at the freethrow line. The Knicks were in the penalty in the 4th quarter with 8:03 left. Stephon Marbury slammed his head against the hardwood floor. Need I say more?

....Up next - the dethroning of "King James."

When Powerhouses Collide...

Dirk stepped it up Sunday afternoon when his Mavericks battled the Eastern powerhouse Pistons, scoring 28 points (21 in the second half).

"I had good looks, but I had a couple go in and out, so I wanted to stay aggressive," he said. "My team has a lot of confidence in my ability, so I just hung with it."

J-ho, Stack, and the boys came to win - and they fought to the finish. The Mavericks won 92-88, but not without some drama, Pistons-style.

Detroit was without Chauncey Billups who was out due to a groin injury suffered in a win versus Phoenix. (Go Pistons!) They were also without Lindsay Hunter who's serving a drug suspension. This gave Ronald "Flip" Murray the opportunity to shine - and boy did he!

Poor Rip Hamilton. It just wasn't his day or game. He was missing all kinds of shots. He was given a technical, his 12th of the season, for visibly and verbally arguing a charge. Then, he was the recipient of three stitches in the head after his own teammate, C-Webb, elbowed the *@?& out of him. He had to leave the game in the fourth quarter to get the cut tended to - as it was bleeding rather heavily. I hope he mends well.

It was a great game. I'm not going to diss on the Pistons - they are one helluva team. If it weren't for the Mavericks - I'd be a Pistons fan. I cheer them on until they play my boys. MFFL!

Mavs v. Pistons

Hopefully - this was a preview of what to expect when East meets West in the NBA finals!

Fairweather Fans

It's rather shiteous to me that "they" are deciding who the MVP is based on ONE game...hmm, case in point: last night's Phoenix v. Mavericks. How quick "they" have forgotten Dirk's heroics the LAST time, in December, when the two teams met! Granted - Nash is a rather phenomenal player, but there are plenty of OTHER well-qualified leaders on OTHER NBA teams that bring it - and are overlooked. No - let's turn the other way - and go the easy road. Nash has been graced with the MVP title 2 years in a row - has he done anything just outstanding to deserve it a third time? If he can teleport the basketball into the basket - then he's got my vote. I have yet to see him wiggle his nose and something just absolutely freaking fantastic happens.

Marcel Mutoni, Charley Rosen, Bright Side of the Sun, and Lang Whitaker are a bunch of bandwagon jumpers. I don't think this was "THE BIGGEST GAME OF THE SEASON." Why don't you save that moniker for the title game - and see who gets there. That's the leader who deserves the MVP title. It's the second week of March - not June.

My NBA Future...

I'm throwing my hat in for the coaching posish at NO/OKC.... How hard can it be to yell at a bunch of sweaty towering guys? I can draw on a white board. I can pace back and forth.

Suns win by DE-FAULTy refs...

Stackhouse put on a 3-point parade...Dirk was the dunking machine...Devin got knocked the f* out...and then it was in OT 2x. Somebody needs to step on Nymph Nash. Dirk ran over him a few times, but Nash is like tupperware. Boy got a T for questioning the second sorriest ref-squad for the lack of reffing on the other end. The refs called the game blindfolded. Making shit up. Do they offer ethics courses at REF-U?

And...how about those crazy white boy dance moves Dirk showed off during the halftime bloopers?! Nowitness in effect.

That Freaking Fat Lady Sang Opera Last Night...

Short and not so sweet for today - the Mavs played like ostriches with their heads stuck in the ground. Were the fans playing? I could have at least gone out there and helped out with some ankle biting. Give me a T - at least I would have done something. I wonder if Nellie paid the refs to call the game in his favor..............

That guy DID travel - how did it turn into a foul on Dirk? He (I think it was Pietrus) was tripping with NO luggage!

All in a Day's Work

With a 102-89 victory over the Nets, the Mavs accomplished the following:

• Clinched a playoff spot in the unusually deep Western Conference on March 6th

• Extended their win streak to 16

• Extended their home win streak to 23

• Became the only team (via Elias Says at ESPN.com) in North American pro sports history to ever win 51 game in a 56-game span in a single season.

Just a Jealous Fat Bastard

Shaq says the recent MVP awards are ‘tainted.’

‘I don't know what y'all vote for,' the Heat center says of the 'last four or five years.' Steve Nash can and does carry his team. Go on a diet, fatty, and perhaps you can, one day, carry your team and earn an MVP.

According to the BMI, you're the most obese player in the NBA. Fish-eyed fool betta recognize!

The Britney & Paris of the NBA

The Nugget Buddies

They stand the same...
with body ink, similar corn rows, matching headbands and arm socks.

They squat the same...
with body ink, similar corn rows, arm socks and matching headbands.

They remind us of that other stocking swapping duo.....
the ones with matching stockings, similar hair-dos, walking in-sync, holding hands.



Is this the beginning of a beautiful friendship - or something else?

Pictures supplied by mtoddl - thanks!

Not Possible!

Onion Sports is reporting that Scottie Pippen is ready to reclaim the title of the UGLIEST player in basketball. It's not possible as long as Mike Miller is still active.

My rant on dickwade, the wuss

If Dickwade is the great leader he claims himself to be - then where was his leadership last night when his team bowed to the Mavericks? Granted the poor fella dislocated his shoulder when he wasn't paying attention where he was going on the court, but he could have been there to guide "his" team. He could have hopped on that private jet once again and been there as a cheerleader. Put that frickin' arm in a sling and get your "leader" @$$ out there, dickwade, and show us what you're made of. Wait, you have - it's all about you. To hell with "your" team.

ha ha HA!

Uh oh. Setback #389 for the Miami Heat. Thanks to Shane Battier, the "leader" of the Heat (aka dickwade) went down with a dislocated shoulder. Looks like it's time for Shaq to get out of the "ease back into it" mode. It's time for Shaq to get into the "carry the damn team on his back" mode. I'm curious to see whether or not Shaq still has it.

Miami currently clings to the 8th and final playoff spot in the East, with a two-game edge over New Jersey and a three game edge over the Knicks.

Well DUH, T-Mac!

Props to T-Mac for admitting the obvious...

"Those guys are dirty," he said in Las Vegas. "For real. They are dirty players. They play the game the right way, but they have all the tricks. They get cheap shots in every now and then to just let you know that they're there and they're not going anywhere. And I respect that. That's why they're so good. They find a way."

Now....if I only knew which way he was looking...

Congrats Dirty Okra!

Congrats to Dirty Okra (aka Dirk Nowitzki and Mehmet Okur) for being chosen to attend the NBA Thug-Fest...er, All-Star game. It's nice to see a German and a Turk thrown into the "mix."

Through hell and back (to hell)?

The following is an excerpt from Jason "Big Sexy" Whitlock's blog on AOL re: the All-Star Weekend from hell, I mean Vegas:

Vegas police were simply overwhelmed along The Strip. They were there solely for decoration and to discourage major crimes. Beyond that, they minded their own business.

I was there. Walking The Strip this weekend must be what it feels like to walk the yard at a maximum security prison. You couldn't relax. You avoided eye contact. The heavy police presence only reminded you of the danger.

Without a full-scale military occupation, New Orleans will not survive All-Star Weekend 2008.

David Stern seriously needs to consider moving the event out of the country for the next couple of years in hopes that young, hip-hop hoodlums would find another event to terrorize. Taking the game to Canada won't do it. The game needs to be moved overseas, someplace where the Bloods and Crips and hookers and hoes can't get to it without a passport and plane ticket.

I'm serious. Stern has spent the past three years trying to move his league and players past the thug image Ron Artest's fan brawl stamped on the NBA.

After this weekend, I'm convinced he's losing the battle. All-Star Weekend Vegas screamed that the NBA is aligned too closely with thugs. Stern is going to have to take drastic measures to break that perception/reality. All-Star Weekend can no longer remain the Woodstock for parolees, wannabe rap artists and baby's mamas on tax-refund vacations.

Right on, Jason! New Orleans went through hell and back last year with Hurricane Katrina. I don't think they will make it through what's about to blow through in '08. Oh dear Stern, better think quick. Better think fast. Better think smart.

Where are the Gentleman Athletes???

Jackie Robinson set the bar high.

These days - there aren't many gentleman athletes in the NBA. Can you name any?

It's easier to name those with street cred. Where to start on that list......

Nowitzki marries

Silke Nowitzki, Dirks sister marries long time boyfriend
ART GARCIA
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS -- Dirk Nowitzki's favorite memories of this All-Star weekend won't be his first starting gig or his attempt to defend his 3-point title. It also won't be one of those VIP-only parties.

It'll be a wedding. No, not his. In the city that's seen its share of spontaneous unions, Nowitzki's older sister, Silke, married her longtime fiancé Roland Mayer on Friday night.

The couple decided to tie the knot just a couple of weeks ago and figured Las Vegas would be the place to do it. The intimate ceremony took place at one of those classic small chapels with a few friends and family members in attendance, including dad Joerg.

Dirk played the role of best man, wearing a gray suit with a pink shirt and tie.

"I was looking phenomenal," he quipped.

The wedding party received a taste of home with the reception at German restaurant Hofbräuhaus Las Vegas. Though the wedding had all the trappings of Vegas, it wasn't presided over by an Elvis impersonator.

"We did have a real priest," Nowitzki said.

Maverick Moments...

The Little General gathers his troops for a playoff-bound adventure. He encourages his team to Diop and Pops it like it's hot. As the team soars through the league like a Jet, the General reminds them they will not fall off the Dampier this year. They're going all the way. The General pumps the team, but suddenly shouts, "By George, I have a plan. We'll make a Mbenga impact in the finals this year. Each and Avery game we are getting Croshere to the finals!" When they start playing Dirty the crowd roars "Stack[dat]House!" After last year's loss, our boys are Mo Ager than ever. They will win the finals in four, not Devin. They will have a Greg-arious season - Jose, can you see the light at the end of this tunnel boys? Howard they going to achieve this dream? They will grab their Johnsons and play like hell. When that trophy's finally theirs, we will all smoke some Cubans and celebrate. They will Harris each and Avery team all the way to the end. As the boys are pumped and ready for success, a yell from the locker room erupts....Where the hell is "Pops?" Jet replies, "Ain't he the coach of the Clippers now?!"

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NBA All-Star Break

And the winners are...

Haier Shooting Stars: Detroit's Chauncey Billups, Swin Cash, and Bill Laimbeer
Skills Challenge: DickWade (again)
Barkley v. Bavetta: Charles "Krispy Kreme" Barkley
3-point Shootout: Jason Kapono (ties the record)
Slam Dunk: Gerald Green

...And yes, Charles and Dick kissed.

NBA's Batman and Robin

J-Ho a Daddy-O!

Congratulations to Josh Howard on becoming a father! His first child, a 6lb. , 19in. boy was born January 31st in New York. Daddy-O said the little tyke shares his father's initials.

Fun Times for Croshere

After Austin Croshere stunned us all with a career-high 34 point performance, Dirk led the team in singing "Happy Birthday" to Austin in the locker room after the game. It wasn't his birthday, Croshere just decided to let us all know that he had it in him. Before it was over and done with, coach Avery Johnson donned a Croshere jersey. Picture the Little General wearing Austin's team jersey, which is made for someone 6'10" tall , on his 5'11" on a good day frame. The Jet "laughed when [he] saw it" and "knew he was up to something back there." That jersey was like a dress on him. Where's the YouTube?

information courtesy of The FanHouse

DickWade hardly the leader...

Should you open your big fat mouth when your team is hardly the reigning NBA champions they claim to be? Where's the leadership, DWade? You can't take the heat when big daddy (aka Shaq) isn't around to bail you out? Granted the Mavericks went down miserably in the finals - they have come back stronger than ever. Can the same be said for the Heat? DWade criticized Dirk's leadership qualities in the championship. Perhaps he (DW) should focus on his OWN leadership - or lack thereof. Mark Cuban fired back with, "I know Shaq appreciates your leadership as well. He called out your team a few weeks ago saying it was "embarassing'. Great leadership DWade. Your coach sat players for being fat. I guess you couldnt lead them away from the buffet." Kudos! Advice for DWade: Shut up and be a leader to your sub-par team.