Yardbarker: Dallas Mavericks

Epic Drop: Top 10 reasons to have hope

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:36:12 -0500

So here's today's list. Now, let me get back to the horror that is age.

When I was 10 years old, the Phillies won the World Series; I was 14 when the Sixers broke through and took out the Sixers. A year or two after that, the USFL Stars won (I was a big fan), and I even went downtown for the parade. I felt, in no way, like any kind of Sports Victim. Sure, the Eagles didn't break through, and I still have scars of every playoff loss ever. But what the hell, that's what sports *are*, and it's not like we were Cleveland or Boston or any one of a million other sports cities that didn't get to see Hall of Fame players for every franchise. You could have grown up in Kansas City, for heaven's sake.

Now, imagine you are a 10 to 12 year old fan of the Cowboys. You're too young to remember the Aikman-Irvin-Smith years. Your Mavericks ripped your hearts out in the Finals, and now they're a bad joke with big names and an increasingly unhinged owner. Your baseball team is terrible, and has been throughout your consciousness. And your football team keeps signing head cases, and just lost its franchise quarterback for a month. You're a sports victim, right? And yet, there's no way you feel that way, since the history is anything but Victim Status.

The point is this. When you are young, you don't fear losses. You just celebrate them. You don't know that Lucy will always pull away the football, that the other city is always going to be taking the champagne bath at the end of the festivities.

I have friends that have already written off this year's Eagles team, despite the fact that we're barely past the one-third pole. They only watch game replays if the team wins; they spend the live telecasts either listening on the radio or reading updates online, because, dammit, their hearts just can't take it.

They are most likely "right"; the Eagles are, after all, 3-3 and maddeningly inconsistent in just about every facet of the game. But I wouldn't be that way for anything; if I were, I'd give up sports and blogging in a heartbeat. It strikes me as a pale imitation for living, a life ruled by fear, a perversion on every level.

So, um, folks? Lighten up. Be better than your fears. Have hope. It's just more fun.

Southwest Division Blogger Previews

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:05:13 -0500

Dallas Mavericks Jake Kerr: Mavs Moneyball Houston Rockets grungedave and UofTOrange: The Dream Shake Memphis Grizzlies Joshua Coleman: 3 Shades of Blue New Orleans Hornets Rohan: At the Hive ticktock6 & mW: Hornets Hype Ryan Schwan & Ron Hitley: Hornets247.com San Antonio Spurs Graydon Gordian: 48 Minutes of Hell Also see links to all the previews at CelticsBlog.com

NBA Punchlines: Monta Ellis Suspended 30 Games as a Result of Mopedgate

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:02:32 -0500

The NBA, in a joint venture with AEG, will finance multi-purpose arenas around China. (Seattle Times)

Gary Payton is working hard to get a NBA back in Seattle. (Seattle Times)

Eddy Curry is expected to return tomorrow night from a bacterial infection that has sidelined him most of training camp. (NY Post)

You know it's preseason when Vince Carter is hitting clutch free-throws. (NY Times)

Lamar Odom is embracing his new role as point guard. (L.A. Times)

The NBA will play regular season games in London leading up to the 2012 summer games. (Houston Chronicle)

Thus far, Carl Landry is earning his three-year extension he received this past offseason. (Houston Chronicle)

Shawne Williams is ready to wipe the slate clean playing for his new team, the Dallas Mavericks. (Dallas Morning News)

Boobie Gibson's NBA road thus far has been unconventional, but everything seems to be working out for him just fine. (Plain Dealer)

The Warriors suspended Monta Ellis for 30 games without pay stemming from a moped incident this past summer. (Cincy Enquirer)

Patrick O'Bryant is trying to prove that he is neither lazy nor unmotivated. (Boston Globe)

Nominations for the 2008 Sports Blogscars. Vote For Your Favorite Sports blogger!

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:04:16 -0500

The Sports Blogscars go to the sports blogs that are best at displaying videos for their readers. They break news. They catch gaffs. They point out hilarity. They inform. They entertain. They do all that through the use of videos. Here are the full details of the rules. The Winners will be announced Friday Oct. 17th on this very blog. The winners will be announced hourly starting @ 9 am and starting with the Best NBA Video Blogger and moving down the list.

NBA: Southwest Division Previews

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:13:28 -0500

Monta Ellis LOVES His Stupid Moped

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:08:18 -0500

My high school football coach told us the following (he was 100% serious and I am being 100% honest): Mopeds are like big girls: fun to ride until you get caught on them Well Monta Ells was caught on his moped and he will be suspended by the Golden State Warriors for 30 games and $3,000,000. Thats a hefty fine but well deserved.

Blogger Season Previews: Southwest Division

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:00:31 -0500

GAME - Chicago Bulls @ Dallas Mavericks 10-21-2008

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:00:14 -0500

2008-2009 Top 10 Power Forwards

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:25:30 -0500

The Power Forwards included in this list come from the power forwards listings on the ESPN.com players page. Quick reminder, this is how I expect these players to perform in the upcoming season, not just how they performed in the past. 1. Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks - 2008 Stats: 23.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG - Dirk [...]

Southwest Blogger Previews

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:01:22 -0500

Dallas Mavericks Jake Kerr: Mavs Moneyball (http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2008/10/6/629896/mavericks-blogger-preview) Houston Rockets grungedave and UofTOrange: The Dream Shake (http://thedreamshake.blogspot.com/2008/10/today-is-southwest-division-bloggers.html) Memphis Grizzlies Joshua Coleman: 3 Shades of Blue (http://3shadesofblue.blogspot.com/2008/10/200809-memphis-grizzlies-preview.html) New Orleans Hornets Rohan: At the Hive (http://www.atthehive.com/2008/10/9/631429/new-orleans-hornets-2008-2) ticktock6 mW: Hornets Hype (http://hornetshype.com/wp/2008/10/09/new-orleans-hornets-2008-09-baby/) Ryan Schwan Ron Hitley: Hornets247.com (http://www.hornets247.com/post.php?id=247293) San Antonio Spurs Graydon Gordian: 48 Minutes of Hell (http://48minutesofhell.blogspot.com/2008/10/san-antonio-spurs-2008-2009-season.html) Also see links to all the previews at CelticsBlog.com (index.php?option=com_content task=blogcategory id=78 Itemid=262)

Heels in the NBA (10/11/08)

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:57:24 -0500

With the NBA beginning, and last year wanting to do this, but alas not having the time, this time I am going to dedicate myself into following all the ex Tar Heels as they play in the National Basketball Association.

Pacers Trade Shawne Williams To Dallas

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:24:50 -0500

The Indianapolis Pacers announced Friday on the team website that they have traded controversial forward Shawne Williams to the Dallas Mavericks. The Pacers received veteran Eddie Jones, two future second-round draft picks and cash considerations in return for Williams. Pacers Team President Larry Bird said he had given the matter a lot of thought. Bird said [...]

Pacers Trade Shawne Williams To Dallas

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:24:18 -0500

Seattlites...What NBA Team Do You Want?

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:50:14 -0500

Forbes has recently compiled their list of the top ten professional sport franchises most likely to move. On the list were two NBA teams, the Charlotte Bobcats and the New Orleans Hornets. Seattle is "presumably" first in line to get a new franchise, if and only if the city gets something done with Key Arena.

So which team would you rather receive if the highly improbable happened and one of these teams were put up for sale?

Personally, I would not like to take another franchise from another city. No city deserves to go what we went through. However, in a greedy sense I would not mind welcoming Chris Paul into our city....

Props to [FanHouse]

Weekly Fix Podcast Episode 24 - Power Rankings

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:25:02 -0500

Zach Harper, Brandon Gallawa, and Andy Eisner are back from their NBA 2K9 coma as they decide to begin the Weekly Fix 2008-2009 NBA Season Preview. The guys discuss a Hall of Famer leaving his position, the best young prospect in the NBA beginning his journey and rank all 30 NBA teams from bottom to top. Here's the breakdown of the segments for our 24rd episode: 1. Elgin Baylor "Resigns" - How bad of a GM was Elgin? Will his legacy be tainted by his run with the Clippers? Is there a reason that Andy calls him the Belgian Waffle? 2. Greg Oden's Pre-Season Debut - How impressive is this young senior citizen? Will he be able to dominate early? Will he be able to stay on the court by avoiding injury? 3. 2008-2009 Pre-Season Power Rankings - Where do the defending champion Boston Celtics rank? Where do the New Orleans Hornets fall? Can Milwaukee be the worst team in basketball? We rank all of the teams -- even the bad ones!