The Dallas Mavericks have won the NBA Championship, making history, as it’s the first win for the team ever since their creation in 1980. While many fans are devoting ink and blogs to Dirk Werner Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd, let’s not forget to thank Mavericks’ coach Rick Carlisle.
Carlisle now has NBA titles as well as a head coach honor behind his name. He brought the Mavericks to a 57-25 win-loss record for 2010/2011. The NBA Finals weren’t his only victory of the season; earlier, he helped his team to overcome the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in May.
You also have to give a lot of credit to owner Mark Cuban. He’s a colorful and often times controversial personality that continues to provoke some fans and the NBA league. However, he has dramatically increased the value (and now the game success!) of his team since he bought it in 2000. In fact, in the 20 years before Cuban bought the team, they had a winning percentage of 40%. Since Cuban has taken over Dallas, the team now has a 69% winning percentage of regular season games, and is now a playoff contender–and an NBA Champion.
Furthermore, the value of the team has risen 162.3% since Cuban’s purchase. The NBA average for other teams? Only 77.8%. Cuban certainly deserves some credit for making something special out of a dwindling team 12 years ago. Cuban also did the unthinkable and actually earned respect from his critics for remaining silent during the playoffs (so as not to distract the team) and actually surrendered his rightfully earned championship trophy to original Mavericks owner Donald Carter.
In fact, Dallas was so popular this season that many Miami Heat fans (not to mention throughout the U.S.) were cheering for a Mavericks win. Why? Is it because we just love the idea of rooting for an underdog to make history? Or is it because fans were rooting for a “LeBron James fail?” Indeed, Miami Heat’s new player alienated many fans with his poor performance in Cleveland and his subsequent signing with Miami Heat.
Whatever the case, anticipation was in the air and true fans of the sport were not disappointed on Sunday, when the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat gave us a great game, with an historical finish. Honestly now…were you predicting Dallas throughout the Finals?
In 1996, the official Winnipeg Jets team of the NHL came to an unceremonious end. The team (based in Winnipeg, Manitoba) had been experiencing financial problems for quite some time, and was eventually moved to Arizona, where it became the Phoenix Coyotes. At the root of the problem were growing salaries and expenses, particularly in the conversion of Canadian dollars to U.S. dollars. (In fact, the Canada-based teams were paying American salaries while collecting Canadian revenue, and thus losing money.) The Winnipeg Jets last game was played in April of 1996.
Now, in 2011, fans are beside themselves at the news that Winnipeg will once again have a hockey team. In early 2011, True North Sports and Entertainment stated that it came to an agreement to buy the Atlanta Thrashers, but that it desired to relocate the team to Winnipeg, Manitoba. The team will be renamed at some point, and many fans are speculating that the popular but underdog team of the Winnipeg Jets could return.
Fans are confident that the Winnipeg Jets will return, if for no other reason than the fact that the name has mainstream team name recognition, which is hard for NHL owners to dismiss. On the other hand, some fans say that a new team name might actually help revitalize the team and erase old memories of less than stellar win-loss records for the original Jets.
Here’s another angle to consider: Manitoba may be more powerful than Winnipeg alone, especially in terms of fan support. Last but not least, some insiders think that True North Sports and Entertainment might be more interested in keeping the name Manitoba Moose, as they have already invested money in building this brand (which is admittedly minor league right now). What could be an enormous defeat for Winnipeg and Winnipeg Jets fans particularly, may be a sigh of relief to other Canadian cities in Manitoba who also love their hockey.
Don’t count out the people of Winnipeg, nor underestimate their influence. In support of the former Jets team, fans shelled out millions of dollars just to save the dying franchise. Are they going to let this opportunity go? Not likely! There are already many Internet sites devoted to the idea of an official Winnipeg Jets return, and it would be a questionable move to let that fervor fizzle out. What do you think? Should it be the Jets or the Moose?
One way or another, it’s time for Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks to howl–in pain or in triumph. Terry told reporters in May that he believes in his team completely…and is willing to put up or shut up with his body art. Jason Terry said if he loses to the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals, he will remove his Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy tattoo.
And in case you don’t know, removing a tattoo is usually more painful than getting a tattoo, so it’s safe to say that if Dallas loses in the NBA Finals, Terry is going to have a bummer of a week! However, he is remaining optimistic and downright “superstitious” when it comes to winning in 2011.
If the Mavericks win the championship this season, it will be the first win in the team’s 31-year history. (They have only one conference and divisional titles since 1980) Terry has been predicting all season that Dallas has a shot to win the championship, and his teammates have gradually gathered around his tattoo promise as a source of inspiration.
The experts are predicting that Miami will defeat Dallas–business as usual. However, Terry and his teammates remain focused. In fact, Terry’s arm is going to be sore no matter what happens. If his team wins and the Mavericks make history, he’s going to howl all the way back to the tattoo artist (a personal tattoo artist handpicked by DeShawn Stevenson) and fill in the date of the championship.
What do you think? Is Terry’s tattoo prophecy going to come true this season? Or does Terry have a long walk back to the locker room–his defeat culminating in shrieking laser tattoo removal? We personally put our money on the Dallas Mavericks and Terry in particular. Earlier this season, Terry tied an NBA Playoffs record for three pointers (nine), putting him in company with the greats. Terry is building momentum and is determined as ever to give Dallas its due!
The NFL’s complex system indicates that the Steelers clinched a spot based on “strength of victory tie-breakers over certain other teams”.
Should the Steelers win out against the Carolina Panthers (2-12) at Heinz Field and the Cleveland Browns (5-9) at Cleveland Browns Stadium, they would win the AFC North division, through a better division record than the Baltimore Ravens. Should this scenario come to fruition, the Steelers would then become the AFC’s No. 2 seed.
Do you see Pittsburgh winning the division? The AFC Championship? The Super Bowl? What are your thoughts?
Amazing that the Jets‘ strength and conditioning coach, Sal Alosi, felt the overwhelming need to trip Dolphins CB Nolan Carroll as if they were 5 years old, out on the playground. Wonder what the Jets have in store for the Steelers this week?
Completely sketchy, or just a lack of good judgement?
With the NFL announcing that they are winding down the investigation into the allegations that Minnesota Vikings’ Brett Favre sent “inappropriate” texts and photos – as well as voice mails – to then Jets employee Jenn Sterger, predictions are flying in as to whether or not Favre (quarterback for the New York Jets, at the time of the alleged incidents) will be found guilty of violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. And, if found guilty, will the punishment fit the crime?
Not too long ago, the same speculations about Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, were taking center stage. While never being charged with a crime, nor admitting any wrong-doing, Roethlisberger was suspended for six games (later reduced to four) and was required to be evaluated and placed in a “program” that would show his understanding of how to behave as a member of the NFL.
Favre, on the other hand, has admitted to leaving Sterger the voice mail messages, and Sterger has cooperated with the NFL investigation by providing her “evidence” to the additional accusations. What do you think about it?
There were ups, downs, controversial calls and possible season-ending injuries in week 7, and there is still one more game to be played tonight between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler threw four interceptions to DeAngelo Hall of the Washington Redskins on Sunday, with the Skins defeating the Bears 17-14.
But we still have one more game to go this week, so the news might not be over yet. What are your thoughts about tonight’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants?
Every once in awhile, the GameStub crew likes to reflect on some of those nasty, big and dirty hits put on by the best in the NFL. Here’s our picks for this week…
All scores, stats, wins, losses and injuries aside, the GameStub staff would like to take a moment to send our thoughts and condolences to the family, friends and teammates of Kenny McKinley – former wide receiver of the Denver Broncos.
Kenny McKinley was a standout at South Carolina, and was in his second season with the Denver Broncos. Earlier in the season, McKinley suffered a season-ending knee injury, which required surgery.
While some noted that the WR was suffering from depression due to his inability to play for the Broncos, close friends, former teammates and the mother of his son emphatically state there were no indications that would warrant concern.
Sadly, this is the third unexpected death of a Denver Broncos player in as many years. Cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2007, and running back Damien Nash collapsed and died during a charity basketball game only a few months later.
Current Broncos coach, Josh McDaniels, stated that players will wear a helmet sticker – the number 11 in navy blue, and will observe a moment of silence prior to Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
The talk around our water cooler this week? While undoubtedly tragic, do athletes place too much significance on being a successful professional? If things, for whatever reason – injury, lack of performance or personal issues – outweigh the day-to-day “good things” the rest of us enjoy? We’d like to hear your opinion…
The 2010 baseball season is right around the corner and fans are already buzzing about whom the hot teams of the year are going to be. There are a few obvious teams to watch out for and we may even have a surprise or two to look at. If the breaks go the right way, there will be a few different teams in the playoffs this year.
The obvious teams are both the Yankees and the Phillies. The Yanks are stacked from top to bottom and will be a fixture at the top of the division for the next five years or so. This championship lifted a bit of weight off some major player’s shoulders and we can expect them all to play looser than they ever have. Considering the fact that they hoisted the trophy last year, that is not exactly good news for the rest of the American League.
There were plenty of off-season trades this year, but none of them was as big as the deal that the Phillies made to get Halladay. For some reason, they did not retain Lee when they still had him under contract when it would have all but guaranteed another appearance in the World Series. If any of their starters step up this season, this team is going to make another run at the title.
