Twas the night before Tip-OFF

Twas the night before Tip-OFF, when all through the land
Not a creature was stirring, not even one Mavs fan.
The uniforms were hung in the lockers with care,
In hopes that St Dirk soon would be there.

The fans were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of LeBron crying after game 6 still dancing in their heads.
And the fans in 31 Jett shirts , and I in my MFFL cap,
Had just settled our brains for the end of the long winter’s Lock Out.

When on ESPN there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
To the flat screen I flew in a flash,
I went to the backroom and turned up the volume .

A familiar blue glare filled the late night air.
The illumination of sports figures was everywhere.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a St Dirk and his magic step away jump shot.

With a little J-Kidd, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Basketball Season.
To my eyes this was synthetically pleasing.
And the whistle blew, and Rick Carlisle shouted, and called them by name!

"Now On St. Dirk! now, Jett now, Kidd and Odom!
On, Haywood! On, Marion! on Mahinmi and Carter!
To the top of the key! to the top of the rim!
Now shoot away! Shoot away! Shoot 3’s all day!"


I spoke not a word, but went straight to my fridge,
And grabbed a cold one, then some beef with a jerk.
And then back to my lazy chair I did go,
And giving a nod, up to the Basketball Gods I rose for the anthem!

Miami and then big 3 had arrived and were ready to play
What a way to Kick off this Christmas Day.
Then I heard Mark Cuban exclaim, as he jumped into sight
"Lets Go Mavs! Lets Go Mavs win it all again in the 2012 season!"

Merry Christmas from your friends at BigBadSportsDaddy.com

Weiner Mail

Alright, just so I could answer some of your questions, I am breaking myself away from reading Huma Weiner’s latest Twitter DMs to me. That's how much I love you in the Big Bad Posse! I would say I would share some of the messages with you… but come on man, that's not cool! No reason for the Weiners to have two scandals. Let's just say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned on social media.
Now, on to some of those questions….


Hey guys,
I just wanted to know where you see Vince Young winding up in 2011?
-UTJake

*One shameless plug coming right up*

Well Jake, obviously you must not listen to The Sports Daddys on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays here on bigbadsportsdaddy.com. If you did, you would know Andre and I had this discussion on Monday. You should download it sometime. It is only America's favorite podcast. If you can check it out before the new show hits the site tomorrow, you can hear my reasoning on why I think VY ends up in Cincy.



Will the Mavs do it this year?

-MFFL2010

Hell Yes! What you expected an in depth answer? I am to busy being a fan right now!


Larry you know the Spurs still have 4 rings and the Mavs have none right? The Spurs will always be better then the Mavs!WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

-notjcall

Suck it JCall! The Mavs will get their first ring this year! It might go 7 but Dirk kills the Heat.


This lockout is killing me! When will they get it resolved?

-mrcandicecrawford


I feel your pain… Hopefully soon! The thought of an 8 game NFL season is a nightmare! The season is to short as is. This Fantasy Fanatic is already having withdraws.


Is Alexi Ogando a CY Young Contender?

-annoyingjerry

How could he not be? If he keeps pitching like this it will be hard to keep his name out of those talks when the time comes around. Let's Go Rangers!


If Dirk wins a title, will he go down as the greatest player in dfw sports history, narrowly edging modano?

-dbagnation


How is Mike Modano in this conversation? Do the names Troy,Michael,Emitt,Roger, and Tony mean anything to you? I'm just saying they all rank aboveModano. Dirk will probably rank behind the triplets as best metroplex athletes of all time.







Belmont Stakes Larry! Who wins? Give me a winning Tri!


degenerategambler75104

Man you are asking the wrong fella! I went to Lone Star Park last Friday Night for $1 beer night and got my arse handed to me. I didn't even win a bet! Most expensive $1 Beer Night ever! Here are my picks but I wouldn't bet on them.

Give Me
6-10-9

Win: 6. Nehro
Place: 10. Mucho Macho Man (love this horse)
Show: 9. Animal Kingdom




Ok my Weiner tweets have been waiting to long I better get back to them. Oh wait! WTF! That one looks like shaved man marbles! BARF,gag, gross! I guess her account got hacked


Send your Questions to

larry@bigbadsportsdaddy.com.

MFFL

Every time I think I am out...you seem to pull me right back in! Yes, you have broken my heart too many times to count, but like a chump I keep coming back for more. You are like a cheating ex-girlfriend that I just can't seem to get away from. You are like a bad slot machine that never pays off. You know how this story will end, but you just don't want to believe it. The "you" I am talking about in this case is the Dallas Mavericks.

Over the years I have invested a lot of my precious time watching Mavs games. My fan-ship goes back to Ro Blackman, D-Harp, and James Donaldson. I was even there for the days of Mike Iuzzolino and Donald Hodge. I remember the 3 J's and being excited about the horrific draft picks made back then (I.E., Samaki Walker, Cherokee Parks, and Loren Meyer). Back in those days the score was different.

Throughout my early youth, I watched The Dallas Mavericks go from really good to really bad. By the time I was a teenager, I learned to just accept the fact that they were going to be terrible. But I kept the hope alive and always had the optimistic attitude of "this year will be different". It took a few years, but change finally came around.

In 2000, Mark Cuban bought the Mavericks, and inserted instant life into what had been a dead franchise. The Dallas Mavericks were now fun! They had cool nicknames like Dirty, Filthy, and Nasty. They had transformed into what us Mavs fans had always wanted them to become...a contender. It took a few more years, but our little Mavericks made it to the NBA Finals for the first time in '06. We thought they were all grows up, and our MVP Dirk was going to bring home the championship trophy. Of course that didn't happen. What happened instead was an epic collapse.

Then in '07, a 60 win #1 seed Dallas Mavericks team gets swept and knocked out in the first round by an 8 seed. In'08, they were out in the first round of the playoffs again. That's when I threw in my proverbial towel. You see, somewhere between 2000 and 2008, I had come to expect the Mavericks to become winners. But then they just kept breaking my heart. All the years of heartache and frustration finally got to me, and yes I did quit watching.

I'll admit even up until the Western Conference finals this year I wasn't sold on them. I casually watched the 1st round and I was just waiting to read the headline "Trailblazers eliminate Mavs". To a lot of Mavs fans' surprise, they made it out of Round 1. What next? The mighty Lakers of LA, that's what. Well, that series didn't take long...the Mavs win again! Were they for real this time? Of course not...or so I had thought!

Those little Mavericks showed us they came to play this year. Then they sucked me right back in to this bad mentally abusive relationship. However; my attitude has changed. As I write this article, the Mavericks just went down 0-1 to the Heat. You know what? I still believe they can win it! If I'm wrong though, it doesn't matter because they have won me back over. Like any relationship you are trying to save, we were just needing a "break". No matter what happens in 2010, I am proud of this team! I don't say it too often, but I love you Dallas Mavericks! No matter how many times you break my heart, I will always come back. I am a true MFFL(Mavs Fan For Life). Always have been, and always will be. Let's go Mavs!

Mavs Eye of The Tiger

“Last night I witnessed the sweet and innocent little boy, whom I've loved and defended since he came in to my life in 98’, finally grow into a cold-blooded ruthless killer. Dirk, I love you. You've made me proud. Do work son & always, always remember to shake those haters off….”
Now to be honest, I didn't write that… In the interest of full disclosure, I stole in fair and square from a friend’s Facebook status update. Sorry, I had to do it…This particular update perfectly sums up exactly how the city of Dallas is feeling right now as we watch the (newly crowned) Western Conference Champion Dallas Mavericks continue their improbable run this year. Dallas is officially Mavs Crazy! No matter what Mark Cuban said last night after the Mavs won, no one believed in the Mavericks. I sure as hell didn't!
On a recent Sports Daddy podcast, I compared this team to an ex-girlfriend. The one who sucks you back in and breaks your heart again and again. They have broken my heart so many times I was totally out on the team this year. I didn't want to watch! I already knew what was going to happen. It was a one-and-done type of season. If their season didn't end in the first round, the mighty Lakers would surely knock them off in the semis. Admittedly, I along with the rest of the Metroplex, was dead wrong on this team.
As of last night, for only the second time since the team's inception in 1980, the Dallas Mavericks are officially heading to the NBA Finals. This team is markedly different than the one who made a Finals appearance back in 06’. Rocky III. They have what Apollo Creed refered to and Survivor sang about. Yes I am talking The Eye of The Tiger.




Back in 06 The Mavs where young. Yes Dirk was still the franchise player but he wasn't as seasoned. You could even say he was naive. The team blew a chance to become the NBA Champions. The attitude was we are young and we will be back. Fast forward a long 5 years later and they are back. There are only two left over from that 06 team. Dirk and Jason Terry. Those two don't look like they have forgotten anything!

If you look at this 2011 Dallas Mavericks team it is full of chiseled veterans. Chiseled veteran future hall of famers with no rings. You have guys in the twilight of their career with no rings. That may change your attitude a little bit.For Dirk,Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion this maybe their last shot at a Winner.The time is now!

It looks like The Dallas Mavericks are heading on collision course with the Miami Heat again in 2011. It is Rocky vs Drago (Rocky IV reference). The veteran that no one believed in vs. the genetic engineered perfect competitor. Well the Heat better take notice because this Mavericks team is hungry. This Mavericks team has the refuse to lose attiude. This Mavericks team has the Eye of the Tiger....Tiger

Dallas Mediocrity

Being A Dallas Sports fan has been painful for the last few years. Hell to tell you the truth it's been the past decade. The last championship any Metroplex team won was in 1999 when The Stars beat the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL Stanley Cup finals. Other then that Thank God for the Longhorns or it would really have sucked to be a sports fan in Tejas.



It is a shame but in Dallas pretty good is getting to be the norm. The Dallas Cowboys are pretty good,The Dallas Mavericks are pretty good, The Texas Rangers are pretty good, the Dallas Stars well let's face it none cares about the Dallas Stars. The Dallas Teams are all just good enough to make the playoffs then exit early.
As a Dallas fan I have accepted the fact our teams are pretty good. Believe me it's hard to go through a season knowing that your team is good but not quite good enough to be great. Matter of fact it's torture.


The only reason I bring this up is because I am hearing a lot of Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl talk. As much as I hate to admit it The Dallas Cowboys are not going to the Super Bowl. I am not even 100% sure The Cowboys are the best team in the NFC EAST. What I am sure of is the Eagles will be the worst. I know cheap shoot but man I hate those Eagles! I really hope they go 0-16! Suck it Eagles Fan.


As long as Wade and Jason are here the Cowboys will not even sniff the big game. Wade is a great Defensive Coordinator but not a Head Coach. I think it's safe to say his place is the world is running a defense not being the man.


Jason Garrett damn! Why didn't he go to Baltimore when he had the chance? I think we can all agree he has worn out his welcome here in Dallas yet again! Sorry Princeton Man but it's true. Does anyone else have visions of Madden when watching a Cowboys game? Next thing we know they will cut their punter and go for it on ever 4th down. Really Jason Garrett maybe to smart to run a offense. Instead of keeping it simple he insist on tricking everything up. I think he out thinks himself more so then gets out coached. It's not the worst problem to have but still a problem.


With these two knuckleheads in place on the Dallas Coaching Staff I have accepted the fact that in 2010 The Dallas Cowboys will be pretty good. Yes, I will still be upset and pissed when they lose but none the less I know what they are and that's a pretty good team. Even though the talent is there the coaching isn't and that means The Cowboys are a what? Pretty Good!


Shame on you Texas Rangers! Back in late May I wrote a blog saying that I didn't think this was your year. However during the dog days of summer I bought into what you were selling. I was drinking the Red Kool-Aide you were serving up by the gallons. It was helping me stay cool in this Texas heat! I think it's safe to say The Rangers had the whole entire DFW area fooled and most of Baseball America. They looked like they were legitimate contenders to represent the American League in the World Series in 2010. Now in Early September with injuries and bad play they look like a pretty good team. I know baseball is streaky sport but you don't want to be on a losing streak going into the playoffs. With no way to avoid a strong team from the East in the playoffs it is time to accept the fact that the 2010 Texas Rangers are nothing more then a pretty good team. Once again they got us to football season.



After the 2006 & 2007 season I think we all learned that these Mavericks will be nothing more then a pretty good basketball team. Once again Dallas Fans must suffer that just not quite good enough disappointment.

After watching Dallas Sports failures over and over again for the past 10 years the Dallas Sports fan has went to expecting Championships to expecting pretty good. And expecting pretty good with no hope for a championship is just well pretty sad.


Email me
larry@bigbadsportsdaddy.com

Mavs Win!!! Now What?

A few short hours ago the Dallas Mavericks demolished the Spurs in game five off their playoff series. The Mavs who have struggled all year long and are the sixth seed in the west go 2-1 on the road and 2-0 at home to wrap it up in five! Awesome great GO MAVS! Now What? The Denver Nuggets is what!

The Denver Nuggets who have owned the Dallas Mavericks in the regular season is what. Matter of fact their record is 4-0 against the Mavs this year. The Denver Nuggets who took a 3-1 lead in their series by blowing out the Hornets by 50+ points is what. The Denver Nuggets the #2 seed in the West is what! Make no mistake about Denver wraps up their opening round match against the Big Easy Friday night.

Not to rain on the Mavs fans parade but three weeks ago no one in Dallas thought the Mavs would make the playoffs. Then OMG they will have to go in as the 8th seed and Face the mighty Lakers. Everything went Cuban's boys way in the final weeks and the Mavs snag the 6th seed. Not bad for a team full of under achievers who have lallygagged all season.

I will tune into Sports Radio tomorrow and hear all about how the Mavs got hot at the right time. I will hear about how great they looked against the Spurs. I will how this might be lighting in the bottle but it's not. The fact of the Matter is the Dallas Mavericks had one great series against a beat up old team. Now it's time to pay the Piper and call this team what it is and that's done. I hope they prove me wrong and I have to eat my words at the end of The Western Conference Semis but they won't. Just like I called the Mavs in 5 against the Spurs I'm calling Denver in 5 vs the Mavs. Prove me wrong!

I am as happy as any Dallasite tonight but as one of the few Dallasite looking ahead already I wanted to point out how bleak our basketball teams future is. For example if I was a Vegas odds maker I would put the Mavericks at 200-1 to reach the NBA Finals. I would put them at 50-1 to get out of the next round.Sorry die hard fans but facts are facts and stats are stats. They both tell me the Mavericks run is over.


Larry Stanley
BigBadSportsDaddy.com