Mark Cuban was fuming. His team had just blown a 23-point lead in a Game 4 loss to Portland in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Mavericks were two losses from another early-round exit, the likely firing of head coach Rick Carlisle and yet another in a seemingly…

The Mavericks — those soft lil’ Mav-wrecks — were headed onto their bus and into the Miami night toward South Beach for an unprecedented night of partying with 100 bottles of Rose at famed night club LIV. More important, the Mavericks were headed into a future as NBA champs. “The best thing…

10. You knew it was going to be an intense game … even before the game. During shootaround at American Airlines Arena this afternoon neither Dwyane Wade nor LeBron James would respond to Dirk Nowitzki calling their mocking video “childish” and “ignorant.” Their response: “We have no comment.” Before the…

10. So did he or didn’t he? Rashard Lewis I mean. Did he or didn’t he sleep with LeBron James’ girlfriend? Best guess: Maybe. 9. Remember when I said a faster pace would equal better looks for the Mavs on offense? With J.J. Barea joining the series and Jason Kidd pushing the ball…

In four NBA Finals’ fourth quarters, LeBron James has three baskets. He’s been outscored in the final quarters of this series by Dirk Nowitzki, 44-9. In Game 4 he not only scored a playoff career-low 8 points — first time in 433 games he’s been held below 10 — he let Jason…

They’ve been showing this video at American Airlines Center during The NBA Finals and it’s awesomely badass. Says Mavs’ general manager Donnie Nelson, “I’m sitting in a suite and by the time that thing ends everybody in there is standing up and cheering and they’ve got that look in their…

Lots of Texas Rangers’ catch-up to spread around today … *Back in spring training we all watched how Neftali Feliz would react to being stretched out as a potential starter. While Feliz wound up back in the bullpen, Alexi Ogando became the team’s oh-by-the-way No. 5 starter. And then he…

I want this NBA championship. Selfishly? You bet. As a shaggy-haired 16-year-old who wanted to grow up to be Pete Maravich, I attended the Mavericks’ first game back at old Reunion Arena. Not the regular-season debut victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 11, 1980, but the inaugural preseason…

With any luck we’ll be re-writing this list in the coming week. But for now, last night’s pulsating win at American Airlines Center certainly is among the best in Dallas Mavericks franchise history: 10.  6.2.88 — Mavs 105, Lakers 103: Led by Sixth Man of the Year Roy Tarpley’s 20-point,…

Fittingly, sitting courtside at American Airlines Center last night: Emmitt Smith. What he witnessed was perhaps Dallas-Fort Worth’s gutsiest individual performance since, well, his own masterpiece 17 years ago. Yep, on a night when he fought a 101-degree fever, Dirk Nowitzki willed the Mavericks to a heart-stopping, gut-wrenching victory that yanked the…

10. Could tell something wasn’t right with Dirk Nowitzki early in the second quarter. He didn’t look good on the bench. Piqued, even. Towel over head. Two warm-up jackets draped over him. Gulping liquid out of two water bottles. Not involved in coach Rick Carlisle’s huddle. Then at half it was…

When Ben Johnson was stripped of his 100-meter gold medal in the 1988 Olympics, it was awarded to second-place finisher Carl Lewis. When Carter High School was ripped of its 1988 Texas State 5A Football Championship, it was given to the team it beat in the title game — Converse Judson…

Simple. If their reserve players don’t perform better, the Mavericks will lose the NBA Finals. And that starts tonight in Game 4 at the American Airlines Center. Jason Terry has to be more productive than the player who has shot only 38 percent and failed to produce a 20-point game…

The Cowboys are on the verge of making the final decision to relocate their 2011 training camp from San Antonio to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington because of the ongoing NFL lockout. But one change that apparently won’t be made this season is the voice of Cowboys Stadium. That said, even the return of…

Couple years ago I alerted you to a tennis phenom in our midst. At the time, Keller 14-year-old Mitchell Krueger was just trying to find his way onto the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids. Over the weekend, he came this close to winning the French Open. Not the French Open…

Been a little concerned obsessed with the Mavs. But I did catch some Rangers baseball Saturday afternoon. Saw enough of Derek Holland to say “Wow!” And apparently he isn’t alone. After swooning without Josh Hamilton, the Rangers tumbled from their 9-1 start into mediocrity. Don’t look now, but they’re back…

For the Miami Heat, Chris Bosh hit a clutch jumper in Game 3. Dwyane Wade scored 39 points in Game 2. And LeBron James made the big-time 3-pointers in Game 1. For the Mavericks in the NBA Finals, it’s Dirk…or defeat. In last night’s kick-to-the-crotch 88-86 loss in American Airlines Center,…

10. I absolutely love ABC’s The Finals open with snippets of great plays and legendary players from the past. How surreal would it be to a year from now see Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd in that production? 9. Down 45-31, Dallas came roaring back again and almost pulled off…

10. Was worried when Dirk Nowitzki left the court during an early timeout. But I think it was more potty break than finger finagling. He dribbled left. He made a hustling save with a lefty tap. A Fraulein finger is zero excuse. 9. And that’s precisely why I hate Dwyane…

When the NBA All-Star Game came to Dallas in February 2010 I got to hop in a Hummer limo. Driven by a big guy. Who had no use for road rules, or police barriers. As he ran over a bunch of traffic cones and headed toward a security barricade in front…