With USC Out, Oklahoma Should Be 2004 National Champs

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…

2011 NBA FINALS GAME 4: Better Bench. Or Else.

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…

Is It Too Loud in the AAC? What?

This is how loud Mavs playoffs games were at Reunion Arena. And this is how regular season games sound at the American Airlines Center, where, writes The New York Times’s Alan Schwartz, “it is hard to tell if the Mavericks’ favorite machine during these playoffs is Dirk Nowitzki, their star…

Meanwhile, Your Texas Rangers are Suddenly Back Where They Started

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…

2011 NBA FINALS GAME 2 — Mavericks Adjustments

I know he and the Mavericks and even LeBron James are downplaying it, but I’m worried about Dirk Nowitzki’s finger entering tonight’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals here in Miami. Just because it’ll be different. “I’ll be fine,” Dirk says. “It’ll be okay.” But he loves to dribble left…

Final Destinations: 2

MIAMI—The Dallas Mavericks, America’s Team. Get used to it, because the Mavs are going to win their first-ever NBA championship this summer. And they’re going to do it as a beloved underdog, resolute in revenge and cheered by a country during their redemption. As much as Americans love sequels and…

2006: Broken Heart. 2011: Torn Tendon. Ugh.

The frustrating thing about Dirk Nowitzki’s injured finger? It happened on a play that wasn’t a foul. “I thought I stripped him clean,” Dirk said after last night’s 92-84 Game 1 loss to the Heat in the NBA Finals. “Then I kind of looked down and I couldn’t straighten my…

2011 NBA FINALS — Mavericks vs. Heat: The Preview

Charles Barkley is 3-0 picking the Mavericks in playoff series this spring. ESPN’s Bruce Bowen is 0-3 picking against them. Me? 2-1. I picked Mavs over Blazers and Thunder but had them losing to the Lakers. In Miami for tonight’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals, I’m having difficulty viewing this series…

“Dirkzilla” and the Road to the NBA Finals

Two videos just landed in the in-box via Friends of Unfair Park. Let’s lead with The Association’s Official Ramp-Up to Tonight’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals recapping the post-season that was, so far, for Your Dallas Mavericks. On the other side is Fort Worth filmmaker-slash-puppet master Erik Clapp’s latest…

Key to the NBA Finals: Dallas’ Own Chris Boshketball

Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James are the two best active NBA players without a ring. Jason Terry has a tattoo of the Larry O’Brien trophy on his right arm. Dwyane Wade is trying to depress Dallas. Again. Jason Kidd is the oldest point guard (38) in NBA Finals history. It’s revenge,…