You notice a lot sitting up in the cheap seats, perched so high above the court in the American Airlines Center you're sitting next to the retired numbers of Mavericks great Rolando Blackman and former point guard Brad Davis. (I refuse to use the term "great" in reference to Davis. The only thing great about him was his 'stache.) One thing sticks out the most: The fans have gotten fat and happy with the success of the past few years, eager to count their wins before they hatch. (So have the Mavericks, judging by their lackluster '03-'04 record.) Example: the January 7 game against the Golden State Warriors. With almost a full minute left to play, at least three-quarters of the audience decided to beat the traffic. They pulled it out, sure, but it would have taken only two Jason Richardson bombs to even the score. Don't be so trigger-happy when former Mav Jason Kidd and Bryan Adams High School alum Kenyon Martin lead the New Jersey Nets to town Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. I'll be watching you. From afar. Tickets are $10 to $235 from Ticketmaster, 214-373-8000. --Zac Crain
Motor Away
Cyclists go ahead and jump
1/16
Apparently the newest trend in IFMA Freestyle Motocross is the back flip, which is considered a "death-defying trick." Linda Ardehali, staff writer for www.pacefmx.com, says the stunt is like "adding extra pine tar to your baseball bat." On January 16 and January 17, watch Beau Bamburg of Gresham, Oregon, do some of those sick tricks at the American Airlines Center. He's been riding since he was 12, and yes, I picked him out of the long list of riders performing at the event because his bio pic was the cutest. Plus he ranked in the top three in Oakland, California. The event starts at 8 p.m., and doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $25 for adults and are $10 for kids. All seats are $2 more the day of the show, and a discount applies to ages 2 through 12. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or 214-373-8000. The American Airlines Center is located at 2500 Victory Ave. --Jenice Johnson
Splish Splash
1/16
Southern Methodist University hosts the 23rd annual Dallas Morning News Swimming & Diving Classic as the men's team under head coach Eddie Sinnott and diving coach Jim Stillson takes on the University of Florida Gators, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks and those Aggies from Texas A&M. The Mustangs squad features 27 members from around the country and from as far away as Sweden and South Africa. The two-day competition features 18 events including butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke and freestyle races, relays and diving. Come cheer on the home team or just show up to see if the Gamecocks live up to their team name in their Speedos. It's Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Joe Perkins Natatorium, 6024 Bishop Blvd. Tickets are $10 per day or $15 for both nights. Students and children are admitted for $5. SMU students are admitted free. Call 214-768-4263 or visit www.smumustangs.com. --Jay Webb
