Look, I can be as jaded as anyone. Cynical. Smartassy. Surly. Down right skeptical. Especially - in case you haven't been paying attention - when it comes to the Dallas Mavericks.
But tonight's last night's 93-89 victory in Portland, on the heels of Tuesday's victory in Phoenix, should serve as a reminder that we should at least try to enjoy the foreplay - even if it doesn't result in climactic intercourse.
Okay?
The survival over the Blazers was as stimulating as it was satisfying, and I'm not just talking about Channel 21 anchor Gina Miller's purple/tight/curvy/wonderful sweater. Less than 24 hours after an important, emotional win over the Suns, the Mavs jumped to a 13-point lead in Portland and hung on for an important, emotional win behind two gutty jumpers in the final minute by - who else? - Dirk Nowitzki.
The season's two most important games and the Giant German comes through with a combined 63 points and 23 rebounds. And to think, you want to trade Dirk and "blow it all up?"
Shame on you. (Almost) All of you.
I've pontificated about the Mavs in my lil' corner of the blogosphere several times over the last two weeks and - whether my prose is flattering or flattening - the general response of commenters has been a collective ...Shrug.
"It's better if the Mavs don't even make the playoffs," I'm paraphrasing you as responding. "We'll get killed by the Lakers in the first round, so let's just go into the lottery and take our chances. We have no shot at the championship, anyway."
Bottom line: I'm sick of your negativity. In the words of the late, great George Costanza: Stuff your sorries in a sack, mister!
Sure the Mavs have flaws and they haven't beaten the Lakers this season and we're only about 10 days removed from that debacle in Oklahoma City. But with 17 games remaining they are now 40-25 and only one game - ONE - out of 4th place in the Western Conference and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
This season probably won't turn out to be all. But since when does that mean it has to be nothing? You'd think a fan base that has never celebrated an NBA Championship and has been recently left broken-hearted by the Cowboys and Stars would take joy in any amount of post-season success.
Guys that never hit home runs learn to embrace getting to third base. Right?
But in Dallas we act like a bunch of spoiled brats who deserve a championship or else. (I'm reminded that this isn't a sports town, but merely a winners town and a whiners town.) I mean, seriously, if we can't win a championship then throw in the towel? I'd accept that from Boston Celtics' fans and their 50 championship banners, but MFFLs?
You goobers must not have been around in the '90s, when the Mavs had consecutive seasons of 11 and 13 wins and missed the playoffs 10 straight years.
Besides, if anyone should believe anything can happen in the playoffs it should be Mavericks fans. No? Tell me how the 2009 Lakers - the team you are all annointing as champs - are any different than the 2007 Mavericks?
The Lakers, as were the Mavs, are coming off a disappointing loss in The Finals.
The Lakers, as were the Mavs, are dominating the regular season, en route to 60+ wins and earning the top seed in the West and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Lakers (Kobe Bryant), as were the Mavs (Dirk), are led by the present MVP and future Hall of Famer.
The Lakers, as were the Mavs, are considered unbeatable, especially in the first friggin' round.
Wonder if Golden State Warriors fans were pleading with their team to dive into the lottery two springs ago? Instead, I betcha they just enjoyed the ride.
I suggest you start doing the same. You never know where it will take you.
