It's a painful year to be a Mavericks fan. Two years removed from winning the NBA championship, the team's a disappointing 22-29, with its playoff chances dimming with each passing game.
Some might blame Mark Cuban, who dragged the team from the NBA' cellar to its apex before dismantling it following the championship run. But Cuban would like to remind all those people what professional basketball is really about: making life worth living.
[T]o some Mavs fans the Mavs are more than just a game. They are a release. They are a connection to other family members. They are an escape from the realities of a very difficult life. There are fans who love the Mavs because it makes their lives better.There are not many businesses that can begin to have that kind of impact on their customers/fans.
It is this connection that also drives me to make sure that every Mavs game is about far more than basketball. I want to make sure that every time any fan walks into the American Airlines Center they know that they will feel special. They will have a special experience. They will have an emotional connection. They will feel an energy and excitement they can not get anywhere else. They will be able to see a look of joy in their family members. They will know that we respect the financial, emotional and time investment they have made in our Mavs. In a year's time they won't remember the score, or even a single play from the game, but they will remember who they were with and how they felt during the game.
Taken as a whole, Cuban's post is a thoughtful and heartfelt meditation on how much emotion people invest on their professional sports teams, and what it's like to be entrusted with that. This is especially important to keep in mind this season. If nothing else, it'll help numb the stabbing pain you feel in your heart as the Mavs let another one slip away.
