First of all, I hope everyone had a great holiday and and happy new year. 

If you've seen the news, and Wes alluded to it in his morning round up, Mark Cuban has put the NFL on blast for scheduling the Cowboys v. Eagles game on Saturday night directly against the Mavericks home game against the Jazz.   As Cubes put its, "I know we're [small potatoes] compared to the NFL, but seriously, the NFL is turning into the ugly American when it comes to sports leagues," Cuban said before Tuesday's game against Detroit. "They don't [care] about anybody but themselves. There's not much I can do, obviously, in terms of the schedule."

Does the NFL owe it to other sports to schedule around them, or as the dominant sport on the landscape, do other sports have to grin and bear it when the NFL strolls in and takes the comfy seat?   More importantly, in a city like Dallas where it's the Cowboys first and everyone else next, does the NFL have a responsibility to not "steal fans" from attending other sporting events in the city?

I guess I could argue both points here, and that's why I'm putting out to you MMB readers.

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...and it was guest hosted by our very own Mark Cuban.   Full disclosure, I've been a pro wrestling fan since I was a kid, and unlike most interests I had back then, this one hasn't waned.   Needless to say, I was locked in to my television last night.

Cuban got to spend the evening doing what Cuban does best, and that was pander to a crowd and act the fool.  He basically spent his evening getting crowd reaction by channeling his inner Chris Arnold. "Are there any Dallas Mavericks fans in the house tonight?" 

He also spent his time interacting with wrestlers.  Slapping hands, trading barbs and such.  Strange...Mark Cuban doesn't seem the type who might interact with the stars of the show...right?

More after the jump...

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I had written this post yesterday afternoon, but when I tried to post it, the site went down. I'm not sure if that was someone else's fault, or if it was mine. I'll never do "Cat Fancy" again. So...I'm going to add my own revisions within the text based on last night's game.

I can remember almost 2 years ago when I saw the panicky move by the Mavericks of shipping what I figured what the future of the team for the 10 year older version of a point guard who wasn't happy in Dallas before hand. . I facepalmed like a champ that day.

That's right, I'm talking about the Jason Kidd for Devin Harris swap that everyone either lauded or felt their collective sphincters tighten about. More specifically, the Devin Harris + Trenton Hassell + Mo Ager + DeSagana Diop + Keith VanHorn's contract + first rounders in 2008 and 2010 + cash for Jason Kidd + Antoine Wright + Malik Allen.

Yup, I was one of the people who claimed that Donnie had lost it, Cuban still thought it was 2006 and it was going to be the straw that broke Avery's back. (1 for 3 ain't bad). Well, tonight the Mavs visit a winless New Jersey team and maybe I'll be reminded why I guest post for a blog instead of sit in meetings with Donnie, Cuban and Carlisle.

More after the jump (pronounced "yump"...it's a soft "j")

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So, it happened yesterday, a few days earlier than expected.  Reunion Arena, former home of the Dallas Mavericks came crashing down in a heap of dust and twisted metal.

I didn't think I'd be as sad as I am knowing that Reunion is gone.  I wasn't bothered by Arlington Stadium or what will happen to Texas Stadium, but something about Reunion is different.   This was the place where my love of basketball began and my fascination with the Dallas Mavericks was kindled.

My Top 10 Mavericks Memories from Reunion Arena (I say memories because they're not all specific events)...in no particular order

1) Kevin McCarthy's PA ways.  I wasn't a fan of Humble Billy.  I don't think PA guys need to be over the top (or DJ's in the case of Miami).   McCarthy was understated and classy.  I always liked that.

2) Barely any luxury suites.  It never really dawned on me when I would go there, after all, I was a kid.  However, looking back, this made it much more "college-like" in the fan intensity...I'm not sure that makes sense, but I think you guys know what I'm talking about.

3)  The Triple J era.  Remember 1994?   Tonya Harding busted what's her name in the knee and made a sex tape about it (check my facts).   The Menendez brothers killed their parents with OJ's bloody Bruno Magli shoes.  I was captivated by the X-Men cartoon and the three core players on the Mavericks: Jason Kidd v 1.0, Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn.  Remember? The year before kid was the 13 win year and then this rookie showed up and was a triple double machine.  Then Jim Jackson had sex with Toni Braxton and effed the whole thing up.  Damn you, Toni Braxton. 

4) The sheer volume level.  What I remember about Reunion is that it didn't really need all the lights, sound, smoke and lasers to make it home field.  The Rowdies (where I credit "Rowdy, Proud, and Loud") made that place damn near uncomfortable to play for visitors.  In that 1988 WCF against the Lakers, CBS apparently measured the game 6 volume at 121 decibels.

5) Now that I mention it, the entire 1988 season.   Roy Tarpley was THE 6th man.  Aguirre and Donaldson made the All-Star team.  All together just kick ass before running into Show Time.

Rest after the jump...

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So, last night's game sure was something to see, was it not?   Dirk went from a poor shooting night, something like 5 for 12 in the first three quarters to, what Wes rightfully refer to as, the most dominating 4th quarter we'll see by any player this season.

It's been 4 games for the Mavs, and they've managed to go 3-1 while hovering around the 40% shooting mark.  For a team that's embodied the "live by the jump shot, die by the jump shot" mentality, it's certainly got my eyebrows resting comfortably on the crown of my skull.

It's a knee jerk, but what does Dirk's game last night tell us about him this year.

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The season starts tonight against the Bullets Wizards, so I'm a little late (or right on time, in my opinion) in getting this preview in.  Phillip's already broken down tonight's game, so you can take a look at that.  Consider this the high level view from my couch...

As per Sports Illustrated's preview, I've taken their projected Mavericks starting line-up...

Point Guard - Jason Kidd

I'm not really sure what it says about your team when the entire offseason hinged on re-signing a 36 year old PG with bad knees.  I was against the Harris for Kidd move, and I still am.  However, I will give you that Jason Kidd does seem re-juvenated in Dallas and he runs the floor better than anyone else.  The team loves him and the players demanded that he return.  Personally, I'm not high on Kidd, but I also realize that the Mavericks can do (and have done) a whole lot worse.  Don't forget, Kidd's a slow, defensive liability..that won't work in a Western conference that's chock full of explosive point guards.  Only having a good first step is bunk when you've got to deal with other PG's fifth and sixth steps.

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And that's me...

As you may have seen below in his introductory, my buddy, Big and I were asked to contribute some stuff to MavsMoneyBall this season.  I was floored by this request and can say that I can only hope we can keep pace with Wes and Phillip. 

A little on me.  

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