An Inspiration

(YMCA)- Sometimes in life we take things for granted. So today, I'd like to take a different perspective on things. I was forwarded the story by a reader about a young man who you can find every Monday playing with the big boys at the YMCA. This young man is an inspiration. Overcoming a childhood environment saturated with drugs, alcohol, and general psychotic behavior, this young man lets go of all his worry every Monday with a few games of pickup basketball. His father was an alcoholic who often dabbled with narcotics while his mother suffered from general psyhcosis. She often would miss exits while driving and blame people irrationally for her own mistakes. Growing up in such an environment was tough. But after his father died, likely from a violent overdose of methamphetamines, he decided he was going to make something of himself.

Just one problem....the young man was dislexic.

And blind.

Steadfast, he remained determined. And while the rest of the fully functioning athletes at the downtown basketball gymnasium treated him with ridicule and disdain, he remained confident in his abilities. Then 2 days ago happened. He hit 4 threes. In a row.

Its not everyday that a writer can be reduced to tears by a simple email. But sometimes, things are just designed to touch you way deep down.

Mavs Add Tim Thomas

Tehran, Iran- As the protests wage on and bullets fly, Mavericks General Manager Donn Nelson, back from his 3 week gambling binge in Las Vegas, is hard at work. From his tiny cramped office, he peers out of a small window covered with iron grating. As he looks at the tree lined hillside, basketball is on his mind. He seems to be unaware of the the mayhem on the streets below. This is the life of a General Manager in the NBA.

"Versatitliy...no no! God Damnit we need a specialist," Mr. Nelson yells to no one imparticular. He turns abruptly towards a small artisan's desk smashed up against the wall. Perched atop it it is a stack of books. Seemingly forgetting Matt Carroll, Mr.Nelson thumbs through a 1997 media guide when he spots the name of a young playmaker out of Villanova by the name of Tim Thomas. Known for his athleticism and overall skill, Thomas is a 2 way player so good he was traded for the legendary forward Keith Van Horn not once, but twice. Donn forgets the notion of adding a specialist and instincively decides to swing for the fences.

"Get Bob Meyers on the phone," Nelson shouts. He forgets he doesn't have a secretary for a moment. Details. One look at Nelson's 3 day old beard and his tired, steel blue eyes tells a story of a tough life, one saturated with the basketball focus that is required to forge a successful NBA NBA team.

"Operator, get me Meyers now!" Donn yells into an open stapler which needs refilling. Realizing the urgency of the situation, I hand him the reciever of a nearby phone, interjecting "That isn't a phone." Finally Nelson starts out "Meyers, buddy, how's Tim doing these days?" Apparently satisifed with the response, Nelson offers him a max contract over 9 years. "What I can't do that?" Nelson is dismayed. He knows that he will likely get outbid by the Lakers at this point.

"Listen, Bob, I'll give him the full Mid Level Exception. Dallas is a great place Bob. Ever been to Highland Park? They don't have places like that in L.A." Ironically, Nelson's pleas fall on deaf ears, much like the protests outside. This wasn't Meyer's first rodeo. He had the player and he was going to play hardball. Citing NBA rules, Mr. Meyers told Donn that he could only offer him a very small contract centered around what is left of the Maverick's mostly spent MLE. Nelson relents, realizing that to add a star you have to make sacrifices.

Tim Thomas was now a Maverick. His work done, Mr. Nelson walked outside in search of a casino, a cockfight, a horse race... anything. Caught up in the swell of protesters, Nelson mistakes the passion of the protestor's as joy over the Tim Thomas deal before he remembers. It would be at least a few hours until this one hit the presses.

Mavs Lose Sonny Weems Sweepstakes

West Memphis-

Traversing the Western shore of Memphis, one can become easily distracted by sun tan oil and bikinis. But if you look past the exterior and delve into the substance beyond the glitz and glamour, you might just find something worth remembering: Sonny Weems. Long bandied about by locals and onlookers alike, Weems stands at an imposing 6 foot 6 inches tall, well above average amongst Western Memphisites. From early on, it was clear that Weems had something different, something special. Once invited to the Portsmouth Invitational Basketball Tournament, Weems averaged almost 20 points per game in highschool. Gifted by God with an array of athleticism and skill that could not be stopped, a legend was born.

A worn man in a red flannel shirt sits on a porch outside a small bait shop, his chair gently rocking, recalling the feat etched permanently in his memory. "He just rose up, laid the ball of the square and," he pauses as his gray beard sways in the ocean breeze, unphased by the man's emotion, "...and he touched the backboard at the same time the ball went in." The man still shakes his head in disbelief as he recalls the history that was made that fateful night. It was June 26th, 2005 at the Tennesee Class 5A championship. While less gifted kids focused their time on the Memphis pastimes of surfing and skateboarding, Weems was creating history. "Tapping" was born. A trip to a local gymnasium later that day confirmed my suspicion. Weighted shoes, squat thrusts...the gym is littered with a dream. Little kids pracitce on the five foot tall basket while the adults jump earnestly, outstretching their hands yet coming up short of the real backboard. Clearly, Weems was special.

What happens to the basketball player who seemingly has achieved it all? Junior College in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Plying his trade for the Lions, Weems routinely touched the backboard while laying the ball in. Sometimes he did this up to ten times per game. Impressed with his incredible leaping ability and intrigued by lucrative marketing opportunities, the Milwaukee Bucks from the NBA recently traded a blossoming star in Malik Allen to Fort Smith, who were forced to part with Weems because of the struggling economy and inability to legally pay their players.

As news broke around the basketball league of the move, the question most often asked by anonymous front office executives, but never answered, was where was Donn Nelson? From Analysts Ric Bucher to Marc Stein, the outlook for Nelson's Mavericks appeared bleak, but Weems could've changed all of that. Instead though, as Nelson spent weeks in dark, smokey Vegas gambling halls succumbing to his nasty habit, the Bucks were out in the real world, making moves. While the outlook for the Mavs remains dreary, the forecast in Milwaukee is "Sonny".

Antoine Walker fails at gambling

Another Mavs failure...

Former Dallas Mavericks forward Antoine Walker, a nightly triple double threat before coming to Dallas, has been arrested for his Las Vegas gambling debts. Once and for all this proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Mavs overpaid Walker, who somehow thought his money would never run out and he could just keep gambling.

Maybe he has been taking money management advice from Mavs owner Mark Cuban, who was just indicted today for stealing a website through fiduciary tactics: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4336200

Typical

Just Checked real GM and no moves....typical Mavericks.

Meanwhile David Kahn of the T-Wolves is in Spain getting stuff done AS WE SPEAK.

Mavs offseason so far

First off, Welcome to my blog! I am the number one Mavs fan on the planet and if you follow my blog you will see just why!


Lets go over the moves for the 2009 offseason so far:




#1: Drafting BJ Mullens






This is the one move I like. Before the draft I was afraid they were going to draft another white French guy by the name of Roderick Beaubois, but thank goodness they took a talented black Center from Ohio State instead. He has all of the tools and athleticism to thrive in the NBA, much like Greg Oden has for the Blazers. Roderick has struggled in summer league and proven to be injury prone, while Mullens has played in every game. Just look at the inside presence of Mullens there on the picture to your left. No wonder the Buckeyes had such a nice season last year.










#2: Resigning Jason Kidd


Kidd may be a flashy superstar name to acquire in the offseason, but the Mavs again fail to address the basketball IQ of the team. Add to Josh Howard this behind the back passing/alley oop throwing malcontent and just see what happens. We need a solid veteran like Tyronne Lue if we are going to make any noise this season.




#3: Signing Marcin Gortat to an offer sheet for the MLE (mid level exception).



What are these guys thinking. Another 4 points per game white Euro stiff. Didn't we get enough of this with Loren Meyer. Not only that, but we gave him 5 years instead of 4. This makes a huge difference, obviously.


Then they got absolutely taken by the genius of Magic general manager Otis Smith who matched the offer sheet signed by Donn Nelson. The Magic prove again to the Mavericks that brains win out over money. They now have a great backup center and solid power forward to go along with stalwart inside post player Dwight Howard. Gortat clearly has skills that the Mavericks need and they will sorely need to find a viable center like Aaron Gray or Troy Murphy if they want to compete.



#4: Signing Shawn Marion


Again, they have a quality power forward in Jerry Stackhouse that they waive for no good reason and sign this guy. As if we needed more midrange jumpshooting. This guy has never done anything in his career and the only reason he has put up career averages of 18 points per game and 10 mostly defensive rebounds is because he can jump really high. He will get manhandled down low and will have a tough time keeping up with the quick moving Von Wafer's of the world. Because of a glut at the shooting guard position, Marion will likely slide down to Small Forward, where he is clearly too small to keep them away from the rim. Another


#5: Releasing Brandon Bass to the Magic











Why would we let go of the only guy with the length and athleticism to compete down low in the Eastern Conference? My goodness. We were offering him 4 years and he wanted 5. I would've given him 6 because it doesn't matter how many years you give someone a contract since they are non guaranteed anyway. What a waste of a tremendous asset. While undersized, his tenacity and 3 point shooting ability will be sorely missed and Donn Nelson should seriously have his job questioned for such a terrible decision.

#6: Signing Lamar Odom


We already have a Center in Gortat, DONNIE. COME ON. What a waste of the bi-annual exception.



In conclusion, this team has had a dissapointing offseason so far. They likely will only win 55-60 games this year and I'm not going to lie, I'd be surpised if they even get to the Finals. I can't wait until this season starts! and then is over. Because then maybe we can finally start our long awaited rebuilding process by trading away Dirk. I don't know about you but I've had just about enough of watching him shoot 15 footers. Everyone knows that you have to score inside buddy.


Go Mavs!