Another miraculous Mavs win is good for the soul
06/03/11 07:47 AM
By ED BARK
OK, let's begin by reloading Jack Buck, Al Michaels and Jesus.
"I don't believe what I just saw!"
"Do you believe in miracles?"
"O ye of little faith."
The lead sentence here was going to be, "They'll get the rings and we've got The Finger," namely Dirk Nowitzki's much-referenced impaired left hand middle digit.
But a second Mavericks miracle finish in their remarkable post-season saved them from almost certain doom in the NBA Finals while putting a big hop in the steps of Dallas, Cleveland and perhaps the nation at large. The Mavs again shoveled themselves out of a grave just when it seemed time to rediscover the first-place Texas Rangers. Game 3 against Miami, on Sunday night in Dallas, will be a magical, maniacal happening, with Sir Galahad and his fellow knights returning to the homeland to hopefully slay the Heat and its three-headed hydra.
ESPN analyst Magic Johnson had it right at halftime when he said, "Dirk has to score at least 15 to 20 points in the second half for Dallas to win." He scored 15, including the last nine.
Magic also admitted, post-game, that he had completely written Dallas off after Miami built a dunk-juiced 15-point lead with just 6 minutes, 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Shades of Game 4 in Oklahoma City, Dallas then went on a seemingly impossible 22-5 run capped by Nowitzki's driving layup past former Dallas high school star Chris Bosh. From 88-73 to a 95-93 final, with help from Jason Terry, who had slumbered for most of the game, and Shawn Marion, who again had excelled.
Magic of course wasn't the only one who had given Dallas up for dead. My impulsive tweets during the game included this gem: "Now they're toyin' with us. Dream done for Mavs. Sad. Only hope would be to sweep Heat all 3 games in Dallas. Ain't gonna happen."
That eventually led to "OMG to the infinite power" as Dallas came all the way back, took the lead, endured a Terry brain freeze on defense, took the lead again and survived a last-second off-balance desperation three-point attempt by Dwyane Wade, who had torched the Mavs for 36 points. What more was there to tweet other than "I will not be a non-believer again."
Once again Dallas had provided the ultimate reality TV drama, a truly unscripted morality play in which the nation's adopted good guys somehow outwitted, outplayed and outlasted the unholy alliance of Wade, Bosh and LeBron James.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones likely will never wear the white hat in the nation's consciousness. But now more than ever, the Mavericks and owner Mark Cuban are viewed as noble Lords of the Ring that each yearns to wear after long years in a post-season moat.
Whatever the outcome, wins like these are priceless keepsakes. Three more and the Mavericks at last will claim the NBA throne. It now seems possible, with Game 3 looming as the next ultimate challenge. Meanwhile, where have you gone, Peja Stojakovich? Mavs nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
REGARDING THE WHEREABOUTS OF DALE HANSEN -- Several readers have asked where he was during Thursday's pre- and post-game Mavericks coverage on WFAA8. Those who stayed up late Tuesday night heard Hansen inform viewers that he'd be heading to a 45-year reunion in Iowa and would miss Game 2. But he's scheduled to be back for Sunday's Game 3.
News anchor Gloria Campos instead joined sports anchor/reporter Joe Trahan in Miami. She's a Mav fan, but charitably put, Campos is not a sports reporter. And it showed, although not to the point of being a total turn-off. Still, WFAA8 should have put sports reporter Ted Madden alongside Trahan for the late nighter. He also was in Miami as part of the station's mini-task force, but didn't get enough to do.
The comedy stylings of The Ticket's Gordon Keith also were on display during WFAA8's pre-game show. And Gordo invariably delivers the goods, particularly when in the company of a mondo bizarro Miami dude who wore a Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders outfit while Keith provided deadpan reactions to his ramblings.