DONUT 1: My Money-Back Non-Guarantee Guarantee ...
This is about a 13-year-long phenomenon of our work here at DallasBasketball.com, and something I weigh and consider and think about constantly.
DB.com presently has up three important exclusive stories with major implications:
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Deron Williams and "The Pitch''
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The to-the-penny-accurate offer that the Nets can make to Deron compared to what Dallas can offer
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How Lamar Odom can be used as a trade chip - a chip we call "L.O.A.F.''
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And now, the scoop on Dallas' thoughts on presenting an offer sheet to Roy Hibbert
In these stories, and thousands like them, we present every detail we have. We try to cover all the upsides and the downsides. Because of the emotion involved -- because hey, we're all fans! -- our stories about what the Mavs might do or wish to do repeatedly mention the unlikely nature of some of it. (I've typed the word "pipedream'' countless times.)
But the stories are as accurate and factual as we can make them ... complete with our attempts to be transparent about the "different hats'' we wear due to my involvement as a beat writer, a team broadcaster, a columnist, a fan, a friend, whatever.
DONUT 2: And then ...
And then ... maybe because I did a subpar job in explaining the difference between "possible'' and "probable,'' or maybe because some of us excitely interpret things as we wish ... in the case of Deron ...
a) some Mavs fans will assume Dallas IS getting Deron.
b) some Mavs fans will think me a propagandist homer BS'er because 'there is no way we could EVER get him!'
c) some Mavs fans will want to roast me when "Fish got our hopes up'' only to see Deron land elsewhere.
d) some Mavs fans will say Donnie/Cuban should be drawn-and-quartered in Victory Plaza for not getting Deron.
But what am I to do?
So I write my stories and I always include some cautionary sentence ... and the Mavs fans does with the information what he will.
That's my Money-Back Non-Guarantee Guarantee to you. (I'd given you that DeMarcus Ware dollar if I could. But you'll have to ask him nicely.) Not that Dallas will necessarily be wildly successful in its pursuit of another title, but that we'll be insanely complete in our pursuit of information regarding their pursuit.
Deal?
DONUT 3: Dirk as "The Tambourine Man'' ...
Dirk tweets that he "had a blast'' at this weekend's Avett Brothers concert in DFW. And now we get a chance to see why:
"I Killed Sally's Lover" is the tune. Good, but it needs more tambourine.
DONUT 4: The Duncan Separation ...
I've always had the theory that one of the reasons some NBA big men don't seem very inspired (pick a Mavs center over the years, any Mavs center) is that they are playing the game for a lesser reason.
The No. 1 reason to play the game? For the love of it. But what was the path that guided some of these fellas to the professional pinnacle?
When they were 10 years old, they were already 6-2. And somebody shoved a basketball in their paws and ordered them to go play center.
And maybe this is what separates Tim Duncan (and I would argue, Dirk Nowitzki, too) from the pack.
Duncan didn't play sports as an escape from his neighborhood. He choose basketball when remaining a competitive swimmer might've done just as well with him. It was his choice ... he wasn't (and isn't) a great leaper, so he developed a fundamental game via hard work rather than the so-called "God-given'' stuff.
And here Duncan is still, competing against some centers who are centers only because they were tall children.
DONUT 5: Did you watch "Game of Thrones''? ...
I didn't. Never have. And still Chuck Perry's column on how "Games of Thrones'' could be re-cast featuring the Mavs as the characters is a clever laugh riot.
DONUT 6: The Margarita Capital of Texas! ...
When you're in the neighborhood -- and what a fun neighborhood it is! -- come see the gang at Esparza's in Grapevine! The Margarita Capital of Texas and proud partners of DB.com now celebrating its 27th anniversary!
DONUT 7: The Lotto Fix...
It's an absurd notion, but that didn't stop Yahoo from writing a story insisting that the Lotto was fixed.
Please, y'all, think about this.
If the NBA fixes this, and somebody inside the league or even inside the media knows, why not break the most important scandal in American sports history? We're talking jail time for David Stern here. Why sit on that story?
New Orleans gets the first pick because the league owns the team? Because the new owner insisted on the pick as part of his deal? A billion-dollar industry is going to risk it all so Anthony Davis is a Hornet? Really?
Wouldn't it have been easier to "conspire'' to give the top pick to the equally needy Bobcats? Wouldn't it benefit the league more to giftwrap the No. 1 pick to Brooklyn?
Stern's smugness on so many issues earns him some level of suspicion in some areas.
But not here.
DONUT 8: Catch the Mavs and the DB.com Staff on Twitter! ...
DONUT 9: KG Watch ...
When you watch Kevin Garnett do his work for the Celtics, allow at least one of your eyes to do so while trying to visualize him in a Dallas uniform.
Why?
Because that's what some Mavs eyeballs are doing.
DONUT 10: Our coverage of DeronQuest ...
I think it's important for the Mavs fan and DB.com reader to understand context. So when you read our latest exclusive on the Mavs pursuit of Deron Williams
(see it here) do understand that the steps of "The Pitch'' detailed in the story are in no way complete. In fact, our story points out that Dallas hasn't yet pieced together the logistics of the approach as they don't yet even know if Deron will be in Dallas or in NY/NJ or in San Diego when July 1 rolls around.
But we're bringing you the information as we gather it. And that piece on "The Pitch'' is really only just the beginning.
DONUT 11: Who needs tickets? ...
My guy Ryan at MavCowTickets knows the ins and outs of the Mavs, the Cowboys, the Rangers, the arenas, the opponents ... the works! For the most personal service in the business -- with no stupid add-on costs -- check him out and tell him The Fish sent you!
DONUT 12: The Final Word ...
Miami coach Spoelstra opens up his Sunday night presser following a Boston OT win that ties the series and says, "No one said this was gonna be easy.''
Wrong. Your best player did. He Predicted eight rings. Remember?
Friend of the Mavs and DB.com "Flamethrower'' Pat Reeves is battling cancer. Please consider a donation -- no matter how big or small -- to help her with her visits for treatment.
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