The Dallas Mavericks blew a 2-0 series lead to the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals, something that has haunted the team's seven-foot superstar ever since.
Five years later, an even more formidable Miami Heat team stood in his way, with two of the three best basketball players on the planet in LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
And he outplayed them both.
Miami was the better team in the first five games of the series. The reason Dallas was able to hang on was pure toughness in the 4th quarter, with Dirk averaging more than 10 points per game in the final period. And after starting 1 for 12 from the field in Game 6, he depleted whatever fight the Heat had left by hitting his impossible shots down the stretch.
Charles Barkley and countless other NBA analysts have called Nowitzki "unguardable." But the term didn't really resonate until this postseason. He led the Mavericks to a 16-5 record against the Blazers, Lakers, Thunder and Heat. Let that number sink in for a second. 16-5.
Even with all the stars on the court Sunday night, there was no question who the best player was in the playoffs: Dirk Nowitzki.
Now that he adds an NBA championship and Finals MVP to a regular season MVP and 11-straight 50-win seasons, where does that put him on the list of all-time greats? Jeff Van Gundy proclaimed Dirk one of the 10 best even before Dallas won the conference title.
Doesn't sound so crazy now, does it?
Also, congratulations to Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, the best in professional sports and one of my favorite public figures.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Movie Review: The Hangover Part II
I delayed posting my thoughts on one of the summer's most anticipated sequels because I didn't want to alter anyone's mindset going in.
Two years ago, I strutted out of the theater with ICEE in hand after seeing one of the funniest movies ever made. I didn't expect this one to top or even equal the first, but it didn't even come close.
The film's producers rushed this in order to take advantage of the hype created in 2009. Mission accomplished. It's made over $338 million worldwide just 2 weeks after its release. That's an amazing total for a comedy that takes place in Thailand with few action sequences and no superheroes.
But this was a pathetic attempt on the filmmaking front. The same premise was used, almost bit by bit, and it just wasn't that funny. What made the first one so classic was all the great one-liners throughout. Each line hit. The comedy never stopped, especially after repeating many of those lines to this day. In Part II, there is about 25% of the humor the first one had, and that's a generous estimate.
I can't blame the actors. The failure of this movie comes mostly from the writing. Completely uninspired. But Zach Galifianakis delivered as always. The couple lines I really laughed at obviously came from him. Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms weren't great, but that's because of the garbage material they were given.
Because of Galifianakis and an awesome monkey, I will not give this the grade it probably deserves. But it isn't one the worst comedies I've ever seen, it just should have been so much better.
Grade: C-
Check out the first one on Blu-ray:
Two years ago, I strutted out of the theater with ICEE in hand after seeing one of the funniest movies ever made. I didn't expect this one to top or even equal the first, but it didn't even come close.
The film's producers rushed this in order to take advantage of the hype created in 2009. Mission accomplished. It's made over $338 million worldwide just 2 weeks after its release. That's an amazing total for a comedy that takes place in Thailand with few action sequences and no superheroes.
But this was a pathetic attempt on the filmmaking front. The same premise was used, almost bit by bit, and it just wasn't that funny. What made the first one so classic was all the great one-liners throughout. Each line hit. The comedy never stopped, especially after repeating many of those lines to this day. In Part II, there is about 25% of the humor the first one had, and that's a generous estimate.
I can't blame the actors. The failure of this movie comes mostly from the writing. Completely uninspired. But Zach Galifianakis delivered as always. The couple lines I really laughed at obviously came from him. Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms weren't great, but that's because of the garbage material they were given.
Because of Galifianakis and an awesome monkey, I will not give this the grade it probably deserves. But it isn't one the worst comedies I've ever seen, it just should have been so much better.
Grade: C-
Check out the first one on Blu-ray:
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton steps Down
It's about time the UT AD stepped down.
Hamilton wasn't all bad. He raised a lot of money for the school and upgraded the sports facilities.
However, he basically embarrassed one of the winningest Division-I football coaches, Phillip Fulmer, the way he forced him out to make way for...Lane Kiffin, his fatal flaw.
Plus, he led the department while all of the men's basketball infractions took place. Even if he wasn't aware, it's his job to know what's going on.
Add that to another failed baseball coach and very little success from the major men's sports, and he should be gone.
Good riddance.
Hamilton wasn't all bad. He raised a lot of money for the school and upgraded the sports facilities.
However, he basically embarrassed one of the winningest Division-I football coaches, Phillip Fulmer, the way he forced him out to make way for...Lane Kiffin, his fatal flaw.
Plus, he led the department while all of the men's basketball infractions took place. Even if he wasn't aware, it's his job to know what's going on.
Add that to another failed baseball coach and very little success from the major men's sports, and he should be gone.
Good riddance.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
NBA Finals Preview: Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat
"I'm going to take my talents to South Beach." -LeBron James
The Decision was announced last July, and King James followed through. Now he has the Miami Heat in position to win its first NBA championship since 2006.
El Heat is 8-0 at home this postseason and have only dropped one game each series, eliminating defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics and the top-seeded Chicago Bulls along the way.
But most people expected this to happen, including myself. After LeBron and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in Miami, I predicted they would win four out of the next five titles. Long way to go but a promising start.
The real surprise in the playoffs has been the Dallas Mavericks, winning 10 out of its last 11 and sweeping the two-time-defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.
The reason: Dirk Nowitzki
Everyone knew he was a great player, but his team's regular season success never translated to championships. His best chance was blown after taking a 2-0 lead against Miami in 2006.
Dirk has been unstoppable. The Heat don't really have anyone to guard him. The Mavs' biggest question mark is who else is going to step up. Miami is the best defensive team they will have faced.
Plus, the Oklahoma City Thunder had Dallas against the ropes three times in the Western Finals and just couldn't close. The Heat aren't known for winning close games, but they have the talent to prevent them.
And when you have the best athlete on the planet, things just seem to fall in place. The Big 3 will begin its dynasty now.
Heat over Mavericks in 6 games
The Decision was announced last July, and King James followed through. Now he has the Miami Heat in position to win its first NBA championship since 2006.
El Heat is 8-0 at home this postseason and have only dropped one game each series, eliminating defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics and the top-seeded Chicago Bulls along the way.
But most people expected this to happen, including myself. After LeBron and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in Miami, I predicted they would win four out of the next five titles. Long way to go but a promising start.
The real surprise in the playoffs has been the Dallas Mavericks, winning 10 out of its last 11 and sweeping the two-time-defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.
The reason: Dirk Nowitzki
Everyone knew he was a great player, but his team's regular season success never translated to championships. His best chance was blown after taking a 2-0 lead against Miami in 2006.
Dirk has been unstoppable. The Heat don't really have anyone to guard him. The Mavs' biggest question mark is who else is going to step up. Miami is the best defensive team they will have faced.
Plus, the Oklahoma City Thunder had Dallas against the ropes three times in the Western Finals and just couldn't close. The Heat aren't known for winning close games, but they have the talent to prevent them.
And when you have the best athlete on the planet, things just seem to fall in place. The Big 3 will begin its dynasty now.
Heat over Mavericks in 6 games
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Barcelona Dominates Man U in Champions League Final
Barcelona FC is the best football club on the planet. They proved it again with a 3-1 result over Manchester United to claim the side's second UEFA Champions League title in the last three years.
Pedro got the scoring underway in the 27th minute with a clinical near-post finish.
After Rooney's equalizer seven minutes later, Barca continued to control possession. They went into halftime with 67%.
The second half was owned by the Spanish club from start to finish. It began with World Player of the Year Lio Messi's goal against a lax Man U defense in the 54th minute. David Villa bent one into the corner 15 minutes later to stretch out the lead.
Man U never regained composure. Besides a couple late chances, the EPL champions didn't really threaten in the final 45. The English side was the aggressor early on but let Barca settle in without putting them into an early hole. Spain's La Liga champs created chances at will for essentially the entire second half.
With another first-class demonstration of being superior to all other clubs, it makes me wonder where they would rank on the all-time list. I've never seen a better side. It's basically Spain's World Cup championship team plus the world's best player. Best club team ever? I think so.
Happy Trails to Man U GK Edwin van der Sar who played his final club match at Wembley Stadium today.
And good to see D Carles Puyol take the pitch in the final minutes. The Spanish national team captain is regular Barca starter in the back four but sat out because of injury.
Pedro got the scoring underway in the 27th minute with a clinical near-post finish.
After Rooney's equalizer seven minutes later, Barca continued to control possession. They went into halftime with 67%.
The second half was owned by the Spanish club from start to finish. It began with World Player of the Year Lio Messi's goal against a lax Man U defense in the 54th minute. David Villa bent one into the corner 15 minutes later to stretch out the lead.
Man U never regained composure. Besides a couple late chances, the EPL champions didn't really threaten in the final 45. The English side was the aggressor early on but let Barca settle in without putting them into an early hole. Spain's La Liga champs created chances at will for essentially the entire second half.
With another first-class demonstration of being superior to all other clubs, it makes me wonder where they would rank on the all-time list. I've never seen a better side. It's basically Spain's World Cup championship team plus the world's best player. Best club team ever? I think so.
Happy Trails to Man U GK Edwin van der Sar who played his final club match at Wembley Stadium today.
And good to see D Carles Puyol take the pitch in the final minutes. The Spanish national team captain is regular Barca starter in the back four but sat out because of injury.
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