A Season For Reasonable Doubt

 

 

It’s a feeling that I wasn’t expecting. I woke up this morning, and didn’t feel that rush of excitement. The one that I’ve become accustomed to the last 15+ years. Today is Game 3 of the best of seven series for our Dallas Mavericks, and I don’t have that feeling anymore. Just two days ago, all of us associated with the Mavericks were delivered a devastating blow with the news of Rajon Rondo‘s “back injury” and Chandler Parsons required surgery.

 

We have been left with a team that, when it comes to talent, pales in comparison to that of the Houston Rockets. Let the Rockets have their fun, and get dispatched next round. That is fine. It is fine, because we as Mavericks fans, should realize how lucky we have had it over this amazing run. We were given a gift many years ago in an 18-year old German forward. We were blessed with watching “our big 3” in Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley. We’ve had multiple playoff runs, including two NBA Finals visits, with one of them coming to fruition in 2011 when the Mavericks hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy once and for all.

 

So why the bad mood today Ryan?

 

On “Doomsday Tuesday” (what I’m calling it), I drove home listening to ‘Ben and Skin” on 105.3 “The Fan”, and was in a state of disbelief. A 15-minute drive felt like an eternity. I wanted it all to be just a horrible nightmare that I could immediately wake up from. I walked through my front door and continued to do as I usually do. I let the dogs out and fed them. The only problem was that I wasn’t really “present” for all this. I was a ghost of myself, because I just didn’t know how to handle the emotions and feelings that I was dealing with.

 

Then my wife walked in. She had no idea how to handle me as well.

 

What she didn’t understand was the time and energy a MFFL spends on a regular season. All of us associated with the Mavericks fan base have become spoiled. The regular season seems like an eternity, because we all know that we are going to make the playoffs, and that’s when the real fun starts. On that final night of the regular season, we learned that we would face the Houston Rockets, a team that we all felt we matched up well with.

 

That was up until we learned of the injuries associated with Chandler Parsons and Devin Harris. That was okay though. We could fight through it and make a go of it. That was up until Rajon “Playoff  Rondo” Version 2.0 showed up, and essentially quit trying to be a part of this franchise.

 

We now find ourselves in a 0-2 hole this morning, and I lack that excitement that I usually have. Before you rush to judge me, I ask that you look deep into yourselves, and tell me I’m wrong. You have also waited impatiently through the regular season, anticipating the magic that is the NBA Playoffs. You were hoping for one of those magical moments that Dirk Nowitzki has provided over the years. Maybe you were anticipating one of those moments, where your left in absolute shock and amazement, like this one here:

 

 

 

 

So, now what? I will go through my final work day of the week. I will leave and rush home, because the Dallas Mavericks are playing the Houston Rockets in the third game of the best of seven series That is the beauty of sports. That is the reality of being a “true fan” in every sense of the two words. No matter how bad the feeling or the situation your team finds itself in, we as sports fans, and especially MFFL’s (Mavs Fans For Life), will keep coming back for more.

 

I know I’m not the only one who feels this way this today. To call this a lost season would be a disservice to this organization. We are beyond spoiled. We have been given another couple games to watch one of the best players to ever lace up a pair of shoes in Nowitzki. We are fans of the best organization the NBA has to offer. We have an owner who will do anything possible to keep us winning, almost to a fault at times.

 

We are fans of the Dallas Mavericks. We are true MFFL’s. Let’s do what we do best. Get Rowdy. Get Loud. BE PROUD

 

 

Photo Credit: Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports