Wave Goodbye to the Glory Daze

Dallas Mavericks fans everywhere, myself included, rejoiced at the news of the new CBA. Finally, we can watch our reigning champs hang the banner, flaunt their rings, and defend their ever-so-deserving NBA title.

And then...

Well, then...free agency happened.

Caron Butler was the first to go. Caron Butler, the Mavs second leading scorer during the 2011 season. He tore his patellar tendon after 49 games and watched the Mavs win the championship without his help the entire playoffs. Apparently, he doesn't feel like owes the Mavs anything. Off he goes to L.A. in attempt to chase a second ring with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to help him along the way. Butler will be missed. His perimeter defense was stellar, his twenty points per game lifted a significant weight off of Dirk's shoulders, and his overall toughness is feared around the league.

Tyson Chandler was the next. Undoubtedly the best center the Dallas Mavericks have ever had. Without his defense, intensity, and hustle the Mavericks would never have made it past Portland. Though he brought the defense and energy, he still didn't "bring the championship" to Dallas. He was just a more significant piece than others on their roster. With money on his mind, he's off to New York. Sixty million over four years. Wow.

DeSean Stevenson signed with the New Jersey Nets in a one year deal worth around 2.5 million. Not a bad payday for him, especially since the Nets will most likely miss the playoffs. More money and more time off for the previously deemed, "token crazy guy." Though he was vital to the playoff run I truly believe his role is easily replaceable. Therefore, his absence won't necessarily be missed or even noticed.




Speaking of valuable contributors who won't necessarily be missed...Peja Stojakovic decided to retire a champion. Hard to blame him, he will always be known as a sniper that could bury threes from anywhere on the hardwood. He was, and is, a class act that showed up to work every day with the knowledge of his role, and the drive to fulfill it.

J.J. Barea got his big contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He will reportedly make just shy of twenty million over the next four years in Minnesota. It's a bit more difficult to be upset with Barea, though. He was a hard worker that steadily improved for five straight years in Dallas. When all was said and done, he had clearly paid his dues, and earned his right to be considered a World Champion Maverick. I, as most Mavs fans do, wish him the best of luck.


Six free-agents. Five of them gone. There's only one left. Don't worry Dallas, Brian "the Custodian" Cardinal is here to stay! Cardinal resigned with Dallas proving his worth yet again as a class act, blue collar worker, and a loyal teammate. For 1.4 million he is staying around for at least one more year to take charges, bury three pointers, and mop the floor with his pesky defense.

Fortunately, the Mavericks first championship run was unforgettable. The five departing free agents will be missed, perhaps blamed, and even hated by some Mavs fans. However, the banner hanging from the American Airlines Center rafters will remind us to be thankful for their contributions, their work ethic, and the priceless memories of 2011.

No Respect? No Problemo!

HOW MANY POINTS DOES HE NEED TO SCORE TO EARN THE CORRECT PRONUNCIATION OF HIS NAME?

Yes, I meant to have CAPS LOCK enabled for that opening sentence.

Yes, I scream that exact same question at Mark Jackson every single night that he covers a Dallas Mavericks game in the post-season.

No, he hasn't heard me yet.

I am talking about the not-quite 5'10'' Puerto Rican native, Jose Juan Barea.

You may have heard his nickname "the Streakin' Puerto Rican!" But most likely, you've heard him referred to as JJ "Barerra." That is not his name...or a nickname.

I truly believed that after slicing, dicing, and humiliating the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers that people would finally pronounce his last name correctly. For goodness sakes, the Lakers forgot about trying to stop him, they couldn't even slow him down!

He got warmed up in game one of the series with 8 points and 5 assists in just 14 minutes of game time. 

Ron Artest clotheslines JJ Barea in Game 2

Then, in game two, Barea began running circles around the Lakers defenders for an extremely efficient offensive night. He scored 12 points and 4 assists in only 17 minutes. The picture here shows what happened in the seventeenth minute of the game. Ron Artest, winner of this years "Citizenship Award" got so tired of chasing him around that he decided to club the unsuspecting Barea square in the face. What does Barea do? Hits the free throws and then the showers.

In game three, Barea played only 13 minutes. In that little amount of time he added 4 points and 5 assists to the box score. Making him responsible for 14 of his teams points in just 13 minutes of game time.

Andrew Bynum cheap-shot on Barea in Game 4

Lastly, the game four explosion! Andrew Bynum body checks him in mid-air during the game four blowout. Andrew might have got the first shower, but Barea was bathing in glory all week.

Why would Bynum do such a thing? Well maybe it was because Barea was well on his way to a 22 point and 8 assist night in just 28 minutes.

By the way, he outscored every Laker (including Kobe) by at least 5...in a closeout game!

Over the series, he averaged 11.5 points and 5.5 assists with only 17 minutes per game. There's one solid definition of efficiency.

After all that you're still going to call him Barrera?

Look, there is one excuse, and one excuse only, to call him JJ "Barrera."

Antonio Barrera

It is ONLY acceptable if you are comparing him to Antonio Barrera--the Mexican Boxer. The winner of multiple world championships in several different weight classes.

Why is this acceptable? Cause lil' JJ has a heart full of fight and fist-fulls of fury. Even the heavyweights, like Artest and Bynum, can't keep him down.




Now, for those of you who are NOT mispronouncing his name under the one acceptable circumstance, please repeat after me.

BUH-RAY-UH.

Barea.

Now the whole thing, JAY. JAY. BUH-RAY-UH.

That really wasn't hard, was it?

Zuleyka Rivera

And! If his unbelievably efficient pick and roll game isn't earning him proper pronunciation points, what about his girlfriend? You know, Zuleyka Rivera? She's just a former Miss Puerto Rico...and a former Miss Universe!

Clearly, JJ Barea has some serious game both on and off the court.

The little man fears nothing and he takes a beating in the paint like it's his job. Well, I guess it kind of is his job. His other job is taking care of Miss Universe. I'm sure he can do plenty of that now.


You know, now that he and the rest of the Dallas Mavericks are done winning the 2011 NBA Championship.

JJ Barea is a stud. Say it right.