IronMan4

Sorry. UNTLifer was right, you came across wrong. Could have worded it a little bit differently and got the point across. Duh. <_

That is truly pathetic. See you when the weather is clear and fair.

I haven't got to see much of the Mavs this season. I used to watch every game no matter what. But I did listen to regulation of the Knicks game on the radio, watch the OT on TV and I watched the Sixers game on TV last night, so I feel like I can comment now. The Mavs have blown leads in the last two games, here are some points about that. 1) EVERY NBA team has a run in them. Watch any team play any other team, and there is always a comeback. The rare games are not the come from behind victories anymore, it's the hold a team down the whole game without a breath of life. No team has enough defense and scoring to do that anymore, not even the Spurs. 2) Two main reasons for the last two blown leads: KILLER guards. I have been saying for years the Mavs biggest weakness is NOT the center position, but perimeter defense. That's why I absolutely love Josh Howard on this team. For as hard as Finley and Nash play, and they can buckle down and play D sometimes, it is just not in their nature to play lockdown defense. With that being said, Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury are as good as they come in the small guard position. Either guy can create his own shot, nail it, or drive. They also got help from big time downtown shooters Allan Houston and Kyle Korver. 3) The Mavs did hold on both times. It could be worse, they could have lost. I heard a rumor from Portland that the Mavs would trade Finley, Jamison, and Najera for Rasheed Wallace. Wallace is very talented, but I think Portland is living in a fantasy world with that trade. I don't think you trade three class, model citizen guys for Wallace straight up anytime. Najera is part of the glue of this team anyway even though he has been hurt. I wouldn't be suprised if Finley goes or Wallace comes in, but that trade would change the makeup of this team so drastically, there is no way they could overcome it. They still haven't overcome what they did a week before the season started. Dirk needs to step up. He could be a top 3 or 5 player in the league. But he isn't. He really needs to grow some balls, get cocky, and take games over. My only complaint with Nelson is I would like to see Jamison start and get more playing time. I really like him and think he could help a lot more than he does. I realize all the talent ahead of him but I think he is one of those guys that will produce as long as he is out there, solid. Other than that, I don't want to run Nellie off like everyone else right now.

Just to warn you, they wouldn't let me put signs on the rails last year. Of course they let NMSU put their flag and a sign, but just be prepared.

I wish the AD would do that stuff Zeke. I just want to plan some things that we can do as a grassroots thing with the fans such as the chants and signs. Talking up the team and especially Johnson in classes and with friends to Paul Bunyan-esque stature will get some people out just to see if he is as good as we say he is. As much as I love the ideas with the movies on the screen and the kids area in the concourse, it ain't gonna happen. It is clear the AD is happy with the way things are because not a dang thing has changed in years. We are gonna have to do stuff on our own. What are some ideas we the fans can put into action?

Things have gotten bad fans. The last two games especially when there was no band and hardly any cheerleaders. Things have got to change if this team is to have a home court advantage. The NMSU game last night was almost like a home game for NMSU - not because they had more fans- but because they had a large loud following right behind their bench and the NT fans didn't have much to cheer for in the final period. That will be the last time another team comes in and has a good time like that in the Super Pit. I admit, I have quieted down a ton at games. I used to stand on the front row and heckle everyone not in green and cheer the team on with all my voice. Then I was moved out of my spot because Talons informed me it was a "Talons only section" and since then I have moved away from the court and sat for most of the game. It is time that I go back to the front row and make things a little more annoying for the other team. NMSU had it way too easy. Obviously, I can't do it by myself, so we need to brainstorm for ANYTHING that can be done to make the Super Pit more rowdy. I have come to realize the athletic department seems content with the atmosphere as is, and would rather play the 10+ year old original Jock Jams song than do anything to promote a great atmosphere. CaraBear and I thought for a little bit, and all we have come up with is specific recurring cheers. We need a short chant we do after every Mean Green 3 pointer. I thought after Shawnson Johnson gets a block or a bucket we could chant "He owwwwwwwns you" and heckle whoever has the misfortune of guarding him. It may get in his head a little, it may not, but the atmosphere needs to change at the Super Pit now. What are some ideas yall have? I will try my hardest to be at tailgating this week. I am looking forward to your replies, and lets get together and organized on this stuff so that the next game we can make our presence felt.

Not only does he block shots, he makes spectacular blocks. The rejection on the poor guy going up for the two handed slam was downright nasty. This is a different team with him out there. Our weakness before (inside muscle) is now our strength thanks to one player. He is that good.

Shake dem haters off Quincy.

Yeah, I think lack of readers will keep me from getting a Harry for my first post. It will emerge as a dark horse in at least one category, just wait and see. So what have we got here, a cat, dog, dancers and RV in a riveting game of 21? Loser has to sweep the floors after halftime with that janitor with the Trilli-esque hair while Space Jam bumps the arena?

Yeah I forgot about that. It can't be too tough to re-cord that part. Just hire someone to aggresively read the numerical roster. How about a game of knockout with prominent members of the university? We are cooking now. One great thing about halftime that I hope they never take away is the dancers. I think I speak for everyone in saying that. Maybe the dancers could play a game of 21 after their dance.

After two seasons of hearing Space Jam at least twice a game, they finally toned it down for a while...then Zeke makes it into town for a game and they break it back out. Just like old times huh? They seriously need to stop playing that song in the Super Pit, and it wouldn't break my heart if I don't hear "Respect" again from the band. Every football game and every basketball game of annoying girls belting out the first line to that song is as close a thing to a living hell there is at North Texas sporting events. Annoying white girls trying to sing Aretha = annoying white boys thinking they can rap. "WHAT YOU WANT..." Really, it's that bad. Actually now when I hear the first few notes to that song I instinctevely cover my ears for 10 seconds. I know you are being sarcastic, but while I am in venting about the poor atmosphere during the basketball games, I might as well share some thoughts on these things. The thing with the kids is old, they need to do it a few times a year, and it would be cute but it loses it fun after the 59th time. One thing that never loses it's luster that needs to happen every week is the Lil Dribblers or PIPs or whatever they are called. The single greatest moment in the history of the Super Pit was a couple years ago when one of those groups was walking down the stairs to the court. Well you know how kids are and when they got to the court they started running leaving the ones still on the stairs behind trying to catch up and you can see where this is going. There was a camera down on the court right off the stairs and when some poor kid busted his butt the camera caught it. Unintentional Comedy Rating: 95 out of 100. Even better, the guys up in the room made a continuous loop of the spill and played it for a solid 15 seconds later. Like I said, the single greatest moment the Super Pit has seen. They should bring recruits in the Super Pit, shut off the lights and show that loop for a while on the screens. If they had a sense of humor they would sign with us on the spot. One other pet peeve about Super Pit events during a game: the Sizzlin Seat contest. I have missed one men's home game since I came here and four women's games. I have seen ONE student win the Sizzlin Seat contest. Once they gave it to a La-La fan. There needs to be some new life breathed into the atmosphere at games. The pep band doesn't have to play during every dead ball. Give them a break and play an upbeat song. Show a clip from a movie on the screen like the Mavs do. Play that Mean Green rap song that was made the other year. Little things like that make a difference. I hope that my lengthy post is more entertaining than some fellow posters on here, if not I might as well be talking about the raven haired beauty being featured on a new TV ad turning dirt on the prime real estate between the I-35s. By the way, I'm shooting for a coveted Harry or two with this post. Hope the panel is reading it.

I will wait for more than 4 points and 4 rebounds to say he will be a force and a standout, though the Indiana and Baylor games were encouraging compared to what we saw against that Oklahoma NAIA team and Hardin Simmons.

I hope Adrian takes some time to heal properly for spring practice, you are right, we aren't hurting inside anymore (isn't that a 180 from last year?) with Johnson. Why are we blaming Rogers and Mitchell for the Indiana game? Several people have voiced displeasure especially with Jerome and I don't understand (Mitchell has shown athleticism but no shooting thus far). Two things caused the loss to Indiana: Bracey Wright going insane, and no outside shot (except for Mike Jones). Yes Jerome was cold from outside, but we all know he has been our best outside shooter. And how long will we use the injury excuse for Leonard's scoring? He should have been the one taking over from outside (not just taking 8 shots, 3 from deep in 29 minutes) and let Jerome run the offense and push the ball. We know Leonard has the talent to do it, we have seen it on display many times and in glimpses Monday. Speaking of offense, didn't it seem like we ran the same play to the same side even after IU had it figured out?

Thanks for posting that. With Johnson on board, we can make a SBC run this year. If a team comes out of nowhere to make a run at a division title, but nobody is there to see it, does it really happen?

Jerome Rogers is experienced and can shoot. No, he is not big and is inconsistent, but this ain't Duke, we don't have three deep blue chippers everywhere. So if that is what you mean, no we don't have depth, but relatively we do. We can overcome a loss like this I believe, it's not like we are sending in Lance Boxell or Jeremy McFall in at PG.

Johnson is the easily the best post player we have had since I have been going here. With him playing like that and a little more consistent outside shooting (how come we hit all the big jumpers against Baylor and couldn't get one to fall tonight?), I seriously think we can make a run in the Sun Belt. We are in the tougher Western division, and there are some good teams out there, but there is a good shot at it. So all of you who went tonight and had a blast and feel like that is all the games you have to go to, make out for some Sun Belt games, and support this team. Indiana won, but everyone there -especially the IU fans- went in expecting a romp, and except for Wrights ungodly shooting in the first 15 minutes, they sat on their hands the whole game. But the best part is they all paid 10-15 bucks to get in. I wish we could get a name opponent like that every year, but we gotta stop scaring them like this or they won't come back.

Well I disagree in that I think Rogers is the best ball handler on the team, but Roniger had the strength to go inside. Roniger was well on his way to becoming the fan favorite at the Super Pit with his style of play, he will be missed.

Luckily point guard is a position where we could sustain a blow like this, we have some depth, but make no mistake about it- this hurt.

I think it's a little early to say that. Our best player hasn't even played a home game yet.

I think Johnson will make a big difference, and Leonard and Will showed they are on their way to being factors again during the Baylor game. John Franklin is also eligible tonight, so we can see if he can chip in some defense and quality minutes at the guard position. I think the ingredients are there for a decent Sun Belt run, but they have to play well on the road, not just at home.

It was awesome to beat the Lakers in L.A. finally. It was even better to see the officials call technical fouls on the Lakers for bitching about every call...and in the same game Shaq got called for an offensive foul and stepping over the free throw line! Could this be a sign NBA refs will call the game like they should now? Howard played great, he is just the perimeter defender the Mavs needed, what a steal he was in the draft. I don't like Antoine Walker's shot selection all the time but I did like it that he got in Shaq's face and didn't back down...his 27 points were nice too.

There was a big tailgating thing before the home finale against La-La in 2002 I believe (I'm starting to get my years mixed up in my old age) at the area outside the Super Pit right by the door most of the students go in. I think Talons organized it with big help from dining services, there were hamburgers, chips, cokes, and SoundMan Eric had a system bumping. We won that game rather handily over a SBC championship game bound La-La on FSSW and I think this is the game we even got a highlight on SportsCenter. I had the SuperPit decked out for that one, I made a huge sign for every player as well as Coach Jones...and the AD handed out free t-shirts. If you have free food and shirts mixed with a little actual advertisement to the student body, you've got a decent student turnout on your hands. I will try to make it out for some of the tailgating this year. It has some potential with the right backing.

That block and ensuing slam was brought to you by Matt Sayman, the Jeremy McFall of Baylor basketball. I don't know what he thought he was doing driving the lane, but I'm sure glad he did. Go Mean Green!

I really don't know why they are doing that, it is the most useless thing they could waste their time monitoring and enforcing. If six people bought tickets for that section, that's fine, but let the students expand out into it. I don't understand the purpose of having a zero tolerance policy on students sitting one section over when nobody else is sitting there.

I can promise you that wasn't me.