We Have a New Champion

Congratulations to the Dallas Mavericks on a job well done as they defeated the Miami Heat tonight 105-95 to clinch the 2011 NBA Championship in six games and earn their first ever NBA title.

Dirk Nowitzki was named series MVP.

I gained a lot of respect for this Mavs team as they had to go through the two-time defending champion Lakers to get this far. The Mavs earned this title.

My congrats also go out to all the Mavs fans out there here in DFW. As a relatively new resident here (four years) transplanted from L.A., I've come to know plenty of Mavs fans and they are some of the best fans in the world. So enjoy the win and the championship, and enjoy the parade in a couple of days. And as a reminder, from a Laker fan who didn't celebrate like a fool in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 or 2010, please celebrate peacefully with class and dignity! In other words, don't burn down your city!

This Just Totally Irks Me

You know, I somehow expected this from Lebron James.

He already comes across as an arrogant, immature, pompous ass.

No wonder people are losing all respect for the guy!

But Dwayne Wade, too? I expected better from him...

Beautiful sportsmanship. Seriously...

This just exemplifies why I'm rooting hard for Dallas to win this thing.

One more win!

Two and a Half Months

Ok, so I stole that title from the CBS hit sitcom. So sue me!

But yes, it's been a while, so let's get right to it and recap from where we left off...

We knew the Lakers got the two-seed and drew New Orleans in first round.

We knew they lost Game 1 at home.

They won the series in six.

They drew Dallas in the next round, and got slammed.

Dallas swept them in four games, and it wasn't pretty.

Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom committed stupid, ugly fouls in Game 4.

Bynum has been suspended for start of next season.

Pau Gasol simply didn't show up at all in the playoffs.

Quest for Three-peat Part II came to a crashing end.

Dallas is now playing Miami for the NBA title.

Series is tied 2-2, and the series has been closer than that!

Dirk Nowitzki is in "beastmode"; Lebron James has been MIA.

Phil Jackson retired; Mike Brown (yes, really, that Mike Brown!) was hired to replace him.

So long, triangle offense.

Moving forward in the off-season, here are five things the Lakers need...

• Kobe healthy
• Younger and quicker point guard (Chris Paul or Deron Williams, anyone?)
• Shooters who can make their shots
• More consistent bench play
• Dwight Howard

All that said, everything is peachy in Laker-land.

In the meantime, we wait for a new champion, free agency and a possible league work-stoppage.