Mark Cuban - Behind the Glory

Thanks to a tweet from Mark Cuban, I came across this great documentary series called Behind the Glory that did a feature on him.

If you don't know Mark Cuban, he's the owner of the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. More than that tho, he's a business idol of mine. To find out how he got to where he is and why he describes himself as the luckiest man in the world, watch the clips below.

Shawn Marion playing in the World Series of Poker

Last year it was LA Lakers back-up guard, Jordan Farmar playing in the WSOP, this year its Dallas Mavericks swingman Shawn Marion.

I was checking out the coverage on Poker News when I saw his face on one of their videos. Check out the interview here.

Here's a story about Marion playing in the World Series, click on the title to read the full story.

Shawn Marion tries his hand at the World Series of Poker Main Event | Dallas Mavericks Blog | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | The Dallas Morning News
Posted at 11:00 PM on Mon., Jul. 5, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
SportsDayDFW.com sports Bio | E-mail | News tips

While a number of the NBA's finest are trying to secure millions in the free agent market, the Dallas Mavericks' Shawn Marion is trying to get millions in a different way: at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Marion participated in Day 1 of the Main Event on Monday. Due to the growing popularity of the event, there are four separate 'Day 1s' where players begin the tournament. Monday's was the first possible day to start. A number of other athletes and celebrities will also try their hand over the next three days. According to a report in USA Today, former Cowboy legends Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman will both play during Thursday's Day 1 action.

Last year's winner, 21-year-old Joe Cada, received $8.5 million.

Redirkulous!

Just a ridiculous shooting display for Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks last night. Check out his line from their round 1 match-up against the Spurs:

Dallas
Starters		Min	FG	3Pt	FT	+/-	Off	Reb	Ast	TO	Stl	BS	BA	PF	Pts
J. Kidd	G	41:18	5-12	3-6	0-0	+6	1	8	11	4	4	0	0	3	13
C. Butler	G	39:52	8-19	1-3	5-6	+10	0	6	1	5	3	0	0	2	22
E. Dampier	C	29:52	0-3	0-0	5-12	0	5	12	0	1	1	1	0	3	5
D. Nowitzki	F	40:26	12-14	0-0	12-12	+3	2	7	1	1	0	1	0	0	36

12 of 14 from the field and a perfect 12 of 12 from the line.

Here are some highlights from the game. Note to Spurs, Matt Bonner cannot guard Dirk ...

Andrew Bogut - new career high

Fittingly on Australia Day in the US, Andrew Bogut recorded a new career high 32 points (and 9 boards) in today's game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The game was shown on One HD so I got to watch the end of it during lunch. Bogut was a perfect 9 of 9 from the field in the second half and finished the game a red-hot 13 of 14 from the field. He proved unstoppable against defenders Dampier and Gooden, giving them jumpers and his whole arsenal of hook shots inside.

Happy Australia Day Andrew Bogut, way to represent!!

NBL'ers in the NBA continued

Its been a very busy couple of days in the office so I'm just catching up on the blog now. Its already late tonight so this will be a quick one and I'll catch up more on the weekend.

After my last post about past NBL players doing there thing in the NBA, there's been some big news for two of them over the last few days. One good one bad.

First the good news. Most Australians have heard the news that Nathan Jawai has been traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Here's the Australian's take on it and how he'll be following in the footsteps of Luc Longley and Shane Heal.

This should be a good move for Jawai as he wasn't exactly welcomed in Dallas and seemed like an afterthought that they didn't know what to do with and likely would've been sent back to the D League or waived. In Minnesota, he has the opportunity to make the roster and hopefully see some substantial court-time. The T'Wolves have suffered some injuries to a few of their star bigmen and are talking about developing Nathan which is what he needs.

Secondly is the bad news today that Carlos Powell has been cut by the Phoenix Suns. Powell got so close to making the squad but has just missed out. Look for him to again star in the D League or maybe head to Europe and get paid.

Another Aussie will be suiting up for the T'Wolves

NBL'ers in the NBA

Still no good news regarding Patty Mills and his attempt to play in the NBA but there are Aussies or NBL-related players seeing some action in the NBA pre-season.

Firstly, David Andersen has been putting in work with the Houston Rockets. He knows he can't replace Yao Ming but in his last 3 games has average 25 minutes per game and has started 2 of them. He had 8 points 4 boards, 17 points 4 boards and 12 points 7 boards. Respective production, let's hope it continues in the regular season.

Secondly, former New Zealand Breakers import Carlos Powell is getting a run for the Phoenix Suns. Carlos was a scoring machine for the Breakers and had high hopes of stepping from the NBL to the NBA. He's spent some time in the D League but with Shaq in Cleveland and Robin Lopez injured, the Suns could using another scoring bigman. He came off the bench in his first game for 6 points 3 boards but started yesterday and had 12 points 3 boards.

Finally, Nathan Jawai has FINALLY stepped on court for the Dallas Mavericks. This article would tend to suggest he's unlikely to make their roster but it was nice all the same to see him get 2 points and 2 assists in 7 minutes of court-time (not surprisingly, a blowout Dallas win).

Thanks to the guys at NBA Mate for pointing out an article from NBA.com about our two main Aussies in the NBA.

Mate vs mate, Anderson shooting over Bogut in a pre-season game

Nathan Jawai - A Dallas perspective

Its funny ... the US and Australia seem to get along so well in many different forms but its funny and sad how quickly we can fall out of favour and become yesterday's news. The same applies in basketball and its really growing tired. First Patty Mills goes from stud to the forgotten man and now young bigman Nathan Jawai seems to be getting the same treatment.

News earlier in the week reported that Jawai hadn't even spoken to the Dallas Mavericks, the team he was traded to a few months ago. Now people are contemplating whether he'll be signed to a contract or not.

I always thought he tried to jump to the big show (the NBA) a little too early in his career but surely he deserves more of a shot than he's had so far. Click on the title below to read a Dallas perspective on Jawai.

Dallas Basketball - 10 Interesting Things About Nathan Jawai

Nathan Jawai has registered nothing more than a bite-of-Vegemite-sandwich worth of playing time in the NBA. He’s 22, with 19 career minutes in six career games. So anybody who right now is insisting that the Mavs newcomer can play sounds almost as ridiculous as anybody who is insisting the Australian native can’t play.

What we do know: His fans think he’s the second coming of Shaq, his detractors wonder about his enlarged heart and … well, he’s Australian. All in all, Nathan Jawai is somebody I kind of give a didgeridoo about.

So he gets the “10 Interesting Things About Nathan Jawai’’ treatment:

10. In recent work for the Australian National Team, Jawai is often arguably the best player on the floor. When the Aussies beat Argentina, Nathan pitched in with 22 points and seven rebounds while limiting NBA stalwart Luis Scola to 2-of-8 shooting. In a loss to China, Jawai scored 28 points (on 11-of-12 shooting) and he grabbed 11 boards.

Nathan Jawai and Patty Mills news

News about the Aussies in the NBA ... do you want the good news or the bad news first?

Ok, we'll star with the good news, firstly Nathan Jawai has been part of a trade that's just gone down that will send him to the Dallas Mavericks. The main part of the deal for the Mavs was Shawn Marion but this should be a good opportunity for Jawai. Yes, the incumbent centre is Erick Dampier and it looks like Marcin Gortat will also be in Dallas, but Dampier is getting old and if Nathan works hard there should be minutes there for him.

Click on the title below to read all about the 4 team deal that went down to make it happen.

Marion to Mavs, Stackhouse to Griz in complex deal - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

The Mavericks, Raptors, Grizzlies and Magic combined in a massive swap Thursday that included eight players, a draft pick and stacks of cash. The deal sent Shawn Marion to Dallas, Stackhouse to Memphis and helped seal the transaction that moved Hedo Turkoglu from Orlando to Toronto.

Among the other pieces: Forward Kris Humphries, center Nathan Jawai and cash went from Toronto to Dallas; guard Greg Buckner moves from Memphis to Dallas; and swingmen Antoine Wright and Devean George go from Dallas to Toronto.

Memphis also received a second-round pick and cash from Toronto and cash from Dallas. The Mavericks and Raptors both also sent cash to Orlando.


Now to the bad news ... and its unfortunately about future superstar Patty Mills. Its been an awful 2009 for the kid, first breaking his hand, then free-falling in the draft and now he fractured his foot in the first day of practice. Its going to be a long, hard slog for Mills to now make it in to the NBA this season. Once he recovers, expect to see him either in the NBDL or even maybe the NBL.

Blazers draft pick Mills breaks foot - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—Portland Trail Blazers draft pick Patty Mills broke his right foot during practice and won’t play in the NBA’s summer league.

The Blazers said Friday that Mills fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during practice Thursday night. He will have surgery on his foot on Monday, the team announced.

A timetable for the point guard’s return has not been determined.

“You never want to see a player get injured, but it is especially heart wrenching to see a young man go down on his first day of camp,” Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard said. “We’ll do everything we can to help Patty get back on track to realize his NBA future.”

Back on this day, Patty Mills looked like he would be a lottery pick and a lock for starting point guard in the NBA ... oh how things have changed ...