To All The Mavs I’ve Ever Loved Before

Hello? Is this thing on?

It’s the year 2019. It’s hard to imagine that these trips started in 2003. That’s one Luka Doncic minus 4 years ago. I think today is the day. My official retirement from Mavs road trips after tonight’s game.

What started out going to see the Mavs play (still with Dirk and Steve) and a Dave Matthews concert in Boston will end with seeing the Mavs play (still with Dirk and Steve) and seeing the ballet in New York/Brooklyn. The ballet? What a refined lady I have become.

Eh, hem. Never mind that I also went to go see the Spiderverse cartoon “animated” movie and took a picture of the Central Park bridge from the Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Look how this gangly girl has changed into a slightly less gangly girl (especially in the middle). So much has happen and so much is still left to happen. If you asked me what type of person I strived to be during these years. Maybe it would have been a mix of Cameron Diaz from There’s Something About Mary and Audrey Hepburn from Sabrina- a super cool sports loving person who traveled and then came back better than before.

But let’s move on to the Dirk part of this story for now.

One day in 2017, my boss called me into his office and said I have something for you. I opened up a bag at it was an autographed Dirk Nowitzki jersey that said “Keep Up The Fight.” I think I was almost finished with my chemotherapy treatments at the time. Tears started to run down my face. That day was important because I realized I didn’t cry anymore because I was sad all the time. I cried now because I was happy.

No worries. I’m doing great. And this trip is one I can say, I truly deserve to have some fun on.

Back in 2003, I couldn’t have imagined that I would travel to see Dirk and Steve Nash play in 15 different cities. That those trips would give me enough confidence to travel to Tokyo, London and Paris by myself. That they would give me the patience to handle most of life challenges because how you handle being lost and feeling out of place tell you a lot about yourself. That my life would have so many special memories of people, places and things because of them.

I was there when Dirk scored 42 points and made all his free throws during the Western Conference playoff game against Oklahoma. I was there in Utah, the next time the Mavs were there after Dirk was booed so badly for accidentally injuring Andre Kirilenko that Avery had to take him out of the game. (Geez, relax a little Utah) I was there at the Suns game when Dirk and Grant Hill got in a little tussle and I looked to see where Steve was and he was back at half court and wanted no part it. (I would have done the same thing, Steve.) I was there when the Mavs played their final game in Seattle. The Sonics! I’ve been there so many times.

It’s been a treat watch everything unfold into the person Dirk is now. It’s a delight to see how much people appreciate him in the different cities. I don’t think people are trying to retire him. I think they want to express how they feel before it’s too late. Imagine if you had terminal illness. Would you tell nobody or tell everybody? Imagined if you told nobody you could go on with your life without being fussed over and living the remaining days like all the rest before. It sounds pretty tempting. Then imagine you had a friend who didn’t tell you they had an illness and you treated them like all the days before and then they we’re gone. You would think of all the things you wished you would have said or done in order to show how much you cared. Retiring certainly isn’t dying, but it’s a type of conclusion. And I have learned sometimes you have to let someone do something nice for you because it makes them feel better. You’re giving them a gift, too.

Have you ever noticed there is no 13 floor in places? This seems a little overboard. The 14^th floor is technically the 13th floor. Let’s just all think of 13 as Steve Nash’s number and not some indicator of evil. Also, you know whose paths black cats cross, people who own black cats. Like every day. However, I’m not prepared to go as far as to say all cats aren’t evil.

My hope in my old age is to not say I remember back in the day in the NBA… Just like when everyone from the 80’s says back in the day that wasn’t a foul. Like do we really want to see people injured? Name one person who has got hit so badly that he never drove in the lane again. But I can feel it coming on. I don’t like super teams. I don’t like the same person winning every year. Maybe I should thank Lebron for going to LA because it won’t be the Warriors vs Cleveland again. I don’t like people breaking their contract. Have you ever gotten out of an apartment lease? It should be that hard. But I do love seeing amazing talent. I love seeing some kid trying to out do all the others before him. I love seeing Steph or Luka hitting a ridiculous shot. I love Giannis owning the paint. I love showing Dale at work a video of Nikola Jokic after he says Vlade was the best big man passer ever in the game. I hope I love the NBA 20 years from now when Kardashian kids become what we all fear the most, NBA players/rappers.

You wouldn’t believe that I just had a talk with my Uber driver on my way back from the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum about NBA contracts. He was clearly on Anthony Davis’ side. We did manage to agree that rookies should be paid a starting salary that increases or decreases with their numbers over the seasons. (I’m now only realizing how coincidental it was that I was taking about “The Brow” while coming back from seeing the Original Brow. Halloween costume idea.) Only in New York…

New York is great. The amount of artistry and creativity the city contains is amazing. Take the NYC Ballet. Justin Peck is this young choreographer who produces my favorite pieces. There are points where the movements and the music blend perfectly in ways that I could never think of that are just beautiful. There also was a piece performed with Kayne West and James Blake songs that was so detailed and charming that put a smile on everyone’s face at the end. I don’t want to live here, but I can go to ballets and basketball games here forever.

Ok, maybe I don’t want to go to this particular basketball game forever. This game was a struggle for the Mavs right from the beginning. The only good things were Dwight Powell, Luka making a 3 from the backcourt and these guys in Dirk t-shirts. I don’t think the "D" was really committed though. He had his sweatshirt covering up his letter a lot of the time and his arms were always in front of his chest. Maybe this is coming from some type of childhood trauma, so I’ll try not to judge. But don’t be such a "D" and ruin all our pictures.

I’ll slightly take back my feelings of people trying to retire Dirk. I’ve never seen so many people routing for the Mavs at a road game. By the end of the game, the entire crowd was yelling “Dirk” every time the Mavs had the ball and anytime someone else on the Mavs shot, they would boo. I don’t think that is what Dirk wants. I can see how it’s a lot of pressure. Is it nice? Is it mean? I don’t know. I’m so confused. Home games must be kinda a relief.

Sitting next to me were Ahmad and Erika from Plano, who were visiting family. Ahmad said he thinks Dirk will come back next year. I don’t know, but I do know that you need to have a plan when you retire. At least, that’s what all the personal finance articles say. So my plan after my Mavs Road Trip retirement is to self-publish some children’s books (“The Art of Shooting Free Throws” coming to Amazon soon), go to Morocco and hopefully adopt/foster a kiddo that I can take to Spiderman movies and Mavs game. I’m not sure how I’m going to make that happen. It scares me thinking about it sometimes. But I’m pretty good now at reaching goals and this one will happen if it’s right. Traveling has taught me to feel the fear and do it anyways. If anyone has any single mom tips, let please me know.

I’m putting the following out into the universe: Luka is not a bad free throw shooter. He’s a great shooter. He needs a routine that suits his playful personality when he’s at the line. I’m not talking flashy. But a little showmanship. Something to take his mind off it being a free throw because his body language totally changes. It’s almost too easy for him. Like when smart kids act up in regular classes because they’re so bored.

Luka, if he stays with Mavs during his career, will probably break most of Dirk’s records. Ah, such is life. Michael Jordan was the best. Kobe Bryant was the best. Lebron is the best. So and so will be the best. Here’s hoping that some cool adventure-seeking girl who is a Twenty-One Pilots or Rainbow Kitten Surprise or whatever rap group I totally don’t get now fan will travel to see Luka play in an exciting  city and become the Yara Shahidi of Grownish mixed with the girl from All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Go see the world and have the best of times.

Dirk, you’re great. Steve, you’re not so bad either. Mark, I will always be grateful.

Love,

Michelle

Songs für Dirk Nowitzki

Game winner – Vulfpeck (A smooth song, for a smooth shooter)

Skills To Pay The Bills – Beastie Boys (The three-man weave of rap)

Wonderwall – Oasis (You never know how someone effects your course)

Losing My Edge – LCD Soundsystem (A song for the 40+ community)

Party Up – DMX (This played before a Mavs playoff game and the entire arena got hype)

The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get – Morrissey (My fav basketball story to tell, you have to ask)

You’re Not 19 Forever – Courteeners (No one stays the same)

Hey, Hey What Can I Do – Led Zeppelin (Me having two favorite players on different teams)

Black Superman – Logic (If you sing a song about it, does it come true?)

Ants Marching (in Central Park) – Dave Matthews Band (Finishing how we started)

Chicago: Art Imitating Life

Mavs Trip #10 continued

April 21-23

Here I am in Chicago, Illinois continuing the journey of places that I have once lived, but can't remember. Normally during my trips, I listen to music that I feel represents how I think the city feels or how I feel, but all I want to do is watch TV shows and movies filmed in Chicago. There's one in particular - The Lake House with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. It contains so many Michelle elements: great architecture, a man who could build a house, time-travel/Quantum Entanglement, Jane Austen's book "Persuasion," a scene from the film Notorious with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman and an awesome Nick Drake song. I'm strangely mesmerized by that film like I am this city. I think if I'd grown up here I wouldn't be much different from the person I am today. Chicago is an urban wonderland located near the water filled with lots of parks and art. There are things to see everywhere. So like Alex in The Lake House, let me show you the city except I'll do it through pictures.

Exhibit A: Chicago from looking up. 1. The skyline taken while descending into O'hare. 2. The lakefront view from the apartment I am renting 2. The city view from the apartment I'm renting 3. A closer look at the beautiful building detailing.

Exhibit B: Chicago from looking down 1. - 4. On my way to Millennium Park via Michigan avenue. The tops of the buildings are so ornate. What is it like to construct something so high in sky? Do the people who have worked on these beauties feel an enormous sense of accomplishment?

Exhibit C: Chicago from looking at the ground. When I see all the different types of building structures around the city, all I can think of is Cameron Diaz asking "is this art deco or art noveau" in There's Something About Mary. I have no clue, but they are art unique and art spectacular.

Exhibit D: Chicago from looking all around 1. Is this a sculpture of a mom and dad playing basketball with their kid? I say it is. After all art is subjective, right? So "Family Playing B-ball" it is. 2. Record store mural by Navy Pier. 3.-5. "The Bean" in Millennium Park 6. I never knew how smart Marilyn Monroe was until I read a couple articles on her. Sometimes things aren't what the seem.

    

    

Exhibit D: Chicago from looking out. Lake Michigan, you deceptively look like the ocean. A walk by the lake/fake ocean was of course on the list of things to do. The wind, oh my gosh, definitely "whips your hair back and forth, whips your hair back and forth."

There was a risk and a reward associated with choosing to go to a NBA game during the last week of regular season. However, when the schedule gives you Chicago in late April (an event that will most likely never happen again), you can't pass up that opportunity. The reward is a great time of the year to visit Chicago (it actually is still cold 50s-30s, but the sun is out), and the risk of the Mavs resting players for the playoffs. Dirk played to my relief. But after an 8 point first quarter by the Mavericks, I wasn't sure if this was such a good idea. The Mavs did show some urgency and made the game interesting. For that, I am grateful.

Oh, yeah, the Mavs won the championship last year! What an amazing run it was. Every fan has a different reaction when it comes to winning it all. For me, I was very happy for the Mavs, but strangely inside I felt unsatisfied. I've spent years watching, hoping and seeing someone else's ultimate dream come true. It's my time to make something happen.

Now the playoffs are back around. I have to stock up on my acid reflux medicine and start turning down the TV sound during games again (I am much more at peace watching a game when I don't have to listen to national announcers). Chicago is looking like a contender. I say that because they've won games without Derrick Rose this year. Last year, it seemed like Rose was 75% of their offense. That's way too much. Especially, when teams start double teaming. There was a play during the game when the crowd urged Rose to shoot, but he saw a mismatch with Loul Deng and a smaller Mavs defender. He recognized that and gave him a ball. No matter how good of a shooter you are, that is what good point guards do. It's the little things that make you a champion.

Sunrise v. Sunset We begin and end much in the same way. It's the stuff in between where the difference is made. It's the hopes. It's the dreams. It's the mysterious schemes. It's the journey we must make. It's the path we're scared to take. It's the sign, the opportunity or note we receive when we have given up hope. It's the obstacles, the pain, the heartbreak when we feel we've lost everything at stake. The stuff in between matters much more than we know. All the events that happen when the sun goes to and fro. - MM

I definitely feel like I could have used an extra couple of days to explore all of the city. It would be nice to see it in the summer time. Chicago, you have made an impression on me. I'm very happy to come from the future to see my past home.

P.S. Ladies, I was amazed by the men in the streets of Chicago. So good looking, and they know how to dress. It was a paradise of men in layered clothing (coats, leather jackets, hats, glasses and one in a bow tie). My theory is that they don't have a car payment, so they can afford to spend money on other luxuries. Well spent gentlemen. More men in Dallas should bicycle or take the DART.

Chicago Playlist on Spotify
I Just Want To Celebrate - Rare Earth
We're A Winner - The Impressions
Otis - Jay Z and Kayne West
Shame - Jill Scott with Eve
The Light - Common
Chicago - Clueso with Stuba Philharmonic
Mitnehm - Clueso with Stuba Philharmonic
Muzzle - Smashing Pumpkins
Boy or Girl - Burning Hotels
Ladyfingers (Americruiser remix)  - Luscious Jackson
I Don't Care - The Donnas
Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
Molotov - Seeed
Roxie - Renee Zellweger from Chicago
Luck Be A Lady Tonight - Frank Sinatra
Living For The Weekend - Hard-Fi
I Wanna Be Your Lover - Corinne Bailey Rae
Countdown - Beyonce
Around the World - Daft Punk
Dress You Up - Madonna

Doing It East Coast Canadian Style - Toronto

Mavs/Nash Trip #9

February 24th - February 28th

Quantum Entanglement is a property of quantum mechanical state of system containing two or more objects where the objects that make up the system are linked in a way that one cannot describe.

I think about this theory from time to time. I always had an appreciation of science as a kid while maintaining a consistent loathing of science fair projects. Before this  basketball season started, I thought about changing up my usual trip. I felt things had become a little too predictable and a little too expected. Then there it was on the schedule - a Suns/Mavs back to back in Toronto. 

Most scientists would rather apply their theories to atoms and not humans. However, I think it would be cool to be a scientific philosopher. And in my eyes, Quantum Entanglement simply means “going with the flow” and not second guessing everything or looking for the all answers. Maybe that’s why I hated science projects. They’re always looking for the answer to the unknown. But where’s the fun in figuring out all the variables? Sometimes things are as they should be.

As I'm flying in the air on my way to Toronto, the NBA trade deadline is coming to an end, and I have no idea of what is going on. All I know is that Steve better be in Toronto when I wake up Friday morning and the Mavs better be the same as I left them Wednesday night. I was worried for a little bit about that rumors regarding Steve, but then I realized that the Sun's owner likes money and there's no money without Steve. Plus, his coach is his ally and if you trade him, Alvin Gentry would be so sad and depressed that he would stop showing up for practices and then all of a sudden Avery Johnson would be named the new coach of their team.  So I figure nothing is going to happen.

On the plane, I got to watch the Parks and Recreation with Detlef Schrempf again. Leslie Knope is my new television role model. She is cute, smart, funny and a great problem solver. Plus, she has a picture of Larry Bird framed in her office. I would only substitute this picture for me.

A few things to recommend when visiting Toronto so far.

1. If you're staying downtown, use the airport express bus. It's a nice, cushy bus with free wi-fi that drops off at nine different locations. Taking a taxi round trip would cost you almost $100 (no kidding). Round trip on the airport express bus is $36.
2. Looking at this view from the condo I rented on airbnb.com is priceless. Hotels were starting around $200 a night with all the taxes here. For less than $100 a night, I got a spacious 700 square feet place downtown with a kitchen near the Air Canada Centre and Union Station.

3. Bags don't fly free to Canada. Sad face.

I've never seen a frozen lake before. Frozen or not a walk by the water is always peaceful. I love the crunching sound the snow makes when you step on it and the feel of my shoes when they make an imprint on the surface. I saw ducks frolicking in the cold water and heard the sound of my nemesis - The Canadian Seagull.

I made myself French toast with strawberries for dinner because when you are on vacation, you can do things like that. However, I forgot to pick up syrup - one of the most Canadian things ever - from the grocery store. I'm blaming that on being distracted by the chip aisle, which contained Onion Ring and Ketchup Doritos (not separate flavors, but mixed together on one chip). 

My first basketball game featured Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. This season I have seen approximately 34 minutes of Steve Nash basketball. This will not do. I witnessed a non-competitive game pretty much from the start, which meant no Steve returning at the 7 or 6 minute mark in the 4th quarter. I don't even care if he doesn't score a lot. You should have seen some of his passes. A guy in front of me was yelling for the Raptors to play defense. Dear Sir, once a Steve Nash Pick and Roll is set in motion, the odds of you stopping it are stacked up against you. He's like a human drawing compass. He places the ball in a perfect spot for his teammates to have the best shot possible. Or maybe he's a basketball architect. Anyways, I'm taking this free hat back to the States in consolation that I had to suffer through a blow out game.

Today was a day of should of, could of, would of. I should have used my subway map instead of my printed directions, and I wouldn't have lost my sense of direction in the snowy 29-degree weather. I could of gone to a hockey game tonight, but tickets were sold out and the thought of watching two dudes punch each other in the face during a fight was a serious turnoff. I would of gone to Niagara Falls; however, my tour was canceled last evening due to the weather. Instead I went to Around Again - a vinyl record store and picked up an Art Blakely album and highlight of my day - going to the TIFF museum's Tim Burton exhibit. Drawings, claymation dolls, script ideas and more were on display. They had Johnny Depp's Edward Scissorhands costume along with one of his scissor hand gloves. The man is beyond talented. Sometimes I wish he would do an original movie from a woman's point of view. They are always the unsung heroes of his films especially in The Corpse Bride and Nightmare Before Christmas. He could keep the dynamic of the misunderstood, brooding man who meets and exceeds challenges the same, but make the woman the protagonist. Because let's face it, The Corpse Bride made Victor into the man he became and saved his life (literally and figuratively). Um, a horn just went off outside my window. I think the Maple Leafs just scored.

Every morning that I've waken up, there has been more snow on the ground than the night before. Dallas Michelle when reading the current temperature is 32 degrees would lock herself in her apartment, bundle up in her Snuggie and not leave even to check the mail. Toronto Michelle sees 32 degrees and decides it is warm enough to walk around town. There's things you can't see in the city if you take the subway all the time - the snow-covered sights, the street art in Chinatown and the ridiculously good-looking people of Toronto. Do facials, salon visits and super cool snow boots come with the free health care plan? If so, I'm writing my congressperson.

I went to a vintage store called Courage My Love. I'm guessing I was in the hippie-ish part of town because an Indian man said "Namaste" as I walked by. I picked up this recycled blanket sweater which I think I'm going to wear backwards as a long tunic with a skirt.

My Mavs game was interesting. In the 1st quarter, they were actually down 22 to 3. However, I knew patience was in order because they had a game last night, arrived in Toronto at 3am and had an early start time of 6pm today. Gradually, they found their way back and ended up winning by 18 points. Dirk finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds. (I feel like I should write nice things about Dirk, but trust me, I say them all the time.) Reading the box score you wouldn't know how impressive this win was. They had to be drained mentally and physically. And they toughed it out just like this Texas girl did in the Toronto snow.

Next up definitely a beach vacation and hopefully a Mavs championship.

Some Canadians and a German walk into a Playlist...

Let’s Get Out of This Country - Camera Obscura

Rumor Has It - Adele

Blues Run The Game - Laura Marling

May This Be Love - Jimi Hendrix

The Piano Duet - from the Corpse Bride

Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) - Arcade Fire*

Did It On’em - Nicki Minaj

Fancy - Drake*

Fancy Footwork - Chromeo*

Heartbreaker - MSTRKRFT* with John Legend

Schüttel Deinen Speck - Peter Fox^

American Music - Violent Femmes*

Your English Is Good - Tokyo Police Club*

Good Arms vs. Bad Arms - Frightened Rabbit

Timshel - Mumford & Sons

* denotes Canadian artist

^ denotes German artist