How The Media Shifted the Series to Dallas
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by user BigPPup
According to a Miami Herald columnist, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban did not just hurl profanity in the direction of NBA officials and Commissioner David Stern. The Herald also reported that Cuban went on to yell, "Your league is fixed," in the direction of the commissioner. Cuban has made no comments regarding whether or not the event happened. As reported on ESPN’s Mike & Mike in the Morning, it appears the Miami reporter only received news of the tirade via a third party source. All of this puts the validity of the statement into question.
More importantly, the comment, true or false, may be the best ally the Dallas Mavericks have going into tonight’s game six back home in Dallas. What was meant to be a small article in a local paper has exploded onto the national scene, and I’m sure that Dallas fans have gotten word of the article via an ESPN affiliate. This means the Dallas crowd will go into the game with a chip on their shoulder aimed at the refs.
The NBA Finals have become a very physical series, with plenty of questionable calls that could have gone either way. When the series began in Dallas, the calls went in Dallas’s favor. Dirk and company were able to get to the foul line at will. Once the series shifted to Miami so did the foul calls. Miami has taken over 25 more attempts from the line in the last three games than the Mavs. That’s why they call it home cooking.
In tonight’s Game 6 the refs are going to be under fire from the moment they take the court. If the game starts to get out of hand in Miami’s favor and there are any questionable calls, you can bet the Dallas fans will be ready to explode. That influence of a hostile crowd will shift the calls back into the hometown team’s favor.
The conspiracy theories have to be flying. If not I’m willing to start them. The NBA needs Dallas to win tonight in order for the league to save face. The only way it is acceptable for Miami to win is if they flat out, out play the Mavs and win by a large margin. If it’s a close game and there are any close calls in Miami's favor, it could be disastrous for the NBA.
NBA refs are human and they hear and see what is in the media. Whatever crew takes the floor tonight will be aware of the Miami Herald article. There’s a good chance they will call the game closer in Dallas’s favor and never realize it, just to avoid looking Miami bias.
Whether Mark Cuban made the remarks or not, the fact they were picked up by the national media will have enough of an impact on Tuesday’s game. That one article may have more of an impact on the outcome of the game and the series than any coaching adjustment or play called.
Date
Tue 06/20/06, 8:22 am EST
