DALLAS -- With the Dallas Cowboys wallowing in another season of mediocrity, the Texas Rangers campaign coming to an end courtesy of a wild card loss to the Baltimore Orioles and the Dallas Stars season being non-existent due to the ongoing NHL labor strife, it came as no surprise that DFW sports fans were more than ready for the 2011 NBA champion Dallas Mavericks season to get underway.
Granted, the enthusiasm was a bit tempered with superstar Dirk Nowitzki out of the lineup with a knee injury for the first few weeks of the season and the exits of long-tenured Mavs Jason Terry and Jason Kidd. There was also the attempt to sign free agent point guard Deron Williams that came up short as The Colony native opted to resign with the Brooklyn Nets.
After shocking the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center and falling to the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, the Mavs returned to American Airlines Center to host Michael Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats. Dallas went into the game a perfect 15-0 against Charlotte and continued the trend in front of a sellout crowd of 19,490 fans with a 126-99 victory.
Familiar faces in the crowd included Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz and former Dallas Desire quarterback Linda Brenner. SMU's legendary head basketball coach -- and former Bobcats coach -- Larry Brown sat courtside and watched the Mavs newcomers drain 64 percent of their 3-point attempts (16 of 25) against the Charlotte for the highest percentage for 3-point shooting in franchise history.
O.J. Mayo, one of Dallas' many new faces, put on a show for Mavs fans as he scored 30 points. Veteran Vince Carter added 18 points including a thunderous dunk that brought the crowd to its feet.
It was also refreshing to see the same 'Dallas' sports fans had not changed in the least as far as Mavs games being a place to see and be seen. They packed the Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Club and the Audi Club on the Platinum level during the game to plan their Saturday night agenda that for many included a trip a few blocks away to McKinney Avenue in Uptown.
To view the Mavs home schedule and purchase tickets, visit here.
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