Free markets and capitalism Part 1

For me, the NBA season ends when the Mavericks bow out of the playoffs. I’ll devote some time to the Mavs around the draft, but for now, I’d like to get back to some political discussions, specifically something that I have been thinking about a lot the past few weeks.

I find it funny when people attack capitalism and free markets, treating them as the “enemy” of  freedom and liberty. Barack Obama has made this way of thinking chic again, when the opposite is actually true—capitalism and the free markets are the guarantors of freedom and liberty.  Sure, as a young, idealistic college student, it’s fun to think like Mr. Obama, but once you graduate certain realities should start to take shape. 

It’s the free market economic system that allows you the very freedom to sit around and even consider whether or not some third world factory worker is exploited or not. Likewise, it’s the free market system that created and maintains the “middle class” Lefitsts talk so much about (but do so little for). If it weren’t for our free market economic system, you would be farming your own food, raising your own animals, sewing your own clothes and would have very little leisure time to sit around and think.
It’s our free market economic system, which some think exploits our citizens and other countries, that has paved the way for the ambition and innovation that has allowed for the technological innovations that allow you to write blogs, join social networking sites, write and send e-mails.

It’s our free market economic system, which some think exploits our citizens and other countries, that transformed our nation (and world to a certain extent) from a collection of isolated communities into a vast global network, where we are aware of the condition of those outside our own communities. Do you think Cubans are very aware of those outside of Cuba? Does the average Cuban have the luxury of sitting around, thinking about the condition of people in Darfur?

It’s our free market economic system, which some think exploits other countries, that, believe it or not, raises the per capita earnings of residents in Third World countries. Sure, a person working in a sweat shop in Vietnam makes a terrible wage compared to Americans, but compared to other people in Vietnam, they make a better than average wage. 

Mavs season ends

The biggest difference between this year’s playoff exit and the past three is that for the first time in three years the Mavs lost to a better team. In 2006, we were better than the Heat. In 2007, we were better than the Warriors. Though some will disagree, I think we were better than the Hornets last year.

There’s no shame in losing to a team with more talent, only shame in not putting up a fight. Tonight, the Mavs went down, but they went down swinging. They had many chances to fold it up and prepare for next season, but they kept on hanging in there throughout the 4th quarter.

Now, it’s time to move on. The draft will be coming around soon and after that, free agency. With the right one of two moves, this team could be in thick of things again next season. My early thoughts on off season moves:

• If there is anyway to pull the Chris Paul deal, do it.
• Draft a 2 guard.
• Get rid of Erick Dampier.
• Sign the Birdman

Things I Want to See in Game 5

I’m a die hard MFFL, but I am not delusional. I realize that the chances of the Mavs bringing this series back to Dallas are not that great. However, I still have faith. Until the last second runs off the clock, I’ll continue to believe that there is a chance.

With that said, there are a few things I want to see out of the Mavs tonight:

• Energy  The Pepsi Center is going to be rocking tonight. The Nuggets have a chance to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in over 20 years and the Nuggets fans are not to happy with anything from Dallas at this time. The crowd will be into this one from the beginning. The Nuggets players are a little bit angry after Game 4 and will come out firing. It’s up to the Mavs to match this energy early and keep it up throughout the game.
• Less Dampier  I don’t know if it’s his ankle or something else, but Erick Dampier has not had a very good series. He has looked slow and out of place. Personally, I think seeing more of Brandon Bass and Ryan Hollins would be a positive note.
• JET on the runway  Jason Terry had his best game of the 2009 Playoffs so far in Game 4, in my opinion. A repeat performance would help ease the load on Dirk’s back.
• Defensive rebounds Sure, a monster dunk or a three pointer will instantly ignite a crowd, but it’s the offensive rebounds that keep the crowds going. Grab defensive rebounds and you can control some of the energy.
• Transition defense The Nuggets will cause turnovers. When they do, we have to be ready to slow down the fast break.

Dirk v. ‘Melo

Sure, Carmelo Anthony has one bogus game winner in this series, but Dirk Nowitzki is actually putting up better numbers than ‘Melo. These numbers are from today’s Dallas Morning News:

Stats through Game 4 of Dallas/Denver series.

Melo:

PPG:  30.0

Rebounds: 7.5

FG%: .464

3-pt. %: .389

FT %: .854

Dirk Nowitzki:

PPG: 35.0

Rebounds:  12.0

FG%:  .535

3 PT %:  .375

FT%:  .900

 

More on the “personality” of the Denver Nuggets

A lot has been made about the character of the Denver Nuggets team.

As a proud American, I have one picture that sums it all up. Notice, only one player, Chris “The Birdman” Andersen, is saluting the flag during our national anthem.

Thuggish-Ruggish Nuggets

I’m still baffled at the allegations flowing from the Nuggets camp. Now, this LaLa Vasquez character, whose name sounds more like a character from a Broadway musical,  has reached for the race card out of desperation.

From what I understand, LaLa sat behind the Nuggets bench either near or with Kenyon Martin’s brother. During the course of the game, a group of young Mavs fans started heckling Kenyon Martin–an easy target. This set off a chain of alleged events, including a confrontation with Martin’s brother and the young Mavs fans, the young Mavs fans being kicked out of the game and then LaLa Vasquez having a confrontation with a group of female Mavs fans. Depending on who you listen to, the story is either that the female Mavs fans were shouting racial slurs at LaLa or that LaLa verbally assaulted the female Mavs fans and poured a drink on one of them. In the end, LaLa was escorted out of the game.

Video of LaLa being escorted of the game clearly shows this lady has a temper. It is not hard to believe, after seeing the video, that one of the ladys could have made a remark about her boyfriend (Carmelo Anthony) or his team, setting her off on a profanity laced tirade, resulting in her tossing a drink on one of the ladys.

UPDATE: Here is the story of one of the Mavs fans near the action on Monday night.

Evidently, LaLa has some connection with either MTV or VH1 and is in the public eye. She knew that tape of this incident would get out and she knew that she would have to formulate a story to generate sympathy from her employer.  What easier to generate than sympathy than reaching for the race card?

You’re in a large arena filled with over 20,000 people, even if you can’t back up your claims, no one can officially rule it out either. If someone chooses to question your claim, you can easily label them a racist. It’s a win-win situation for LaLa all the way around.

I don’t know much about LaLa, but I do know about her husband and the company he keeps. Kind of reminds me of that song, “Thuggish Ruggish Bone”:

 Get ready for the Bone…

…and the mo’ thug…

 

…busta, you know me as a hustla’!

 

It’s the thugggish-ruggish Nuggets!

 

 

With Dorf the trainer?

Does the NBA have a double standard?

As he was exiting the court last night, Kenyon Martin had some choice words for Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, including an pejorative used againt homosexuals. As you can see, this incident was caught on tape and I’m sure the David Stern and the NBA are well aware of what Martin said. However, I seriously doubt they will take any action against him. Had a player used a racial slur, it would have been an automatic suspension.

Is there a double-standard applied by the NBA? Is the NBA office homophobic? Why don’t GLBT leaders stand up and demand the NBA take action against Martin for his words?

Hello, Pot? This is kettle, you’re black!

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that the Denver Nugget officials are upset with the behavior of some of the Maverick fans at the American Airlines Center last night. Is the Denver Nugget organization really in any position to tell other organizations how their players, fans or owners should act?

The Nuggets play with a swagger, which is fine, but if you play with a swager you have to be prepared to pay the price. When you play with the type of swagger of J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin or Chris Andersen, you open yourself up for attack, nothing is off limits–wives, girlfriends, family, etc.  Fans have every right to do everything, besides causing physical harm, to these type of players to make them as uncomfartable as possible. Maybe it’s yelling at the player’s family members, maybe it’s acting more like a Philadelphia Eagles fan.

As a life long fan of all Dallas sports teams, I have always felt that our fans are a little too calm, especially compared to the fans in New York and Philly.  I’m glad to see that finally a sports venue in this city, if only for one evening, took on some of the energy of the old Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

At the end of the night, the Mavs fans’ actions action accomplished their goal. As Kenyon Martin exited the arena, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that neither he nor his family were no longer welcome in their own home town.  Martin’s actions on and off the court, the way that he presents himself, screams, “I want you to hate me,” which is what the Mavs fans gave him. Why is so he upset then when Mavs fans and Mark Cuban yell at his mother?

Toughest Dallas athlete

During the playoffs, a lot has been made about the Dallas Mavericks lack of “toughness.” Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, TNT’s version of Bert & Ernie, and Chris Webber, Mr. I-Don’t-Know-How-Many-Time-Outs-I-Have-Left-and-Ruined-My-Alma-Mater’s-Basketball-Program, constantly criticize Dirk Nowitzki for this very issue. Dirk, a guy who has almost every one of his teeth knocked out, is considered “soft.” Dirk, a player I’ve seen more than once put up 30+points and 10+boards on bum ankles, is not tough in their eyes.

It got me to ask the question, which athletes are tough, specifically, which Dallas athletes are the toughest in the city’s history.

My vote, Nolan Ryan.

What do you all think?

Mark Cuban and Kenyon Martin’s mom

The Dallas Morning News Maverick’s blog reports that Mark Cuban had some special words for Kenyon Martin’s mother after Saturday’s loss. If the quote in the blog is correct, I fully support Cuban.  Denver fans might not like it, Martin’s family might not like it, but Cuban is the only owner in the NBA (possibly professional sports) with the balls to say what is really on his mind.

The same people who bitch and moan about Cuban’s comments are the same people who defend Martin (and others like him) for playing a rough brand of basketball that often includes pretty intense “trash talking.”

Is there a double standard among NBA fans? Is it ok for a NBA player to act one way, but to expect different behavior out of a passionate owner?