MAVS Mini pass - Season 2000-2001

I went to the fan jam with some friends, where the fans of the dallas mavericks are allowed to go into the stadium, meet the players and also get to watch a scrimmage.

BooBoo/ Chacha/ Mary and Derek went with me and we had a great time looking around, talking to some of the players, getting autographs and taking a look at all the seats and prices for the same.

I even got Mark Cuban (owner of the mavericks) to sign a jersey for me. He was leaving the merchandise store and I asked him for an autograph. He was walking fast and said not now man. I said “I'm your only Indian fan”. So he turned around and came and signed my jersey. I said “Thanks for doing such a great job with the Mavs” and he said “Thanks to fans like you” :)

We then watched them scrimmage for a while before we left.

I was thinking of going to some games, so got in touch with one of the sales reps for the mavs and asked him for a bunch of different options and was talking to mom about it on the phone and also to my sis and sis convinced me to get a small mini pass – 10 home games. The mavs play 41 home games each season and so I would have to drive the 40 miles (FortWorth to Dallas) for every 4^th home game. I got to choose which teams I wanted to see and it was totally worth it.

I would drive in right after work, get there an hour before the game, grab something to eat, sit and watch the players practice and then watch the game – most of the time the whole game, but sometimes would leave early. Parking was expensive, but I would get a spot closer to the stadium, so that I could leave and do the 40 mile ride back quicker...

I got to see Reggie Miller, Allen Iverson, Shaq, Kobe, Stockton-Malone and a bunch of other players. The things I remember most are:

• Miller facing away from the basket and watching the shot clock wind down and turning around and shooting a three point shot right as the buzzer went off for the end of practise.
  
• Iverson being so fast on the floor that it looking like everyone else was in slow motion.
  
• Shaq being goofy with Don Nelson (Mavs Coach) as he was the coach of the USA Olympics team before the start of the game.
  
• Stockton being right on the money in his passes/ Malone faking fouls and getting boo'd by the Mavs croud.
  

The Mavs made it to the playoffs after a long 5 year break and I got to select the seats I wanted for the playoffs. A coworker of mine Nik said he wanted tickets too, so I now had company. We played the Jazz in the first round and beat them. We went to the second round for the first time in 11 years and I was dreaming of the Mavs going to the finals (but was scared for it, as the ticket prices would be HIGH and I could not afford it). Thanks to the Spurs, we lost in the second round, but I got to shake hands with Emitt Smith (Dallas cowboys star running back) after a win against the spurs. His body guard tried to push my hand away, but I held it there and Emitt shook my hand :).

I dont think I ever thanked my sis for convincing my to get seasons passes, so here I go... Anu, if it wasn't for you, I might have never gone and seen so many Mavs NBA games. Thanks :)