Wake Up Call: Dirk is better with age

From Business Insider:

Dirk Nowitzki is having the best postseason of his career, averaging 28.4  points per game, while leading the Mavericks back to the NBA Finals. Nowitzki’s  newfound dominance can be traced back to a plan hatched by his coach before the  regular season even started.

This year, Nowitzki averaged just 34.3 minutes per game. That was down over  three minutes from 2008-09 (37.7 min/g) and 2009-10 (37.5 min/g), and was his  lowest amount of playing time since his rookie year (20.4 min/g).

The fewer minutes led to Nowitzki’s lowest scoring output (23.0 ppg) in seven  years. But the benefit appears to be a Dirk with fresher legs in the NBA’s  second-season. So far, Nowitzki’s playing time in the playoffs is up to 38.9  minutes per game, which is in line with previous postseasons. Last year he  averaged 38.8 minutes and in 2008-09 he average 39.4 minutes. And despite nearly  identical playing time, his scoring is up 2.0 points per game over the last  three years, when he averaged 26.7-26.8 points.

In his older age, the fresher legs have made Nowitzki a better shooter. His  effective field goal percentage (eFG%; which weighs shots based on their point  value, a 3-pt shot is worth more than 2-pt shot) was at a career-high this  season (.545) and has continued at nearly the same rate into the postseason.

All data via Basketball-Reference.com

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ABOUT LAST NIGHT:

What you missed while wondering how to make a memorable marriage proposal.

Excuse me, but aren’t we brothers?

When butter is the new weapon of choice.

Which part of this story is the weirdest?

It’s just impossible.

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TODAY IN REX MORGAN

You can’t buy friends

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Have a great weekend, thanks for reading the blog. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

Being a mascot is no easy gig

Have you ever dreamed about being a mascot for a sports team? I know, you dream of all of the attention and laughter you can create by just putting on a costume and then just being you? You think you have what it takes?

Follow along as we see just what minor league mascot Ace Bacon goes through at a Grand Prairie AirHogs game last night. I mean, kids were running into his crotch, kids slapping his hand so hard it made Ace flinch at times. No sir, being a mascot is not an easy gig.

Uh oh, this can’t be a good sign

It looks like the money to bring the Formula 1 Racing to Texas will cost taxpayers 25 million skins.

That according to the Austin American Statesman.

Contrary to earlier assertions, Texas taxpayers are putting up the first $25 million in a deal aimed at luring Formula One racing to Austin.

And the money, to be deposited in the state’s Major Event Trust Fund, would pay the sanctioning fee London-based Formula One Group charges for the privilege of hosting the first of 10 annual F1 races planned for Austin beginning in 2012. Austin resident Tavo Hellmund would organize and promote the races.

Saturday night mayhem with minor league baseball mascots

So if you like minor league baseball (and who doesn’t?), you have to know that minor league teams will stoop to anything to provide quality entertainment for the families that come out to watch baseball.
Witness what happened last night as the Grand Prairie Airhogs were playing the Pensacola Pelicans in Grand Prairie Texas.

It was funny because the mascots had just run a race from the left field bleachers and were trying to enter the bathroom to change out of their costumes. Hilarity ensued.

Wow, is American Idol Casey James related to Tiny Tim?

 

So I was watching American Idol the other night and it occurred to me Casey James reminded me of an act I had seen before. Watch these videos and see if you get the same feeling.

And then this:

I could be wrong, but I see the resemblance.

Spurs fans embrace ‘Dirty Mexicans’ controversy with snazzy shirt

From  Out of Bounds

Of course we recall the latest Twitter fiasco that got someone fired … former MLB pitcher and radio executive Mike Bacsik, whose unfortunate reference to “dirty mexicans” got him canned from Dallas radio station KTCK. But in a somewhat surprising development, San Antonio residents of Mexican descent have taken the controversy and stood it on its ear, in amusing garment form.

Under a tent near General McMullen and Highway 90, a vendor is selling black shirts with the words, “Dirty Mexican.” Above the “D” is a little sombrero. In the middle is the Spurs logo.

“Everybody likes it, man,” Javier Garcia says. “Everybody loves it. Everybody’s wearing it. It’s been selling out like crazy.”

Garcia told News Radio 1200 WOAI, the phrase has become a rallying cry, and indeed a point of pride, in the Hispanic community.

“You can call us a dirty Mexican, you can call us clean, you can call us whatever you want,” Garcia said. “We’re still going to the next round.”

That can be a metaphor for other things, by the way. Catch our drift, Arizona?

Of course, Garcia may soon have to answer to a higher authority than state government, or even God. His shirts are not officially licensed by the NBA. David Stern: “Subject spotted near General McMullen and Highway 90. Swarm! Swarm!”

 

“Dirty Mexican” Spurs t-shirts now for sale (WOAI)

Pregnant Volleyball Player Loses Discrimination Complaint

You might remember when we posted this story last December, about the high school student who filed suit against her high school volleyball coach because he asked her to get a doctor’s slip to continue to play volleyball.

Well, it seems like her suit based on discrimination was lost in court.

Mackenzie McCollum, 17, had claimed coaches at Arlington Heights High School discriminated against her by requiring her to get a doctor’s note before she could continue playing volleyball. She filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.

After an investigation, the department decided not to pursue the case, said McCollum’s attorney, Lara Kaufmann, of the Washington-based Women’s Law Center.

Amazing how we clog the courts system with frivolous suits right?

Pregnant Volleyball Player Loses Discrimination Complaint (DFW)

The NY Yankees have an “Official” Guacamole

Ho boy, it’s funny how the sports world is turning to advertising during this economic recovery. Even the New York Yankees are not immune from looking NASCARish when it comes to advertising.

Yes, it’s true. Wholly Guacamole, already the official guacamole of the Dallas Cowboys, now has been named the official guacamole of the Bronx Bombers.

And two sibling products of Saginaw-based Fresherized Foods — Wholly Salsa and Wholly Queso — similarly have been designated the New York team’s endorsed salsa and queso dip, respectively.

Just don’t try and push this official guacamole any farther north than Connecticut, because that’s the Boston Red Sox’s territory.

Wholly Guacamole now official avocado dip of New York Yankees (Star Telegram)

Tiger Wood’s New Nike Ad : Earl and Tiger

Regardless of how you feel about Tiger Wood and his private life, you have to give the folks at Nike credit: They are masters at marketing.

Witness the new commercial with Tiger and voice over dialog with the departed father Earl Woods.

Brilliant!

KFC serving up heart attacks beginning April 12

From the Consumerist

Last August, we wrote about the “Double Down,” a mysteriously tempting (and potentialy lethal) new food item being tested by KFC. For those coming late to the story, it’s bacon and cheese sandwiched between two pieces of fried chicken. And now, many months later, I’ll finally be able to get my hands on one.

KFC announced the decision to go live with the Double Down yesterday, but we weren’t sure they weren’t playing a April Fools gag. But no, they truly are going nationwide with the delicacy on April 12.

The sandwich will be available in two forms. The Original Recipe sandwich will set you back about 540 calories, 32g of fat and 1380mg of sodium. The not-as-bad-for-you Grilled Double Down totals 460 calories, 23g of fat and 1430mg of sodium.