"Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life."
-- Green Day
With very little fanfare, the Mavericks let one of their all time greats go yesterday in an effort to avoid the luxury tax on the remaining $51 million dollars left on his contract.
As much criticism as Finley has taken in this town, it will be very tough for me to see him in another uniform. When he joined the team during the 1997 season, the Mavs rivaled the Clippers as one of the worst organizations in professional sports. While Finley was with the Mavs and benefiting from an owner who actually cares, the Mavs went from laughing stock to legitimate contender. I will not soon forget the Mavs unbelievable comeback from down 2-0 against the Jazz in '01 to beat them in 5 games. Down double digits in the 4th quarter, Finley and the mavs were able to somehow find a way to beat the jazz up in Salt Lake City. I will not soon forget the celebration that followed as the Mavs had finally won a playoff series for the first time in over a decade. I had the privilege of being in attandance that day.
I also will not forget the memorable playoff run in '03 getting all the way to game 6 of the conference finals against San Antonio. If it were not for Steve Kerr getting unconscious in the 4th quarter, the Mavs very well may have gotten all the way to the finals. Finley was an iron man (among the league leaders in minutes played nearly every season) and he will always be underappreciated in this town because we never were able to win a title during his time here. He is a true class act and I for one am going to miss him dearly.
1 comment:
Couldn't agree more. Finley was the backbone of this organization for 9 years. I'll never forget when he arrived, you could bring a Dr. Pepper can and five bucks and be sitting courtside. Once Finley arrived with his iron-man attitude and work ethic, he single handely brought the Mavs up to a respectable team as compared to an automatic W. There were a few years before Nash and Dirk became the players they are now that Finley had to handle the ball, score, assist, and cover the other team's best defender. But most Mavs fans wouldn't remember that. Today's fans only recognize Finley as 1/3 of the big 3. But in my mind I'll always remember him as the true leader and backbone of one of the most embarrassing teams in all of Sports who led them to one of the elite teams in the NBA.
Post a Comment