Full-Court Press

The new CFL -- Cuban Football League

Interesting article on CNN.com details the possibilities of the United Football League, which could be partly funded by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Not since the XFL has another league taken on the NFL and although Cuban and co-founder Bill Hambrecht have massive financial muscle, it's not like previous leagues have not had money.

Recall the USFL had some deep pocket owners, including Donald Trump. The XFL had a TV contract with NBC and financial backing from the wealthy WWE owner Vince McMahon. But no group has had enough money to tap into the public's love affair with the NFL.

I don't know that any of the previous leagues, however, have had the creativity of Cuban. The league plans to play games on Fridays -- a day the NFL is barred from playing on because of of anti-trust legislation the prevents a national telecast. That day has been reserved for high schools, but there may be a loophole that allows a new league to play.

If the league does get started, Cuban would be wise to employ basketball principles into a football league. There is no reason the XFL should have failed, but it tried to mimic wrestling, which was dumb, and the football coaches and GMs tried to sell smashmouth, defensive football rather than exciting offense.

Cuban certainly knows the value of offense. If he has a new league, it should be all run and gun.

-- Jan Hubbard

Make that a ham and cheese

Jason Terry is branching out into the sandwich business and he got a high-powered partner -- one of his bosses.

The latest from Dirk

When Dirk Nowitzki wanted to get away from it all, he traveled to Australia to try and forget the Mavericks' playoff failure and also to be as anonymous as a famous 7-0 basketball player can be. Writer Martin Fuenkele caught up with Dirk in Germany and posted this interview on EuroBasket.com. One of the interesting questions was when Dirk knew the Mavericks were in trouble in the playoff series against  Golden State. Here was his answer:

"We lost the series in the fourth game when we flew to Golden State with a 2-1 deficit. Everyone knew we had to win that game! Then we would have returned to Dallas at 2-2, and I am sure that we would have reached the next round. I can remember one scene exactly as I got an offensive rebound late in the game and couldn't find anywhere to pass and rushed up a shot. Golden State then came down and hit a three-pointer. The whole game changed at that point. If I had passed or made the shot, then we would have regained control. But we fell apart in the final minutes."

Check out the entire interview here:

Deju Vu all over again

Well, it could be taken as a bad sign but there is no reason to jump to conclusions too early. In the first scrimmage in Las Vegas between the team that will represent the U.S. in the Olympic qualifying tournament and the select team of young pros, the young team won.

No score was reported, but the U.S. team included Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and the big stars and the select team included Devin Harris, Al Jefferson, David Lee, Jason Kapono and J.J. Reddick.

The New York Post quoted Lee as saying: "We're simulating what other teams will do, so we packed in a zone and forced them to shoot outside," Lee said. "You can't guard Kobe and LeBron off the dribble, so it's the only way to be successful."

This is similar to what happened in 1992 when a college team led by Grant HIll and Chris Webber defeated the Dream Team led by Michael, Magic and Larry. The Dream Team came back the next day and jumped on the young guys, breaking out to a 30-2 score, so it was no big deal.

This select team is actually more competitive because the players are already in the league. It's early and it was a scrimmage, but with all the U.S. failings in recent international play, it's kind of sad that the big guys can't even win a scrimmage.

-- Jan Hubbard

Clock's ticking...

Forget P.J. Brown and C-Webb for a moment. The next roster decision the Mavs will likely make concerns Pops Mensah-Bonsu. The Mavs have until Aug. 31 to release him, making him a free agent, or his contract extends through next season.

The second-year power forward, undrafted out of George Washington, is extremely likeable and he works his rear end off. The fact the Mavs signed Brandon Bass earlier this summer had to be a sign that Pops' future with the Mavs wasn't a sure thing.

There's definitely some interest around the league in the 6-foot-9, 240-pounder, but I still think the Mavs would like to see him stick.

Pops, who spent a good deal of time last season as a rookie in the NBDL, would love to stick, too.

"I'm a Maverick; I'm going to be a Maverick," Pops said during last season's NBDL All-Star game, which he was named the MVP. "We're on a very deep team, so as competitive as I am, I am not really as mad that I'm not getting a lot of time because we obviously have the best power forward in the game (a guy named Dirk), and the best team in the NBA.

"I'm on a good team, so I can't complain about not getting a lot of minutes. My time will come, and I have to pay my dues."

The clock is ticking.

-- Jeff

Where is that elusive franchise player?

Actually, the headline is a bit of a joke. There is so much emphasis on the Mavericks perhaps adding one more player that it's almost like they actually need someone. Well, everyone could use a great player but we're talking about the likes of P.J. Brown, who would likely average 20 minutes a game -- unless the Mavericks made other changes.

But Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson said Thursday that he believes Brown and Chris Webber are going to take ample time before deciding if and where they want to play.

"It could go into the season," Nelson said.

And why not? Both players know they are going to get a maximum of the mid-level exception, so salary is not an issue.

Anyway, we'll stay on the watch as the Mavericks look to add a player who will improve their bench, but who is unlikely to be the difference in winning a championship.

-- Jan Hubbard

Starbury wants to be like Mavs

If you haven't seen the Stephon Marbury TV interview with a NY station, it's must-see. Check it out on youtube.com. Marbury says he wants the Knicks to become a team of strong chemistry like the Mavs, a team that everyone bets on to win the NBA title.

But, that's hardly the most entertaining part of this nearly 10-minute interview. Just watch it. You go, Stephon.

-- Jeff

Marquis Daniels asserting himself

When Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels joined the Mavs together they were sort of like two slinky, head-banded twins. They're friendship sure felt like a couple of brothers.

"I think we both had positive influences on each other," Howard said back in April during the playoffs. "I learned things from him like he learned things from me. We both had an affect on each other.

"On and off the court, Marquis and me had a lot of similarities."

Both came to the Mavs as underrated rookies - Howard the 29th pick overall out of Wake Forest and Daniels was undrafted out of Auburn. During the playoffs that first year, Daniels even surpassed Howard in minutes under Don Nelson.

Obviously, we all know how their careers have gone since. Howard has risen to All-Star status. Daniels fell out of favor with Avery Johnson and was off to Indiana.

I'm still not sure if Avery grew tired of Daniels' play or was afraid he was always a step away from trouble off the court. Of course, Daniels found trouble almost immediately in Indiana hanging around with Stephen Jackson. Then injuries hurt him and it's been a tough, tough road.

But, Daniels might be a guy to keep an eye on this season. While it's not unusual for an athlete to re-dedicate himself after difficult times, Daniels has been hard at work this offseason, vowing to get his career back on the fast track.

A piece on a Pacers Web site gives a good peak into Daniels' mindset as he enters his fifth season.

-- Jeff 

Cubs fans should forget Cuban

That's the opinion of Barry Rozner today in the Daily Herald, yes, of suburban Chicago.

Major League Baseball prefers local ownership money, which goes back to my original point even way back a couple of years ago when this Cuban-Cubs stuff started -- Cuban needs to buy his hometown Pirates when that once-proud franchise finally hits the market.

He can save the Pirates and all will be right with the world.

My family's tree goes back to Western Pennsylvania so there's no forgetting the "We are Family" Pirates of 1979 -- the flat-top hats, the myriad uniform mix-n-match of black, gold, white and white pin-strip shirts and pants (man, those were the days), Willie Stargell, The Cobra Dave Parker, Bill Madlock, Omar Moreno, Phil Gardner, Bert Blyleven, Jim Bibby, The Candy Man John Candelaria, the sidewinder Kent Tekulve, and, of course, everyone's favorite manager Chuck Tanner.

Forget the Cubbies, Cuban, and prepare to save the Pirates.

-- Jeff

10 years later they still love JET

We told you a few days ago that Jason Terry is heading to Tucson for a 10-year anniversary celebration of the Arizona Wildcats' 1997 NCAA championship and then to play in the Lute Olson Classic which benefits cancer research in honor of the Wildcat coach's late wife.

Terry was an invaluable sixth man on that title team and they still love him in Tucson.

Anyway, here's an article from Tucson's point of view.

-- Jeff