The Mavs get things started today with media day at 3 p.m., an event that gathers all media of the universe to descend upon the American Airlines Center to talk to Mavs players and coaches before training camp gets started in earnest at SMU on Tuesday.
Of course, you know what's coming. The Josh Howard Circus is coming to town. Every media type known to man, and maybe some that aren't, will be waiting to stick their microphone or tape recorder in front of Howard's mouth in anticipation of what will come out once he opens it.
Owner Mark Cuban surely won't be far away, watching with great interest at how Howard handles this initial blitz. If he's calm, doesn't get defensive and answers questions with simple, straight-forward responses, then he'll be fine. But, if he lets himself get caught up in questions such as: How much dope did you burn this offseason? Or: Why do you hate America? then things could get rough and the controversies will just continue to linger. Cuban, who is Mr. Media, has talked with Howard in great detail about how to handle the situation.
Hopefully, he won't go Rasheed Wallace on us. Hopefully, he'll act responsibly, answer questions, hold no grudges, show no bitterness, maybe even apologize to his teammates and organization for causing so much flak, but mostly talk about how he plans to have one hell of a season.
We'll see.
-- Jeff Caplan
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