CONDITIONED RESPONSE

The Dallas Mavericks had their usual game day shoot around this morning at 11:00 am.

Today is the first time that I had returned to the scene of the spring 2006 crime. I didn’t travel with the team last season to Miami.

Today, was the first time that I was forced to remember the many snippets of the ESPN Sportcenter located on my mental DVR. The mental imagery of the unimaginable comeback of the Miami Heat over the Dallas Mavericks. Imagery that will be impossible to delete and not rewritable for the rest of my life.

As I walked a across the floor I came to the spot that Gary Payton hit the gigantic 18 foot jump shot. The only shot he hit all series.

I stood under the basket of the ghost foul. I looked down at the other end of the floor where missed free throws hurt the Mavericks cause. I looked up at the score board that showed one of the biggest defeats in NBA Finals history. I looked up at the stat board that showed the free throws of one individual that topped an entire team. The clips are endless.

Then my eyes focused on the banner high above my head hanging in the rafters (See photo above). My stomach got sick. It is still banging five hours later as I write this blog. It might be an ulcer at this point.

Hopefully, I will be able to get over my trauma by the end of the night. Face the dread. I am working on it. I might have to visit with the team psychologist tonight.

Mavericks take on Miami Heat at 6:30 Dallas time tonight on FSN SOUTHWEST.

Let me find his number now just in case.