November 1998, the World Wrestling Federation hosted a tournament for the vacant world title at it's annual Survivor Series Pay Per View. The evil Coporation, lead by Vince McMahon seemed to be backing the vetran Mankind ( a gimick by future Hall of Famer, and professional stunt artist, Mick Foley) while the crowd was backing the rising star (and future tooth fairy) The Rock. In the tournaments climax, a swerve took place when Vince McMahon aligned himself The Rock, costing Mankind his first run with the championship.
The deranged superstar was shocked that his boss had turned on him. The crowd was stunnded that The Rock sold out and mortgaged his soul to the devil. And a new era of pro wrestling began.
12 years later, the NBA seems to be unintentionally recycling the same story line (or intentionally if you believe Daughnagy wasn't alone in his shit ball actions).
The Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks 2010-2011 NBA finals seem to stack up similarly (maybe they don't but I'm looking to come at this with my own twist, so suck it). Dallas comes into this series as battle tested vetran who is closer to the end then he is the begining. Miami, the corporate sell out, who is only at the begining of what could be a decade long vice grip over title contention.
Miami drew first blood in 2006, by winning a poorly officiated series (thats being kind. We were one David Stern giving Mark Cuban a chair shot to the dome on the Mav's center court away from convincing the world the NBA stages it's outcomes- like boxing). Five irrelelvent season later, Miami completed it's heel turn by adding Lebron James and Chris Bosh (aka. the Miami NWO, aka.a the biggest example of colluhsion to ever happen to professional sports) and as if it were scripted in the vain of a WWE promo, they proclaimed they were about to rip off seven championships.
What originally started as a joke (I called them the Miami NWO right after 'The Decision') became reality. As soon as they had introduction party thing, they became the NBA's first full fledged heel team since the Bad Boy Pistons. Everyone hated them. Thats not even a generalization too. Lebron, a defending two time MVP, put up season stats comparible to his previous two seasons and was LEFT OFF of some writers MVP ballots (and no one complained, because after all Scottie Pippen doesn't get MVP's).
Dallas, on the other hand, has managed to find a way to rebrand themselves late in their career. Once known as a 'jobber to the stars' type ( much like Mankind was with the Undertaker, Austin, and The Rock ) the road to the title usually went through them. Just ask LA, San Antonio, and of course, Miami. Yet somehow, against all odds, the Mavericks have shed their title of 'playoff jobber' and become a maineventer, and potential title winner.
You're not supposed to get better at the end of your career. And I don't think the Mavericks have gotten better. They're just a vetran team that saw a small crack in the door of opertunity and kicked the shit in. They took care of business in Portland (despite the Game 4 meltdown, which is heroic on it's own). They landed a 3 time Western Conference Champion LA Lakers team just as it was imploading, lit the Lakers fuse, then sat back and watch them blow up. They caught the Thunder with a deer in the headlights 'holy shit we weren't supposed to get THIS far' look on their face, and polietly showed them the exit.
Now they're in the main event. They belong. They did things the right way. They built a team over a couple years, weathered storms, paid their dues and now they're getting their shot.
Miami is the opposite of that in every way. This team hasn't been together for a full calender year. They have three players remaining that were on last years roster. They were lucky enough to have cleared enough cap out so Dawayne Wade could go to his two superstar subordinates and fill their heads with ideas of half naked Cuban women and titles.
Bosh and Lebron turned their back's on their fans, much in the same way The Rock did in November of 98. All they cared about was an easier way of getting to the title. They sold their souls to make life easier. I guess If you can't beat 'em, you gotta join 'em.
Miami doesn't deserve the belt. Not yet, not like this. It's The Mav's time.
Dallas in 6. Have a Nice Day.
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