The Team Players Have Captured My Heart

So, as I sit here at the PCL (which is a library on the UT campus), I contemplate writing for today. It is a true fact that I do have two tests tomorrow, both of which can sigificantly raise my GPA. One of them is computer science, which, up until 3 minutes ago, I had no idea how to do. The other is philosophy, an entirely essay based test, on which my grades have risen for each exam I have taken. So, am I worred? You're damn right I am.

The title of this post is directed towards, as the title reads, the "team players". Now, you might ask yourself, who are these team players that you speak of? Every team has at least one. But why do you choose to bring about this topic today, on the eve of two of the hardest tests of your freshman year? Because, my friends, two of my favorite teams have been involved in this "team player" idea. The New England Patriots, with Mr. Team Player, Mr. America, Mr. I'm-so-good-looking-even-men-want-me, Mr. Tom Brady, and, of course, the Dallas Mavericks. We'll get to the Patriots later, because I'm sure many people (the 2 that read this) have never felt their eye lids open so widely when they read "Dallas Mavericks". No, I am not talking about a 7-foot, half-ass MVP by the name of Dirk Now-I-Can't-Shoot-In-The-Playoffs. I'm talking about Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse. Two players brought in by Don Nelson. The trade of Jerry Stackhouse was highly criticized, not only by me, but by experts as well! Giving up the 6th man of the year (Antwaan Jamison) for a player who was deemed as a problematic, streaky shooter? You gotta be kidding me! And yes, I do understand that Jamison is now starting, putting up 20 and 5 a game. But look at what Stack has done. Accepting the role of 6th man, he has come off the bench and put up monster numbers. If it wasn't for Leandro Barbosa, Stack would EASILY be the 6th man of the year. No questions asked. During this series against the Warriors, Stack has put up somewhere around 20 a game. Thats ridiculous. Dirk hasn't passed 23 yet. Stack is driving inside, moving around, getting open. You can see the passion on his face when he plays. I'm telling you right now. This Mavericks team goes as Jerry Stackhouse goes. If he doesn't have a good game tonight, say goodbye to the playoffs and hello to your home and speculation of trades, firings, and selling of the team. Another key player, as I mentioned before, is none other tha Jason Terry. After spending a few years with the crappy ass Atlanta Hawks, Don Nelson brought in Jet to be one of the leaders of this team. He's done all that and more. Jet plays with that same passion, that same fire that Stack does. The Jet knows when he's hot and when he's not. He knows when/where to pass the ball, he knows how to make the smart decisions. Stack and Jet have been the most consistent players on this team during this playoff walk (yes, I said walk, not run). Hopefully, they show up tonight.

I'm predicting the game. I don't want to, but to hell with it, I might as well. Mavs win, just because Dirk is pissed that Avery talked shit about him, Avery is pissed that Dirk is bitching, Stack and Jet will bring it (whatever it may be), and the game is in Dallas. Mavs win, 104-98.

This next section will be short because, as I said, I do have two tests tomorrow. Tom Brady has always been one of my favorite players. People think I like him just because he won a Super Bowl and because he plays in Boston. While those are contributing factors, those aren't the main reasons. I loved what Brady did for the Pats when Drew Bledsoe went down. Being a 6th round pick, he came in and showed people that he was worth so much more. The turning point where I realized that he was in fact my favorite player was in the offseason of the 2002-2003 campaign after the Pats had won the Super Bowl. Mr. Clutch (Tom Brady), when he was offered literally the same contract that Peyton Manning was given (somewhere in the range of 7 years, $100 million), Brady turned it down, took a smaller raise, and told Patriots management to re-sign players so that they can keep the Super Bowl team together and win it again. Sure enough, thats what they did. But then, as the story goes, Pats management became retarded, let Deion Branch walk away, and then we sucked. Reche Caldwell as a starting receiver? How about not. However, that all changed on Sunday, when the Patriots traded for Randy Moss. The Patriots threw A LOT of money around this offseason, signing highly coveted Adelius Thomas from Baltimore, Kelly Washington from Cincinnati, trading for Wes Welker from Miami, and now this, trading for Randy Moss. And how did they get Moss? Tom Brady resctructured his contract. He did it again. For the good of the team, Tom Brady let some money go so they could win another championship. That is why he is my favorite player. Bam.

-Shahnavaz Makhani