Germany Secures Olympic Berth
Hooped Up | July 21, 2008
Dirk Nowitzki did not do any interviews immediately after propelling Germany to its first Olympic berth since 1992. He couldn’t. The Dallas Mavericks’ best player was in the locker room in Greece bawling Sunday, like a baby or newlywed or player who has finally delivered on a promise to his country, his coach and himself. He had been thinking of this moment long before he dreamed of MVPs and NBA championships. Anybody who even kind of knows The Big German is giddy for him, with the possible exception of Mavs owner Mark Cuban, who is certainly no fan of NBA players in the Olympics. And even he is happy for Dirk. “My issues on the Olympics are not with Dirk or the players,” Cuban said via e-mail Sunday. “I’m thrilled for Dirk. It’s a dream of his, and there is nothing that could make me happier for him.”







The Phoenix Suns beat the Dallas Mavericks again, and this one was no down-to-the-wire thriller between the teams with the best records in the NBA. Leandro Barbosa scored 29 points and the Suns beat the Mavericks for the second time in 18 days, 126-104 on Sunday. Amare Stoudemire added 24 points and Steve Nash had 23 and 11 assists as the Suns snapped Dallas’ nine-game winning streak and finished their season series with the Mavs 2-2. After a scoreless first quarter, Shawn Marion had 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting. He also frustrated Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki all afternoon.” 
Dallas Mavericks all-star forward Dirk Nowitzki, who is still hearing criticism for his meltdown during a 129-127 double-overtime loss to Phoenix last week, admitted yesterday that he gets tight during pressure situations. “I think everybody who says they don’t get tense, they’re lying,” Nowitzki said following practice at Dodge Fitness Center on the campus of Columbia University, where the Mavericks were preparing for the Knicks tonight. “It’s big games. You got to find ways to stay loose and relax. I’ve been doing a decent job of not letting the pressure get to me and still enjoying the moment.” 







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