More recently, after every difficult playoff defeat, I vowed myself to not emotionally invest myself completely in the Mavs. That façade lasts perhaps a month or two, usually around the end of July. But come November, I just can't maintain it. I'm such a sucker.

After losing to the Nuggets back in April, I wasn't terribly upset. Disappointed, hell yes, considering that series maybe could've kept on going if the refs had called the foul on Melo, or if he'd missed that shot. But the truth was, I wasn't expecting all that much out of the 08-09 crew, who were pretty erratic all season, couldn't take the opportunities to beat the top teams and leaked points out of their asses.

I followed the draft with a little more interest than previous years, with the draft being less top-heavy and having strong role-player depth. But on draft night, I slowly became more and more crushed as each "possible future solid starting PG" came off the board: Lawson, Maynor, Collison. I nearly died of a heart attack when they picked Mullens only to thankfully rectify it by trading for Roddy. Nevertheless, I swore that this time, I would pay less attention to the offseason as well.

And then the offseason did come of course, and the Mavs promptly went out and made a move which I really didn't anticipate them making, in picking up Shawn Marion. Everyone's read what this means by now: giving the team a helluva finisher and an above-average defender, blah blah blah. Back in mid-2007, I wouldn't have believed it happening but things change fast. Along with Marion came a swag of other solid additions: Gooden, Ross, Humphries, Tim Thomas (shiver). Sure, losing Gortat along with Bass burned but the bad always comes with the good in this league.

Nevertheless, this team's offseason has me ready to watch them again, most likely at the expense of my studies (real important year, with Australian university entrance exams and the SAT.) Gaaaaaaah. I fell for Carlisle's preach to "run an up-tempo system suited to Kidd's strengths" before the start of last season, and here I am again, in deep anticipation.

It's not like it's a three-year coincidence. Right back from the start of the Dirk era (let's say, 1999-2000), hopes have been sky-high right on through. The 2000 offseason was simply waiting in anticipation for the season to start, and the kids, led by Mike Finley perform. Sorta like the 1991 Cowboys (wasn't born then but I've heard it being thrown around) or the Rangers today. In 2001, the move to the AAC and the entire "organisational image facelift", backed up by the emergence of "The Big Three". 2002, the preach for better D to follow an incredible offense.

For me, the 2003 offseason was really where things hit a peak of hype for me. That Game 6 collapse to the Spurs was soul-crushing, but after the two or so weeks it took for me to get over it (note: get over it, not erase mental scars. They're permanent.), it was replaced by an insane fervour for the new season, especially after seeing the Spurs knock around the Nets and thinking "we could've been there". At the time, I was really iffy on both the Walker and Jamison deals, since I sorta liked both NVE and Raef, but I understood that it gave the roster an insane level of talent, trotting out what looked like five legit to borderline All-Star calibre players. Of course, that team flared out and by the time the smoke cleared at the end of the 2003-2004 season, my hopes had dropped faster than Wall Street in reaction to a bank collapse. Nash left, Jamison was dealt for what looked like a bag of parts, and Walker was traded for Jason Terry, a guy who I hadn't seen much of and didn't take to because...well, he was not Steve Nash.

Of course, that team quickly showed me that they weren't all that bad, and each season-end after, I anticipated the new one beginning. It was self-explanatory: after 2006, it was waiting to get ready and go do it all again. Following 2007, it was to see if they could prove people wrong and show that the upset was only an upset. And so that cycle's going to continue. I've always realised that being a sports fan isn't just watching a team play whenever you feel like it, but seems like only now I've realised that idea applies to me as well.

Fuck, let's go beat the Wizards. Go Mavs.

Also, Weezer sucked me in as well. I have this giant feeling their new album's going to be worse than their last two, yet I'm probably still going to buy it early. Fuck you, Rivers and your moustache.