Sticking to the Mavericks!

I’m a Black man. I blog about the Dallas Mavericks. I have been asked, by the Stick To Sports brigade (you know who they are) on Twitter to “Stick to the Mavs!” — so, I figured I’d oblige....in my way.

• Systemic racism against people of color, and specifically Black people is real and is at epidemic levels. (Sticking to the Mavs: the Dallas Mavericks play at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX)
• Being silent about police brutality and racism, because you either don’t know what to say or just don’t care makes you an extensive part of the problem. (Sticking to the Mavs: the Dallas Mavericks won their first and only franchise championship during the 2010-2011 season)
• Say it with me — BLACK LIVES MATTER. (Sticking to the Mavs: the Dallas Mavericks have three division titles [1987, 2007, 2010] and two conference titles [2006 and 2011] )
• If you love Black culture, work in a Black culture-adjacent industry, and generally profit off Black culture but won’t speak up about the crisis Black culture is facing, you are a huge part of the problem. (Sticking to the Mavs: Dirk Nowitzki won the NBA MVP award during the 2006-2007 season)
• Remember when professional sports players, most notably Colin Kaepernick of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, would kneel on one knee in silent protest during the American National Anthem to highlight the police brutality crisis? You should have seen that for what it was then, but if you STILL don’t see why they took a knee, you are part of the problem. (Sticking to the Mavs: the Dallas Mavericks were named after a Western TV show, Maverick, chosen by 4,600 fans via a postcard vote)

The Black community is hurting and in dire straits. We need white people to listen, and really hear and see what’s really happening. It’s easy to not do this because you don’t think you’ll say or do the right thing, but starting with the premise of “I’m willing to listen” is a huge start.

If you’re reading this short blog and you find the Mavs fun facts more interesting or more relevant than the bolded statements about the crisis the Black community faces, you’re part of the problem.

Now’s the time to stop being part of the problem. Now’s the time to not Stick to the Mavs!

But that choice is yours to make.