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That's All, Folks: Final Thoughts on the Week That Was

TheInsider — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:11:10 GMT

It's funny how sometimes we can learn so much without even trying. That's kind of how it has been for me recently. When I started my week as the HP Insider, I had no idea I would end up taking so much away from this experience. I'm not talking about the pictures, the T-shirts, or even the memories, but realizations about myself and life in general. I feel like I could almost write a book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Being the HP Insider.

For instance, having been behind the scenes and seeing the players and coaches in their natural state, I've come to understand that the guys really aren't all that different from you and me...aside from being taller, more famous, and having a little more money in the bank. They curse when things go wrong (and apologize later), are sometimes walking zombies in the early morning hours, and yes, they have bad hair days, too. But they eat, sleep, and breathe the same air that you and I do; there's really no need to be starstruck in their presence, because they put their pants on one leg at a time, just like us.

I've learned that sometimes in life, it's okay to do something nice for yourself, without having to feel guilty about it later. We all deserve a break from the rat race now and then, even if it does burn half of our vacation time in the first month of the year. Sometimes, golden opportunities are worth any and every small sacrifice we might have to make.

For the better part of my adult life, I have been somewhat of an introvert. It's not that I am unfriendly or antisocial, but I have always felt like I am not much of a conversationalist. Now if you give me a pen and paper, a typewriter or a keyboard, I feel comfortable enough to write about anything and everything. I have always been self-conscious because of my size, and for as long as I can remember, I have felt like people judged me based on my physical appearance, rather than taking the time to get to know the Mandi that lurks behind the freckles, glasses, and orange hair. But the most valuable lesson I have learned over the course of this week is that I am my own harshest critic. So many great people I have come in contact with as a result of becoming the HP Insider have helped me realize that I really do have a lot to offer this world, and I am a genuine, likeable person. If other people can overlook my physical shortcomings and appreciate the person I am, then maybe I can do the same.

I have lived a good portion of my life under a constant fear of rejection and as a result, often been too afraid to put myself out there and try new things. As a matter of fact, I almost talked myself out of entering this contest, thinking I would have no shot at winning anyway. Thank God for my small circle of friends and family, who kept encouraging me and pushing me to just go for it. However, after my experiences this week, with all the positive feedback I have received from people near and far, both known and unknown to me, I would like to believe that the fear I felt is a thing of the past. I am beginning to understand that it's okay to take chances and fall on my face, as long as I keep getting back up and inching forward. It's okay to laugh at myself, and even invite others to laugh with me in the process; a sense of humor makes my flaws a little easier to accept.

Most importantly, I've learned you should never give up on your dreams, because you never know when the Fairy Godfather might show up and help them come true. A world without dreams is a world without hope. Dreams are what motivate and inspire us to be better people and do greater things with our lives. Sometimes, the biggest obstacle we face in fulfilling our dreams is nothing more than our own fear of failure; but without experiencing failure, we can never truly appreciate the beauty of success.

These are the things that I take with me as I walk away from what will probably always be the greatest week of my life, and for that, I am forever thankful and truly blessed.

Being the Insider: My Week in Pictures

TheInsider — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:48:20 GMT

Here I am, grinning ear to ear at the Jason Terry appearance at Academy. To think this was just Day One!

Meeting Jet at the back door (that's Clay in the background)

STILL smiling...

Coach Carlisle walked me around introducing me to the guys

Dirk, we meet again!

Hanging around the edges of the action on the practice court before we headed to San Antonio

Standing on the Spurs' court before the morning shoot around

In my now infamous orange shirt on the sidelines before the Spurs game

Kris Humphries and me after the Spurs game, before he was traded to New Jersey

In the back row on the right are Dad and I, listening intently to Coach's pre-game Q & A before the Jazz game

Dad and I spotted ourselves on the Jumbotron during the Jazz game

After the loss to the Jazz (before Coach arrived in the interview room), I was asked why the Mavs lost..

Dad and me at center court after the Jazz game

Me and my buddy Champ after the Jazz game

Some of the people who made this week so awesome (L-R): Kyle, Kathleen, me, Lauren, Dad and Jay

A bit closer up so you can actually see our faces this time :)

We took photos all around the building prior to the autograph session on Monday morning

In the cushy leather chairs in front of the Mavs logo

Dirk signing the super cool skateboards

Jason Kidd and me after he scared me half to death

Me and Dirk on his self-proclaimed "bad hair day"

Yeah! Eddie is back in Dallas again

Kathleen, Mark Cuban and me, just prior to the start of the Lakers game

Cuban and me, right before he invited me to follow him onto the court for the player introductions

I'm standing in the thick of things, Mark Cuban by my side, cheering for the Mavs, and all is right with the world

Me, Jay and Kathleen outside the AAC before we called it a night...and a week. That's a wrap!

Many Thanks....

TheInsider — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:54:56 GMT

As my week with the Mavs has come to an end, I wanted to take time to thank anyone and everyone who has been a part of this amazing experience. I've always heard you're supposed to thank the "little people," but that's one thing I can't do...because in this instance, I am the little people! I'm just an ordinary Mavs fan who was given the most extraordinary opportunity: to live out my lifelong dream of becoming a part of my beloved Dallas Mavericks.

Many thanks...

First and foremost, to HP, the NBA and the Dallas Mavericks for creating the HP Insider contest and picking me as the grand prize winner.
To Chuck Cooperstein and Mark Followill, for treating me like "one of the guys" and letting me hang out on Friday morning
To Bob Ortegel, who even though he didn't feel the greatest, still kept me company on the bus ride to the airport
To Jeff "Skin" Wade, for spoon feeding me what turned out to be a key question for Coach Carlisle
To Gary Fineske, for making it a point to remember me, both now and previously
To Coach Carlisle, for the personal touches, like introducing me to the team and remembering me after the victory in San Antonio
To Jet, for making me his assistant and calling me by name every time he saw me
To Jason Kidd, for scaring the crap out of me and waving to me from the Mavs bench before the Lakers game
To Drew Gooden, for waving, smiling, and generally being nice every time I came in contact with him
To Dirk, for taking time to talk with me before signing not one but two commemorative T-shirts
To the entire team and coaching staff for being so friendly and unannoyed with me
To Mark Cuban, for seeming just as excited to meet me as I was to meet him
To Mike, of the Old No. 7 Club, for carding me the first night and remembering me the next
To Clay, for ordering too much food, including the guacamole of a lifetime
To Lesley, Sarah, and Kyle, for getting me closer to the action in different ways
To Lauren and her cohort Brian with the Marketing Arm, for all of the technical support; without their help, there would never have been a blog
To Leslie with HP, for proving to me that someone outside my family and circle of friends was actually reading what I had to say
To my friend Chintamani, for initially informing me about the HP Insider contest; to my best friend Lori, for sending me the text message (the first and only one in our 28 years of friendship) that convinced me to enter; to Holly and Susan, for brainstorming ideas with me; to my friend Taina, for buying me the orange Wheaties shirt that everyone will be talking about for a long time to come
To my dear misguided husband Rickey (the Spurs fan), for tolerating and in his own way, supporting, my Mavericks obsession all these years
To my dad, Tommy, for introducing me to basketball and for joining me on this awesome adventure
To my friends, family, and anyone else who was reading the blog, for coming along for the ride and supporting me
And last but most certainly not least, a big thank you to Kathleen and Jay, for edits, approvals, invitations, loads of laughs, and generally making this week even more fun and entertaining than I imagined it could be. Having you two along for the ride made it that much more memorable, and I hope that you enjoyed it every bit as much as I did.

Although returning to real life is more daunting than I had expected, the amazing memories of this incredible journey will be enough to remind me that, for one week of my life, I was more than just a redheaded freckle-faced fan....I was the Insider.

Yours Truly,

Mandi Smith
Mavs Fan Extraordinaire

But Wait, There's More!

TheInsider — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:53:16 GMT

When I arrived at the AAC for what would be my last game as the HP Insider, I was told that a local station had agreed to interview me about winning the contest, but at the last minute they were able to obtain an interview with Kobe Bryant instead, so I had been bumped. I guess I can't blame anyone for choosing a superstar like Kobe over little old me, but I would have felt much better had I been bumped for a certain German born Maverick instead of the purple and gold wearing opponent!

I had mixed feelings about last night's game. On one hand, I was so excited that I'd be getting to meet Mark Cuban and the prospect of seeing Dirk score his 20,000th point that when I stepped out of the shower and got dressed, I initially put my underwear on backwards! (Didn't take long to realize that SOMETHING was just not right.) But on the other hand, I was a little saddened that the most extraordinary experience of my life was drawing to a close and in less than 24 hours, I would return to being plain old Mandi, just another Mavs fan living a normal, ordinary life. I knew I already had some amazing memories that would last a lifetime, but no idea what the night still held in store for me.

When you're a billionaire, you can run on your own time and do things your own way, I suppose, not that I could do anything more than imagine living that life. As we stood near the Mavs bench waiting for Mark Cuban to appear, out of the corner of my eye I saw someone waving at me and looked over to see it was none other than Jason Kidd, smiling and waving from the bench. I doubt I could ever get used to something like that, but I'd sure be willing to try! As tipoff grew nearer and there was still no sign of Cuban, I began to wonder if I would be able to meet him and still make it back to my seat in time to keep from missing even a small portion of the game. My first priority was, and is, to be a Mavericks fan above all else, and as much as I wanted to meet Cuban, I really DID NOT want to miss a minute of the ball game.

When Cuban arrived, though, all the waiting was worth it. Not only did he apologize for being late but he seemed almost as happy and excited to meet me as I was to meet him, if you can imagine that! He shook my hand, gave me a hug, and we posed for a few pictures, all in a matter of about 90 seconds. The PA announcer was just getting ready to introduce the Mavericks when Cuban turned and said, "Come on, follow me!" and led me down to the Mavericks court, where we stood in the receiving line as the intro music began to play. Just like me, he was counting down with the music: 4...3...2...1..and the drum beat! As the starters were announced and came running down the line giving low fives, I was standing RIGHT THERE! OMG, never in all my life did I imagine I would be able to experience anything like this, and I even told Cuban as much, which brought a bigger smile to his face. I didn't stick my hand out to be slapped by the players as they came through because I was too busy screaming and clapping my hands together, as any #1 fan would do for their team. After the introductions, we walked back off the court and Cuban said he would make sure I got whatever I needed in order to have postgame access to the players, etc.

The game itself was a thriller, a very close game, even though the Mavs played from behind for the better part of 48 minutes. Dirk was his usual unbelievable self, crossing the 20,000 point threshhold and scoring 15 in the fourth quarter alone. Shawn Marion, among others, played some killer defense on Kobe and it wasn't until late in the game when he really started scoring. But in the end, despite everyone's efforts, the Mavs still came up just a little bit short. One thing that I did find rather disheartening was the overwhelming number of Lakers' fans in the AAC. Here we are, playing IN DALLAS, and the Lakers' fans were making more noise than the Mavericks' fans, aside from the standing ovation when Dirk hit his 20,000th point. In the final seconds, when Dampier was at the free throw line, tons of boos could be heard from every corner of the arena, and try as hard as we might, Dad and I couldn't cheer loud enough to drown them all out.

After the game, we again attended Coach Carlisle's media session, and he brought up several great points, like the fact that even though some people might want to point to single play as the reason the Mavericks lost, there were at least a dozen plays which factored into the overall big picture, and it would take a complete team effort, not just the work of one or two guys, to get the Mavericks back on the winning track. I really enjoyed listening to and learning from Coach Carlisle the past week, as he seems like a very levelheaded and intelligent man.

Once Carlisle's press conference was over, we got to go down in the bowels of the arena and wait for the players and coaches to come out. Not only was I able to talk to and take pictures with Josh Howard, Matt Carroll, Shawn Marion, Erick Dampier, Coach Carlisle, Assistant Coach Dwayne Casey, Drew Gooden and Dirk, but I also had the opportunity to meet and greet and pose with some of my favorite former players, such as Ro Blackman, Darell Armstrong, and Popeye Jones. Even though I didn't make it onto the postgame show with Derek Harper and Gina Miller due to Dirk reaching the 20k milestone, I was able to pose for a few pictures with them as well. And one of the nicest, funniest guys I met this past week, Jeff "Skin" Wade, stopped for a goodbye hug and a picture, too. All in all, it was a fantastic way to end my final night as the HP Insider.

The signage around the arena announcing the HP Insider

Derek Harper, me, and Gina Miller

Me and Skin

Thoughts on Dirk and His 20K

TheInsider — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:59:06 GMT

The only thing that could have made last night any better would have been a Mavericks victory. Not just because I was there and it was my final night to be someone special as the HP Insider, but for Dirk Nowitzki. Reaching an amazing milestone like he did when he became only the 34th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points is awesome, but as Coach Carlisle mentioned in the post game press conference, Dirk deserved a win. "Dirk has a pure basketball heart," Carlisle said, and I think he was absolutely right. The thing I love most about Dirk is that he never lets anything go to his head; he plays not to be the biggest superstar or to reach personal achievements but primarily for the love of the game, and there are so few athletes like that around anymore, it makes Dirk that much more extraordinary.

Being able to be in attendance at last night's game is something I will never forget. As I mentioned previously, I was there to see Dirk score his 10,000th and 15,000th points as well, so seeing point number 20,000 was especially fantastic for me. As soon as I saw the commemorative Dirk 20K T-shirts, I wanted one, but I knew that with the post game activities I still had scheduled, there was no possibility of making it to the team shop in time to buy one before they were all gone. (My dad and I had been at the game when Jason Kidd rang up his 100th triple-double, and they offered commemorative shirts that night as well; we raced to the team shop after the game and it was a mad house, but somehow Dad was able to snag ONE shirt.) I turned to Jay, who works for the Mavericks and had been one of my chaperones for much of the week, and asked him if I gave someone the money for one of the T-shirts, if they might be able to run to the team shop after the game and grab me one. Jay said not to worry about it and disappeared shortly thereafter. Next thing I knew, Jay had returned with a bag from the team shop, and inside was a Dirk 20k T-shirt. He apologized for it not being my size, but at that point, it didn't matter; I was just grateful that he had been kind enough to get me one. I wouldn't swear to it, but I think he may have even paid for it out of his own pocket!

Dad and I were counting down Dirk's points to hit 20,000 throughout the game every time he made a shot, so we knew right when it happened, that was it. We flew to our feet like everyone else in the AAC, screaming, clapping, jumping and just hoping it was enough to let Dirk know how much Mavs fans and the people of the Metroplex REALLY DO appreciate Dirk. The arena was so loud we couldn't hear anything going on down on the court, but for a few minutes, it really didn't matter anymore. People all around were just reveling in the moment, waiting for a dead ball or time out when the voice would come across the PA system announcing Dirk's 20,000th point, even though it seemed all the fans were aware of the fact as soon as Dirk had hit the shot. The crowd was on its feet cheering for Dirk for what seemed like five minutes straight and it was such an awesome feeling to be a part of that.

After the game, we waited in the tunnels so I could hopefully snap a few pictures and say goodbye to anyone and everyone who I had come in contact with during my week as the HP Insider. I loved getting one last chance to talk to everyone, but getting to meet Dirk one more time, especially on this night, was the cherry on top of the sundae. I told him how I had been there to see his 10,000th and 15,000th points also, and he said, "What, not the 5000th?" and then asked if I planned to be there to see his 25,000th point, to which I replied, "Of course!" Clay, who also works for the Mavericks and had been my chaperone on the road trip to San Antonio, had found me a Dirk 20k shirt in my size and handed me a Sharpie to see if I could get Dirk to autograph it. I asked and Dirk gladly obliged, but I hadn't paid attention when I was handed the Sharpie and didn't realize it was open, so while I stood there talking to Dirk and nervously fidgeting, I had managed to draw three big black ink spots on my jeans and two on my brand new Dirk 20k T-shirt.

"Oh no!" I said as I handed it to Dirk to sign, "I didn't know it was open!" Dirk signed the shirt anyway, but Lesley, the Player Relations Manager for the Mavericks, ran over and grabbed me a second shirt, also the correct size, which Dirk also signed. So now I may be the only person on the planet with a pair of autographed Dirk Nowitzki 20k commemorative T-shirts! But don't worry, guys -- neither of the shirts will end up on e-Bay; that's not my style. I'm the kind of fan who collects memorabilia solely out of my love for the game and my passion for the Mavericks, which has only grown stronger after spending an incredible week with the team.

This is a great shot of Dirk during the final minutes of the game..

Mavs' mascot Champ carries a sign announcing Dirk's 20,000th point as fans around the arena come to their feet in appreciation of Dirk's ri-dirk-ulous accomplishment!

Notice that even the camera crew is already wearing the new Dirk 20K T-shirts -- I had to have one...or two, as it turned out.

When I met Dirk after the game, it was the first time he had a chance to check out my now infamous Wheaties shirt...

I told Dirk how I had been there for his 10,000th and 15,000th points, and he asked if I would be there to see 25,000 before he signed both my shirts and took a picture with me.

I still haven't stopped smiling!

Below is my one of a kind set of autographed Dirk Nowitzki 20k commemorative T-shirts; notice the ink blots on the T-shirt at right..my bad!

Superstition

TheInsider — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:44:17 GMT

Sports fans are an interesting bunch, especially the really passionate ones like me. We live and die with our teams, and a loss hurts us just as much as if we were the ones who had left it all out on the court, the field, etc. We paint our faces and wear our team colors proudly, clinging to the idea that the little things we do can somehow influence the fate of our favorite teams. I don't really consider myself a superstitious person by nature, but when it comes to my Mavericks, that's a different story. Sometimes when we are down and trying to make a comeback, I will find myself running to the closet to throw on my Mavericks sneakers or donning a second Mavs ball cap to try and send all the positive energy and love their way that I can. Is it silly? Maybe, but it's one of those things that makes me feel a little more connected to the team regardless.

On game days, there are a few little routines I follow. For one, from preseason through postseason, every day that the Mavericks play, I always wear my Mavs gear. I change shirts and hats, but I'm always in my team colors. Several years ago, in the days of Dirty (Dirk), Filthy (Finley) and Nasty (Nash), I bought a necklace from the Fan Shop that said "Dirty 41" and I have worn it for EVERY single game since then, with the exception of the Spurs game last Friday, because I accidentally left it in my bag that had already been loaded for the flight home. The Mavs won that game, so on Saturday, when we were down by double digits to the Jazz, I remembered my necklace and took it off thinking maybe I could do some reverse hoodoo voodoo and it would help. I kept the necklace in my pocket the rest of the night, but to no avail. Going into tonight's matchup with the Lakers, I believe I'll stick with my previous tradition and wear the necklace, just in case; it's seen many more wins than losses over the years, without a doubt.

Speaking of superstitions, guess what blonde-haired bomber just cut his hair? That's right, we saw it this morning at the shoot around. Dirk Nowitzki was on the receiving end of some good natured ribbing by his teammates regarding his new 'do. Later, when the team was running through shooting drills and Dirk was dropping shots in from all over the court, I overheard him joking that it was all because of his hair. Let's hope he's right and the hairdo hoodoo carries onto the court for tonight's matchup with the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers.

I'm really looking forward to the game, not only because I will be meeting Mark Cuban but because when Dirk scores his 16th point tonight, he will become only the 34th player in NBA history to reach the 20,000 point milestone. And I will be there to see it, just like I was when he scored his 15,000th and his 10,000th points. The only thing that could make this night any sweeter, and a better end to the unbelievable once-in-a-lifetime experience of being the HP Insider, would be a Mavericks victory. No pressure, guys!

Sneakiness and Signatures: A Look at the Autograph Session

TheInsider — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:58:18 GMT

These pictures are all from Monday morning's team autograph session at the AAC. Prior to everyone's arrival, we roamed the AAC and took pictures in various locations around the arena.

Me beneath the basket

Standing in front of Mark Cuban's suite

Opening the door and preparing to walk out onto the floor of the AAC

This is the view of the Mavs' practice court from inside the Old No. 7 Club looking down

120 basketballs lined up on the table, waiting to be signed

J.J. Barea makes his way down the tables

Rodrigue Beaubois

Jet shows some of his younger teammates how it's done

Dirk adds his John Hancock to the basketballs

He is so tall, I swear we barely fit in the same picture!

Drew Gooden signs various items in the interview room

I had no idea Kidd was walking up behind me, but just look at that mischievous grin on his face

Out of nowhere, I felt a hand on my shoulder..

Holy crap, is that Jason Kidd standing beside me???

For the record, Jason Kidd, feel free to jump in the picture with me anytime!

After he scared me half to death, Kidd was nice enough to sign my jersey and pose for yet another picture, only this time I was aware of his presence.

The finished products: 120 signed basketballs...

...and two totally awesome signed skateboards.

Bringing Eddie Back

TheInsider — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:22:34 GMT

Imagine my surprise when I learned that another one of my favorite ex-Mavericks, Eduardo Najera, was about to be rejoining the team. I always liked Eddie because he was a scrapper, a player who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and dive for loose balls or bang under the basket if need be. While I realize the trade was primarily for financial purposes, I am still excited at the prospect of seeing Najera back in a Dallas uniform. And I hope I will actually get to meet him this time around.

The funny thing is, it has been so long since I actually bought any new jerseys (I'm more into the T-shirts now), I still have a Najera jersey from his first stint here in Dallas. It’s a little bit worn and the numbers have slowly faded, but it’s one that I still wear quite frequently. As a matter of fact, I just might pull it out of the closet for the game tomorrow night…

Oh, wait. I forgot. I’ve already been told that I just have to wear my bright orange T-shirt since it seemed to bode so well for the Mavericks on Friday night in San Antonio. So once again, between the fiery orange of my T-shirt and the redness that will be my face after screaming and cheering all game for the Mavs, I shouldn’t be all that hard to find in the crowd.

The Most Underappreciated Player in the NBA

TheInsider — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:08:49 GMT

Timing is everything, and this morning mine was way out of sync. I woke up with exactly one hour to shower, dress, post a blog, and hightail it over to the AAC in time for the team autograph session. Going into it, I had no clue what to expect, so there was virtually no way I could be disappointed. As it turned out, a team autograph session is the time when all the players and coaches come through and sign various items, such as basketballs, jerseys, and apparently even skateboards, which later are donated to charities, auctioned off, or even used as prizes in different contests.

While we waited for the autograph session to begin, we wandered around the arena, taking pictures in different places: at center court; in front of Mark Cuban’s suite; under the goals; and even inside the Old No. 7 Club, where from one row of window seats, you can actually see the Mavs’ practice court.

The autograph session was very informal, with the players and coaches coming through a few at a time to sign their names to the assembly line of 120 basketballs lined up along cafeteria type tables that awaited them. It was refreshing to see that several of the players looked as half-awake as I felt, like they too might have just crawled out of bed a short time earlier.

JJ Barea was the first player to appear and he patiently walked down first one side of the tables and then the other, signing each ball as he went. Shortly thereafter, Jason Terry came through and said, “I’m gonna show you guys how it’s done,” and signed both rows of basketballs at once, so that he only had to make one trip down the line before moving onto the interview room, which was setup with tables full of individual players’ jerseys and memorabilia that also needed to be autographed. When Dirk came through, he grabbed a chair with wheels and sat down, scooting his way around the tables. Someone teased him about being lazy, but Kathleen from HP (who managed the HP Insider program) said she thought it was a smart idea, because at 7’ tall, he would be bending down repeatedly to sign all 120 balls, plus the two skateboards. This way, it was surely much more comfortable for him.

Once Dirk was done making his way around the tables, we asked if he would mind taking a picture with me. He laughed and said, “Oh, you caught me on a bad hair day!” before standing next to me for a couple shots. I have been fortunate enough to meet Dirk and take pictures with him twice before, and it always cracks me up to look at the pictures because I am so danged short and he is so huge -- it looks like he almost has to bend in half to fit into the frame with me.

My favorite part of the morning was when we moved into the interview room, where Jason Kidd and Jet and a few others were busy signing jerseys, etc. I posed at the back of the room, with the players sitting at tables autographing away, in the background behind me. As I was standing there and Kathleen was taking several shots to make sure there were some good ones, out of nowhere I feel a hand on my shoulder and an arm around me and I nearly jumped out of my skin! I turned to look beside me and find none other than Jason Kidd standing there, a mischievous grin across his face. (I later looked at the pictures in sequence, and you can actually see him sneaking up behind me, putting his arm around me, then me turning in shock and looking to see who was beside me before we smiled together for the last picture. Looking at them in order is almost like turning the pages of a cartoon flipbook, if anyone remembers those!) Afterwards, Kidd signed my jersey and even offered to take a few more photos with me and my newly signed jersey. That was definitely the highlight of my day! I had loved watching Kidd play when he was with the Mavericks his first few years in the league, and was thrilled when we made the move to bring him back to Dallas. Personally, I think Jason Kidd, who is no doubt a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, is still one of the most underrated players in the NBA. The way he sees the court and the things he can do with the basketball, not to mention his leadership abilities, are phenomenal; that is what makes him so extraordinary, not to mention one of my all-time favorite players.

Meeting the Fairy Godfather

TheInsider — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:02:18 GMT

I can't wait for Wednesday night. Of course I'm excited about attending the Lakers game, and hopefully watching the Mavericks kick some Laker booty, but the one thing I am looking forward to the most is getting to meet Mavs owner Mark Cuban. I've found over the years that people tend to have very intense feelings when it comes to Cuban; they either love him or they can't stand him. Obviously, I'm in the first group; I absolutely adore Mark Cuban. I love the fact that he is a billionaire, yet somehow he comes across as just an everyday kind of guy. I think it's fantastic that he isn't afraid to laugh at himself, like with the Dairy Queen comments he made a few years ago. The work that he does for charity is outstanding as well. But the one thing I love the most about Mark Cuban is that he is so passionate about his Mavericks -- just like me. That passion is something I can relate to in a big way, because the Mavericks are my interest, my hobby, my obsession, if you will.

I still remember the day it was announced that Mark Cuban had bought the Mavericks, just over ten years ago. I recall it rather vividly because I had no clue who Cuban was at the time, and it happened on my 24th birthday: January 4, 2000. I remember listening to talk radio, and the host (I'm not positive but I believe it was actually Humble Billy Hayes, who used to be the in arena PA voice of the Mavs) saying, "The fairy godfather has come to town. Mark Cuban has just been named owner of the Dallas Mavericks." Ten years later, I realize exactly how right that talk show host was, as the Mavericks have done nothing but improve over the last decade. The Dallas Mavericks have morphed from perpetual bottom dweller of the NBA in the 1990s to the practically guaranteed 50-win ball club and perennial championship contender that they are today. None of this would have been possible without Mark Cuban's willingness to do whatever it took, bring in whomever he needed to bring in, and spare no expense to help the Mavericks become the team they are currently.

I am really excited about meeting Mark Cuban, and being able to share space with someone who loves the Mavericks at least as much, if not more, than I do. As excited as I am, though, I am also a bit nervous. What do you say to someone like Mark? I'm sure he has probably heard it all, both good and bad, by now. In any case, I think Wednesday night is going to be another memorable one, and a great way to wrap up the HP Insider experience. Although, in all honesty, I really wish this adventure could go on forever, because in all my life, I doubt I will ever experience anything this extraordinary again...

Jazz Game Photos

TheInsider — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:37:38 GMT

The first few pictures are from Coach Carlisle's pre game Q&A session with the media.

Dad and I thoroughly enjoyed sitting so close to all the on court action...

After the game, we took a ton of different photographs at center court.

Me at center court

Dad and me

Close up of me and my dad, Tommy Walker

Mavs' mascot Champ found me again and leaned in for a quick pic

Me at the podium, unprepared to answer ANY questions concerning the loss to the Jazz

The logo off the floor of the Old No. 7 Club, where I got carded for the first time in a really long time

You Can't Win 'Em All

TheInsider — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:07:30 GMT

Dad and I were escorted to our seats which were right in the high-five lane, where we could catch the Mavs as they walked to and from the locker room at halftime and after the game. I took a photo of Dad in our seats, and he returned the favor for me, when one of the floor security guards came walking over to me. “I saw you in San Antonio last night,” he said, and mentioned that a few people he was watching the game with asked if he had seen me around the arena before. He said he thought he had, and then we talked Mavs and basketball for a few more minutes before Dad and I decided to go exploring up on the concourse for a bit. I’m so not used to strangers coming up to me out of the blue like that, but I have to admit, it was pretty neat to know that someone recognized me.

As it turned out, the security guard wasn’t the only one who had seen me. Before the game started, one of the guys in the Hoop Troop (the ones who throw T-shirts into the crowd) stopped by and said he, too, had seen me in San Antonio on Friday, and that I had been “givin’ ‘em hell” and proceeded to just hand me a T-shirt. In all the years I have attended games, no matter where I was sitting, I have never come anywhere close to catching a flying T-shirt. I have sat courtside, in the very top row, and plenty of places in between, but this was the very first T-shirt I had ever laid claim to -- and I didn’t even have to fight anyone for it.

I got goosebumps (like I always do) once the lights went down and the music started playing and the Mavericks were introduced. I love that part of the game so much that I even downloaded their opening music and added it to my MP3 player a couple years ago. I listen to it anytime I need to get myself awake, alert, or excited about anything.

The game started out close, but before I knew it, I looked up on the scoreboard and we were down by double digits; at halftime, it was a 10 point deficit. Given the fact that earlier this season, we had an amazing comeback win against Utah sparked by an unbelievable fourth quarter showing from Dirk, I still felt like the Mavs had a good chance to pull out the win. But as the second half wore on, and every time we made any sort of run, the Jazz were able to answer it, I slowly came to the realization that as much as I’d love for it to happen, the Mavericks can’t win every night, especially when they’re playing from behind for the better part of the game. In an 82 game season, you can’t win ‘em all.

After the game, we were led out to center court, where we took lots more photos: me, Dad and, Champ and me, and a group photo of several of the people who have been so involved behind the scenes to make this week such an unforgettable adventure. Dad and I were also handed basketballs and we each had the chance to shoot a free throw or two. Let’s just say that it’s a good thing I’m a fan and not trying out for the team, because they would’ve laughed me out of the arena! I clanged the first one off the front rim and the second -- it was a stinky ol’ airball. It has definitely been too many years since I’ve played; no one would ever believe me if I told them that in either the 5th or 6th grade I won a free throw shooting contest that got me entered into the old Hot Dogs ‘n Hoops contest the Mavericks used to put on back in the day.

After the photographs, we went back to the interview room for the post game press conference, and since Coach Carlisle hadn’t made it in there yet, I stepped up behind the podium and had my picture taken there as well. Someone, not sure who, called out, “So tell us, what went wrong in the game tonight?” and I just started laughing. Being asked a question, even in jest, at the podium like that, was just as surreal as everything else about the entire HP Insider experience has been up to this point.

After the post game press conference, Dad and I were invited to join everyone in the Old No. 7 Club. Neither one of us is a big drinker, nor are we big on the club scene, but I wanted to tag along just to get the complete experience, if you will. As we walked in the door, I was asked to show my ID, and I said, “Oh, it’s okay, I’m with them,” but then the doorman let everyone else inside and waited for me to find my license; I was being carded! I just turned 34 years old last Monday, and I was being asked to show proof that I was over 21. Now THAT was amazing…and flattering, too.

We all moved upstairs, where the Cowboys-Eagles game was playing on multiple screens, and ordered two drinks: ice waters. We hung around maybe half an hour more before calling it a night and heading to the house, happy as two bugs in a rug. The only thing that could have made the night any better? A Mavs victory.

But there’s always a next game, and the one Wednesday with the Lakers should be a great one…

Alarm Clocks and Egos

TheInsider — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:59:47 GMT

Thank God for alarm clocks. If it wasn’t for the incessant beeping of my alarm, I don’t know when or if I would have been able to wake myself up on Saturday. As excited as I was to be attending a game here at home, I was also exhausted from the previous 48 hours; it’s not like plane rides and hotel stays are a part of my everyday life.

I hate to admit it, but the first thing I did -- once I was semi-conscious -- was to plop down in front of the DVR to watch the footage of me from the Spurs game. It’s not every day that my face is flashed on television, and I was anxious to see the clip of myself. I thought it was fantastic that Mark & Bob introduced me to the audience and mentioned that I was indeed the HP Insider, and what I really loved was when the camera shot back to me and Bob said something like, “You just cheer as loud as you want, Mandi.” This is one game that will never be deleted from the old DVR.

Dad and I were running a few minutes late heading to the AAC for the pre-game shoot around, but he sped like a race car driver all the way there and amazingly, we ended up a few minutes early. It was even more exciting for me to sit on the catwalk and watch the team go through shoot around the second time, because I got to share it with my Dad, the one who first got me interested in the Mavericks (and basketball in general) nearly 25 years ago. To be able to bring him along for even a portion of this experience is something that I will always remember…and I’m betting Dad will too.

After shoot around, we were led to the interview room, where Coach Carlisle would be giving his pre-game statements and answering any questions. As we walked in the room, I saw familiar faces: Rolando Blackman, Emily Jones, and even Jeff “Skin” Wade, all of whom can be seen on different portions of the Mavs broadcasts. Skin, who is a pretty funny, laidback guy, asked me if I would like to ask Coach Carlisle a question, and I was intrigued at the prospect, but also nervous and anxious that somehow I would screw something up. Skin first suggested a lengthy, multiple part question, and I quickly said no, too complicated for me, so he posed a second much simpler question which I agreed to ask. He told me the Q&A procedures and when would be the best time to ask, and once Coach Carlisle came in the room, my nerves were on edge as I patiently waited for a break in which to ask my question. Finally, as the session was drawing to a close, my Dad nudged me with his knee and I blurted out, “Coach, what’s the key to defending the Jazz tonight?”

Coach Carlisle never missed a beat and looking directly at me, answered my question as if I was a normal reporter and asking questions was an every day occurrence for me. I’m not positive, but after all was said and done, several people told me that my question (ok, really and truly it was Skin’s question) had garnered the lengthiest response of all. Awesome!

After the questions came to a close, Rolando Blackman, one of the Dallas Mavericks I had watched, loved, and adored growing up, came back and introduced himself to me. Wow! I couldn’t believe I was shaking hands with the Ro Blackman. Every time I think this experience has reached its pinnacle, something even better comes along. It has just been an amazing ride all the way around, in every aspect, and I know it is the most extraordinary thing that has ever happened to me, or most likely will happen to me, in my entire life.

I'm a Celebrity!

TheInsider — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:46:53 GMT

I was told before the start of the Spurs game that Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel would do their best to try and mention the fact that I had won the HP Insider contest at some point during the broadcast, although no one knew exactly when it would happen. Once we found our seats, I texted my family and friends, telling them where to look for me in my bright orange T-shirt. Throughout the game, I received multiple messages from loved ones saying they hadn’t seen me yet, asking where I was sitting, etc. Since we had no idea when I would be broadcast, I was nervous about texting too much or seeming too distracted when and if the camera ever found me.

And then, during the 4th quarter, it happened: the camera man came and stood DIRECTLY in front of me, for what was probably less than a minute, but it felt like a lifetime. I wanted to be sure I did the Mavericks proud, so I waved at the camera, whooped and hollered, and screamed until I was red-faced, hoarse, and almost out of oxygen. Within minutes of my appearance, my cell phone was blowing up with missed calls, voice mails, and messages from friends and family alike saying, “Hey we saw you!” and “Wow, you were all over the TV!” It may not have been fifteen minutes, but I definitely had my moment in the spotlight!

I texted my Dad and asked him if I had looked goofy or anything on the TV, and he wrote back, “You looked like a fan as usual, even in a hostile environment,” and that was the best compliment I could have received. Mission accomplished!!

Friday night my Dad met me outside the airport around 1 am and I followed him to IHOP, where we sat for almost two hours while I filled him on every little detail of my experience so far. I was still so full of adrenaline and awestruck, that even when the closing time crowds from the bars arrived, people were STILL staring at us because I could not contain my excitement...or keep my voice down. It was after 3:30 am when I finally made it home, and after 5 am before I made it to bed, still riding on my incredible Mavericks basketball-induced high!

Prizes Are Still Up for Grabs

TheInsider — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:48:37 GMT

Attention Everyone!

Although the grand prize experience with the Mavericks has already been awarded, there are still plenty of great prizes available, including Mavs tickets! The contest is ongoing and open to the public. So while you’re here catching up on the blog and enjoying all the pictures, be sure to register to win one of the many great prizes that still remain!

The Rivalry: Mavs vs. Spurs

TheInsider — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:14:09 GMT

The Mavs-Spurs rivalry is the most entertaining match up in the entire NBA. Ok, so maybe I’m a little biased, but anytime these two teams come together, basketball fans are in for a wild ride and Friday night was no exception. Even for someone who is just a casual NBA fan, a close back-and-forth game like the one I witnessed at the AT&T Center on Friday is enough to get you hooked.

I knew we were in for a great game when we walked out onto the court and the security guard stopped me to comment on how much she loved my shirt, and that Dirk was her favorite player. It was nice to know there was at least ONE more Mavs fan in the arena who would be cheering my team to their eventual victory. I have never been to a Mavs road game before, but knowing the rivalry that exists between the two teams, I was prepared to whoop, holler and do whatever else I had to do to ensure the Mavs could hopefully hear me rooting for them throughout the game.

As expected, I was surrounded by Spurs fans, who seemed a bit surprised to find such a boisterous Mavericks fan in their midst. Every time the Mavericks would score, or save a loose ball, or make a mini-run, I found myself standing and cheering, just as I would at any other game. It was a close game throughout, and full of excitement. Spurs’ Coach Gregg Popovich was ejected early in the second quarter after being assessed two quick technical fouls, and in the second half, tempers flared between Jason Terry and George Hill, resulting in double technical fouls. At one point in the third quarter, when the Mavs had gotten down by 13 points, Kathleen from HP, who was sitting beside me, looked a bit worried about the outcome of the game. I told her not to worry, because I just knew the Mavs would be okay, and that in the fourth quarter, they would turn it on and pull out the win. And as it turned out, I was exactly right.

In the fourth quarter, the Mavs found a way to get Dirk the ball more often, and unlike earlier, this time his shots started dropping; he finished the game with 16 of his 26 points coming in the final frame. Jet dropped in an additional 11 points, and the Mavs went 5-for-5 on three pointers in the last twelve minutes. Although they started the fourth quarter down by 10, the Mavericks nearly doubled up the Spurs by outscoring them, 42-23, over the final period, to secure their eventual 112-103 victory.

Towards the end of the game, after the Mavs had taken the lead and were well on the way to their 25th win, many of the Spurs fans had started filing out of the arena, and I was finally able to hear people other than Kathleen and myself who were also cheering on the Mavericks, which was a welcome surprise. After the game, we headed back towards the buses to wait to head to the airport for the flight home. As the players came by en route to the bus, they were nice enough to stop and pose for a few pictures with me. Donnie Nelson came over and high fived everyone and then gave hugs all around in celebration of the Mavs win, and Mark Followill came over to take the happy post game picture with me since we had taken one together earlier that morning.

After going through security, we boarded the bus, which was nearly full, and I was fortunate enough to grab a seat next to Bob Ortegel. He asked how I had enjoyed the game and said that next time I see the Mavericks on a road trip, I will know exactly what goes on behind the scenes and all the hard work and preparation it takes by so many different people to make it a smooth trip. We moved directly from the buses to the plane once we reached the airport, and upon arriving at my seat, I found dinner (which I had ordered on the flight to San Antonio) already waiting for me. As I ate, seats filled up all around me, and somehow Donnie Nelson ended up sitting in the seat directly in front of me.

I saw Coach Carlisle pop his head into our section of the plane and look around a time or two, and I asked Kathleen if she thought maybe the plane was so full he was going to have to sit back there with us. She suggested maybe he was just checking to make sure that the HP Insider (that would be me!) had made it onto the plane and was not left behind, and we shared a giggle. Imagine my surprise a few minutes later when Coach Carlisle came walking down the aisle, directly to me, and hand delivered me a copy of the final box score statistics from the game! As I read over it, I noticed he had personally autographed it, “Mandi, Thanks for the good luck!!! Go Mavs!!” WOW!! What an amazingly awesome and unexpected gift. Although it may seem like something small and simple to most people, just the fact that he would even take the time to think of me and do something like that was so special to me. I will never forget it. Of course, it’ll be even harder to forget once I get that stat sheet framed and hanging up on the wall!

Pictures from the Road Trip

TheInsider — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:52:27 GMT

I couldn't believe I was really on the Dallas Mavericks' team plane, headed to San Antonio, until I saw this picture of myself.

I'm sure plenty of people wondered who I was when we snapped this picture in front of the Spurs court just prior to the game. For anyone who watched the broadcast on TXA 21, my identity would no longer be a mystery by the end of the night!

This is Clay Christopher from the Mavericks, who chaperoned the road trip. This shot was taken Thursday night after the most interesting cab ride as Clay, Kathleen, Lesley and I enjoyed a lovely dinner at Rosario's. Cheers!

Kathleen caught this picture of Dirk taking a shot during the pre-game warm ups prior to tipoff Friday night.

All the rest of these pictures were taken after the game as the players prepared to board the bus and head to the airport for the flight back home. After the victory, Mark Followill joined me for this celebratory postgame picture.

Shawn Marion made a point of closing my jacket to hide my Dirk T-shirt before agreeing to take a picture with me.

Quinton Ross and me

Tim Thomas and me

Rodrigue Beaubois and me

Mavs General Manager/President of Basketball Operations Donn Nelson and me

And last but certainly least, my favorite picture of the night, featuring JJ Barea, his 1000-watt smile, and me...

Living the Dream: Insider Photos

TheInsider — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:26:59 GMT

These first few pictures are from the Jason Terry appearance at Academy Sports on Wednesday. Jet signed all sorts of things for his fans, including T-shirts, basketballs, and even a $2 bill!

Mavs' mascot Champ leaned on me while we waited for the Jet to appear on the runway.

Kathleen Haley from HP posed for a snapshot with me at Academy as well.

Below are a few snapshots of Thursday's morning practice and the media session immediately following the shoot around.

After personally introducing me to everyone on the team (minus one 7' German MVP), Coach Carlisle asked if there was anyone else I would like to meet. Of course, my answer was "Dirk!"

Dirk, Jason Kidd and Jet all stood around chatting during a lull in the morning practice.

This is just me, standing on the catwalk watching the Mavs practice, wearing a grin from ear to ear that I have been unable to wipe off my face for the past several days.

JJ Barea was laughing as he admired his bobbleheaded likeness.

Even Coach Carlilse got a laugh out of the bobblehead when Jet showed it to him during the media Q & A session.

Jet put on his serious face as he answered questions about the upcoming game.

Holy Guacamole!

TheInsider — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:27:34 GMT

After morning shoot around, we headed to lunch at Boudro's on the Riverwalk. Followill had told us if we went there, we had to try the tableside guacamole, and as it turned out, he was absolutely right. The guacamole was made with a few unique ingredients, most notably juice from a fresh orange and a smoky mixture of Roma tomatoes and Serrano peppers. As he prepared the guacamole, the waiter informed us that eating the guacamole at Boudro's was listed in the book 1001 Things to Do Before You Die, as was drinking their Prickly Pear Margarita. I still have 1000 things left to do as it was too early in the day for a drink.

After lunch, we headed back to the hotel and I sat down to try and get some blogging done and get a few pictures posted before we had to leave for the pre-game shoot around a few hours later. I even found time to run back down to the Riverwalk and squeeze in a little bit of shopping before packing my bags and heading downstairs to catch the second bus over to the arena. As I exited the elevator and walked into the lobby, I passed Josh Howard, who commented on how much he loved my shirt. (For those of who you who didn't see me or don't know, I was wearing a bright orange T-shirt that resembled a Wheaties box with Dirk on the front of it announcing his NBA MVP award. I wanted to be sure I stood out in the crowd...and boy, did I!)

Shortly after we boarded the bus, Dirk hopped on and since the driver was standing outside, Dirk walked right over and honked the horn, signaling his arrival, and laughter broke out. On the ride to the arena, I kept hearing someone whistling, and as it turned out, that was also Dirk. I actually learned a lot on the bus ride, as we drove down under the arena and the bus came to a stop just outside the tunnel entrance to the court. I had no idea the buses could actually drive inside the arena, but it makes sense because it keeps the players in a safer and more secure area where they won't be bombarded by superfans like me.

I was allowed to watch Coach Carlisle giving his pre-game statements to the media before we were led out onto the court to find our seats, which were great, by the way. We were in the corner beside the basket on the opposite side of the floor from the team benches and had a fantastic view of the entire game. I took several pictures when the team came out to warm up and then we were taken back to the Media Room, which was full of Internet connections and places to hook up computers, where all the reporters gather and work on articles about the game. Then it was on to the VIP Dining Room, which featured a buffet of fajitas with all the fixings, a mini salad bar, and brownies for dessert. Once we ate and returned to our seats, the show was on: it was finally time for tip-off, and I couldn't have been more excited, or more prepared to cheer my Mavs to victory, even if I was forced to do it single-handedly!

Insomnia, Ghost Chilis, and a Mixed Marriage

TheInsider — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:44:00 GMT

I was so wired and excited and thrilled just to be along for the ride on Thursday night that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t sleep. Around 1 am, I gave up and turned on the TV and settled in with a Coke and a candy bar. Amazingly, it helped, and shortly after 2am, I was out. I had the alarm set for 8:30 but the excitement in the air woke me up a little before 8am. Normally, I am not a morning person, but for my Mavericks, I would get up at any hour of the day or night.

Friday morning, we had plans to take a cab over to the AT&T Center with Chuck Cooperstein & Mark Followill and watch the Mavs morning shoot around. Again, the cab ride was different than I would have imagined. Sitting with great sports minds like those two, I would have expected more sports talk. Interestingly enough, most of the conversation on the ride to the arena centered on a discussion of ghost chilis, capsaicin, and the television show Man vs. Food, which is also one of my favorites. It was refreshing to see that just because Mark & Coop’s jobs revolved around sports, their whole lives didn’t necessarily have to.

We got to the arena before the team and walked out to center court, where I took a couple of pictures over the Spurs logo. I wanted one to send to my husband Rickey since we have a mixed marriage -- I’m a Mavs fan and he is a Spurs fan, which makes it rather interesting around our house any time the two teams meet. (We usually have to watch the game on separate TV’s in different parts of the house.) Mark & Coop were nice enough to pose for a few pictures with me before the team filed in a few minutes later.

The team watched a film for a few minutes before shooting and running through some more practice drills. At one point, Erick Dampier was standing under the basket at one end of the court and baseball tossed a basketball towards the goal at the other end…and swished a full court shot! If he could continue to make that kind of shot, there was no way the Mavs could lose!