Classy Stackhouse Returns to Dallas… In Bucks Uniform

As an original Dallas Mavericks fan (yes, 1980-81, I was a glutton for punishment even at young age), never living anywhere near Dallas, I’ve had to follow the team from a bit of a distance.  In the 80’s and early 90’s that meant seeing them on TV when they played the Nets and Knicks a couple of games apiece, an occasional national game and even less occasional playoff game.  The Mavs have had some truly awful teams (15-67 in 1980-81, 24-140 combined in 1992-93 and 93-94), a fine late-80’s run that happened to coincide with the Showtime Lakers, and a resurgence that led to 50-plus wins every season this decade, the apex being an NBA Finals appearance four years ago.

That 2005-06 team, and the 67-win outfit a year later, got a lot of national TV time, so I probably saw more Mavs games that year and followed the team closer than any other.  Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry were the stars, but Jerry Stackhouse was a key man on both of those squads, providing a spark off the bench and leadership that some saw as unexpected coming off a rough two-year stint in Washington.

Stackhouse, who played nearly 100 more games for Detroit but spent slightly more time overall — five full seasons — in Dallas, signed Jan. 18 with the Milwaukee Bucks.  He returns to what should be a huge ovation when his new team visits Dallas.  The Dallas Morning News’ Eddie Sefko has a nice piece today that notes that among the first calls he received upon joining the Bucks were from Mark Cuban and Rick Carlisle, which I was happy to see, as a ‘thank you’ for his service to the Mavs.

Even more, I liked Stack’s quote on how he’s viewing his role in Milwaukee, a non-title contender, when most players of his age look to find a championship-caliber team.

“I still feel I have something left in the tank,” Stackhouse said. “When I go out, I want it to be on ‘E.’ At this point in my career, most guys are thinking about trying to get on a team that’s really close to a championship. But where could I have more value than to a younger team that’s really trying to take it to another level?”

I like both parts of it… how he wants to play until they rip the uniform off him, as David Cone liked to say.  And how his influence on a young Bucks team could pay off way after he’s finished playing, but that he’s ok with that.

I’ll be rooting for the Mavs tonight, but hope Stack gets the reception he deserves and a few moments to show he’s not yet on “E”.