[晨報] Mavericks might miss more than Naje …
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/082904
dnspomavslede.36c1b.html
Mavericks might miss more than Najera's hustle
Traded forward's production was limited, but not his fan appeal
02:38 AM CDT on Sunday, August 29, 2004
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
In less than two months, the Mavericks have lost perhaps the two most
popular players on their team.
Steve Nash walked in free agency. Eduardo Najera was traded last week to
Golden State for Erick Dampier.
While it is clear the Mavericks are reshaping their roster, it's equally
obvious that they now must start marketing a different team. Najera's
hustle and spirit, not to mention his connection with the Hispanic
community, will not be replaced easily. Similarly, fans who enjoyed
watching Nash's stringy-long hair flying in his wake also must go through
an adjustment period.
Re-grabbing the fans – and keeping that regular-season sellout streak
(currently 112) going – is going to be a challenge.
From a basketball perspective, the trade for Dampier "was one we couldn't
not do," according to Mavericks president Donnie Nelson. But the Mavericks
do not underestimate the contributions of the 6-8 forward in his four
seasons.
"The hardest part of this thing all along was Eddie," Nelson said. "He was
the heart and soul in a lot of ways for this team. We tried everything we
could to keep him out of the deal, but it was a deal-breaker from Golden
State's viewpoint."
Other Mavericks officials declined to comment.
The upcoming season will require the public to put a new face on the
franchise. Billboards throughout the city had featured a horizontal Nash
diving for a ball or an energized Najera doing the dirty work. These were
players who were easy to market. They also embodied the Mavericks' persona
as a fun team.
"Eddie was extremely popular here," said Roberto Gonzalez, who handles
much of Najera's endorsement and business dealings in Dallas and Mexico.
"I don't think there's any question that he was one of their most
marketable players. The Hispanic people adored him."
As do most fans, period. Fans, of course, are some of the most resilient
creatures on Earth. They likely will grow to embrace the new Mavericks, of
whom there are plenty. At least nine players are expected to be new.
"We're going to have a different look, for sure," Nelson said. "But the
proof will be in the pudding."
On the court, the loss of Najera will be less dramatic. Since recurring
left knee problems began in the 2002-03 season, the 6-8 forward has been
inconsistent. He never played more than 62 games in his four seasons with
the club.
He was not the same player last season that he was in 2001-02, when he had
his best season, averaging 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds.
That doesn't mean Najera won't have good seasons ahead of him. If his knee
is healthy, he's got five or six more seasons in which he can augment his
reputation as an undersized bruiser who outworks everybody he plays against.
And as Mavericks fans know all too well, there's a lot to be said for
reputation and work ethic. That Najera will be missed in spite of limited
production is proof.
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突然覺得小牛有點像 Chelsea
都是藍色的
都是新冒出的勁旅
老闆都很熱血
最重要的
似乎每年都在換血...
一代新人送舊人 (如果來一年也算舊人的話)
大家加油... orz
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