Twas the Night Before a Dallas Mavericks Game
By Isaac Harris
It is Christmas time in Dallas, therefore it is time to make a Mavs version of the famous poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas”.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ Dallas
Not a fan was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the AAC with care,
In hopes of St. Dirk soon would be there.
The fans were all nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of the 2011 Finals danc’d in their heads
And Rick in his kerchief, and Mark in his cap,
Had just settled their brains for a long winter’s nap-
When out in Victory Park there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my phone to see what was the matter
Away to the arena, I flew like a flash,
I checked in my ticket and threw up the sash.
The moon on the arena like a new fallen snow,
Gave the lustre to the mid-day below
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a court full of Mavericks the other team should fear
With a 20 year legend, so lively and smirk
I knew in a moment it must be St. Dirk
More rapid than eagles his teammates they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name
Now! Harrison, Now! JJ, Now! Dennis Now! Wesley
On Salah, on Devin, on Yogi and Maxi
To the end of the court to the top of the wall
Now dash away dash away dash away all
As dry leaves before the hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
So up and down the court, the Mavericks flew
With a team full of youngsters and St. Dirk too
And then in a twinkling, I saw on the court
They knew he was different and nothing of sort
As I drew in my head and was turning around
Down the court St. Dirk came with a bound
He was covered in sweat, from his head to his foot,
His jersey was tarnish’d with ashes and soot
A bundle of teammates he flung on his back
He looked like a wolf, a leader of his pack
His eyes-how they twinkled, his haircut how merry
He tortured his opponents, his shot was so scary
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard of his chin was getting white as the snow
The stumps of a win he held tight in his teeth
And the victory it encircled his head like a wreath
He had a skinny face and a never aging belly
That made fans cheer with their bowls full of jelly
He was graceful and tactic, a right jolly old elf
And I cried when I saw him in spite of myself
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
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Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread
He spoke not a word but went straight to his work,
Making all the tough shots, never a jerk
Swiping his jersey aside of his nose
And hitting the last shot, he brought the game to a close
He celebrated with his team, the refs gave the final whistle
And away they all went, like the down of a thistle
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight
Merry Christmas Mavs fans, and to all a good night
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*Poem is derived from the ancient Christmas poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and the original poem lyrics were found at The Huffington Post here.