Twas the Night Before a Dallas Mavericks Game

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

Next: Derek Harper to Have Jersey Retired in January

*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.