Dallas, TX

How Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic became Slovenia’s ‘biggest brand’

Published

11 months ago

January 23, 2024

On “I Feel Slovenia” night at American Airlines Center, up in a corner suite, one of Luka Doncic’s homefolks considered the question of who, exactly, held the title of the tiny nation’s most famous citizen before Luka Magic seized the world stage as if it were a loose ball.

Masa Puklavec, global public relations manager for the Slovenian Tourist Board, needed a moment to consult with her boss.

“Maybe Melania,” Puklavec said after the quick huddle.

Melania?

“Trump.”

Oh. Right.

Even Slovenia’s ambassador to the U.S., Iztok Mirosic, among the two dozen or so dignitaries and erstwhile hoops nuts who made the business trip, says the former first lady takes a back seat, calling Luka their “biggest brand in the United States.” In a little more than five seasons, the 24-year-old superstar has done as much for his idyllic nation’s economy as he’s done for the Mavs’. Last year, U.S. tourists broke their 2019 record for overnight stays. Luka gets unofficial credit for the uptick in bookings.

No one back home could have imagined this sort of economic boon a decade ago when Mirjam Poterbin was flying her son back and forth from Madrid to play basketball with grown men.

Now he drives everything from fast breaks to tourism to talk show conversation.

“Yeah, I think so,” Mirosic said from his perch in the suite. “Every morning driving from my house to work, that’s all you hear on the radio. People are waking up very early in the morning just to watch him play.

“Every morning is about Luka, what he said and how he played.”

Luka’s story plays everywhere these days, and it’s paying off, too.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic signs autographs for Slovenian fans after an NBA game, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Dallas. The Mavericks hosted a Slovenian themed night Monday.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

Putting Slovenia on the map

For the record, Leon Stukelj won six Olympic medals in gymnastics, including two golds in Paris in 1924, another in Amsterdam in ‘28 and a silver in Berlin, the Olympics where Jesse Owens and the boys in the boat got under Hitler’s skin. Many of Slovenia’s 2.1 million citizens are consumed with athletic pursuits of one kind or another, from Alpine skiing to soccer, basketball, handball and volleyball. Tadej Pogacar is a two-time winner of the Tour de France, and Janjas Garnbret was the first female Olympic gold medalist in climbing. Anze Kopitar has played 18 seasons for the Los Angeles Kings. For that matter, Goran Dragic beat Luka to the NBA by a decade.

But no other Slovenian athlete has captured the public’s imagination like the four-wheel-drive truck cruising the floor Monday at the AAC.

“He’s the first man from Slovenia that’s gotten people curious about where he’s from,” said Lucija Jager, project manager for the Slovenian Tourist Board.

“That’s a very good thing for us as a country.”

Just how good is difficult to quantify, though it’s enough of a sure thing that they came back for their third “I Feel Slovenia Night,” the brainchild of Mavs official Connor Terry. The Mavericks have employed players from all over, including a pretty famous German, but Terry said no other partnership has taken like this one. Slovenian officials are trying to build on it in ways other than tourism. Earlier Monday, the contingent met with Dallas business leaders at the Dallas Regional Chamber to discuss potential investments.

Before the Ten-Day War in 1991 gave Slovenia its independence from the former Yugoslavia, the region already was prosperous. No bigger than New Jersey, bounded by Austria to the north, Hungary to the east, Italy out west and Croatia down south, Slovenia offers amenities such as free university tuition, a well-educated workforce and a nice view of the Alps and Mediterranean.

Mirosic fought in the Ten-Day War and has served in the public sector ever since. In September, President Joe Biden greeted him at the White House. Mirosic once presented Queen Elizabeth one of his nation’s prize Lipizzaner stallions. Also met Melania Trump in Warsaw.

What did you think?

“I admired her,” he said. “Regardless of the politics and all that, I think she’s a very good mother and she takes very good care of Barron.”

Pause.

“Of course, she’s American now. No more Slovenian.”

Mirosic confessed he’s in no place to judge whether the same fate awaits Luka, as well. He’s never actually met his nation’s most famous celebrity. He’s been a little busy over the last couple decades or so, stationed in Rome or London or Washington. On the other hand, Slovenia is such an intimate place, as one official put it, “We are all in each other’s phones.”

The population of Dallas-Fort Worth is almost four times as big as his country’s, but, as Mirosic put it, it’s not the size that resonates with Slovenians.

“To be sincere?” he asked. “Mostly they know about Dallas from the famous TV show. Then there is the association with cowboys.”

Dallas Cowboys?

“Going around with pistols,” he said, guns up.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots over Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) during the second half of an NBA game, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Dallas. The Celtics defeated the Mavericks 119-110.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

Slovenia Night spoilers

In what has become something of a tradition on “I Feel Slovenia Night,” the locals didn’t really get the feels. Scheduling the game against the Boston Celtics didn’t help. Even without Kristaps Porzingis, sitting out the second night of a back-to-back, the visitors, declining to buy into a presentation promoting international goodwill, bullied the Mavs around the floor.

Still, with 4:59 left, a 3-pointer by Luka pulled the Mavs to within 103-96, drawing a timeout from the Celtics and shrieks from the suite in section 214. Three female visitors proudly waved green “I Feel Slovenia” scarves, sensing a comeback led by their hero.

Alas, he was up to no such miracle. A couple minutes later, down 11, he missed a free throw.

“Lu-kaaaaaaaaa,” one of the women wailed, leaning out over the rail.

Then he missed the second one, too.

Silence filled the suite.

Despite 33 points, 13 assists and 18 rebounds from Luka, not to mention a rousing halftime show from Slovenia’s Dunking Devils, the Mavs lost, 119-110. On top of that, Luka even lost the headband he’d recently made a fashion item.

Nevertheless, two dozen Slovenian visitors waited eagerly for one of their own to address them after the game. Some brought memorabilia for autographs. A couple picked up discarded Luka posters. They waited and waited some more. Finally, after more than an hour, Luka appeared out of a tunnel to cheers from his tiny home crowd. A Mavs official, a little embarrassed, told them there would be no speech after all. Luka still had to talk to the media. There would only be time for a picture.

Team Slovenia.

From way up in the corner suite, the man who met a president and a queen and a first lady watched Luka exit. A meeting with Slovenia’s biggest star will wait for another day.

Twitter/X: @KSherringtonDMN

Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Dallas, TX

Hania Aamir explains why she abruptly left her Dallas meet-and-greet

Published

2 seconds ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

After her Dallas meet-and-greet ended abruptly, leaving fans disappointed, Hania Aamir explained in an Instagram story that she left early because an event organiser allegedly verbally abused her and her manager, Maida Azmat.

In a detailed Instagram story, Aamir maintained that she loves and respects her fans, and that the event ending suddenly was unfortunate. She said she was proud of the fact that her fans had built a community of love, trust and support, and therefore offered some transparency regarding the matter.

“Everyone saw videos of me walking to the crowd and taking pictures and everything was fine. When I was going back to my seat I heard one of the organisers verbally abuse my manager. So I walked up to her and asked what had happened and told the man (one of the organisers) that he cannot speak to her like this. She was so distraught that she went backstage. I followed her to make sure she was okay and Fahad [Mustafa] being a gentleman also came to check up on her.”

Backstage, the Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actors started taking pictures with fans, however, Aamir said the event organiser in question chased after them, allegedly calling them names and telling them to leave the premises.

“[He] called off the security protocols, and verbally assaulted us even more (people had to hold him back). We were rushed out by our promoter Arif Khan to not further escalate anything and we managed a personal means of transport to get back safely to the hotel.”

Aamir emphasised that no one had the right to disrespect another person, regardless of their position. She continued that just because women were in male-dominated fields, it was wrong to assume that someone could get away “with almost anything” without the women taking a stand for themselves.

“Thirdly, we as a fraternity put in a lot of effort to make our fans happy. And such people with their theatrics are mostly trying to paint us black. I don’t know, maybe it does something for their ego. But promoters/ organisers need to step up and make sure such clowns don’t ruin the events and the experience for the fans and the artists.”

The Mere Humsafar actor also called on media outlets to show responsibility with their journalism and stop levelling allegations against artists without facts.

“Last but not the least, I would like to apologise to every single one of you who came. And I dearly love every single one of you. I am sorry things had to end this way. Just have to get through with the bad days I guess.”

Support from entertainment industry

Soon after Aamir’s statement, she was flooded with support from the entertainment fraternity, with many decrying the disrespect she faced.

Fellow actor Yashma Gill reshared Aamir’s story and said, “Like always, immense respect for Hania Aamir and Maida Azmat for handling the situation not only professionally but also with bravery.”

Gill added that there was no place for disrespect in the entertainment or other industries. “Let’s call him out so no one ever has to go through the same because of him or people like him again.”

Actor Maya Ali said, “Disrespect is unacceptable at any cost or under any circumstances. I am so proud of you for handling this situation with such grace. It’s truly disappointing that some individuals failed to show respect to our Pakistani stars and their teams.”

Actor and internet personality Umer Khan, popularly known as Ukhano, shared pictures of him with both Aamir and Azmat, and said, “No one should have the right to disrespect our stars”.

Khan added that Aamir always devoted herself to her craft and fans, which is why she is “Asia’s most influential artist”, and that Azmat had been his mentor since he started working and inspired him with her professionalism.

“If some third-class promoter can’t show respect and love to our stars then everyone should walk out and boycott such promoters. We stand with you.”

Actor and musician Azaan Sami Khan said, “It’s unfortunate to see the artist being blamed without understanding the complete context.”

Actor Namreen Khan echoed others’ sentiments and wrote, “No one has [the] right to disrespect artists. Hania Aamir is a gem of a person! Her love and respect for fans and people is no secret.”

Radio personality Anoushey Ashraf also said that there was no room disrespect and abuse for anyone.

“Artists are our pride and assets. Am sorry you had to experience this. At the end of the day, people show their own upbringing and mindset when they decide to disrespect a woman (and many a times one from media).”

Filmmaker Nabeel Qureshi said, “This has always been the case with the majority of promoters. In the end, it’s the artists and fans who have to suffer, while the promoters still manage to benefit the most.”

Actor Hira Khan wrote, “No, you can’t put everything on the artist because it’s easier for you to do so!”

Fashion stylist Aarinda Noor, who dressed Aamir for the event, said, “No one has the right to disrespect anyone! It’s very easy to escalate negativity and extremely difficult to understand the responsibility.”

Aamir’s Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum co-star Fahad Mustafa has not commented on the situation yet.

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Dallas, TX

Here is everything you need to know for Sunday’s Cowboys and Eagles game

Published

10 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Here is everything you need to know for Sunday’s Cowboys and Eagles game

The Dallas Cowboys are undefeated this season in games played where they were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Whether or not that continues to hold true over the final two weeks of the regular season will be of extreme fascination.

Up next for the Cowboys is their final road trip of the year, a venture to face a division rival in the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the Eagles’ loss last week to the Washington Commanders that served as the final straw that eliminated Dallas from the playoffs, and as a result, Philly all but took themselves out of contention for the top seed in the NFC.

Still though, a win would give the Eagles the NFC East title, their first since 2023. Whenever the division is secured it will mark the 20th consecutive year that the NFC East has seen its reigning champion fail to repeat so Philly will in all likelihood be the team carrying that burden next year.

Cooper Rush, CeeDee Lamb, Rico Dowdle and co. will have their hands full on offense while Micah Parsons, Marist Liufau and DaRon Bland look to help Dallas continue their form on defense. Even with the season being effectively lost before it was official we have seen the Cowboys playing hard and it stands to reason that this will continue in the City of Brotherly Love.