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One Thing to Consider as the Dallas Mavericks host the Boston Celtics for Game 4 of the NBA Finals

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One Thing to Consider as the Dallas Mavericks host the Boston Celtics for Game 4 of the NBA Finals


The Dallas Mavericks play the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night. The game will be on ABC and should start sometime after 7:30. The Mavericks are starting at the 0-3 hole they’ve dug themselves and likely wonder how they’re going to find a way out. A team has never come back before in NBA Finals history from such a deficit. Are the Mavericks the team to do it? There’s only one thing to ponder in the hours leading up to Game 4:

There is no tomorrow

Like Bill Simmons, the movies of my childhood live in my brain. For me, the Rocky movies were pivotal in shaping how I think about sports and adversity. Rocky IV is probably my favorite, because it’s the most ridiculous one. But Rocky III is that has the most applicable lessons.

Rocky loses his edge in Rocky III. He becomes scared of losing all he’s earned and in becoming scared he creates a self-fulfilling prophecy when he’s beat by Clubber Lang, a vicious fighter.

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Luka Doncic, during Game 3 at least, lost his edge. Perhaps that’s too harsh. He certainly lost his way, and in doing so was both the a primary reason why they were in Game 3 and a primary reason why they lost.

In the interview above, he says the right things. Luka Doncic almost always says the right things, verbally taking responsibility is one of the hallmarks of his personality. What comes next for Luka is the actual application of the lessons he’s insisted he’s learned in these sorts of interviews.

There is no tomorrow. There’s nothing after this game, not if they lose. If they lose, there’s time to think, to lament, to regret. As the Mavericks prepare for this game and as we prepare for this game, there’s no point looking ahead. Dallas must win. They must win. One win, that’s all that matters.

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Take the punches. Then fight back. Win.





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Dallas, TX

Dallas-based Energy Transfer’s $300 million trial against Greenpeace begins today

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Dallas-based Energy Transfer’s 0 million trial against Greenpeace begins today


After nearly eight years, Dallas-based pipeline company Energy Transfer LP’s $300 million trial against Greenpeace USA is set to begin Monday in North Dakota.

Energy Transfer is accusing the longtime nonprofit and other activists of defamation and damages over claims related to protests surrounding the construction of the nearly 1,200-mile Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016.

Before the trial, Mi Barrio 214, a Pleasant Grove art studio, became the gathering place last week for local and national activists, tribal members, artists and community leaders to create climate justice banners and signs against Energy Transfer.

A Dallas energy company’s lawsuit could bankrupt Greenpeace’s U.S. operations

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On Saturday, a peaceful march took place on the Ronald Kirk pedestrian bridge with wings representing hummingbirds and banners that read “We will not be silenced” and “End big oil’s attack on free speech,” with about 35 people.

The protests in 2016 and 2017, which erupted because pipeline construction endangered sacred lands and threatened the area’s water supply, were organized by Standing Rock and other Sioux tribes and supported by more than 300 sovereign tribal nations. They inspired an international solidarity movement after Energy Transfer’s private security unleashed attack dogs and pepper spray on nonviolent protesters.

Greenpeace activists and supporters gather for a rally as part of their preparation for Monday’s trial against Greenpeace US for opposing the construction of the nearly mile-long Dakota Access Pipeline, on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Ronald Kirk pedestrian bridge in Dallas, (Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer)

Joseph White Eyes, who grew up in Eagle Butte on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and participated in the 2016 protests, came to Dallas for the march to send a message to Energy Transfer. White Eyes said Greenpeace was not the organizer of the protests; it was an indigenous-led movement.

“To take that narrative away for that Indigenous people that were able to stand up and do this type of resistance like we’ve done, for the past 100 years, is a complete slap in our face,” White Eyes told The Dallas Morning News. “Because then again, it goes to show that people of color are on the sidelines, and it’s these big white organizations that are in charge.”

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Energy Transfer, led by North Texas billionaire Kelcy Warren, said Greenpeace and others incited protests, spread misinformation, and vandalized the project, which, according to the lawsuit, cost Energy Transfer millions of dollars in delays.

The company stated via email, “Our lawsuit against Greenpeace is about them not following the law. It is not about free speech as they are trying to claim. We support the rights of all Americans to express their opinions and lawfully protest. However, when it is not done in accordance with our laws, we have a legal system to deal with that. Beyond that, we will let our case speak for itself.”

More than 400 organizations worldwide signed an open letter denouncing the lawsuit as meritless and an attempt to rewrite history by claiming that Greenpeace orchestrated what was an Indigenous-led movement.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (left) receives a first bump from Kelcy Warren, CEO of Energy...
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (left) receives a first bump from Kelcy Warren, CEO of Energy Transfer Partners, as the two participated in a fireside chat about Texas’ growing economy at the Dallas Citizens Council 2024 Annual Meeting in the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, December 12, 2024. The chat was moderated by DCC immediate past chairman Rob Walters.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Greenpeace has denounced the lawsuit as a “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation” case. SLAPP suits are civil litigation that individuals and entities bring to dissuade their critics from continuing to produce negative publicity. According to Cornell Law School, by definition, SLAPP suits do not have any true legal claims against the critics.

The Obama administration halted construction in 2016, but the project resumed following an executive order in the early days President Donald Trump’s first term. The pipeline was completed soon after and began operating commercially in June 2017.

Warren and his wife are major political donors. Politico’s E&E News reported the pair have donated upward of $30 million since 2010, primarily to Republican candidates. Warren donated about $5 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign.

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North Texas Native Americans want their voices heard ahead of 2024 presidential election

Rogelio Meixueiro, a North Texas activist and Greenpeace organizer, said Dallas residents need to know the connection between this lawsuit and their city.

“A lot of the big oil industry deals take place in Dallas, and this is where the headquarters of Energy Transfer is, and Warren lives here,” Meixueiro said. “In the community, he is seen as a great philanthropist and someone who supports many causes, but he has also put the land and water of some communities at risk.”

Warren paid $10 million to name the 5.2-acre park Klyde Warren Park in honor of his son, The News reported.

Energy Transfer is represented by Gibson Dunn & Crutcher – the firm that represented Chevron against Steven Donziger, an environmental advocate sued by the firm after helping Amazonian communities in Ecuador win a landmark pollution case. Davis Wright Tremaine, a firm known for representing First Amendment cases, represents Greenpeace.

The five-week jury trial in Mandan, North Dakota, will not be streamed live.

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Phoenix Amaterasu was one of the about 30 community members who were at the Mi Barrio 214 studio to connect with others who were there to support the cause.

Amaterasu traveled from Austin and others from D.C., Chicago, California, Seattle and North Dakota.

“They can try to silence people and nature, but we will persevere no matter what,” said Amaterasu, spraying green and blue paint on the cardboard hummingbird wings. “We have to protect our nature. That is our duty. We are done with the big oil industry.”





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Islanders get Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield back for Sunday's game against Dallas

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Islanders get Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield back for Sunday's game against Dallas


The team’s focus was all on Sunday night as the Islanders resumed their season against the Dallas Stars at UBS Arena after a two-week break for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-off Tournament while getting defensemen Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield back into the lineup.

But, bigger picture, there was also a keen understanding of how important these next six games over 10 days, starting on Sunday and leading into the NHL trade deadline on March 7, are toward determining their playoff fate.

“I think that would be lying if anybody told you no,” defenseman Tony DeAngelo told Newsday. “Just as far as standings, we’re playing huge games. We get the Rangers twice, we get the Bruins. These are four-point games now. There’s still time, no matter what happens, in the season. But when you have chances to make up these four-point games, you’ve got to take advantage of them. It’s definitely important.”

So two things could be true at once. The Islanders spent their four practices leading into Sunday night’s match locked into the Stars and trying to get off to a good start after the NHL hiatus against one of the tougher teams in the Western Conference. But there was no way to ignore the importance of hosting the Rangers on Tuesday night and then playing at Madison Square Garden the following Monday plus Thursday night’s trip to Boston.

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“We know what’s going on,” Anders Lee told Newsday. “We know the importance of the next two weeks here. Right off the bat, you look at these first three games and you’ve got tough matchups those first three nights and big points on the line, especially with New York and Boston and where all three of us stand.”

The Islanders, Rangers and Bruins are all in a nine-team pack battling for the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots, with the Sabres still having an outside chance of making it a 10-team chase.

The Islanders know they simply cannot afford regulation losses to the Rangers and Bruins.

Toward that end, having Pulock and Mayfield return is a definite boost to the Islanders’ chances.

Both were activated off injured reserve on Saturday. Pulock missed seven games after suffering an upper-body injury when the Hurricanes’ Jackson Blake clipped his skates 15 seconds into a 3-2 overtime win on Jan. 25. Mayfield was sidelined four games with a lower-body injury after the Lightning’s Luke Glendening checked him into the end wall in the Islanders’ 3-2 overtime road win on Feb. 1.

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Mayfield made it clear on Tuesday when the Islanders resumed practicing he’d be ready to play on Sunday. Pulock spent the Islanders’ first two practices this week in an orange, non-contact jersey before being cleared for contact on Thursday.

“It’s great,” Pulock said. “It’s tough when you’re missing time. Fortunately for me, the two-week break was huge. It feels good, the last few days, to be back with the team and back just getting ready to play.”

Coach Patrick Roy, who successfully integrated DeAngelo, Scott Perunovich and Adam Boqvist into the defense corps with Pulock, Mayfield and Noah Dobson all injured, chose to separate Pulock from longtime partner Adam Pelech. Instead, Pulock started Sunday’s match skating with Perunovich.

“Watching him when I was out, he moves well, he battles,” Pulock said. “He’s got good offensive instincts.

“I think they’re all great,” Pulock added when asked about how the defense’s efforts while he was injured. “Some big minutes for guys at times. Guys stepping up in different situations. There were games where they all looked really good.”

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Notes & quotes: Defenseman Mike Reilly (heart condition/long-term injured reserve) participated in the optional morning skate, though Roy said he has not been cleared for contact and there is still no timetable for any potential return. Reilly has been out since suffering a concussion on Nov. 1. “Things are going well,” Roy said. “He hasn’t really practiced with the team. If we had a regular practice, he probably would not be on the ice . . . It is very inspiring. From the moment that he got hurt in Buffalo to today, he went through a lot. It’s nice to see that he wants to continue and he wants to come back.” . . . Boqvist and Matt Martin were the healthy scratches.



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Fool Me Twice? Cowboys could infuriate fans with another aging RB blunder

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Fool Me Twice? Cowboys could infuriate fans with another aging RB blunder


The Dallas Cowboys were 27th in the NFL last year with 1,705 yards on the ground. The only reason they finished that high was thanks to a late-season push from Rico Dowdle, who finished with 1,079 yards.

Outside of Dowdle, the Cowboys had no one they could depend on to move the chains consistently. That included Ezekiel Elliott, who returned to the franchise after a year with the New England Patriots.

MORE: Cowboys blockbuster trade idea ships Micah Parsons to Bills for star RB & more

While most fans believed Elliott was washed, owner and general manager Jerry Jones was convinced he was still a featured back. Jones was proven wrong, as Zeke had 226 yards on the ground while averaging a career-worst 3.1 yards per attempt.

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He was released before the conclusion of the regular season, but again, the front office refused to admit he wasn’t the same player. Instead, they said they were allowing him to sign with a team for a playoff run.

That’s why it’s a little alarming to read the latest prediction from Jacob Camenker of USA Today. He selected one free agency target for all 32 teams and has Dallas signing Raheem Mostert, who will be 33 when the season begins.

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Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

“The Cowboys are another team with cap issues, and Jerry Jones’ team hasn’t been interested in spending much in recent offseasons. That means they will be bargain-hunting. That makes Mostert a nice fit, as Dallas needs to add a veteran running back to its roster. Deuce Vaughn is the only one currently under contract for 2025 and Brian Schottenheimer’s teams have typically skewed run-heavy during his career. Pairing Mostert with a rookie from a loaded class would be an ideal situation for the Cowboys.” — Camenker, USA Today

Camenker is correct that the Cowboys also need to add a rookie running back, and the idea of Mostert isn’t terrible. That said, this team doesn’t need to try the same approach that failed them in 2024.

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Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert / Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Mostert is not only older than Elliott was when he returned but is coming off a far worse season. The veteran back had just 278 yards with an average of 3.3 yards per attempt. Elliott recorded 642 yards during his 2023 campaign with the Patriots, so the Cowboys could at least point to that number as a reason for hope.

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A better option for Dallas would be to bring back Rico Dowdle and pair him with a rookie. If Dowdle hits free agency and the price tag becomes too high, then they could look for outside options, but it’s best to stick with players under 30 at this position — unless their name is Derrick Henry.

— Enjoy free coverage of the Cowboys from Dallas Cowboys on SI —

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