No Subject

Great deal of regret

Hey, M.L. Carr. Raise a toast to yourself this morning. People here are
still moaning about the 1996 trade that allowed the Celtics to draft
Antoine Walker and Ron Mercer. The Mavericks wound up taking Eric Montross
and Samaki Walker. Dallas coach Don Nelson said that deal set the team back
at least a year. Nelson is making sure the same mistake won't be made this
season.
                       The coach has told his basketball operations staff
to make scouting its No. 1 priority. Former Celtic Kevin Stacom is a member
of that staff (he's a scout) ... Popeye Jones made his return to Big D last
night. Shortly after entering the arena, he was asked to make a television
appearance. Jones was one of the most popular Mavericks here ... Maverick
Michael Finley on the team's recent victory over the Bulls: ''The No. 16
seed just beat the No. 1 seed.'' Charles Barkley had said that Dallas
wasn't capable of winning the NCAA tourney.