Feeling different this season

[fifteenth]

I feel different this year but for different reasons. 

I started following the Mavs in 2008 which is later than anyone here, mainly because basketball was never that big in Egypt and the time difference sucks. 
Before 2008 I only watched a couple of international tournaments and I liked international players more than US tbh 

In later summer 2008 I lost my dad after a MI, in which we spend weeks beside his bed in hospital, I was just 21 and my family had other struggles, I was barely surviving college and was just getting a passing grade.

I needed  something new, Soccer was my passion but I needed another thing, and that was basketball. I choose the Mavs because I liked Dirk and generally fan of German in team sports. 

That year RC was already a coach, Dirk was franchise player and Donnie was the GM, Cuban is the owner but he is the one I liked least. 
For 11 years the group remained the same, until Dirk retired. Then this summer both Donnie and RC leaves the team (one is fired, the other resigned) 

So, in a way it is a whole different team now, I am in a different phase in my life where sports isn't big on my list. I have no connection at all to the City.

I still love the Mavs and rooting for them, but I am not sure if I am as passionate anymore

So sorry for the loss of your Dad khaled! My wife had to suffer the loss of her dad and brother over the last decade, so seeing that gives me compassion for going through it. 

It's really cool that you found the Mavs and found us! How long after jumping on the bandwagon did you find our message board? Did you like basketball at all before finding Dirk, or did he bring you into the sport?