Cuban Missing Crisis?

  Pacers at Mavs. And conspicuous in his absence will be Dallas owner Mark Cuban. Busy exchanging emailing with some over-officious zealot from the SEC? (Counselor Norris: Looooved the "This-is-Texas,-Bush-Country,-where-we-love-America,-not-California,-where-they're-all-fruitcake-Commies'' rant. Way to go, Toby Keith, Attorney at Law. Seriously, is it possible this "Jeffrey Norris'' thinks he's "Chuck Norris''?)

  Anyway, no. No problems. Before the conspiracy theorists get to playing “Where’s Waldo?’’ tonight at the ACC, let’s ask and answer the question of Tony Cubes’ planned absence.

  Cuban sent out an email last night informing The Society of Professional Conspiracy Theorists – otherwise known as “The Media’’ – that he’s scooted off for a brief family vacation over this Thanksgiving break. Oh, and during the Christmas break when his daughters are not in school, he says he “will miss a game or 2. In case any of you all ask :)’’

  (Smiley face his.)
  What Tony Cubes will be missing tonight: Coach Rick Carlisle’s regular-season debut against his old team, the Indiana Pacers, who he once led to a franchise-best 61 wins. That was four years ago, and preceded the infamous 2005-06 Pacers-Pistons brawl that eventually led to his dismissal following a 35-47 campaign the next season.

  The Pacers started this season with promise but are now 5-7 after losing two in a row and four of the last five. They are keyed by Danny Granger (Carlisle considers him All-Star-caliber), ex-Mav Marquis Daniels (who scored 25 points in Saturday’s loss at Miami and who is apparently a better dresser than he used to be) and point guard T.J. Ford, the Texas-ex who’s quickness figures to be a challenge for Jason Kidd and company. (More good Pacers stuff at IndyCornrows.)

  The Mavericks are 6-7 and looking for a fifth straight win to push themselves up to .500. Traditionally, Indy is another of Dallas’ patsies; The Mavs have won eight of their last nine home games against the Pacers, including the last four. That task could be more difficult tonight depending on the injury status of Josh Howard, who is averaging 20.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game but who remains day-to-day with a bum ankle.

701am nov 25 2008