Jim,

Nice meeting (sort of) you tonight at the game. You made what was an unbelievable night for my daughter even better. First, as you know, we do have the season plans, however, our seats are nowhere near where we were sitting (108 CC, 3 & 4) when we met you. Here’s how the night went:

First, I must start by saying how diehard I am when it comes to the Mavs and my passion has spilled to my wife, fourteen year old son (basketball stud, they say) and my almost nine year old daughter, whom you met tonight. Anyway, we proceeded to our seats prior to game time after grabbing a bite at the Grill Zone, then during the first quarter, my daughter caught a shirt from one of the Maniacs that were up in our section (309). With all the games we’ve had the pleasure of seeing, this is the first time we have been able to catch something.

During the second quarter, they come again, this time with beads. Yes, she got some of those as well. Needless to say, at this point, she is on top of the world. As much as she gets into the game, I think for a minute she forgot one was in progress. Well, the fun was just beginning. During halftime somebody came over and tapped my daughter, Hannah, on the back and said, “Excuse me.” My daughter then nudged me and he continued to us both, “You (my daughter) look like a true Mavs fan, take these and go enjoy yourselves.” They were the tickets on the floor where we saw you. I asked him for his name: Todd Williams (also the name on the tickets). Of all the people he could’ve picked, he just happened to come up from the floor to section 309 to look for someone to whom he could give the tickets.

My daughter was almost, literally, in tears she was so overjoyed. She could not contain herself on the way down to 108. And there’s more. I must say, I think we were the loudest in those front 3 or 4 rows. I guess most of the folks down there are used to being there and they just didn’t seem to get as rowdy and into it as we do. Hey, that’s what it’s all about, to be loud and support our team, right? Then, at the end of a timeout, Hannah yelled Dirk’s name and it appeared to both of us he gave her a big smile.

Could it get any better? Lastly, during a break in action as the dancers were tossing shirts into the crowd, Hannah was at it again, cheering so loud for a shirt it was deafening. It was great. To no avail though, this time she wasn’t one of the lucky ones. No harm, no foul. She was still as excited as one could ever be. Then, a person with a headset (don’t know his function but his main perch seemed to be around the tunnel where the dancers enter and exit.) He came within shouting distance to us, got my daughter’s attention, and then tossed her a shirt. Speechless is all I can say.

I was so happy for my daughter this night. After the game we met Don Carter, whom Hannah recognized and wanted to meet. Then, Danny Bollinger came up to us and asked if we would like a picture. Of course we did, not that the picture was needed to help Hannah remember this night!

I can’t say enough positive things about your first class organization. Back in January of ‘05, my son, then in 5th grade, nominated his teacher for Matt Pinto’s Matt’s Pat On The Back program for community service. Well, she won and both my son and his teacher were invited to a Mavs game and introduced during a game break on center court. During this event, there was apparently a mix up on the seats Suzie (don’t recall her last name) gave to my son, Collin and his teacher. Although this was not, in any way, looked at as an inconvenience to either one of them, Suzie sent my wife an email some days later and told her she was putting my son and me in for the UPS Seat upgrade. My wife kept this a secret and when my son and I arrived at our next game, one of the Hoop Troop members came to where we were sitting and escorted us down to the floor, not once telling us what this was about. Then, we were escorted onto the floor during a game break and introduced as the UPS seat upgrade winners (2nd row). What a treat for us both to be that close to the action!

Back in January of 2006, my father-in-law had a stroke. A big strong man now was able to do next to nothing for himself. He had always been a Mavericks’ fan and my wife really wanted him to be able to go to a game, something he had never had the opportunity to do. Anyway, my wife, Tessy, sent an email to Mr. Cuban requesting an exchange of our two plan tickets for two tickets in a handicapped area so we would be able to wheel him in. Mr. Cuban forwarded the email to his Director of Game Day Operations at the time (Steve Letson), with instructions to “fix them up.” We received the two additional tickets (handicapped) and parking in VIP lot across from the arena. We even got to keep the other tickets. Since then, Tessy’s dad has been inducted into the Texas Tech Hall of Honor for his basketball accomplishments when he captained the Red Raiders during the ‘53, ‘54 and ‘55 seasons.

To current affairs, we have worked with Eric Ferrell, as we have for all our ticket purchases, to purchase 60 tickets to the 2/29 game. We’ll be bringing the Grapevine Middle School 7th and 8th grade boys basketball teams to the game. Eric has been a pleasure to deal with and although we can’t afford the best seats in the house, he takes the time to make us feel just as important as those that can.

And last, but certainly not least, you made it possible to get my Valentine’s Day delivery for my wife. I certainly appreciate you taking the time to manage this and meeting our date and time request. Tessy still doesn’t know about this surprise and boy, will it be.

I apologize for taking so much of your time with this, however, I did want you to know how much the Mavericks organization means to us.

Thanks again to you and the Dallas Mavericks organization for all you do.

Regards,
Damian Merrick