After Tony Parker emasculated Dirk and the Sopranos in Game Two, scoring 38 points - many on layups - Mavs center Erick, aka Ericka, Dampier, suddenly took stock of the size differential (6-11, 265 vs. , what, 6-2
and 175?) and vowed to put the Frenchman on his back in Game Three: "Parker got into the teeth of our defense and caused problems," Dampier told The Dallas Morning News after the game. "Every time he drives the lane, we have to put him on his back. The first foul has to tell him he's in for a long night. My first foul Thursday night is going to put him on his back. I guarantee it."

Some think it's the right move, someone'ss got to step up, right? Mark Cuban going all Chuck Lidell on a water cooler's not gonna do it. But now the big lug's got the league "looking into it," and the refs will have their whistles
on a hair-trigger. So it's not likely to have a beneficial outcome for the Mavs. "Calling it" -the guy will go down in three, I'm going to take him deep, we're putting this one in the end zone - only works some of the time. Calling that you're going to commit a flagrant foul, most likely early in the first quarter, is not one of these occasions. (More)