For Mavericks, Good Team Chemistry Means Hitler Jokes Are Funny

It wasn't that long ago that the Mavericks looked to be in a bit of turmoil. You may recall Jason Kidd being benched during crunch time, then playing with the game on the line and performing with both hands grasped firmly around his neck. The team ended up dropping four out of five against some of the league's best, and Dirk was so angry he was clotheslining fools.

Now, thanks to some Houston Rockets-style good fortune in scheduling, the Mavericks are winners of five straight, and everything is puppy dogs and ice cream in Dallas. Both of the major newspapers in the city did stories on how happy Dirk is right now, and with locker room harmony at a season high, what better way for the team to celebrate than by ... cracking Hitler jokes. It went a little something like this:

"Germany has produced lots of champions!'' laughs Dirk Nowitzki as he enters the locker room after yet another Mavs victory. "Really? Name one!'' challenges Jason Terry.

"What about Max Schmeling?'' offers Dirk, name-checking the great heavyweight champion boxer of the 1930's. Replies Terry, a rather astute sports historian: "He beat Joe Louis once, but then came the rematch, and it was the big one, and (Schmeling) couldn't win the big one!''

And then, out of nowhere, a third voice tries to settle the faux feud. "Yeah!'' giggles Malik Allen. "And what about Hitler?''

And all the Mavs within earshot crack up, another joke told, another victory secured, another intangible bond maybe solidified.

Nothing like bonding by ripping your team leader's heritage through the use of Hitler comparisons, I guess. Dirk's the one who brought up the German thing, and he's been known to be a bit of a comedian from time to time, so I'm sure he can take the ribbing. Even if it does involve like, the worst human being in the history of the universe.