Editor's note: The following story is part of Dirk's Domain, our Nowitzki career retrospective. It can be found by going to sportsdaydfw.com/Dirk
Ernie Banks, a Hall of Famer, is the greatest Dallas athlete who happened to grow up here. Babe Didrikson Zaharias is the greatest Texas athlete to pass through town. Emmitt Smith is the best Cowboy, Mike Modano the best Star and Michael Johnson the best Olympian. Also runner-up to Banks' title.
But only one athlete wears the crown of the greatest in Dallas-Fort Worth history without any caveats, and until further notice, that's the one who retired this week.