SAN ANTONIO - The only problem with Mark Cuban’s magnificent retirement party for Dirk Nowitzki is that it didn’t take.
The retiree was back on the job Wednesday. Fortunately, this violation of protocol didn’t seem to bother anyone, least of all the locals who greeted Dirk as if Sam Houston had finally shown up.
Here at the after-party in the AT&T Center, there were no headliners. No Charles Barkley, no Larry Bird, no Scottie Pippen or Detlef Schrempf or Shawn Kemp.
No billionaire promising Dirk a statue or a job.
Just cheers. And tears.
One last rival showing a little love.