The "greatest" Dallas athlete ever? Maybe.

Dirk made it official Tuesday night: Telling Dallas
Mavericks fans, and the world, that his playing career
is coming to a glorious end after 21 NBA seasons.

     Loved 41.21.1, love Dirk.
     Dirk Nowitzki Appreciation/Celebration Day (and Night) was everything a Dallas Mavericks fan could have wanted.
     And, yes, we are fans here in this apartment. Have been for years. Not as much of an NBA fan as years past -- honestly, rarely watch anymore -- but my wife fell in love with the Mavericks, and with Dirk, some years ago ... and why not?
     What a way for The Big German to go out -- a 30-point performance that reminded us of what was for so many years.
     But for those fans chanting "one more year" Tuesday night, no thanks. Dirk is done, and he knows it.
     He is planning to play some tonight at San Antonio in the Mavericks' last game this season -- and his last game ever.
And 41.21.1 -- No. 41 for 21 years with one team -- is the perfect tag.
     Best player in Mavericks' franchise history. No question. NBA legend. No doubt. But, excuse me, "greatest athlete in Dallas history," I say that's debatable. 
     I cannot choose 41.21.1 over 12.11.1 -- that's Roger Staubach, No. 12 for 11 years with one team (the Dallas Cowboys).
     You might choose Bob Lilly or Emmitt Smith or Nolan Ryan or Mike Modano or -- oldtimers alert -- Doak Walker. Some of us greatly admired Dandy Don Meredith. 
     Personally, I don't subscribe to any "greatest" selection (wrote a blog about that several years ago). The subject is just too selective; the field too broad.
     Certainly, character -- the person's outreach and influence in the community, the depth of their presence and personality -- plays into it.
     Think we all agree that Dirk is a wonderful human being, a great representative for Dallas (and the Metroplex). Staubach qualifies there, too, and has for almost five decades.
     Safe to rule, though, that if longevity is the determining factor, Dirk is the "greatest." Playing more than two decades at the level he's played, in a sport and a league as physically demanding as the NBA -- with its travel challenges and back-to-back scheduling quirks -- is phenomenal.
     And what great performances Dirk gave us. He is -- again, no question -- the best 7-foot pure outside shooter the NBA has ever had.
     (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's sky hook was a treat, too, unless you never rooted for his teams. Some of us did not.)
     Of course, Dirk's crowning glory was the 2011 NBA championship. Even if you are not an MFFL (Mavericks Fan for Life) -- and I don't qualify -- that was one great ride. Repeat from above, my wife loved it.
     Dirk remained a quality player over the next few years, and the Mavericks remained competitive but never again to a championship level. And when Dirk began to decline, with injuries here and there, it was tougher to watch. Some of us stopped watching.
      But Tuesday night was a must-see. A great evening, from Dirk's arrival at American Airlines Center through the pregame to a romp (32-point lead) to near-disaster (down to four) to Dirk's last fadeaway basket and then the tear-inducing postgame ceremony.
      Admittedly, I am awfully sentimental about sports ceremonies -- Hall of Fame inductions, jersey retirements, statue unveilings, retirement announcements, whatever.
      The Mavericks did it right Tuesday night. 
      So neat to see Dirk's ex-teammates return and to see his role models appear: the always-entertaining Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen, Larry Bird, Shawn Kemp and Dirk's countrymate, Detlef Schrempf, the Mavericks' first outstanding German player (four seasons, 1985-89).    
      A personal note, and a prejudice based on history: Don't often root for anything German. OK, it's silly, seven decades after you-know-what. But Dirk? Had to root for Dirk. So admired his playing ability and his character.
      Let's just call him a Big Texan.
      My favorite basketball players ever: Jerry West and Robert Parish. And one more: Dirk Nowitzki. 
       It was 41.21.1, and it was a wonderful night, a wonderful sendoff.