Mavs Games Reduce Medical Emergencies

EMS calls drop 30 percent during title run

Commentary
by Bruce Felps

Watching the Dallas Mavericks win the NBA championship not only was redeeming, satisfying, cleansing but, turns out, it was also good for your health.

It was, at lease, in an anecdotal kind of way, and more so in Fort Worth and its environs than in Dallas.

MedStar EMS, the ambulance service for our western brethren in Mavs-hood, reported a more-than 30 percent drop in emergency medical calls during the six game nights of the finals compared to typical call volumes accumulated during corresponding nights and times when there were no games.

For example May 31, Game 1, the emergency services company received 48 calls during the game. A usual Tuesday night would bring in 69 calls.

The closest game night came to regular night occurred June 6 when the Heat won Game 3 in Dallas. The call volume dropped only 15.6 percent that night compared to any given Sunday, meaning, maybe, more than a few locals experienced chest pains at the thought of Miami regaining a home-court or any other advantage in the series.

Sports Connection

Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.

NBA world erupts after Anthony Edwards' poster on John Collins in Timberwolves-Jazz

First Four history, schedule, how to watch and more to know as March Madness begins

Pfffftt, didn’t quite turn out that way, huh, LeBron, you classy fella, you? Really, the only word missing from his response was “pathetic.”

Overall, the company responded to 272 emergency calls during six game nights as opposed to its average number of 399, reflecting a 31.8 percent reduction in medical emergencies.

So there you have it. Medical research — which has nothing to do with this at all — proves that watching Dallas Mavericks’ successful runs for titles is good for your health.


Bruce Felps owns and operates East Dallas Times, an online community news outlet serving the White Rock Lake area. The Stars, on the other hand, are giving him ulcers.

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us