Early in December Chicago Bears’ receiver Brandon Marshall was carted off the field in a loss to the Cowboys with a back injury. He later Tweeted “I’ll be all right. Mind over matter.”
Cute and courageous, but it rang hollow when he was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Perhaps Marshall needs pain management – or at least an English lesson – from the Mavs’ Monta Ellis.
Because less than 48 hours after severely spraining in his left ankle in a win over the Thunder, the guard was back on the court last night leading his team to a cakewalk over the weary Wizards.
See, “mind over matter” is when your mental strength allows you to overcome your physical pain and still perform your duties. Right, Monta?
“If I don’t think about it, I don’t hurt,” the Mavs’ guard told reporters in the post-game locker room after scoring 20 points in Dallas’ 114-87 victory. “That’s my mentality about it.”
Oh, by the way, Ellis’ ankle still has plates and screws in it from a 2008 surgery.
Said head coach Rick Carlisle, “Most guys in this league wouldn’t even think about playing two nights later.”
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Ellis is becoming your favorite Maverick because he’s not afraid to take – and make – crunch-time shots. Because, when all else fails, he can create an open look for himself or a teammate with his aggressiveness and athleticism. And because – with all due respect to what Marshall thinks it means – he has indeed mastered “mind over matter.”
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
