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By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News


A group of South Dallas business, education and political leaders meet every Wednesday around lunchtime at Luby's to discuss current events.

The meeting, called "The Roundtable," is a place for newcomers to introduce themselves to the community and for people with problems to seek advice.

SMU did both on Wednesday.

New men's basketball coach Matt Doherty, along with SMU senior associate athletic director Carlton Cooper, met with 14 community leaders for 90 minutes to talk about rebuilding the fractured relationship between the school and the South Dallas area.

"I want to be here and recruit here in my back yard," Doherty told the group.

Last month, when longtime DISD coach Jimmy Tubbs was fired by SMU, it raised concerns within the school district and parts of South Dallas.

Goree Johnson, DISD assistant athletic director, said he was upset that SMU fired Tubbs after only two seasons.

"While I have a great deal of respect for Tubbs, the tragedy is he took the market for granted," said Darryl Blair, co-editor of Elite News, an African-American weekly newspaper. "The other tragedy is that [DISD] coaches didn't support him."

Elite News founder and publisher William Blair hosts "The Roundtable," which has been meeting for 16 years. He said it was time for South Dallas and DISD, specifically, to move forward.

Darryl Blair said previous SMU coaches John Shumate and Mike Dement never attended the sessions. Tubbs attended some meetings but sat away from the group.

It's been a busy week for Doherty. He met with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban at Moody Coliseum on Tuesday.

"I think it's a good hire," Cuban said via e-mail.

Among those in attendance were Leon Simon, a radio personality; Joe Bell, a retired program director at Ch. 4; Billy Allen, president and CEO of Unique New Visions Inc.; and Calvin Portley, DISD associate athletic director.

"It was a great experience to reach out to the community, especially the African-American community," Doherty said.

We made a GREAT move when we hired Doherty. If he coaches as well as he attacks the public relations part of his job, the future looks bright indeed.

The bit about Tubbs taking south Dallas for granted is interesting, I wonder if there are some specific instances he is referring to?

MrMustang1965 wrote:"While I have a great deal of respect for Tubbs, the tragedy is he took the market for granted," said Darryl Blair, co-editor of Elite News, an African-American weekly newspaper. "The other tragedy is that [DISD] coaches didn't support him."

To me, that statement right there sums it up. Yes it was crappy the way Tubbs was let go, but the fact remains that promises were not delivered on and expectations were not met. I think it is very interesting that they are laying some of this at the feet of Tubbs as well within their own community.

Doherty is doing everything right so far. I am really excited that he has been talking to Cuban as well. I remember back in our last somewhat glorious days in the late 80s that Maverick players were a staple at SMU home games, you always saw Sam Perkins or someone walking around when the Mavs schedule permitted it. Hopefully Stackhouse can grab a few of his teammates to the games.

That is awesome that he has reached out. I am glad he talked to Cuban as well. He's doing what needs to be done so far. Say what you will, but he's on the right track.

abezontar wrote:The bit about Tubbs taking south Dallas for granted is interesting, I wonder if there are some specific instances he is referring to?

I would bet that's a reference to the assumption that Coach Tubbs' mere presence would lead to a pipeline of Dallas players to the Hilltop, a pipeline that never opened.

The note in that story that jumped out at me was that Mark Cuban met with Coach Doherty in Moody Coliseum. What was Cuban doing there? It's not like he wanders on to campus to greet every new coach SMU has hired. Is this a move for cash for the Cuban Practice Center? Who approached whom? Is it just me, or does anyone else think there could be something really significant brewing here?

I don't think there is much to the Cuban thing. I bet he just asked him to come visit and talk. Cuban has no ties to SMU, he's an Indiana boy.

I think Diop went to some games this year for Fall. I used to see Donnie Nelson at almost every game during the Dement tenure but he never came while Tubbs was here. If Stack comes out, that would be cool.

Dip and Mbenga both came to games to see Bamba Fall (Diop is especially close to Bamba's uncle, who basicly brought him to America), I always wondered why Donnie Nelson stopped going to games once Tubbs was hired??? I've seen other mavs at games as well (Najera)

mavsrage311 wrote:Dip and Mbenga both came to games to see Bamba Fall (Diop is especially close to Bamba's uncle, who basicly brought him to America), I always wondered why Donnie Nelson stopped going to games once Tubbs was hired??? I've seen other mavs at games as well (Najera)

Eddie was there to see Ray Lopes, the former OU Assistant, when he was coaching at Fresno State. I remember seeing him at that game as well.

I wonder what he and Cuban were talking about? Hopefully about some MONSTER pub for the ponies. At the mavs game, "show your mavs stub, get in smu games for $1!" or something. Something to get butts in the seats.

Darryl Blair had some interesting insights on Tubbs.

I am glad to see Doherty reaching out. I'm also glad to see some saying its time to look forward. The Cuban visit is intriquing. It may be nothing, or it may be something. I am especially confused because the meeting was publicized. I would think that if there were discussions going on about joint anything between SMU and the Mavericks, they would be very hush, hush, until we had some more clarity. What was UCF's relationship with the Magic?

smu diamond m wrote:I wonder what he and Cuban were talking about?

Mavs Dancers at every SMU home game!

bagice wrote:

smu diamond m wrote:I wonder what he and Cuban were talking about?

Mavs Dancers at every SMU home game!

...include the recently nationally honored SMU Dance Team and you might be on to something!

I can't believe Calvin could not get a quote from that DISD asst AD that was there.