From Empty Seats to Eight-Figure Ads — and a Mavericks Reset | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

In this episode of Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges, Norm and Mary Hitzges look backward and forward at the same time — tracing the remarkable evolution of the Super Bowl while unpacking a franchise-shifting decision by the Dallas Mavericks.

Norm begins with Super Bowl 60, revisiting how the game went from an awkward, half-empty afternoon in 1967 to the most powerful annual spectacle in American sports. From $12 tickets and $42,000 commercials to today’s $8–10 million ad slots, Norm explains how the Super Bowl’s growth mirrors the transformation of sports, television, and money itself. Along the way, he shares unforgettable history — including Max McGee’s hungover heroics in Super Bowl I and the astonishing reality that neither network bothered to save the full game tape.

The episode then shifts to the present, where Norm breaks down the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to move on from Anthony Davis, effectively closing the book on the Luka Dončić era. Norm explains why the trade wasn’t about talent — Davis was still productive when healthy — but about flexibility, criticism fatigue, and long-term cap strategy. With Dallas now projected to have $44 million in cap space, Norm outlines how the Mavericks may follow a patient, Oklahoma City–style rebuild built around flexibility, draft assets, and opportunistic trades.

It’s a thoughtful episode about growth, money, patience, and perspective — from the Super Bowl’s unlikely beginnings to a franchise trying to find its next identity.

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⏱️ Chapters (YouTube-Friendly)

00:00 – Super Bowl Sunday questions and today’s themes

01:26 – The origin of the Super Bowl name

02:10 – From $12 tickets to $10M commercials

02:58 – 32,000 empty seats at Super Bowl I

04:57 – Why the full game footage was never saved

05:53 – Max McGee’s hungover Super Bowl legend

06:49 – Super Bowl 60 matchup and betting context

08:02 – Why defense still wins Super Bowls

08:56 – Transition to the Mavericks’ big move

11:09 – Anthony Davis traded and what it really means

11:54 – Criticism fatigue and why Dallas wanted out

13:20 – What the Mavericks actually received

14:15 – The real prize: $44M in cap flexibility

15:40 – Following the Oklahoma City rebuild model

16:21 – Pieces Dallas still likes going forward

17:18 – What Dallas ultimately got for Luka

18:27 – Sponsors and closing thoughts

19:19 – Final sign-off

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Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened.

New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don’t hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

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Sports podcast · NFL analysis · College football · Dallas sports · NBA commentary · Salary cap · NIL · Sports media · Long-form sports talk