OK, listen up — no, really

Dirk Nowizky’s Dallas Mavericks teammates tried to warn him about his grifter fiancée, to no avail. Finally, he listened to his longtime German coach and had her investigated, leading to the jailing of Cristal Taylor on outstanding fraud charges — and to the end of their affair. Even so, Taylor might be carrying Nowitsky’s child, which means he might be paying a long time for his failure to listen to his chums.

Arturo Gatti became enamored of a woman in a strip club — always a good start to a solid, long-term relationship — and didn’t listen to his friends when they warned him about Amanda Rodrigues. (That’s her on top, after her arrest.)

Now, he’s dead and she’s suspected of strangling him with the strap of her purse.

Moral of the story: When your pals try to warn you about the “woman of your dreams,” you just might want to listen.

Good for him

Give Dirk Nowitzki some credit.

The Dallas Mavericks’ star might have been foolish in love — becoming engaged to a grifter isn’t the smartest life move — but he’s stepping up in the matter of the pregnant woman’s baby.

The jailed Christal Taylor, aka Krista Santiago, aka Debra Johnson, aka Shana Mancini, aka ... well, you get the point, says she’s carrying Nowitzki’s child. Nowitzki wants a paternity test, which only makes sense.

But, if the child IS his, Nowitzki will pursue sole custody.