A Jerk By Any Other Name
No matter how the current playoff series between the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks turns out there are some things of which I will be certain:
1. The Spurs are a class organization from top to bottom.
2. The Mavericks are a very good basketball team.
3. Mark Cuban is a jerk and he tarnishes the Mavericks image.
There was a time when I admired Mark Cuban...now I think he's an embarrassment...to himself.
He was always an entrepreneur it seems. Years ago, he and a friend capitalized on a newspaper strike in Pittsburgh by snagging newspapers from Cleveland and then reselling them in Pittsburgh. That story is in his official biography on ABC.com. They summarize it by saying he "imported" newspapers from Cleveland. In a Fox Sports biography I watched, Cuban admitted he and his buddy actually went to Cleveland and raided the newspaper vending machines...paying for one paper, taking all of them, and then they sold them for full price in Pittsburgh. I remember how he smiled as he recounted the story as an example of his financial savvy. If you spell success with a dollar sign...Mark Cuban fits the bill - pardon the pun.
Yeah, he's a $uccess.In my opinion he's an ethical failure, but you can do your own research and judge for yourself. I do know since Cuban has been owner of the Mavericks he has spent a fortune, he has energized the fan base, and he has made a spectacle of himself...often.
And his Mavericks have always been losers.
You'd be hard pressed to find anyone outside of San Antonio who knows the name of the Spur's majority owner. He's a quiet man whose delegated the business of basketball , for the most part, to people he trusts know more than he does. Although he has insisted the Spurs look for certain qualities in their players... primarily that they be decent people who won't embarass themselves, the team or San Antonio.
The Spurs have won three championships since 1999.
Monday night, the Mavs and Spurs will square off for game seven in their NBA Western Conference semi-final series. The winning team advances to the Western Conference finals, the loser goes home. It appeared for a while that the Mavericks would win this series easily...now it's not so certain.
As the series tightened, the true character of Mark Cuban started to show itself a little more - if that's possible.
He spent the past week criticizing the referees, blasting league officials for suspending a Dallas player for punching Michael Finley in the groin after the league examined video of game 5 - for the record Cuban was the first owner in the league to hire videographers to make tapes of the referees and send them to the league office to document his many complaints about how his team was being treated unfairly.
He belittled San Antonio calling The Riverwalk - the number one tourist destination in Texas - an "ugly-ass, muddy-watered thing."
He didn't reserve his childish name-calling to tourist destinations, he went so far as to refer to Tim Duncan - arguably the most even tempered player in the league as a "cry-baby." And to top it off, Cuban went to an extreme even some of his sober fans (if he has any) would have a hard time stooping to...he encouraged Mavericks' fans to "boo" Michael Finley.
Michael Finley, for those of you not familiar with the NBA, played for nine years in Dallas...for Cuban. He was the heart and soul of the Mavericks and never acted in a manner that was not professional. He was a credit to the team, and to the city. Last year, Cuban cut him to save himself 51-million dollars. Finley - who admittedly didn't lose a dime on the deal - walked away without one harsh word.
Despite Cuban's antics, the Spurs have said nothing during this time except the usual sports banter, "Our backs are against the wall", "We're still in this thing...", etc. Well, Michael Finley did say one thing in response to Cuban encouraging Dallas fans to boo him. Finley said, "I thought I did a lot for this organization, but I guess that doesn't matter."
On Monday night, it will be over. I obviously hope the Spurs win, but they may not.
If the Mavs win, you can bet Cuban will take as much credit as he can...if the Spurs win you can bet Cuban will find someone to blame.
Either way, he'll get his name in the newspaper...hopefully he won't have to steal a copy.
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
17 Comments
17 Comments:
Where I can I send this Cuban guy a baby pacifier and box of diapers?
I thought I'd never quite get over the mental/emotional roadrash caused by former SA pride supported big guys like Shaquille O'Neill and Dennis Rodman after their departure to the land of "bigger and better". Thank goodness, we don't have to claim Cuban.
We do need to pray for Avery.
MARK CUBAN ROCKS...GET OVER IT AND USED TO IT! WE LOVE OUR MAVS OWNER...HE CARES AND WE DO TOO!
No one is disputing Mr. Cuban cares...it's what he cares about that I find disturbing...if not disturbed.
P.S...You don't have to scream.
-MM
I must support the Spurs, but it's hard to cheer against Avery Johnson. We (I) named our little female white Westie (White West Highland Terrier) after Avery.
She almost died the first night we owned her. She was barely 8 weeks old and less than one pound. Our daughter, Tiffany, noticed something wasn't quite right about her and woke me up to tell me. We took her to the animal emergency room that charges $200 just to say "I have a sick dog." While she was being evaluated, I said to Tiffany, "If she makes it through this, I'm naming her Avery. Nobody thought that Avery Johnson would make it in the NBA, and look where he is now! If she makes it, she's going to be Avery."
With 47 seconds left in the game against the Knicks, 5'11" Avery Johnson made the winning shot that secured the '99 NBA championship [sans asterisk, don't even start with me on that one].
She and her brother, Winston Churchill Main, just celebrated their 7th birthday. 5'11" Avery Johnson & 14-oz Avery Johnson Main made it against all odds.
I'm sorry, Avery J. I love you, but Mark Cuban is a complete a** -- I hope you encourage your fans to NOT boo Michael Finley. Have you been booed ONCE in San Antonio?
Good luck, AJ, San Antonio's favorite Little General. But I have to stand behind my Spurs. If we lose to you, I'll be behind you the rest of the way!
PS: I just read the COMMENT from anonymous (chicken!). You want us to get used to a slimeball? Sorry. San Antonio's organization is a class act from the top of the heap to the bottom of the barrel. The only slime in Dallas is Cuban -- Freak Nowitzki runs a close second. Get your priorities in order, MR. SCREAMING ANONYMOUS!
How is Nowitzki a freak?? If anyone should be talking about another teams players it is Mavs fans. You guys got Timmy "Big Baby" Duncan, Manu "Flop" Ginobili (don't get me started on this guy he's worse than Divac was with the flopping crap) and Tony "I just wanna be Timmy's girlfriend" Parker.
As for the Mavs always being loser you Spurs fans need to remember that prior to 99 you were losers every year just like the rest of the NBA teams that didn't win the championship.
P.S. Who really cares if the Spurs are a class organization? Outside of your one sport town the answer is NOBODY!!
Michael Main, I'm glad your are not fond of Mark Cuban or the Mavericks or the Mavs' fans-the bandwagon was full anyway.
Why are you on Mark Cuban so hard?
Of ALL the good that he does, why did you bring that one thing (the newspaper incident) up? Do you need a hug?
I may not agree with ALL of his antics but, I still believe he is a good guy-one who provides the visiting teams with VERY NICE locker rooms equipped with top of the line technology (MP3 players, PS2 game consoles, etc...) and steak and lobster dinners.
I just think he speaks his mind and I can appreciate that and you should too.
You don't have to like Mark or what he stands for-there's hundreds of thousands of people wishing they could be in his shoes and I think you are one of them.
Good day
P.S. You really have alot of confidence in YOUR Spurs don't you? I know, I can see the writing on the wall too.
Love him or hate him, Cuban has brought a once moribund Maverick franchise to the elite level of NBA teams.
If you had suffered through the 1990s following the Mavericks, you would truly value what Cuban has done for the city. While he is certainly outspoken, the majority of the time what he says is valid. The NBA fines him so much because his critiques hurt their image (the truth hurts).
There are so many terrible owners who don't even care about their city's franchise - Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, LA Clippers and Arizona Cardinals (until this season) - it's a breath of fresh air to see an owner who cares so much about his team and players. All the Maverick players say the same thing. So Cuban will be a fan favorite in Dallas until he dies - unless he sells the franchise.
P.S. The Spurs are as exciting as a bowl of oatmeal.
If Mr. Cuban wouldn't go out of his way to stir up sh*t, I am sure that many people would agree that he has done great things for the Mavs. You don't have to run down other teams, other players, and other cities to achieve greatness.
"All Maverick players" apparently don't include one Steve Nash and one Michael Finley, among others. Sure am glad Cuban stands up for players caught on camera trying to sucker punch others - Terry's fourth suspension. Class.
PS - Oatmeal's won three championships. But thanks for playing.
Ryan P., how can you even say that any owner does not care about thier team? This is like you going out, spending a fortune on any ivestment, and throwing it in the back of your closet.
Anyway, Michael, I enjoyed your article about Cuban. I am an electronic business student in a Dallas-Fort Worth area school and I have often wondered what most of my professors see in this man as an ethical business man. Yes, he has revolutionized the internet in small ways, but to me they are overshadowed by his theatrics outside of the office.
Elizabeth,
You hit the nail on the head. Obviously all owners are some of the wealthiest individuals in America. But for whatever reason, status/prestige or maybe the abilility to make some money, some owners merely own professional teams and don't care for them. They "throw them in the back of the closet."
Running a successful franchise means constantly scouting new players, having top-notch personnel, making wise management decisions, upgrading facilities, the list goes on and on. Owners like those I mentioned, plus the Portland Trail Blazers (Paul Allen) for example, just own teams to own them. They don't really care about having a successful team. There is a huge difference. Cuban wants a winner. And he's making it happen.
You guys need to get a life.
Mark C.
Man, too bad some of the energy put into the hostility between the posts of pros and cons here could also be placed toward society benefits such as literacy programs.
Maybe the old anthem of not talking politics or religion in mixed company should now include sports teams; especially in Texas were sports has somehow made its was up to a religious level.
Civic pride is great, ripping another community in an effort to gain advantage through demoralization --- bad form. Golden rule people, golden rule.
Go preach the golden rule and literacy program debate on another blog. This blog is about basketball, specifically the Spurs-Mavs series. Hence the reason this topic is being discussed.
Actually, this blog is about everything. The topic of the most recent post is about the Spurs-Mavs series. If you read a couple of years back, you might find an article saying something nice about what Cuban did. There's NO doubt that MC has done an amazing thing with the Dallas franchise. In order to lure and KEEP players, you've got to make some changes. He did that. Kudos. But this year, he's being the baby.
If you read back eight months ago, you'll see how this guy took in a family from New Orleans for SIX months. If you read back about 18 months ago and more, you'll see how his wife was hospitalized and near death.
We do have lives, Mark C., but during the playoffs, those lives are put on hold... just like in every other town whose team has a shot at the title. Mark C.... I love it. Will the REAL Mark Cuban please stand up?
Thank God for free speech. You are all entitled to your opinion. You are even welcome to post your opinions here. But let's try and follow a little blog commenting etiquette. If you read my previous comment, you'll see how I said we would be behind the Mavs all the way if the Spurs lost this series. So let's lose the attitude, folks.
For the record, I call Nowitzki "Freak Nowitzki" because he can shoot from just about anywhere and make it. It's a term of endearment. Did I not make that clear the first time? Oh, sorry. I used to say that about Nash, Finley, and Horry, too. It's freaky how they can make those nobody-can-hit-that shots. Where are those freaks now? Ah yes, two of them play for San Antonio. They're still freaks. I'm just glad they're San Antonio freaks :-)
Oh, and some of you need to learn to spell. Catch a class at the Carver Center.
Why can't we all just get along?
From Monday's San Antonio Express News:
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
As Bruce Bowen walked off the court moments after Friday's 91-86 victory over Dallas in Game 6, his path took him right past Mark Cuban.
When he got within earshot of the Mavericks' feisty owner, Bowen was startled when Cuban swore at him, a coarse, two-word curse whose meaning was unmistakable.
Bowen said he was too startled to respond. On reflection, he considers it something of a backhanded compliment but also believes the harsh words help define Cuban.
"It's him," Bowen said. "I was caught off guard by it, but it speaks a lot to me about who he is."
From the Fort Worth Star Telegram today....a lot of people here see through Cuban too.
-F.C. In FW
The Curse of Cuban could haunt Mavs
By Randy Galloway
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
There will be many Game 7 worries come Monday evening for the Mavericks. But at the moment, I'm not so sure the basketball concerns will take precedence in their critical visit to the "ugly-bleep, muddy-watered thing they call a River Walk."
(That goofy quote from a goofy local owner has been cleaned up a bit for family newspaper purposes. Hey, I like that winding river, and like to visit old SanTone town. Like it a lot.)
Got to admit this, however:
That Game 6 on Friday, played in the barren wasteland known as downtown Dallas, transformed a series that had been a natural spring-fed, crystal-clear tribute to great basketball into an ugly-bleep, muddy-watered thing.
Just the way, of course, the Spurs also want Game 7 to be.
But enough already on X's and O's.
What about the hoodoo voodoo?
What about the Curse of Cuban?
A year ago. Second round of the playoffs. Steve Nash.
You know the story.
This year. Second round. Mike Finley.
Same ol' story.
And for that numerical connection with the work of the devil, Game 6 was the turning point last May for Nash and the Suns. They won the series here when Jason Terry forgot to cover Stevie Boy at the 3-point line.
Depending on what happens Monday night, Game 6 also could be this turning point. Will the Mavs be left to always wonder what might have been if Terry hadn't forgotten that punching is illegal in the NBA?
Nash came back "home" to burn Mav butts in the playoffs last year, and since his departure has collected consecutive league MVP awards.
Stevie was very good while here. But in Phoenix, he's better than he ever was.
Why?
A lot of reasons, but those close to Nash claim he became more motivated than ever because of Mark Cuban. If true, that's not a compliment to Nash, but among high-strung professional jocks, I guess it comes down to whatever floats your boat.
And in the irony killer of this season, here comes Finley, back "home" in Game 6, to deliver the dagger to the Mavericks, and to Cuban.
No, I didn't think he had that kind of game, and that kind of moment, left in his basketball bones.
But obviously, Mike seized the situation and didn't let go. And it would be naive to think he wasn't driven by a strong dislike for Cuban, and also for how he was portrayed by the owner, and in turn, his former fans, for being the innocent punchee in the Terry fist of Game 5.
For Finley, Friday night was sweet justice.
For Cuban, the curse continued.
Nash left town two years ago over financial issues with the owner.
Finley left after last season because of the owners' financial concerns.
By the way, it was time for Finley to leave.
Nash's departure, however, is still a raging debate around here.
But it doesn't matter who, what or why, both were shown the door, and both have now returned in the playoffs to deliver serious damage to the locals.
The Curse of Cuban?
Only Game 7 on Monday night can reverse that curse.
But it's comical that the once free-spending Cuban is now being torched by guys he saved long-term cash on by deciding they should leave.
In Finley's case, the owner is still paying him $15 million a season to avoid the NBA's luxury tax that would have reached more than $50 mil if Mike had stayed.
But the old days of crazy cash are long-gone in Mav-land. Cuban's hip pocket has been zipped for a couple of years.
Mark is now more mouth than money.
His "contribution" to the team is mainly confined to "blogging" perceived enemies of the Cuban state.
And, of course, there are many enemies for Markie, real and imagined.
Also real, but not imagined, is the current hoodoo voodoo that grips the franchise.
First, Nash. Now, Finley.
And take note of this:
The big free-agent question of this summer will be none other than Jason Terry. Large bucks also will be on the line as Cuban decides to pay up, or send Terry the way of Nash and Finley.
Terry, I'd keep.
But the way things are going, he'll be allowed to walk, and sign with, oh, say, the Houston Rockets.
And next May, in the second round of the playoffs...
Never doubt the power of hoodoo voodoo.
And as for Finley's heroics on Friday night, how can you ignore the Curse of Cuban?
Randy Galloway's Galloway & Co. can be heard weekdays 3-6 p.m. on ESPN//103.3 FM.
Just to inform you readers of this blog. ... I live in Dallas and am I regular reader of Randy Galloway and also listen to his radio show everyday. He regularly writes columns like this and rarely does he ever agree with any ownership decisions here in Dallas. He has a personal dislike for Mark Cuban, Jerry Jones, and Tom Hicks. It is his job to stur up sh**.
As for any other Mavs fan I can tell you Mark Cuban is the best thing that has happened to this city sports wise in a very very long time. He is by far the BEST owner in Dallas because he actually takes an active role in his team.
Post a Comment
<< Home