There’s a war brewing in Dallas, friends.
No, it’s not between the Mavs and Spurs, the latter of whom beat the former last night.
The war we’re speaking of is between Mavs owner Mark Cuban and NBA Commish David Stern.
(Background: Cuban is “energetic” and counter to the typical owner, both on and off the court. Stern has fined Cuban repeatedly over the years. Earlier this month, Cuban stated he’s done going out of his way to support and promote the league in innovative ways. Read that link if you haven’t – we’re sorry we haven’t mentioned this before.)
Anyway, last night’s Mavs home opener was the first time the world would really get to see this “All-New Mark cuban” in action, and we can feel the passive-aggressive brilliance all the way out here in LA.
“I’m thankful that the commissioner and the fellow owners have helped me see the error of my ways,” Cuban said. “I thought all those hours I spent doing research would help the league. I just didn’t see the light.
“I love owning the Mavs. I love the competition, the fans, everything. And now I have the added benefit of going to school at the University of David Stern.”
“Whenever I have the urge to yell at officials, I’ll just write it in my diary, because I know the league will fix it.” When he was asked to make a prediction for the season, Cuban said: “I don’t know. Do other owners make predictions?”
If you’ve read this site for any length of time, you know we think Cuban is a genius, and this is just more evidence. Clearly, all he’s gonna do is piss everyone off more with stuff like this.
Whatever you think of his antics on the court (and frankly, who cares – he’s an enthusiastic fan who happens to also own the team), one must admit that Mark has done a TON for the NBA, and has always been willing to do more. All in an attempt to make both a better product for the fans and a more profitable one for the league.
Statistical analysis, new media issues, referee trends – the guy looks at things from every angle and tries to make them better for the league. He’s had a massive influence.
Even things like player amenities have influenced what’s happening in places like Cleveland right now. We don’t remember when it was, but Mark made the point that high quality towels cost basically nothing on the bottom line, but make all the difference in the world to the guys playing for him. (That’s thinking and crap.)
Who went out of his way, with money from his own pocket, to get independent tests done on the new ball – was it James Dolan? (It wasn’t – if you don’t understand what we’re inferring – it was Mark Cuban, the guy this whole post is about.)
More than anything, Mark has passion for his team and the game itself.
When all is said and done, we hope the result of this little quasi-protest is that the NBA comes back to Cuban, begging him to lead them again, which is really what he’s done. We normally like most everything David Stern does, but his ongoing grudge against Cuban is something we’ve never understood.
Especially right now. We just don’t understand how the NBA could want to impede in any way a guy who is at the cutting edge of digital content distribution and internet technologies. At this point in time, it’s about the dumbest thing you could do.
(NOTE: Sorry about the lack of jokes.)
{ 13 comments }
Wow,
A serious OP-ED by one Cavalier…
I couldn’t agree with you more!
mark has done a lot for the nba no doubt . but his commisioning a study on the new ball and publishing the results is grandstanding . he shd. have coordinated this w/ nba officials . in fact a lot of his prev. actions are better done ‘under the radar’ unless the league is not doing something about what he deeemed as ‘problems’
mark has done a lot for the nba no doubt . but his commisioning a study on the new ball and publishing the results is grandstanding . he shd. have coordinated this w/ nba officials . in fact a lot of his prev. actions are better done ‘under the radar’ unless the league is not doing something about what he deeemed as ‘problems’
Coach I disagree – in this internet-enabled, everyone-has-a-voice world, David Stern saying things like “we’re looking at it” and then later saying “it’s fine” isn’t good enough.
Not when you’ve got bloggers who can do their own messing around with the ball and publish the results themselves for the whole world to see.
People are too smart and too tuned now, and we’re conditioned (especially Gen-X on down) to not take anything we hear from authority or the media at face value.
Mark getting an official, scientifically verifiable study done and putting out the actual results for everyone to evaluate on their own is exactly what was needed.
Look at the reaction Stern’s action got – “he’s a facist dictator”, etc, vs the reaction to Cuban’s approach – people were actually talking about the study results and if the ball was really better or worse.
Cuban is a douche and a distraction.
Shut your fucking mouth and go swim in your money pit.
i wonder what stern and the other owners told mark ?
maybe mark was told to stop wearing tight , simon style t shirts like what he was wearing again yesterday .
mark needs a makeover . how ’bout a borat style moustache ? it will make him look regal !
Lucas is testy because Cuban’s Mavs tapped some PHX Sun ass in the playoffs…
Careful Mark Cuban . . . . careful. Your insidious roundie studies have angered me! That fool the Cavalier better watch whom he agrees with!
Jones is feeling snarky from that Kool-Aid and 2-0 start…
Go Pacific Division!
This must be the week that using the word “snarky” is in style. Bucher used it in a chat over at that other site this week.
Go Turiaf…OLE!
Bucher is down.
Stein, Ford, and Hollinger aren’t…Can you say “NERD ALERT”???
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