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[jcisco loboe'77]

http://mavsblog.dall...ure-called.html

Blame Diet Cokes for Mark Cuban's early departure from Game 4.
By Eddie Sefko/Reporter.

"The mystery is solved.

It wasn't a referee's call or his team's admittedly turn-your-eyes-away showing in the fourth quarter that had owner Mark Cuban leaving the court with 39.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

"I had to (go to the bathroom),'' Cuban said today via email. "I couldn't hold it in any longer.''

Hey, when a man's gotta go, a man's gotta go.

"Six large Diet Cokes during the game will do that to you,'' Cuban added.

Cuban had left the court through the tunnel near the Mavericks' bench. He departed when Portland had taken an 84-82 lead and the referees were reviewing a play during a timeout. Cuban made a beeline to the Mavericks' locker room. He did not discuss his leaving the court or anything else with media members before leaving the building."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://espn.go.com/b...-cost-cuban-yet

Complaints haven't cost Cuban ... yet.
Comments By Tim MacMahon.

PORTLAND, Ore. --"The NBA office has yet to announce any fine for Mark Cuban after the Mavs' owner publicly complained about two Game 4 calls.

If Cuban doesn't have to cough up at least $35,000, the league owes Portland coach Nate McMillan a refund.

That's the amount McMillan was fined for complaining about the 19-2 free throw disparity in the Mavs' favor during the fourth quarter of Game 1.

McMillan's comments didn't focus on any particular calls. He said he thought the officiating "took the momentum away and pretty much gave them control in the game."

Cuban, on the other hand, pinpointed a pair of foul calls that went against the Mavs as problems: a loose ball foul against Tyson Chandler midway through the fourth quarter and a charge call against Dirk Nowitzki with a little more than two minutes remaining.

They are at least equal offenses. Cuban knew that when he made his comments, making the calculated decision that getting his complaint on the record was worth the price.

The only reasonable explanation for the delay in announcing the fine is that the NBA office is taking its time to decide how much Cuban owes. Considering his track record, it might be much more than $35,000."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://eye-on-basket...748484/28902922

Cuban meets reporter's questions with profanity.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban responds to questions with profanity.

Posted by Ben Golliver.

"Last week, we noted that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he was hit by a projectile during Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Rose Garden.

The Portland Tribune sought more details regarding the incident from Cuban in a pre-game interview before Game 5 but all the paper received was a string of profanities. The newspaper's writer, Kerry Eggers, notes that Cuban delivered the profanity "with a wild look in his eyes."
“What the (expletive) does it matter?” he asked. “Does it make a damn bit of difference at this point?”
“Well, I …” I began.
“Does it make a damn bit of difference at this point?” Cuban repeated.
“You sound irritated by it,” I said.
“Yeah, because it’s a dumb-**** question,” he said. “What’s the point of bringing it up? Are you going to go find somebody? Are you going to hunt the person down? … Ask me a real question.”
Eggers notes that Cuban later apologized, explaining that he was tired of the same recycled questions.
“It’s just the same ol’ (expletive) over and over,” he said. “The same thing comes up, the same bit of (expletive). So I apologize for being a jerk, but at least have some respect. Not repetitive, asking the same stuff over and over. That stuff’s been asked 50 times.”
Cuban has made no secret of his disdain for the media recently, comparing internet reporters to heroin junkies and threatening to revoke access to his team.

Whether or not Cuban has a point about the repetitious nature of questions, it goes without saying that this was not the proper response. Playing the "respect" card minutes after telling someone they just asked you a "dumb-**** question"? Right.

It's disorienting to watch a man who is so quick to hold the media accountable for their actions be so unaccountable for his own. "

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://isportsweb.co...s-cuban-vs-buss

Battle of the Owners: Cuban vs. Buss.
By Steve Itzkowitz•

"With the Los Angeles Lakers squaring off in a West second round series with the Dallas Mavericks, this is a chance to compare two of the most well-recognized and unique owners in the NBA today. Of course, I’m talking about Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the Mavericks, versus Dr. Jerry Buss, the owner of the Lakers and who has mastered the art of being an owner that is seen and well-recognized but rarely heard from. To me, these owners are polar opposites of each other in terms of how each approaches their roles as owners and how each acquired their respective teams in the first place as well as their other involvements. Below, I will break down how each owner acquired their teams, their level of success and their other involvements outside of basketball along with their respective personalities:

1. How Each Owner Came to Acquire their Respective Clubs. : Buss purchased the Lakers and the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL at the time as well as the old Great Western Forum in 1979 for $67.5 million from Jack Kent Cooke thanks to his success as a real estate tycoon. Cuban is a known internet billionaire who parlayed broadcast.com into a a $6 billion sale to Yahoo.com, which allowed him to eventually purchase the Mavericks in 2000 from Ross Perot, Jr. for $285 million.

2. Impact on Acquired Team: Cuban turned the sad-sap Mavericks, a model of futility in the years following their Western Conference Finals appearance back in 1988 against Buss’ Lakers, around and revamped the front office and coaching ranks of the Mavericks while creating a friendly atmosphere and amenities for players that would agree to play for the Mavericks. On the other hand, after Buss took over the Lakers in 1979, he drafted Earvin “Magic” Johnson out of Michigan State with the #1 overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft and ushered in the Showtime era of the Lakers that brought about the advent of the greatest sideshow in the NBA, the Laker Girls, as well as attracting celebrities like Jack Nicholson, Dyan Cannon and Penny Marshall of Laverne & Shirley fame to the old Forum just to watch the Lakers thrill them and the rest of the fans with their entertaining style of basketball.

3. Extra-curricular activities: Cuban has taken his success and the growing popularity he has experienced as an NBA franchise owner and parlayed that into a startup within the world of high definition TV known as HDNet, which helped him launch his own reality TV show that was modeled after Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” series. He also was a contestant on the hit reality series, Dancing With the Stars, and has one of the most popular blogs on the internet today. Buss, when not at Staples Center working or watching Laker games, is an avid and successful poker player and has been spotted numerous times at the City of Commerce Casino playing high-stakes games of Texas Hold’em.

4. Personalities: As was alluded to previously, Cuban is not bashful about expressing his feelings during a Mavericks’ game, particularly in the area of officiating and typically sits close to the court to ensure the officials can hear what he’s complaining about. Cuban has been known to take on officials during Maverick games like he’s the head coach stalking the sideline. As a result of that kind of behavior and many critical remarks he’s made about the NBA’s officiating in the media, Cuban has amassed more than $2 million in fines from the NBA since becoming owner of the Mavericks, which is far and away more than any current owner, including Buss. On the other hand, Buss usually spends games in his luxury suite at Staples surrounded by celebrities and some of the prettiest women the city of Angels has to offer.

5. Success Profile: As was alluded to earlier, Cuban has single-handedly turned the Mavericks around from perennial losers to a team that is consistently competitive and in the playoffs year-to-year. He also has created an atmosphere that is very player-friendly, including facilities and amenities for his players that are unmatched by most of the teams in the NBA today. On the other hand, Buss is the winningest owner in the history of the NBA with 10 titles in his 31 years so far of owning the Lakers and is the dean of this current class of NBA owners. He is also a player-friendly owner and firmly committed to fielding a product that is both entertaining for fans and capable of high levels of success over a given period of time. His children have become major contributors to his franchise with Jeannie and Jim holding high positions with the Lakers in terms of business operations and player personnel development.

So, at the end of the day, it’s the calm, cool, collected poker players that are the Lakers versus the talkative and emotionally-charged players that make up the Mavericks. Isn’t it funny how each team takes on the personality of their very strong, yet polar opposite owner? It’s quite a contrast to behold as the series unfolds."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://espn.go.com/b...post?id=4677350
Mark Cuban: Everybody wrong.
Comments By Tim MacMahon.


PORTLAND, Ore. –"It’s hyperbole to say that nobody believed in the Mavs, but they were probably the most doubted 57-win team in NBA history entering the playoffs.

Portland was a trendy upset pick, in large part due to the Mavs’ troubling trend of premature playoff exits. That recent history combined with the fact the Mavs won only one of their final 10 games against West playoff teams caused many -- and I’m guilty -- of projecting the Mavs to be on vacation by May again.

“Everybody thinks we didn’t have what it takes,” Mark Cuban said. “Everybody was a prognosticator. Everybody was wrong. Our guys just showed a lot of heart, so I’m really proud of them.”

TNT’s Charles Barkley is driving the Mavs’ bandwagon in the second round, having declared that they’ll defeat the two-time defending champion Lakers in six games. That will be a minority opinion.

“Not a lot of people picked us to win this series. Not a lot of people are going to pick us to win the next series,” said Dirk Nowitzki, who has repeatedly referred to the Lakers as heavy favorites to win the West. “We’re just going to go out there and keep competing, play smart and play off each other like we have all season, and we’ll see what happens.”

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.dallasnew...1-exchanges.ece
Mark Cuban-vs-Ron Artest: The 'ice cream' comments and other 2011 exchanges.
By SportsDayDFW.com.

"Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is no stranger to controversy. And throughout this season, he didn't mind trading jabs with Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest . The two will have plenty of opportunities to discuss their differences during their Western Conference semifinal series. A review of their comments toward each other and their teams.

(03/30/11) Mark Cuban on Ron Artest: “Yeah, he likes to post it up, but anything that puts the ball in Ron Artest’s hands is always a good thing. And you can tell him that I’ll even take him out for ice cream. Of all the choices you have on that team, you want Ron Artest making the decisions in the triangle.”

(3/31/11): Ron Artest on Mark Cuban's comments about him: Comments indicate “a lack of confidence” in his team's ability to beat the Lakers. “That’s his problem.”

(3/31/11): Ron Artest on being a part of Mark Cuban's HDNet, that includes 'Girls Gone Wild Presents … Search for the Hottest Girl in America': “Not trying to kiss his butt, but I’m definitely trying to get a show on his network."

(4/1/11) Mark Cuban on Ron Artest to KESN 103.3: "Now the stuff with Ron Artest; I absolutely want to get in his head. If Ron Artest is thinking about what I had to say during a game, then that’s a win. They got us last night – no question about it – but if he’s responding and if he’s thinking about it and he’s looking over at me during the game, then that means he’s not focused on the game and that’s a good thing."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.dallasnew...d-by-bench_.ece
Phil Jackson on Mark Cuban: 'I wouldn't want him behind by bench.'
By Staff reports.

"Cuban will wait until later to stir things up.

Mark Cuban was on his best behavior before Game 1.

He didn’t zing Lakers coach Phil Jackson. He didn’t get into the ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers, even though he was asked at least 10 times by reporters if he could talk about buying the baseball team.

The closest thing Cuban came to a controversy was when he was told Jackson, in his pregame news conference, said Cuban would make a good owner of the Dodgers.

Not that Jackson would want to work for Cuban.

“I wouldn’t want him behind my bench,” he said.
Eddie Sefko



Expensive night for Chandler
Los Angeles native Tyson Chandler said he bought 13 to 15 tickets for family and friends for Game 1. How much did he shell out?

“I don’t know,” he said with a smile.

According to ticketsnow .com, the average price of a Game 1 ticket was $343, which would put Chandler’s outlay at about $5,000. Of course, he probably didn’t buy cheap-seat tickets. The highest list price was $10,450.
Brad Townsend


Mavs not banking on zone defense
Don’t expect to see much of the zone defense the Mavericks used to slow Portland’s Brandon Roy in Games 5 and 6.

Coach Rick Carlisle was blunt about the lack of success Dallas had in using it against the Lakers during the regular season.

“They killed it, absolutely shredded it,” Carlisle said. “Coming into this series, it’s not like the zone is something we’re hanging our hat on. We will look at it, but we’re not expecting it to be any kind of cure-all.”
Brad Townsend




LA coach goes big against Dirk.
Jackson said he planned to start the series with 7-0 Pau Gasol guarding Dirk Nowitzki, but left open the prospect of changing that matchup.

“I’ve seen him guarded with shorter guys, 6-5, 6-6, aggressive quick,” he said. “But if I think you overcompensate for Dirk, you’re going to allow other people to get involved that can also spark this team.”

Ron Artest is a prime candidate, Jackson said, but not his first choice."
David Lassen

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://latimesblogs....odger-blue.html


They're picturing Mark Cuban in Dodger blue.
-- Steve Dilbeck


"Mark Cuban to the rescue, Mark Cuban to the rescue … go Mark Cuban, go Mark Cuban!

Well, yes, his is a popular name among those counting the moments until Frank McCourt is shown the road and Major League Baseball puts the team up for sale.

It has even inspired its own website, Mark Cuban Save the Dodgers, which argues he is the best candidate to return the Dodgers to O’Malley family respectability.

Since Cuban’s Mavericks are in town kicking the Lakers’ little fannies around, The Times’ T.J. Simers quite naturally tried to hit him up for a comment on the Cuban-buys-the-Dodgers movement. Cuban, who has already swung and missed on purchasing the Cubs (also in town!) and the Rangers (their former president is in the building!), declined the interview request.

"Just make up something that you want me to say," Cuban said, "and then put my name to it."

Clearly, Cuban does not know Simers, who was more than willing to do just that.

" 'When I become owner of the Dodgers, fans will never again have to worry about the Dodgers having enough money to sign the best players,' said Cuban, although I made it up because that's what I would like the next owner of the Dodgers to say.

"I will spend so much money, Bud will consider fining me."

There’s much more, of course. I almost wish Cuban would buy the Dodgers, just to witness his give-and-take with Simers.

I doubt, however, when Simers asked to interview Cuban he would ever give the McCourt response of last spring: "In your ... dreams."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://content.usato...h-mavs-up-2-0/1
For once, Mark Cuban is oddly silent.
By Tom Weir, USA TODAY.

"With Dallas leading the Lakers 2-0 after a sweep of the LA games shouldn't the sound of Mark Cuban's voice be ringing in everyone's ears?

The normally outspoken Mavericks owner passed up the chance to respond to the dig from Phil Jackson, who said of Cuban, "I wouldn't want him behind my bench." And he also has ducked a flood of questions about the speculation that he'll take a run at buying the Dodgers.

But amazingly, Cuban kept his thoughts to himself, telling reporters that: "There's a time for sound-bites and a time not for sound-bites. You've got to pick and choose."

Maybe his silent streak will continue as long as the Mavericks keep theirs going."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://blog.chron.co...change-quickly/
A sports blog with Richard Justice.

"Remember what the Mavericks were like before Mark Cuban? Yes, Astros fans, things can change quickly
When I watched Mark Cuban make his way onto the court to shake Phil Jackson’s hand Sunday afternoon amid a joyous celebration and a soldout arena, I was reminded what the Dallas Mavericks used to be. Before Mark Cuban, they were among the worst sports franchises in this country. They were bad on the floor, boring off the floor and playing in front of thousand of empty seats. They made one bad decision after another, hiring bad coaches, acquiring bad players, etc.

And 11 years ago, everything began to change when Mark Cuban arrived. He’d just taken over the team when the Mavericks played a game in Washington midway through the season. That night, I’d been assigned to tail Michael Jordan, who’d just taken over the Wizards’ basketball operation. Cuban sat down close to his players while Jordan watched from a suite high above the court.

At some point during the night, as the Mavericks played a rare solid game, Cuban turned toward Jordan’s suite and pumped his fist.

”Who is that?” Michael asked.

He was told that was the young guy who’d just bought the Mavericks.

And that was the beginning. Through the years, Cuban has managed to annoy a lot of people, from David Stern to referees to opposing players and coaches.

Yet what he has also done is turn a terrible franchise into a great one. The Mavericks have been in the playoffs 11 straight years, all because Mark Cuban has hired good people and been willing to spend his billions. The Mavericks have spent so much money that Stern’s goal of having a hard salary cap in the next CBA seems aimed at least partly at Cuban and the Mavericks.

But playing well is just the beginning. Cuban puts on a great show for fans at American Airlines Center. Everything from customer service to the music and videos is first-rate.

When he arrived, interest in the Mavericks could hardly have been lower around Dallas. Now Mavericks’ games are a place to see and be seen.

If you’re thinking the Astros will never get better, remember what Mark Cuban has done for the Mavericks. If Jim Crane does half as much for the Astros as Cuban has done for the Mavericks, our hardball team will get better in a hurry.

Is there workd to be done? Sure, there is. The team is awful, the player development system is weak and attendance is tanking at Minute Maid Park.

All Crane has to do is show he’s willing to spend money and hire smart people. There’s no reason the Astros can’t be a smashing success. If they’re operated correctly, they’ll draw close to 3 million fans and generate $200 million in revenues.

Drayton McLane has done him a favor by trimming the payroll to $70 million, allowing Crane the flexibility to make an immediate impact. What if, say, he brought Gerry Hunsicker back in some capacity? How about Andrew Friedman? How would those two moves play with the fans?

Lance Berkman and Andy Pettitte? Why not give it a try? Ultimately, sustained improvement will come only when the player development system is stocked again, and that could be another year or two.

But Crane could do some short-term spending to improve the club quickly. If he really wanted to do something that would make friends, he’d roll back McLane’s ticket-price increases of last winter.

Just having another man in charge will change a lot of the environment. He’ll set a new tone for everything, beginning with a raising of expectations.

Yes, one man can make a huge difference. Just ask any Mavericks’ fan."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.tulsaworl...B1_HWCNac691720

Dave Sittler: Mark Cuban has at least one fan in Oklahoma.
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Columnist.

"HOW CAN a college football-crazed state like Oklahoma not be helmet-over-Nikes in love with Mark Cuban?

After all, the Dallas billionaire is willing to put his money where his often-oversized mouth is to break up the Bowl Championship Series cartel and create a playoff system that the majority of this nation's college football fans have craved for years.

So, for Oklahomans, what's not to like about Cuban?

Oh, right, college football isn't his only sporting interest. An alum of basketball-obsessed Indiana University, Cuban also has more than a few of his millions invested in NBA hoops as the majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

Cuban's team will host the first game of the Western Division championship series tonight against the franchise he tried to keep out of Oklahoma.

Citizens of this fine state are known for having long memories and holding grudges. So it's a lock they remember Cuban was one of only two NBA owners who voted on April 18, 2008, against the Seattle franchise relocating to Oklahoma City.

Portland Trailblazers owner Paul Allen cast the other dissenting vote; the move was overwhelmingly passed with a 28-2 tally. Allen's vote is easily explained - he's a native of Seattle.

In an interview with The Oklahoman nine days before the vote, Cuban told the Oklahoma City newspaper his opposition was strictly a business decision.

"My prejudice is against having a Dust Bowl Division in this part of the country," Cuban said. "I don't think, in the big picture, that helps the NBA. I think a bigger market helps the NBA.

"My preference is that they stay in Seattle. That's my preference."

Cuban's insensitive "Dust Bowl" comment made him Public Enemy No. 1 to many Oklahomans as much as trying to keep the first big-time sports franchise out of the state.

They have memories of how thousands of their ancestors were bitter about how Oklahomans were portrayed in the novel "The Grapes of Wrath," which was set in the Dust Bowl era.

Some billionaires believe there's no need to think before speaking. While Cuban often fits that loose-lipped description, I seriously doubt he meant any disrespect to Oklahomans with that comment.

Cuban is obscenely wealthy because he is a brilliant businessman. And I suspect the real business Cuban was concerned about when he cast that nay vote was the ramifications a team in Oklahoma City could have on the Mavericks.

The Mavericks need to sell tickets for their opulent home, American Airlines Center, and often did by attracting NBA fans from Oklahoma. So Cuban certainly didn't need a franchise relocating just 203.91 miles north inside the Oklahoma City Arena.

The only thing worse in sports than losing paying customers is also losing games to the team that stole the allegiance of many of your former fans.

In just three years, Cuban has watched the Oklahoma City Thunder become his worst nightmare.

The Thunder is absolutely the national flavor of these NBA playoffs, and has been for most of the season.

Not only is the OKC Arena sold out and considered the loudest in the league, the Thunder's compelling story is drawing huge national interest, dispelling Cuban's comments about a small-market team hurting the NBA's TV ratings.

An overwhelming number of those TV viewers are undoubtedly pulling for the Thunder to shut up the flamboyant and often controversial Cuban by ending his dream of an NBA title.

It gets even worse for Cuban. The Thunder's ridiculously young team has a decent chance to whip Dallas, which could start the Thunder's run as a serious playoff contender for the next several seasons.

Cuban, meanwhile, is running out of opportunities with a team that is growing old. He is desperate to bring Big D its first NBA title, and to do it while aging superstar forward Dirk Nowitzki is still around to enjoy the championship Cuban has pursued for 11 seasons.

Personally, I've admired Cuban ever since he bought the Mavericks from Ross Perot Jr. Unlike the penny-pinching Perot, Cuban happily spends a hefty portion of his fortune to provide Dallas with a consistent championship-caliber team.

Cuban's refusal to be intimidated by NBA commissioner David Stern and his cronies has resulted in several improvements, particularly in the quality of the officiating.

And, hey, it was Cuban who recently came to the defense of newspapers, explaining why pro sports needs the print media more than Internet Web sites.

While that made me a Cuban fan for life, I'm an even bigger supporter of a college football playoff. I'd love to see it become a reality during my rapidly evaporating lifetime.

So the quicker the Thunder can eliminate the Mavericks, the quicker Cuban can put all his efforts into helping bring a long-overdue death to the BCS."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.usatoday....f-insider_N.htm
NBA Insider: Mavericks owner Mark Cuban lowers playoff profile
By Jeff Zillgitt and J. Michael Falgoust, USA TODAYU

"The Dallas Mavericks' most recognizable cheerleader, owner Mark Cuban, has been almost invisible in the playoffs.

He rarely attends practices and doesn't travel with the team as much. He shook hands with outgoing Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, with whom he had an adversarial relationship, after the Mavs swept the two-time defending champs.

"He did calm down a little bit. He's got three kids," Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki says, recalling that Cuban would be at every practice, "riding the (stationary) bike while we scrimmaged and yelling. He would shoot with players after practice."

•Cuban and the Portland Trail Blazers' Paul Allen were the only owners to vote against the Seattle SuperSonics' move to Oklahoma City.

Reunion arena:
The Western Conference finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder brings a renewal of acquaintances for Mavs guard Jason Kidd and Thunder coach Scott Brooks. Kidd, drafted by Dallas in 1994, was a teammate of Brooks for one season. "Scotty was a competitor," Kidd said. "I'm happy for him. He's a smart player. He wouldn't have had the long career in the NBA (10 years) if he didn't understand his strengths and what he brought to the table."

Sweep story:
The Chicago Bulls swept the Miami Heat 3-0 in the regular season and took Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. No NBA team that has swept another during the season has lost to that team in a best-of-seven playoff series. Asked if the Bulls have the Heat's number, Miami forward Chris Bosh said, "No, not at all. They're a competitive team, and they're playing better than us. Let's just be frank. … And we're going to have to overcome that."

Diving instincts:
The Heat did not escape questions about losing the battle on hustle and effort plays. "That's just energy," LeBron James said. "You can't practice hustle plays and getting on the floor and getting loose balls and things like that. Nobody practices those. (Bulls center) Joakim (Noah) doesn't practice diving on the floor on loose balls or outworking. You don't practice those. … You have to be determined to go get it."

Also:
Gary Hall, 67, the top attorney for the NBA Players Association and longtime friend of executive director Billy Hunter, died Monday in New York. He would have played a key role in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. … NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver disclosed the sides have agreed to hold two days of extensive meetings in early June in the city of the Western Conference champion. …Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers is fine after removal of a benign throat polyp. … Toronto Raptors President and general manager Bryan Colangelo agreed to a multiyear extension. … Russian billionaire and New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said he will head the pro-business political party Right Cause that supports President Dmitry Medvedev, ahead of Russia's elections in December."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://bleacherrepor...-bad-reputation

NBA Playoffs 2011: Is Mark Cuban the Reason for Dirk Nowitzki's Bad Reputation?
By Michael Cahill(Featured Columnist).

"NBA Playoffs 2011 restores Dirk’s rep, but who destroyed it in the first place?

It appears that Dirk Nowitzki is reviving his reputation. According to Jason Whitlock though, it’s at the expense of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Whitlock writes:

Cuban’s uncontrolled paranoia and feud with David Stern are the primary reason the Mavericks have been postseason underachievers.

While I think Whitlock is always a thought-provoking read, I’m not certain he’s nearly close to rational on his point about Cuban and Nowitzki.

It’s not Cuban’s image, which admittedly is obnoxious at best, that has caused Dirk his less than stellar reputation as a playoff superstar. It’s his track record.

The conspiracy theorists can conjure up ideas that ref’s screwed Dallas out of the 2006 Finals, but those who were watching saw a Miami team that charged the rim and a Dallas team unwilling to make the defensive adjustments necessary to stop them.

Whitlock makes a mistake in giving Cuban that much credit. At the end of the day we live in a sports world where you are judged by wins and losses. Points, efficiency rating and any other number that stat heads and columnists use to determine the value of a player fall out the window when final outcomes are determined.

Dirk losing the 2006 finals and being run out in the first round of the 2007 playoffs were enough to be seal his fate. Mark Cuban had nothing to do with it.

Perhaps Cuban has been the reason why Nowitzki hasn’t been the visible face of the franchise he should be, but having your face plastered on TV won’t restore your reputation or absolve you from cardinal basketball sins: like blowing a 2-0 lead in the playoffs.

Perhaps beyond Mark Cuban and Finals losses exists our insistence to put Dirk Nowitzki into a box the way we do with other athletes. They are winners or losers, clutch performers or chokers, and once you are put into a box it’s tough to be pulled out.

Kobe has missed countless big shots, but Kobe exists in the clutch category and so no matter how many shots he misses, no matter how much he tries to force his greatness when he just doesn’t have it, he’s still clutch because that is what we have decided.

Our logic on winners and losers only goes so far. Dirk’s 2006 Mavericks were good enough to get to the NBA Finals so they must have been good enough to win. They had a 2-0 series lead so they must have been good enough to win.

But they didn’t. So case closed. Dirk choked.

But the Mavericks were unable to make adjustments as a team to stop the onslaught of a Wade and Shaq assault. So they weren’t good enough to win. They got beat by a better team.

Or in the 2007 playoffs, they were the one seed so they should have been good enough to beat Golden State. But Golden State was the one matchup that gave them fits. They were the one team equipped to beat the Mavericks and they did. It was a team wide collapse.

It’s that last part of the logic that escapes us because we, just like the news we read, makes us reactionary. We form opinions in an instant, and once we do we lock them in and move on to the next thing.

Dirk always has, and always will be one of the better NBA players to have played. His teams, at least up until this point have never been good enough to win. That’s the bottom line on Dirk Nowitzki.

Mark Cuban has nothing to do with that."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.dallasnew...p-25-player.ece
Columnist: Blame Mark Cuban for Nowitzki not being a Top 25 player.
By SportsDayDFW.com.



BEST OF DIRK NOWITZKI -- LEGENDS SERIES: (About Dirk): Another big European stiff. That’s what they said about Nowitzki when the big German was drafted in 1998 and immediately traded by Milwaukee to the Mavericks for Robert “Tractor” Traylor. It remains one of the most lopsided deals in NBA history. Nowitzki had some early growing pains, but he leads a slew of meaningful statistical categories in Mavericks history and led them to the NBA Finals in 2006. He’s quite simply the best player the franchise has ever had and an adopted son in Dallas. And the best news for fans is that he’s not done yet.

"FoxSports.com columnist Jason Whitlock wasn't surprised by Dirk Nowitzki's 48 points Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He thinks highly of the current Mavericks team and even believes they will win an NBA title this season.

Well, that's if Mavs owner Mark Cuban doesn't get in their way.

The controversial writer believes the outspoken owner has been a roadblock to the Mavericks' winning a championship in 2006 and the overall popularity of superstar Dirk Nowitzki.

"Throughout the majority of Nowitzki’s brilliant career, Cuban has chosen to be the face of the Mavericks franchise. He publicly spars with the commissioner. At most games, Cuban sits a camera-pan-away from the Dallas bench," he wrote. "He’s a T-shirt-wearing, 'Dancing-With-The-Stars'-appearing rock star billionaire. He’s a character, a media darling, a fun Daniel Snyder."

Whitlock wrote Wednesday that Nowitzki's performance during the postseason shouldn't come as a surprise.

"It’s just too many of us couldn’t see it because too much attention was focused on Cuban’s latest controversy," he added. "These playoffs have brought Nowitzki into focus."

It wasn't all negative energy being passed toward Cuban, Whitlock gave the Mavs owner credit for building a championship-caliber team and turning the franchise from "regular loser to perennial, regular-season winner."

Whitlock added: "As long as he can avoid distracting his team with crying about officiating and [NBA Commissioner David] Stern, I see the Mavs winning the title."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://msn.foxsports...nowitzki-051811

Blame Cuban for overshadowing Nowitzki.
Jason Whitlock.


"If you’re surprised by Dirk Nowitzki’s 48-point explosion and dominance of the postseason, blame Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

The story goes that Dean Smith was the only man who could hold Michael Jordan below 30 points. Well, history may rule that Cuban was the lone man preventing Nowitzki from taking his rightful place among the 25 greatest basketball players of all time.


Throughout the majority of Nowitzki’s brilliant career, Cuban has chosen to be the face of the Mavericks franchise. He publicly spars with the commissioner. At most games, Cuban sits a camera-pan-away from the Dallas bench. He’s a T-shirt-wearing, "Dancing-With-The-Stars"-appearing rock star billionaire. He’s a character, a media darling, a fun Daniel Snyder.

It’s not all bad. Actually, mostly it’s good. Cuban’s passion for the Mavericks turned the franchise from regular loser to perennial, regular-season winner.

There is a downside. Cuban’s uncontrolled paranoia and feud with David Stern are the primary reason the Mavericks have been postseason underachievers.

You remember “The Cuban Whistle Crisis?” Some people call it the 2006 NBA Finals featuring the Mavericks and the Miami Heat. Washington Post columnist Mike Wise gave the series its appropriate nickname, “TCWC.”

One-sided officiating repeatedly sent Dwyane Wade to the free-throw line and the Heat dug out of a 2-0 deficit to win the title. The popular narrative is that the heavy-handed, pro-Miami officiating was an outgrowth of Cuban’s wrestling match with Stern. Conspiracy theorists believe The Commish had the refs take out Cuban’s Mavericks.

I’ve long believed in an alternate theory, the hypothesis of self-fulfilling prophecy.

Cuban spent so much time and energy arguing and researching the theory the refs were screwing him that everyone in his organization — from head coach Avery Johnson to the ball boys — eventually got distracted and basically let the Finals officiating crews have their way.



Coaches preach that their players ignore things they can’t control. Cuban, from his seat close to the bench, forced the Mavs to do the opposite.

A dear friend of the media, Cuban has never been properly criticized for his role in “The Cuban Whistle Crisis.” When you think of the Mavs as a soft, underachieving team, you don’t think of Cuban’s culpability.

You blame Dirk Nowitzki. Or you blamed Dirk Nowitzki.

It’s a stereotype. Nowitzki is allegedly the soft, white European player not tough enough to take on the tatted-up American bad boys. Nowitzki is the reason the Mavs consistently exited the postseason early.

Really? I say it was Cuban.

The current playoffs should help you see the light.

Seemingly from out of nowhere, Nowitzki is being hailed as one of the best and most clutch postseason players in league history. In 114 playoff games, Dirk averages 25.8 points and 10.6 rebounds. Only Hakeem Olajuwon, Bob Pettit and Elgin Baylor can match Dirk’s 25-and-10 average.

What Dirk is doing is nothing new. It’s just too many of us couldn’t see it because too much attention was focused on Cuban’s latest controversy. These playoffs have brought Nowitzki into focus.

Now there’s consensus among talking heads and experts that he is the toughest matchup since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar unveiled the sky hook. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle is ready to put Dirk in the same sentence with Michael, Larry, Magic, Russell, Kareem, Wilt, Oscar, Dr. J, Shaq, Jerry West, Kobe, Tim Duncan and the rest of the immortals.


Carlisle is going a bit too far, but he isn’t crazy.

Give Dirk two titles and he’d crack my top 25. Give him three and I’d have to make room for him in my top 15.

Take away “The Cuban Whistle Crisis,” tone down Cuban’s paranoia, and Dirk is playing for his second title this year.

I’ve liked the Mavericks all season. This is, by far, the most complete team Nowitzki has played on. Tyson Chandler gives the Mavs a defensive presence and grittiness. Knockdown three-point bombers Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Peja Stojakovic and J.J. Barea make it impossible to aggressively double-team Nowitzki when he initiates offense from just off the block.

Carlisle is the perfect, quirky coach to work for Cuban. Carlisle is dumb enough and smart enough to ignore Cuban’s whining and tolerate his owner’s need to be the smartest guy in the arena.

The loss of Caron Butler is the only thing that momentarily shook my confidence in the Mavs.

Cuban built a championship-caliber team. As long as he can avoid distracting his team with crying about officiating and Stern, I see the Mavs winning the title. It won’t be easy. Oklahoma City is going to test Dallas. Kevin Durant answered Dirk’s efficient display with 40 points. And the Bulls would be a very difficult matchup in the Finals. (If the Heat advance, the Mavs would sweep Miami.)

Again, mostly Cuban is a good owner. He just gets in his own way. And, for a decade, he’s stopped the sports world from appreciating Dirk Nowitzki in the proper context."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://sports.espn.g...ce=NBAHeadlines

Mark Cuban voices officiating beefs.
Comments By Tim MacMahon.
ESPNDallas.com.

DALLAS --"Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is still refraining from talking to the media, but he made his displeasure with the officiating known at halftime of his team's Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While walking off the court, Cuban loudly asked officiating supervisor Bernie Fryer what he thought of the performance of referees Greg Willard, Bill Spooner and Tom Washington.

A longtime NBA referee who was seated behind press row at the American Airlines Center, Fryer told Cuban that he thought Thursday night's crew had been "great" in the first half.

"Are you kidding me?" Cuban replied. "You're not watching the same game I am."
Cuban complained about moving screens and defensive three-second violations by the Thunder that he felt should have been called, among other things.

"Horrible," Cuban said.

Cuban has been fined more than $1 million during his 11-year ownership tenure, mostly for publicly complaining about officiating. He pointed out to the media two key calls he deemed incorrect after the Mavs' last playoff loss, when Dallas blew a 23-point lead to the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of the first round, but was not fined for those comments."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.google.co...ex=&startPage=1

Newsflash: Mark Cuban still hates the officials.
Mark Cuban decides to be the bigger man and refrains from criticizing the officials after Game 2 loss. Just kidding, that's exactly what he did.
Posted by Matt Moore.

"Mark Cuban's been a lot quieter during the playoffs this year. Mostly because his team's been winning a lot. But lest you think that the timeless tradition of the Mavs' owner complaining about officiating has gone the way of the dinosaur, we bring you an exchange from after Game 2 of Thunder-Mavericks, via ESPN:


While walking off the court, Cuban loudly asked officiating supervisor Bernie Fryer what he thought of the performance of referees Greg Willard, Bill Spooner and Tom Washington.

A longtime NBA referee who was seated behind press row at the American Airlines Center, Fryer told Cuban that he thought Thursday night's crew had been "great" in the first half.

"Are you kidding me?" Cuban replied. "You're not watching the same game I am."

Cuban complained about moving screens and defensive three-second violations by the Thunder that he felt should have been called, among other things.

"Horrible," Cuban said.
via 2011 NBA playoffs: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban voices displeasure over Game 2 officiating to referee supervisor - ESPN Dallas.

Cuban's got a point here. After all, the officials did let a second-year role player in James Harden drop 24-7-4 on them, and let Eric Maynor set the tempo without pressuring the ball. They also failed to get Dirk Nowitzki the ball for most of the game. Oh, no, wait, that was Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki was officiated differently in Game 2 than in Game 1. That's going to happen. You're not going to get consistent officiating crew to crew. It's not a matter of one team getting more of the calls, it's how they're called. In Game 1, a lot of calls were made from post or face-up, leading to Dirk's billion free throws or Durant's ability to pump-and-catch. In Game 2, most of the calls came off the drive, leading to Durant getting calls every time he took the ball to the floor. With Nowitzki still working out of the post, even when driving from there, he wasn't able to get to the line as often.

And three-second violations, Mark? You've got a better chance of bringing the rain with a dance than getting that call by complaining about it.

Cuban will get fined, most likely, and all will be right with the world."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://www.foxsports...519&feedID=3742

Cuban keeps quiet as Mavs chase elusive title.
By Billy Witz.

DALLAS--"When the Lakers were playing in Los Angeles earlier this month, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban sat in courtside seats an hour before tipoff.

He was surrounded by about a dozen reporters.

One by one, questions were tossed Cuban's way.

He joked about his predilection for T-shirts and jeans. "I'm going to wear a suit tomorrow," he said.

He laughed about getting flogged for the Mavericks' springtime shortcomings. "Ever since Shawn Bradley left, I take all the heat," he mused.

But Cuban, no matter how much chum was dumped in front of him, would not bite. He talked, but he did not say anything -- not anything provocative, anyway.

The man who has been docked more than $1 million in NBA fines, who so relished tweaking Lakers coach Phil Jackson, and who takes every whistle against the Mavericks as an affront to humanity would not shoot from the lip.

Muse about buying the Dodgers? No thanks.

Gloat about Ron Artest's suspension? Not today.

Take one last jab back at Jackson? Not this time.

This spring, as the playoffs have unfolded, the Mavericks appear to be undergoing a character transformation. They have gone from faint-hearted to hard-hearted, staging huge comebacks instead of giving them up. Their star Dirk Nowitzki has evolved -- even his teammates say -- into Larry Bird. And the Mavericks have, on occasion, deigned to play a little defense.

Nobody, though, seems to have undergone a more unexpected transformation than Cuban.

He's gone from Charlie Sheen to Charlie McCarthy -- even when the subject of officiating comes up.

The Mavericks keep winning, Cuban stands and cheers behind Dallas' bench, and he wraps his arms around his players afterward. Then he has little to say about it.

The Mavericks have said they are happy that Cuban has lowered his profile, particularly Nowitzki, who told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "It should be about the players, not the owners."

Cuban continues to pour his money -- a $90 million payroll, just behind the Lakers -- and his soul into the team. But he has had little to say when anyone with a recorder or notepad is around.

And perhaps that's the lesson in these playoffs. This postseason is one where hubris has largely taken a holiday -- an early one at that.

After all, the Lakers were gone early. The Knicks were also swept out. Oklahoma City may soon join them, the series turning Monday after Kevin Durant put them up by 15 points and then gestured as if he were putting on a championship belt.

Now, after their stunning comeback overtime victory, the Mavericks are poised to get back to the Finals by closing out Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.

And awaiting them could be a trip to Miami.

It would be an intriguing climax to the season: Nowitzki chasing an elusive title, having to face the demons laid bare five years ago, and having to do so against the NBA's villains.

In fact, it would be an apt tale of redemption for the Mavericks, a fitting script -- if, for once, their owner has anything to say about it."

[jcisco loboe'77]

http://bleacherrepor...ven-more-credit
Mark Cuban: A Billionaire That Needs Even More Credit.
By Derek Crouse(Contributor).
Next The Mavericks would not be in this position without Cuban.

"Mark Cuban is known mostly for being the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

Currently, the Mavs are looking to eliminate the Oklahoma City Thunder in order to reach the NBA Finals.

While many think that businessmen shouldn’t be so brash, Cuban is a pioneer who doesn’t fit the mold of your typical entrepreneur. There are certain owners, promoters and business types who don’t like the style and approach that Cuban has, but that is one of the reasons behind his success.

Unlike Warren Buffet, Cuban can be seen not just discussing how to manage a portfolio and advising in the financial landscape, but also pushing the limits in other ventures throughout the sports, technology and entertainment world.

When Cuban purchased the Mavericks in 2000, the team was at the bottom of the food chain.

They were the laughing stock of the league and the change was definitely needed. As an owner, he is usually courtside being very vocal with referees, players and fans like a loyal supporter of the team.

Most owners stay in the press box with their group of suits, but most know that Cuban’s style is very unorthodox. He also encourages fans to contact him directly, and has answered thousands of e-mails over the years.

That alone sets him apart from even a state politician.

Cuban has even put his mark on the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.

He is the creator and owner of HDNet, a cable-satellite channel that mostly is geared towards a male demographic. It boasts more MMA, K-1 and combat sports coverage than any other channel, as well as high-production music concerts and videos.

They have a show called Inside MMA that is hosted by Kenny Rice & Bas Rutten, who is one of the most respected fighters ever.

It follows a SportsCenter like format with usually a two to three guest panel once a week.

Many fighters and promoters have said that Mark Cuban has done more to bring exposure to the sport than anybody out there.

Having a powerful businessman behind your sport is always a plus. It was just 10 years ago that only hard-core fight fans knew a large amount of fighters. Now, you see kids and parents alike supporting the fight game. While Cuban will never admit it, he has to take some credit for sticking his neck out for something that was a proven commodity.

Even Dana White has decided to let HDNet in on more UFC coverage, which had been an obstacle of Cuban’s for awhile.

The sport of baseball has even had the mark of Cuban on it.

The country is showing a loss of attention to the sport of baseball, but that hasn’t stopped Cuban from wanting a piece of the pie. He has been on the record pushing to own teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs.

Many people were clamoring for Cuban to take over the Cubs because of what he has done with the Mavericks. He would of made the older-style clubhouse on Clark and Addison into a technology driven machine, much like he did in Dallas.

The owners voted that Cuban would not even have the option to bid, but he still supports baseball in a way many of the owners should appreciate because it leads to future stars in their sport.

Cuban has invested in the Little Heroes Baseball Foundation. It basically helps park districts maintain baseball fields to high standards. A baseball field seems basic, but many townships and districts don’t have the revenue to keep up the grounds.

A basketball court can last many years without a large-scale budget to be playable, but many fields have been removed because of cost. Cuban might not be able to own a team, but he keeps kids interested in the sport with his involvement at a grassroots level.

Ironically, Cuban is a true “Maverick” through and through. He is resilient, innovative, willing to take risks, ambitious and puts his money where his mouth is.

That sometimes puts him in a negative light with soft-spoken individuals, but he doesn’t look in the rear-view mirror.

The Mavs would not be in their current situation without the leadership of their loyal owner."

[jcisco loboe'77]

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http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/05/26/3104623/owner-cuban-breaks-silence-to.html
Owner Cuban breaks silence to say Mavs 'ain't done yet'
By Clarence E. Hill Jr.


DALLAS--Owner Mark Cuban has been conspicuously silent during the Dallas Mavericks' run to the NBA Finals.

He has avoided the media in the past two series against the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

But he couldn't avoid the ESPN crew on the floor for the Western Conference Finals trophy presentation Wednesday night.

Cuban avoided the question about why he has been so quiet.

He thanked the fans for their support and ended his turn at the microphone with a proclamation that drew cheers from the crowd.

"We ain't done yet!" Cuban exclaimed.

The fans responded with chants of "Beat the Heat."

Seizing the moment
This entire postseason for the Mavericks has been about seizing the moment and making the most of opportunities.

Presented with the opportunity to close out the Western Conference Finals, the Mavericks took care of business just as they did in the first two rounds, running down the Thunder 100-96 at American Airlines Center.

The Trail Blazers and Lakers were put away in the first elimination games in decisive fashions.

The Thunder put up more of a fight Wednesday, leading for the better part of three quarters, but the end result was the same, a Dallas victory to end the series 4-1.

"We had our chances to win the game," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

Inexperience factor
From a talent standpoint, the Thunder is equal to the Mavericks and any other team in the NBA.

With an average age of 23, they certainly have a bright future.

But they go home for the summer because of their youth and inexperience, especially in late-game situations.

"I'm proud of our guys. They battled," Scott Brooks said. "We are not ashamed at how we played. We gave ourselves a chance."

The Mavericks ended the game on a 17-6 run.

They used a 17-2 run to end regulation in Game 4 before eventually winning in overtime.

"Oklahoma City is a great young team. They played with unbelievable fight," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "Their time will come. It's not now."

Chandler limited
Mavericks center Tyson Chandler got off to a quick start, scoring six points in the opening four minutes. But foul trouble limited his contributions the rest of the game.

He picked up his third foul with 5:53 left in the second quarter and didn't play in the half after that. And he was called for his fourth less than six minutes into the third quarter.

Still, Chandler contributed nine points and nine rebounds in 24:20.

With 7:46 left in the first, Kendrick Perkins was called for a charge into Chandler. And, with 8:51 left in the third, Serge Ibaka was called for a foul when he and Chandler went up for a rebound."

Staff writer Drew Davison contributed to this report.