Mark Cuban is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and proudly shows it as he rushes onto the court because of officials, or rants and raves about other players and head coaches. Everybody knows him. The question remains, is he a head case or a great owner?
Cuban made his money from starting a computer software company Micro Solutions, and sold it for $6 million. He later started Broadcast.com and sold it to Yahoo for $5.9 billion, that's right billion. From then on it was all an entrepreneur trying to make money.
He bought the Mavericks in 2000 and instantly raised their scoring percentage, and placed them among the league elite for all the rest of the seasons to come. He acquired coach Don Nelson, who drastically turned around the franchise. He was first frowned upon when he got Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, but later called brilliant when they both won MVPs.
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Cuban is known for his short fuse and harsh temper towards referees. He sat alongside the Mavs before he was banned, when the NBA put into place the Cuban rule, where an owner cannot sit on the team bench.
Guess the one person effected by this? That's right Mark Cuban. How did he solve the problem? Sitting behind the team bench that's how.
During games, Cuban will rush the floor and get into screaming matches with officials, and later get fined for his behavior. But as I see it, this shows how much he cares.
On April Fool's, he and a referee planned to fake a shoving match on the court to entertain fans. He even started a booing campaign when Michael Finley took the floor as a San Antonio Spur in their playoff series in Dallas.
If he was just another billionaire owner that may come to some games during the season, he would just sit in a luxurious press box, above the court. They let GMs hire and fire coaches, release and sign free agents and do everything an owner would do, except make the money.
Mark Cuban works hard for his beloved Mavs and will spend any kind of money to see them win. I mean he pays Eric Dampier $11 million a year!
What you probably don't know is that every penny he gets fined he matches and gives to charities. He once criticized the manager of officials and told him he couldn't manage a Dairy Queen. He later worked at a Dairy Queen on his own will to apologize.
So love him or hate him, Mark Cuban gives a 110 percent to the Mavs and their fans. Sure he gets a little hot headed at times, but in the end he is one of the best owners of the league.
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about 1 month ago
Both. He seems kinda immature for a grown man.
about 1 month ago
I wouldn't go so far as to call him a headcase. He used to be a little hot-headed, perhaps, but I think he knows what he's doing for the most part. If you're grading the franchise based on championships, then he isn't a great owner. And I'm not sold on the Avery Johnson firing.
That said, he runs his team the same way I'd run a team that I owned. I'd sit right there courtside, probably with a beer in my hand, cheering my face off. It would be my $50 million running up and down the court, after all. Hopefully, I would refrain from getting into it with the refs, and running my mouth in interviews. I know I'd worry about giving the fans a fun team to watch like Cuban does.
from about 1 month ago
I totally agree, why would I pay athletes millions then sit in the suites away from my team, but I guess this is extremely hypothetical.
about 1 month ago
Cool article, but you say "he pays Eric Dampier $11 million a year!" like its a good thing. That was money he could have used to keep Steve Nash, or get a big man that shows up more than every third game or so.
from about 1 month ago
what I meant was if you pay some bum like Damp $11 mill. that means your willing to sacrifice the money for your team. No it's probably not a good thing but shows how dedicated he is.
from about 1 month ago
True. I'll never understand the people who claim that Cuban is hell-bent on destroying the team. It's pretty obvious that winning a ring is number one in Cuban's book, no matter how far over the luxury tax he has to go, which is more than can be said for the owner of the Suns, who sells draft picks, and gives away people to get under the tax.
about 1 month ago
both. he is a smart, brilliant owner, but he is also a crazy a-hole. but great article, taloy
about 1 month ago
You forgot to mention him trashing the Olympics, dismissing The Games as a money-making machine, and how could you leave out his Dancing With the Stars tenure in an article debating whether he is a headcase or great owner?
The few times I watched Cuban dance, and his participation was the only reason I watched that show at all, I liked him a little more. By making a fool of himself attempting the cha cha cha, he endeared himself to skeptics like myself.
He is the oddest, most entertaining owner in professional sports. No one can debate that. You don't see Peter Holt yelling "b**llshit" on the sidelines on national television after a questionable call. You won't see Leslie Alexander on Dancing With the Stars. If Kobe Bryant had cried and whined a bit more, maybe Dr. Phil could have convinced him and Jerry Buss to come on his show and work out things.
Cuban, to me, is that fascinating distant cousin who invites himself to every family gathering, even though you didn't invite him. He talks even after you have asked him to shut up and always skates between irritation and intrigue.
It's still funny to me that for two years straight, Michael Finley was the highest paid player on the Mavericks payroll, and he was playing for the Spurs. Cuban paid him to win a championship with another team.
Headcase or great owner? I think he's both and that's what makes him Mark Cuban.
from about 1 month ago
I didn't mention his Dancing with the stars for:
a) i didn't want to admit that I have actually watched a ballroom dance competion
b)If I was willing to admit it then, Io couldn't find a spot for it.
Thanks for the Comment
about 1 month ago
I agree with your article and that is why Cuban should be the next Cubs owner: http://www.cubanandthecubs.com
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