Mark Cuban has been such a breath of fresh air for this league. I'm a Lakers fan and I still love this guy! I don't know of anyone that has turned around a floundering franchise faster than Mark, I can only hope that more owners take note of what is going on down there in the Big D. All you Mavs fans are very lucky, now if only he can find a real center to sure-up the paint this team could be on it's way to a title... Is this the consensus amongst most Mavs fans?
I'd have to disagree with that, Cuban is a clown and a disgrace to franchise owners everywhere. He is the Ron Artest of the front office. I respect the fact that he travels with the team, but he needs to realize that he is the owner and not the coach. There is no reason for him to be fined for yelling at the refs. If anything, he should make his statements away from the games and get fined for that. You think he can save the NBA? Why? Because we all really like looking at his face? Because he's trying to bring ripped jeans back into style? Cuban is a child stuck in an adults body, and somehow he came across some cash so he used it to buy an expensive toy.
^^ I believe he said... <div class="quote_poster">Quoting OgShowtime:</div><div class="quote_post">Is this the consensus amongst most Mavs fans?</div> If you hate what he has done with the Mavericks, how do you feel about your own team? So what if he does not dress up, Cuban is not a follower, he is himself, an individual. I will always respect a man for that. A clown? He is not only a GM (one of the best in pro sports) but he is also a fan, that wears his heart on his sleeve. I respect a man for being honest when things are not right (I do that all the time here) Finally, he is the owner, and he can do anything he wants.
I hafta agree with OG and Sand..er King James. Cuban takes being an owner and treats it like what it is: a job. He focuses on winning, since that's what an owner should want. And he goes about everything he does so that it has an impact on his team. He is rich, but didn't limit himself to buying just it. He also buys all amenities for his players so that they can just focus on playing the game. And if you think about it, they do. You never really hear about Dallas pros breaking rules, having tantrums, getting in trouble with the law, etc. Kudos to Mark.
How is he a disgrace to the owners of the league??? You may call him a clown because of the way he dresses or cuts his hair, but listen to guys like Michael Finley and Steve Nash who were around in the pre-Cuban days talk about the excitement and rejuvination he's brought to the franchise. This team was quickly becoming the Clippers of the midwest before Cuban got there. I think it's great that he's a fan and expresses his opinions. Doesn't he have a right to? I do not agree with him storming the court or berating officials, but wouldn't you rather have an owner that's passionate about his team and the game rather than one that sits in his freakin' skybox sipping martinis and reading the wall street journal? What's better than a multi-BILLIONAIRE owner sitting courtside to watch his team with ripped blue jeans and a beer in his hand?!? He's an average guy who appreciates what he has and values the opinion of the fans, that to me is someone I can respect.
The Mavs were the joke of the league, at the very least a Clipper match, many would say that they were worse. Absolutely amazing, the man should be commended.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trail_Blazer76:</div><div class="quote_post">I'd have to disagree with that, Cuban is a clown and a disgrace to franchise owners everywhere. He is the Ron Artest of the front office. I respect the fact that he travels with the team, but he needs to realize that he is the owner and not the coach. There is no reason for him to be fined for yelling at the refs. If anything, he should make his statements away from the games and get fined for that. You think he can save the NBA? Why? Because we all really like looking at his face? Because he's trying to bring ripped jeans back into style? Cuban is a child stuck in an adults body, and somehow he came across some cash so he used it to buy an expensive toy.</div> Mark Cuban is one of the few good owners this league has. He is a player first owner who treats his players with respect. He has a great relationship with his players and visa versa. I challenge you to find me one quote from a member of that team, who does not like Mark Cuban as their owner. Sure he might not be the coach, but he is the owner. Since he is the owner of the team, frankly he can do whatever he wants to. I love to see an owner get fined for making comments about the officials. It shows that he cares about every single game his team plays in. He stands up for his team like he should. You refer to his basketball team as an "expensive toy". Well since Cuban became the owner, this team has had a 180 degree turnaround. They went from the laughing stock of the league to a real title contender. Who do Maverick fans have to thank for that? Mark Cuban. Their team history before he came and after he came speak for themselves: http://www.nba.com/mavericks/history/00400544.html He obviously works hard to make his team is able to compete night in and night out. Mark Cuban isn't a good owner, he is a great owner.
(I gave Dexter that link, hehe) The records speak for themselves. 1990-91, .341 1991-92, .268 1992-93, .134 1993-94, .159 1994-95, .439 1995-96, .317 1996-97, .293 1997-98, .244 1998-99, .280 Talk about a turnaround.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Mark Cuban is one of the few good owners this league has. He is a player first owner who treats his players with respect. He has a great relationship with his players and visa versa. I challenge you to find me one quote from a member of that team, who does not like Mark Cuban as their owner.</div> Why should I? I never said that his players don't like him, where did you come up with that? Dex, what player would admit that they dislike the owner unless that want to be traded? But for the record, have you ever seen Allnet's sig? VAN EXEL. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I love to see an owner get fined for making comments about the officials. It shows that he cares about every single game his team plays in. He stands up for his team like he should.</div> The owner can say whatever he wants but the players (the ones out there working their butts off) should keep their mouths shut? Yeah, he can make comments, but he has no business stepping on the court, or acting childish during the games. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Their team history before he came and after he came speak for themselves</div> Why should the owner receive all the credit for this? Should we be thanking the Net's owner for their turnaround?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trail_Blazer76:</div><div class="quote_post">Why should I? I never said that his players don't like him, where did you come up with that? Dex, what player would admit that they dislike the owner unless that want to be traded? But for the record, have you ever seen Allnet's sig? VAN EXEL.</div>The reason I made that comment is because I think a good player-owner relationship is important for the success of a franchise. You implied that he is a bad owner, I used the counter-argument that his players get along with him and like him, as one example of how he is a good owner. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The owner can say whatever he wants but the players (the ones out there working their butts off) should keep their mouths shut? Yeah, he can make comments, but he has no business stepping on the court, or acting childish during the games. </div> That is how the food chain works not only in the NBA but in real life as well. He is sticking up for his team, I see nothing wrong with that by any means. BTW, the players dont keep their mouths shut, they just keep them shut during the public interviews because they dont want to get fined. Mark Cuban could care less about getting fined. He will support his team no matter what. He doesnt care if he loses a couple of grand because of it. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Why should the owner receive all the credit for this? Should we be thanking the Net's owner for their turnaround?</div>He doesn't deserve all the credit, he just deserves most of it. Like Jerry West deserves most of the credit for turning the Grizzlies around. Mark Cuban was the biggest part in the Mavs turnaround. I don't see why he shouldn't get most of the credit.
This could go on forever..... The only problem I have with your last post is that you said players keep their mouths shut because they dont want to get fined. Then you said that Cuban could care less if he gets fined because it only "a couple grand" Do you really believe that players avoid fines because of the money? I really don't. I think it's because they don't want to tarnish the rep of themselves and their team. That is why I feel that Mark Cuban is out of line. Players have less money than Cuban, but the fines are still insignificant to them.
I didn't want encourage any controversy with this thread, just wanted to get an idea of what Mavs fans thought about the Cube. Of course I assumed most would feel that he has been a positive influence, but that some would feel differently. I don't know that the players have any gripes with the way he's running the show, because I think Cuban is the kind of guy with an open-door policy when it comes to that sort of thing. Rodman seems to be the only player Cuban has ever had any real beef with, and he squashed that bug real quick. Van Exel was a whiner with the Lakers, so he got shipped off to a then dismal Denver franchise and should have learned his lesson with that. I know he's supposedly a street thug from Wisconsin, or that's just his image of himself, but he sounds like nothing more than a punk making idol threats about Cuban. If he really wanted a piece of him, why didn't he just call him out personally? I'm sure Mark would have been more than happy to oblige.
As for how fans feel about Cuban, just look at the numbers(which I'm sorry to say I don't have with me). The Mavericks were horrible(as King James indicates with their annual winning %'s) and Dallas fans were few and far between when it came to game attendance. With Cuban, the house is constistently packed. I believe it was he who initiated the 100-pt reward system(tacos, chalupas, pizzas, frosties, etc.) which went well with the fast paced, high scoring game Nellie implemented. He makes the game fun for his players and for the fans. I think the game would be better off with a dozen more owners just like him, instead of the Abe Pollins, Donald Sterlings and *teeth grinding* Ray/George Wooldridges/Shinns that are out there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe it was he who initiated the 100-pt reward system(tacos, chalupas, pizzas, frosties, etc.) which went well with the fast paced, high scoring game Nellie implemented.</div> Wow! Now we are giving the guy credit for copying something already existed in many other arenas? I know for a fact that the Sonics have a similar system. He didnt implement it because the Mavs score a lot, he probably just did it for fan incentive. Besides, in the key arena the sonics have to score 110 points AND win, for the fans to get free chalupas. How often do the sonics score 110? It has nothing to do with the scoring.
I dont have anything against Cuban. Ignore the implications of my posts, because I actually do like the guy, and find some of his antics amusing (the Dairy Queen thing). I just think that it's silly how people will praise an owner for violating rules, but criticise players (I am a Blazer fan after all). I think it's silly that people think owners can do this stuff just because they have money.
It's not that he can do what he wants because he has money. It's what he's done with the money. Donald Sterling owns half of the real estate in Los Angeles and what the hell does he do with all that cash? He had to be forced to spend the it, otherwise be fined by the league. In my book, Mark Cuban doesn't get a free pass because he's a billionaire. Yes, he's made stupid decisions, but he didn't get popped rolling down the highway with a blunt, nor did he get busted for trying to smuggle bud through the airport in tin foil! Come on, tin foil! He also didn't assualt his kids nanny. (we all know what that was about). As a Blazer fan you know, the list goes on and on. I don't think he should be able to break rules either, and I'm not praising him for doing so. But badgering referees or storming onto the court doesn't even remotely compare to the kind of stuff that goes on in Portland. I don't want to go on and on about this, just wanted to clarify things from my personal point of view.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trail_Blazer76:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow! Now we are giving the guy credit for copying something already existed in many other arenas? I know for a fact that the Sonics have a similar system. </div> I never said it wasn't done in other arenas. But the first time I ever heard of it was during a Mavs game several years ago. And having a lower incentive is better than having a high incentive(like 110 and a W) from a fan's perspective. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He didnt implement it because the Mavs score a lot, he probably just did it for fan incentive.</div> Exactly. That's why he's a good owner. Doing stuff for the fans. If I were an owner I wouldn't care less if my team scored 100 as long as they won and the fans loved the team. However, often 100 is needed for fans to enjoy the game(such as in my case).
Cuban is a great NBA owner as Dexter has been saying. I agree with alot of Dex's comments. Cuban is one of the best owners for the league. Can he "save the NBA?" IMO(if i interpret "Save the NBA" correctly)...No. He can save his team and help bring more fans, but i personalkly believe it would take a team like the one Cuban has turned around, AND a superstar like say LBJ. I think more ownerfs should be like Cuban and go to games, and care about their teams. On that note i also think that Cuban should be more like otehr NBA owners. I think he should keep his mouth shut for alot of what he says and not yell @ refs.
