“I'm not proud of my inability over the last 10 years to have the impact like I want to have, so I kind of feel like I owe fans an apology,’’ said Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban, on the heels of the Mavericks’ third first round playoff elimination in the past four seasons.
Mark Cuban doesn't owe anyone an apology, least of all the fans.
If it wasn't for Mark Cuban, Dallas would still be basketball hell and Mavs fans would still be wearing bags rather than ball caps on their heads. Granted, it hurts like hell to watch our guys play their asses off for 82 games a season, only to wind up going nowhere in the postseason, but Cuban has given us something to cling to: hope. Every season starts the same way, as I tell myself, This could really be our year. And nine out of ten times, I truly believe it.
Surely I’m not the only one who remembers the dark days of the 1990s, when the Mavs were not only the worst franchise in the NBA, but in professional sports altogether. Draft picks didn’t want to come here (anyone recall the Jim Jackson debacle?), traded players avoided reporting to Dallas as long as possible (Adrian Dantley), and we came within just a few games of claiming the worst NBA record of all time. About the only highlight of the ‘90s for the Mavericks was drafting Jason Kidd, who, along with Grant Hill, went on to become Co-Rookie of the Year.
And then, on January 4, 2000, the unthinkable happened: Mark Cuban rescued the franchise, as well as its fans, from basketball oblivion, by becoming the majority owner of the team. Cuban brought in Don Nelson, one of the winningest coaches in NBA history. He changed the attitude and atmosphere of the locker room, and by signing Michael Finley to a contract extension, Cuban proved that he was willing to spend money to keep key players here in town. He changed the uniforms and revamped the logo and moved the team into the 21st century. He remarketed the team to the public and helped bring in a new fan base, as well as renew old fans who had all but given up on the Mavericks ever being relevant again.
So what, exactly, should Mark Cuban apologize for? Reviving a franchise that was on life support before his arrival? Lowering ticket prices so that the common everyday fan could even afford to go? Making Dallas a premier destination for draftees and free agents alike? A decade of 50+ win seasons, two Southwest division titles, and a Western conference title? Being a passionate, hands-on owner who loves his team just as much, if not more so, than Mavs fans do? Trying to change an obviously flawed officiating system that is consistently inconsistent?
No, Mark, you’ve got absolutely no reason to apologize. You’ve done nothing but singlehandedly rescue the Dallas Mavericks and their loyal fans from basketball irrelevance. We, the fans, should be thanking you for all you have done, not blaming you for circumstances beyond your control. I’d rather have a crazed superfan of an owner, who feels the passion and pain right along with the team, than a stuffed shirt just looking to turn a profit any day of the week.
Mark Cuban doesn't owe anyone an apology, least of all the fans.
If it wasn't for Mark Cuban, Dallas would still be basketball hell and Mavs fans would still be wearing bags rather than ball caps on their heads. Granted, it hurts like hell to watch our guys play their asses off for 82 games a season, only to wind up going nowhere in the postseason, but Cuban has given us something to cling to: hope. Every season starts the same way, as I tell myself, This could really be our year. And nine out of ten times, I truly believe it.
Surely I’m not the only one who remembers the dark days of the 1990s, when the Mavs were not only the worst franchise in the NBA, but in professional sports altogether. Draft picks didn’t want to come here (anyone recall the Jim Jackson debacle?), traded players avoided reporting to Dallas as long as possible (Adrian Dantley), and we came within just a few games of claiming the worst NBA record of all time. About the only highlight of the ‘90s for the Mavericks was drafting Jason Kidd, who, along with Grant Hill, went on to become Co-Rookie of the Year.
And then, on January 4, 2000, the unthinkable happened: Mark Cuban rescued the franchise, as well as its fans, from basketball oblivion, by becoming the majority owner of the team. Cuban brought in Don Nelson, one of the winningest coaches in NBA history. He changed the attitude and atmosphere of the locker room, and by signing Michael Finley to a contract extension, Cuban proved that he was willing to spend money to keep key players here in town. He changed the uniforms and revamped the logo and moved the team into the 21st century. He remarketed the team to the public and helped bring in a new fan base, as well as renew old fans who had all but given up on the Mavericks ever being relevant again.
So what, exactly, should Mark Cuban apologize for? Reviving a franchise that was on life support before his arrival? Lowering ticket prices so that the common everyday fan could even afford to go? Making Dallas a premier destination for draftees and free agents alike? A decade of 50+ win seasons, two Southwest division titles, and a Western conference title? Being a passionate, hands-on owner who loves his team just as much, if not more so, than Mavs fans do? Trying to change an obviously flawed officiating system that is consistently inconsistent?
No, Mark, you’ve got absolutely no reason to apologize. You’ve done nothing but singlehandedly rescue the Dallas Mavericks and their loyal fans from basketball irrelevance. We, the fans, should be thanking you for all you have done, not blaming you for circumstances beyond your control. I’d rather have a crazed superfan of an owner, who feels the passion and pain right along with the team, than a stuffed shirt just looking to turn a profit any day of the week.
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