Mark Cuban | Larry Brown Sports

Mark Cuban in a Catfight with Kenyon Martin’s Mom, Kenyon to Take Care of it

May 11, 2009 By Larry Brown Leave a Comment

Sometimes the NBA just really starts to resemble the WWE in ways that it shouldn’t. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was pretty heated following the controversial Game 3 loss to Denver on Saturday night, as previously mentioned. That’s no surprise considering how quickly the Mavs went from being in control and back in the series to losing and being out of it. In the dust-up after the ending to the game, Mark Cuban apparently had some words for Kenyon Martin’s mom: “Cuban said Sunday by e-mail that when he walked off the court, a fan was screaming about the Nuggets being “thugs,” so Cuban said to Martin’s mother: “That includes your son.” The two know each other from an incident earlier in the series when Martin’s mom approached Cuban and instigated by talking crap. Not satisfied to merely let his play on the court do the talking, Kenyon Martin is now getting in the middle of things:

“I don’t feel I need to call his name in the media and all that, but it’s a little personal. And I’m going to take care of it.”
…
“(Heck) yeah, don’t say nothing to my kids or my family. If you got something to say, say it to me. But I’m going to take care of it. I’m not going to do the whole media thing, back and forth. That’s his thing. I’m more of a face-to-face type of dude.

“So whenever the opportunity presents itself, then I will address it. But I got a game to go win. At some point I will, but I got a game to go win, first and foremost. So that’s my focus and concentration right now.”

Come on Mark, it’s Mother’s Day! I think it’s fair to say that Martin’s mom was out of line the first time she approached Cuban to gloat and that Mark’s reaction after Game 3 wasn’t called for either. Any wonder why MLB didn’t want this guy owning a team? I still say he should get one — he makes everything more interesting.

(photo credit: Getty Images)

UPDATE: You might want to see this video taken after Game 4. Believe me, the language from Kenyon Martin directed towards Mark Cuban is very strong.

Filed Under: Basketball Tagged With: Kenyon Martin, Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban: Mavs Used to Drink and Smoke in the Locker Room at Halftime

April 2, 2009 By Larry Brown Leave a Comment

One of the things I love about Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is that the guy has no filter. I’m not sure which came first, saying whatever comes to mind or becoming a billionaire, but I like that aspect of Cubes’ personality. Anyway, the guy is at the forefront of the emerging technology market and was a pioneer as a celebrity blogger, not to mention twitterer. While defending Charlie Villanueva for twittering at halftime of a Bucks game, Cuban gave us this interesting peak into an NBA locker room. From his interview with the T-Wolves website:

Jonah: Charlie Villanueva made a great point; a Twitter update is about the same as a halftime interview.

Mark: He is right. Before I took over for the Mavs back in the day they used to drink and smoke in the locker room, so I can think of worse things.

The Mavericks were also perennially horsebleep before Cuban took over, so that’s not too much of a surprise. I’m not sure if he’s exaggerating or not, but I would hope that professional athletes have more pride in their job than that. I have heard that Vlade Divac used to smoke in the locker room so I guess for some players they need it, but I can’t imagine that’s too healthy. Furthermore, Dock Ellis did throw a no-hitter on acid, and Gary McLain snorted coke for Villanova during the Final Four, so maybe this isn’t so bad after all. Scratch that, alcohol and athletics don’t mix unless it’s slow pitch softball, but then again, we are talking athletics, right?

Filed Under: Basketball Tagged With: Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban Slaps Doc Rivers on the Ass Following Ejection

February 13, 2009 By Larry Brown Leave a Comment

Good ole Mark Cuban. Are there no limits to his enthusiasm? Sometimes he gets carried away — just like he did late in the 3rd quarter of Thursday night’s game when Celtics coach Doc Rivers was ejected following a stream of fouls called on Kevin Garnett. Cubes, who is no stranger to on-court confrontations, expressed his condolences in the only way he knew how:

Reminds me a lot of the Percy Harvin/Urban Meyer ass slap, though this was amongst opponents. Luckily for Doc, his team got the last laugh. At least Cubes got a nice handful in. And the picture doesn’t actually do justice to how hard the slap was — it was a total “attaboy” slap!

Filed Under: Basketball Tagged With: Doc Rivers, Mark Cuban

Craig Ehlo: Cuban Will Pursue Bob Knight

May 1, 2008 By Larry Brown 5 Comments

So we’ve already established that the Mavericks fired coach Avery Johnson in the wake of their first round playoff exit. I always say you have to see what’s out there first before you move on, but perhaps this is best for both parties. Now the question for Dallas becomes who do they hire? There aren’t too many big names out there I can think of, and we all know my buddy LB already took a gig with Charlotte. So where does that leave Dallas? Craig Ehlo joined Arnie Spanier on Sporting News Radio Wednesday and offered this possibility:

I think Mark Cuban will actually go after Bobby Knight. You know he just lives in Lubbock, Texas only 375 miles west of there. Cuban is an Indiana grad and I wouldn’t put it past him to offer something to Bobby Knight if Bobby Knight would be willing.

Let’s see, Cuban could offer something, but I don’t see any chance that Bob Knight takes it. He’s already gone on a limb by taking a job with ESPN, is there really a chance he tries out the pro game? I don’t think Knight wants any part of the professional ballplayer. Bob Knight not being able to pick and choose who is on his team via recruiting? Not a good mix. Not going to happen, though the thought is awesome. And who knows, Cuban could try to make something happen here — he’s all about the splash, and hot damn, this would be a waterfall.

Filed Under: College Basketball Tagged With: Bob Knight, Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban

Watch the Dallas Mavericks Live in 3D

March 22, 2008 By Larry Brown 3 Comments

Even if Mark Cuban is doing his best to piss off bloggers and make it awkward for others, he still is on the cutting edge when it comes to product development. The man who started HDNet has arranged a screening of the Mavericks/Clippers game Tuesday in 3D at a movie theater. No surprise that Cuban’s idea is a form of synergy for the man who owns both the Mavericks and some Landmark theaters, but the concept in itself is quite creative. FSN Southwest will broadcast the game in 2-D and work with a special 3-D production crew to make the 3-D broadcast work. Cuban seems to think the idea is a real winner:

“I think 3-D will play a huge role in out-of-home entertainment for the next few years,” said Cuban, founder of HDNet. “It will be a unique experience for watching sports, concerts and special events that only theaters will be able to offer.”

I don’t know if I’d be running out of the house to go catch a basketball game in 3-D, but I do have to say that I’m quite intrigued. And by intrigued, I mean I’d like to watch it if I had the opportunity, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to do so. Man, never shy to express his opinion, Mark Cuban is always way ahead of the game when it comes to technological ideas. Is it any surprise he’s a billionaire?

Filed Under: Basketball Tagged With: Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban Was in Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s Ring Entourage

December 9, 2007 By Larry Brown 2 Comments

You’ve already seen my break down of the actual fight, but I just couldn’t resist that screen grab of Wayne Newton. Unbeknownst to me, Mark Cuban, Helio Castroneves, and Wayne Newton, were all in attendance Saturday night to support their Dancing With Stars buddy, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Not only were they there to cheer the man on, but they also formed part of Mayweather’s entourage as he entered the ring. Can you picture a more excited man than the delighted Mark Cuban, who entered bearing a few of Floyd’s championship belts?

To think, Cubes actually abandoned his Mavs for a night to be at this fight. Judging by the smug look on his face, he couldn’t have been more proud. I do have to say, Josh Howard would not be pleased.

Filed Under: Boxing, Entertainment Tagged With: Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mark Cuban