Dallas – For every fan who believes his team would be better if only he could run the franchise, he can live his dream through Mark Cuban.
The devout Dallas Mavericks fan decided in 1999 that he would like to run his beloved and struggling franchise, and he had the money to do it. In January 2000, Cuban bought the Mavericks for $280 million from Ross Perot Jr.
“Once I got it in my head I was on a mission,” Cuban said.
Six years later, the refurbished Mavericks have gone from laughingstock to the NBA Finals. Cuban’s Mavs hold a 1-0 lead over the Miami Heat with Game 2 here tonight.
“I love my story,” Cuban said. “I’m glad I can be part of it. I’m the first to realize I can never take for granted what happened to me. It’s the ultimate American dream.
“And I’m living this not just for myself, for my family. I’m living this for a whole lot of people who would give anything to be right here doing this. I plan on carrying the torch with a big old smile.”
In the 20 years before Cuban bought the team, including the season he solidified his purchase, the Mavs’ record was 639-969. Before Cuban, the Mavericks had not been to the playoffs since 1990 and never had won more than 36 games in a season from 1990-91 through 1998-99.
Once Cuban took over, everything changed.
Unlike most NBA owners, Cuban wears T-shirts, jeans and his emotions at games. He sits near the bench, listens intently during timeouts and has no problem voicing displeasure to referees.
He pampers his players with televisions and video games in their lockers, gives them use of five-star hotel-like robes and towels and feeds them at practices and games.
“You didn’t know anything other than he was a fan and he sat close to the bench before he took over the team,” former Maverick Robert Pack said.
“But you knew his enthusiasm. Instantly what it brought was energy from up top that continued, that trickled down to other management to the team and to the players. You knew in the long run he’d get the team where it is now because of his enthusiasm.
“He turned around the whole feel, like the towels in the locker room with Mavericks logo. It may not seem big, but he wanted everything down to the towels to have the logo. You knew from that standpoint he had no limit to make the Mavericks something to be reckoned with.”
Cuban quickly became a household name for his outspokenness, which has cost him more than $1 million in fines.
On Jan. 8, 2002, Cuban drew his harshest fine – $500,000 – for comments about officiating, saying Ed Rush, the NBA’s director of officials, couldn’t manage a Dairy Queen.
He was fined $10,000 and suspended two games after running onto the court in 2001 to break up a fight between the Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
And during a second-round series against San Antonio this season, he insulted the city of San Antonio and Spurs fans in hopes of firing up the Mavs and their fans.
“No one has got anything on me,” Cuban said. “What are they going to do? They fine me, pull out the belt, spank me. It’s not about if I’m afraid. It’s more about it’s my obligation to do what’s right.”
Said Perot: “Mark has a lot of fun. He’s a partner. He has great energy. Great passion. We are there to see basketball, but sometimes we go to see what Mark is going to do. That’s what we love about Mark.”
Mavs fans love Mark, too, since the franchise is 340-152 in the six full regular seasons since he bought the team.
Dallas has reached the playoffs in each of the six full seasons Cuban has owned the team. Dallas’ playoff record in the 20 seasons before Cuban was 25-33; now they are 34-30.
Most important, the Mavericks have a chance to bring Dallas its first NBA championship under their own maverick owner and longtime fan.
“The Cowboys are obviously America’s team,” Cuban said. “But I really believe the Mavericks belong to the city of Dallas. Every walk of life, every segment of the population connects with the Mavericks and has for a long time now. It would be something special.”
