Dallas – In a moment fit for a weird dream, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was sweating on a stair climber in his team’s locker room when NBA commissioner David Stern shook his hand just hours after fining him $250,000.
“He’s in charge. Make him the story line. … I’m not really sweating this,” Cuban said as Stern approached with a swarm of media present.
Cuban was fined Tuesday for what the NBA called “several acts of misconduct” after Sunday’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals, a 101-100 overtime victory for the Heat in Miami. Since buying the Mavericks in January 2000, Cuban has been fined at least $1.4 million and has matched every dollar with a charitable donation.
He didn’t protest the most recent penalty, but said he hoped for better feedback in the future.
“I accept the fine. It’s just a business expense,” Cuban said.
After shaking hands with Cuban, the commissioner quickly departed. But on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption,” Stern said: “I made the decision to assess the fine because it was necessary. But I am going to try to focus the world on basketball.”
Stern also told ESPN Radio he thought Cuban’s conduct was hurting his team.
“David’s business is the league,” Cuban said. “I take a different approach when people have feedback and comments. Some are absorbed, some I’ll reply to, some I’ll ignore. You live and you learn.”
After the Mavericks lost Game 5, a furious Cuban went onto the floor to vent to referee Joe DeRosa. Cuban has a long history of publicly questioning referees and the NBA.
“Calls happen,” Cuban said. “That’s just the nature of the beast. … If there is any explanation, there is no reason to question. That’s the key, no matter what it is. Put aside officiating. I don’t care what business you’re in.
“When you got questions, it’s just natural to want answers. And if you have answers from the source, then there is really not a whole lot to question. If I want to know what’s in my ham and eggs, I ask them the recipe. It’s that simple.”
The Miami Herald quoted Cuban as saying, “The league is rigged,” during his tirade Sunday, and reports said he stared down and screamed at the commissioner. Stern said he didn’t think Cuban lashed out at him. When asked whether he said games were rigged, Cuban told reporters to read www.blogmaverick.com.
“It’s all nonsense,” Cuban wrote online. “Any prudent, rational person can easily see it. The games are not rigged. That’s a complete insult to the players on the court and the incredible amount of effort they put into preparing for and playing the games.
“All 82 regular-season and postseason games. The NBA couldn’t rig the games if it wanted to. And it doesn’t want to. It’s that simple.”
