Ever since the extent of Tom Hicks financial problems became apparent, and in turn the stability and ownership of the Dallas Stars became shaky, at best, there has been talk of a prominent Texas sports figure coming in to sweep up the pieces: Mark Cuban.
For those who know nothing of the man, here is a basic breakdown (care of Wikipedia):
- Owner of NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks
- Billionaire entrepreneur via his sale of Broadcast.com, a company we co-owned, for $5.9 BILLION in Yahoo stock in 1999
- Cuban has been fined by the NBA, mostly for critical statements about the league and referees, at least $1,665,000 for 13 incidents.
- In a nationally publicized incident, he criticized the league's manager of officials, Ed T. Rush, saying that he "wouldn't be able to manage a Dairy Queen". When Dairy Queen management took offense, Cuban worked for a day at a Dairy Queen in Coppell, Texas, where fans lined up in the street to get a Blizzard from the owner of the Mavericks
- During the 2005–06 NBA season, Cuban started a booing campaign when former Maverick player Michael Finley returned to play against the Mavs as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
- In a playoff series between the Mavericks and Spurs, Cuban cursed Spurs forward Bruce Bowen and was fined $200,000 by the NBA for rushing onto the court and criticizing NBA officials.
- After the 2006 NBA Finals, Cuban was fined $250,000 by the NBA for repeated misconduct following the Mavericks' loss to the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2006 NBA Finals.
- On January 16, 2009, after a reviewing, the league fined Cuban $25,000 for yelling at Denver Nuggets player J. R. Smith at the end of the first half on a Mavericks-at-Nuggets game played on January 13. Cuban was apparently incensed that Smith had thrown an elbow that barely missed Mavericks forward Antoine Wright. Cuban offered to match the fine with a donation to a charity of Smith's choosing. Cuban stated that if he doesn't hear from Smith that he will donate the money to the NHL Players' Association Goals and Dreams Fund in the names of Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore.
- Cuban has been involved in attempts to purchase the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, and MLB’s Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers.
Bottom line: He’s rich, hot-headed and loves him some sports!
Now back to the matter at hand: The Dallas Stars. Reports surfaced over the weekend that Cuban was looking into being part of an ownership team purchasing the team. He specified that his role would be solely as a minority owner, however. One must ask: Why a minority partner when you’ve got enough cash to buy the whole league? Answer: Cuban wants control of the arena. Now, what does control of the arena do for Cuban? Well, since the Stars play in the American Airlines Center, the arena his Dallas Mavericks of the NBA also call home, it is of great benefit financially to him as 1) He saves on rent; and 2) Gets the benefit of concessions and cash from other events held in this location.
Makes a tremendous amount of sense, but one has to think it’s much more than this. The man is a huge sports fan with cash to spend, an emotional investment in the team that is unrivaled in sports, a willingness to speak his mind (and the dollars to back up the fines) and above all wants to entertain! He may say it’s the arena, and it likely is a huge part, but I’m willing to bet the fan in him is also jonesing for another hometown team to be involved in and to be the biggest cheerleader for.
My question to you all is:
What if #21?: Mark Cuban Became an NHL Owner?
First off, would the board of governors allow it? Do they want a loose cannon owner-fan who will speak whatever is on his mind because he knows he can pay any fine they dish out? Conversely, if they did let him in are they ready to deal with him at the BOG table? Would Cuban REALLY be satisfied with just a minority ownership or does his ego demand more? Would a man who will referee WWE matches or put through tables be welcome into the establishment:
Would Cuban’s personality endear himself to fans or would he be viewed as a “circus act”? How about the response to an owner embedding himself among the fans at games rather than sheltering himself in a box or surrounded by other management?
And in case you doubt his committment to success, look at this stat: In the 20 years before Cuban bought the team, the Mavs had a winning percentage of 40%, and playoff record of 21–32. In the ten years following, the team won 69% of their regular season games and reached the playoffs in each of those seasons (courtesy Wikipedia yet again!). Something for Dallas Stars fans to be slightly stoked about, nevermind the league.
These are all things to think about! Personally, I think it’d be great, and a real shot in the arm to what has become a stagnant and overly PC league. Cuban would tell it like he sees it, and despite the fact that he’s a billionaire he carries himself in a manner that fans feel they have a connect with him. Just my opinion. Welcome yours...
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