Go Get 'Em Dirk

[Bricklayer]

Never been a Dirk fan, never been a Dirk hater, but moving toward the former with this one:

Reports: Nowitzki says Cuban should back off refs
ESPN.com news services

Dirk Nowitzki has all but acknowledged that Mark Cuban's antics are a distraction to the Dallas Mavericks, saying that the team's owner must "learn to control himself as well as the players do."

In a stories posted Friday night on the Web sites of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Dallas Morning News, Nowitzki was quoted as saying, "We can't lose our temper all the time on the court or off the court, and I think he's got to learn that, too. He's got to improve in that area and not yell at the officials the whole game."

The newspapers also reported that Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Steve Nash had asked Cuban in the past about watching games from a suite, rather than from his usual seat near the Mavericks' bench.

"The game starts and he's already yelling at [the officials]," Nowitzki was quoted as saying. "He needs to learn how to control himself a little better. If somebody's in your ear constantly. ... I'd be [ticked] off if I were an official."

Cuban was fined $250,000 for his outbursts about the officiating during Game 5 of the NBA Finals, and commissioner David Stern said he was tired of off-court antics drawing attention from the series.

Cuban has been fined at least $1.65 million since buying the team in January 2000. The exact total of his punishment tab isn't known because the league doesn't always publicize action against team owners. Cuban has said he matches every dollar he is fined with a charitable donation.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2506302

 

[VF21]

Hrm. I wonder if Mark Cuban will cut him from his team in a fit of pique????

Quick, Joe and Gavin. Hop on the Bat-Jet and get to Dallas!!!!!!

 

[BMiller52]

It would be hilarious if Cuban got pissed and traded him.

 

[loopymitch]

Although he is right, I think it's kind of ironic that the man who kicked an innocent bike and anything else in his path is talking about controlling his temper.
This could end up being very interesting, you know Cubes will have a response for this, probably in his blog.

 

[John Galt]

Pretty stupid to pee where you eat like that.

I'm not impressed with Dirk's petulance and hypocricy (the bike kicking incident and kicking the ball into the stands comes to mind).

But I won't mind of the Mavs start cannibalizing themselves.. it will be beautiful to me - I hate them.

And to think, if Dirk makes a late game 3 free throw, we are quite possibly talking about a Dallas sweep in the finals (and I'm sure Dirk would not be saying such indiscreet things in the press if he had a ring).

 

[HndsmCelt]

Heck I can't blame Dirk. Cuban opens his yap and pays a fine... oh well no big deal for Cubes. But for Dirk Cuban opens his yap and pisses of the refs and all of a sudden an elbow to his chest is a no call, a cleal steal is foul and he his fighitng against pissed off refs all night. Im not necessarly buying into the whole Dallas "The Refs screwed us" thing but it is human nature that if I am pissed off at the woner jaw jacking every game I less likely to give his team the enifit of the doubt in calls.

 

[kennadog]

Yeah, I think Cuban is childish and petulant. He acts like "I'm rich now, don't you know you I can do anything I want and you're supposed to listen to every word of the boy genius?"

I am surprised Dirk actually said things out loud, but I think he's right. Cuban takes the attention off his team and the players and makes it about his antics all the time. Not a good thing for an owner to do to his team. It's certainly a distraction for a team trying to focus.

Actually, I heard an interview with Nash not long ago, where they asked him about Cuban's antics. Nash was polite, but pretty much said things similar to what Dirk said.

 

[PixelPusher]

"GRR...me owner, you player! You keep mouth shut or me write bad stuff about you in blog!"

 

[quick dog]

Dirk simply does not suffer fools. Good for him. He would look good in a Kings uniform. He would have to keep his hair high-and-tight, but I am sure he would do that for me.