Cuban fined $200K for ref criticism

[BAMAPHIN 22]

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been fined $200,000 for his two recent episodes of referee-bashing.

Half of the punishment was for going on the court Sunday to complain during the Mavericks' 87-85 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of their second-round series. The rest was for some critical comments made in a blog entry he posted Sunday under the title, "How to improve NBA Playoff Officiating."

"Change in any business never comes cheaply," Cuban wrote Wednesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed the fines.

Cuban was punished eight times for more than $1 million and suspended from three games in his first two years after buying the Mavericks in 2000.
He was quick to publicize each one -- especially a $500,000 penalty for saying he wouldn't hire the NBA's head of officials "to manage a Dairy Queen" -- and matched each with a donation to charity.

He's rarely acknowledged fines since then, but has said that doesn't mean he's gotten away with every criticism.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/nba/specials/playoffs/2006/05/10/cuban.fined.ap/index.html

 

[BAMAPHIN 22]

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban vows to continue being vocal despite the National Basketball Association fining him 200,000 dollars for separate incidents.

"Change never comes cheap," said Cuban, who has a history of being outspoken and being fined.

Comments about officiating made upon Cuban's internet web log prompted half the fine. He ripped the NBA for using too many different officials in the playoffs instead of just taking the 12 most experienced and using only them.

"Giving less qualified officials an opportunity to officiate playoff games as a reward is a nice 'Attaboy,' but it risks the quality of our product," Cuban wrote.

"It makes absolutely no sense to do it the way it is currently done. If the league wants the best officiating in every game, only use the best officials. Anything less cheats us all."

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=ne-main-0-l31&idq=/ff/story/7000%2F20060511%2F1415000006.htm&sc=ustop

 

[bullseyeguy]

I love Cuban, I can still remember when the Mavs were on the same level as the Hawks, and Clips of old...He made that franchise what it is today no doubt, and I love his passion and enthusiasm...In my opinion, he is what all owners should be like...

 

[Roman529]

$200,000 is probably a day's interest in the bank for Cuban.

 

[dominizzo]

Mark Cuban= Class Act