Wednesday, August 6, 2003
Mark Cuban Is Right
Like it or not, and I don't understand the reasons for not liking it, his comments about the Kobe Bryant media frenzy being great business for the NBA is correct, at least for a little bit. This media frenzy is drawing attention to the NBA, and that can only help. People who don't otherwise follow the NBA just might tune in to the Lakers-Mavericks season opener this October. And besides, why is it okay for the news media--everything from local stations to national networks like ESPN--to exploit this story for profit, but when Cuban says the NBA might wind up making money off the case, while NOT saying the NBA is actively out to exploit it, it's controversial and wrong? Puh-leeze. He got Dan Patrick with this argument last night on SportsCenter, and Patrick, after questioning whether Cuban's remarks were appropriate, wound up admitting that ESPN might indeed be guilty of sensationalizing the case. Patrick's usually a smart guy, and I don't know if he was arguing from his point of view or ESPN's, but he came off looking extremely hypocritical, and a bit silly.
Cuban's been in the spotlight before and he's been controversial before. And now he's had the misfortune of having people think he said that sex abuse is good for the NBA's ledger, which he did NOT say. People need to stop and read what he said a little more closely.
Cuban's been in the spotlight before and he's been controversial before. And now he's had the misfortune of having people think he said that sex abuse is good for the NBA's ledger, which he did NOT say. People need to stop and read what he said a little more closely.
