What the recession means to the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban and the rest of the NBA

The Dallas Morning News ^ | 3-3-2009 | Victor Godinez

[Colonel Kangaroo]

For the first time in NBA history, team owners, executives, and fans in numerous markets say they have resigned themselves to the idea that their teams are not going to be competitive this season and that, given the state of the economy, they could not make the sorts of expensive moves that would help them improve. "We all want to win, but we have to be aware of the uncertainty of our future revenue," said Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

As the article says, in a tough economy you have put out a better product. Maybe the NBA will get the message. While the "thug factor" is greatly exaggerated and there's quite a number of exciting young stars like King James, Wade and Dwight Howard, the league still needs work in both quality of play and image.

And the fundamental fact is that in the real world, basketball along with TV, movies, baseball, football and NASCAR all count for very little. Maybe it's time Americans learn to rough it with less manufactured entertainment.

[Daveinyork]

yawn. The team owners will just blackmail the elected officials into upping the taxpayer subsidies of the teams and the stadiums.

[pnh102]

These team owners will have learn to adapt. Numerous other sports teams have made it through worse economic times and have survived just fine.

Besides, if the current crop of players aren't willing to work for inflated salaries, there is practically an infinite number of potential replacements who would be more than happy to take their places.

Of course though, this is the real world, meaning that government at all levels will simply step in and build even more new taxpayer-financed playpens for these chumps. :(

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Blackmail seems to go hand in hand with pro sports franchises.

[Le Chien Rouge]

Bill Simmons on ESPN has an excellent article on the state of the NBA.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090227

[Seruzawa]

Ha! First they need to do something about the atrocious officiating. The NBA is a disaster.

[FreedomFerret]

Screw the NBA. It’s gone from a fun sport acessable to everyone, to big money big business, filled with self centered owners and players. Even my kids tell me everyone in the NBA is greedy.

[Daveinyork]

“Blackmail seems to go hand in hand with pro sports franchises”

Thats why I don’t watch sports anymore. I didn’t cheer for the Stealers (misspelling deliberate) because they pilfered my money to build their stadium.

[Responsibility2nd]

I admit, I did not click the link and read the article.

But I did read yesterday the NBA is getting some free gubmint cheese (stimulus money).

So all there worries are over, right?

(Free Cheese for Everyone!)

[shaft29]

While channel surfing I have noticed that the NBA is playing in front of a lot smaller audience. I see many empty seats. Could not happen to a more deserving group.

[MoreGovLess]

so glad they are saddling my kids and grandkids with debt so millionaires can afford another pimped ride

[ETL]

Mark Cuban!

_____________________________________________________

Mark Cuban Backed De Palma's 'Redacted' to Promote New Movie Distribution Business
By Lynn Davidson, September 4, 2007

Why does a small-budget movie like Brian De Palma's “Redacted” matter? Because of the ripple effects. The media have reported the film as "a ferocious argument against the engagement in Iraq for what it is doing to everyone involved.” Meaning the media are taking these deeply anti-war, anti-military storylines as De Palma intended, as a serious discussion of the day-to-day “realities” of Iraq.

(snip)

Obviously, Cuban and De Palma had the right to put out this movie, but bloggers have the right to expose the movie as a hit job masquerading as what De Palma called “the reality of what is happening in Iraq”-meaning a bigoted US military habitually raping and killing civilians. “Redacted” was designed to outrage people and that outrage is something those soldiers' enemies will exploit. ..."

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/lynn-davidson/2007/09/04/mark-cuban-backed-de-palmas-redacted-promote-new-movie-distribution-b

[Never on my watch]

I too had no interest in the article (or basketball) other than the headline.

However, do not be surprised if there is a bailout of the sports and entertainment industries.

Obama needs the “bread and circuses” to keep people from looking at what he is doing.

[Responsibility2nd]

David Stern, NBA Set to Receive Bailout

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/130506-david-stern-nba-set-to-receive-a-bailout

[frankenMonkey]

“Redacted” was designed to outrage people and that outrage is something those soldiers' enemies will exploit. ..."

And this we'll never forget.

[scooby321]

Cuban Flying high, backed Zero wanted to be a bigshot and buy the Cubs, He has little to no cash backed out of bidding for the Cubs. It couldn’t happened to a bigger asshole. Wonder how many Zero’s friends have lost most of their money?

[Colonel Kangaroo]

If they’re stupid enough to shut a season down then they deserve all that business damage they’ll get. People will learn that they can make it without the NBA just like they learned they could live without the NHL and major league baseball. And college basketball provides a superior substitute for basketball fans than what hockey and baseball fans enjoyed when their favorite sports shut down.

[Never on my watch]

That is sad.

I don’t expect NASCAR to get a bailout. Then again, he may do it to keep the people that he thinks are hillbillies occupied.

[neb52]

The rumor a couple of months ago was that the downturn had made Cuban even more anxious to offload the Mavericks and move on. Evidently he is “tired” of David Stern and the NBA.

[ETL]

Evidently he [traitor Mark Cuban] is “tired” of David Stern and the NBA.

And WE are tired of left-wing POS like him blasting our country and undermining the troops while making a friggin fortune here.