Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban (born July 31, 1958 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an outspoken billionaire who is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team.

Sports

With the Yahoo! payment, Cuban decided to pursue his love of basketball and bought the Dallas Mavericks for $285 million from a group led by H. Ross Perot, Jr.. The sale was finalized on February 14, 2000.

Related Topics:
H. Ross Perot, Jr. - February 14 - 2000

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Cuban has become one of the most controversial NBA team owners in history, piling up a total of more than $1 million in fines, mostly for controversial statements against the league and its referees. In one incident, he said the league's director of officials, Ed Rush, wouldn't be able to manage a Dairy Queen. When Dairy Queen management took offense, Cuban took up the challenge and worked for day at a Dairy Queen in Coppell, Texas, where eager fans lined up in the street to get a Blizzard from the owner of the Mavericks.

Related Topics:
Ed Rush - Dairy Queen - Coppell, Texas

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While he has been outspoken, he has also been an important part of getting the Mavericks to be championship contenders once again. He acquired such players as Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Nick Van Exel and Antawn Jamison, who brought the team forward. However, he also received his share of criticism for following an erratic hire-and-fire policy each postseason and providing big contracts for underperforming players, such as Shawn Bradley, Michael Finley or Erick Dampier.

Related Topics:
Steve Nash - Dirk Nowitzki - Nick Van Exel - Antawn Jamison - Shawn Bradley - Michael Finley - Erick Dampier

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Cuban is a dedicated Mavericks fan. He flies in his $41 million private airplane to attend road games, and he always shows up at Mavericks games, whether at home or on the road, wearing Mavericks t-shirts or jerseys. Because of this, many magazines and newspapers have called him "the fans' dream (come true)."

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While attending a Chicago Cubs baseball game on July 15, 2005, Cuban stated that he would consider purchasing his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates if they became available. He also stated interest in joining the current Pirates ownership group.

Related Topics:
Chicago Cubs - Baseball - Pittsburgh Pirates

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As of 2005, Cuban has also expressed an interest in buying the NHL's St. Louis Blues.

Related Topics:
2005 - NHL - St. Louis Blues

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