Sometimes, I think professional sports association commissioners sound like the occupants of the front pew, worrying about what’s wrong with kids today while fighting off a wicked case of the vapors by flapping their lilac-scented, embroidered hankies.
For real. Take former MLB commish Fay Vincent, who opined on ESPN’s The Herd that Mark Cuban’s passion was a bad thing.
Vincent said, “I think it’s more important for owners to be gentlemen, play by the rules, respect the authorities, do what’s good for the sport, than it is to manage his franchise to total success. The subtleties make the difference. George Steinbrenner was a real problem in baseball, and I think Mark Cuban is a real problem in basketball.”
May I just say, politely, Whisky Tango Foxtrot Ever. Is Mark Cuban sometimes annoying? Yes. Does his face bother me? Yes. Were the weeks he was silent during the championship run a blessed event? Sure. But passion for the sport and a desire to see it officiated fairly is not a thing that is bad for basketball. Neither is the money he spends on his team. And I’m fairly certain the MLB has enjoyed the benefits of the Yankee’s largesse under Steinbrenner’s control, too.
