Writer Wonders Why CBS Sports Did Not Handle EliteXC Deal

Cuban Feels Writer Is Uneducated About MMA

It is "rather interesting" that CBS' deal with MMA league EliteXC "was consummated by the entertainment arm of CBS, rather than the CBS Sports division," according to Leonard Shapiro of the WASHINGTON POST. Shapiro: "You think maybe Sean McManus, the classy and so very savvy head of news and sports at CBS, wanted no part of foisting this kind of programming on a CBS sports audience far more used to seeing big-time golf, tennis, college hoops and NFL football?" However, CBS Senior Exec VP/Programming Operations Kelly Kahl "insisted his entertainment unit made the deal mostly because CBS Sports 'has so much on their plate right now' what with March Madness dominating the airwaves." Shapiro noted even Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban is "getting involved, promoting MMA matches and also airing them on his HDNet channel on DirecTV." Shapiro: "For that alone [NBA Commissioner] David Stern ought to fine and suspend him. He probably yells at those refs, too" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 3/18). Cuban, responding to Shapiro's comments in an entry on his blog, said, Shaprio's story is "absolutely ridiculous and worthless." Cuban: "Shapiro is hopelessly out of touch, and unquestionably uneducated about [MMA] and the athletes that participate" (BLOGMAVERICK.com, 3/18).