Mark Cuban Talks NBA, Economy In Podcast With ESPN's Simmons
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Cuban Says Down Economy Could
|Lead To Less Money For Players |
Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban yesterday appeared on ESPN's "BS Report" podcast with Bill Simmons, where he touched on several NBA-related topics. Cuban said of the economy's impact on the league, "I don't think it's any bleaker than people expected. It just didn't improve like teams budgeted for. I think we have actually held up pretty well. The good news is our ratings on ESPN and TNT in particular are way, way, way up which builds excitement across the league, which generates jersey sales, which generates licensing and advertising partnerships." Cuban: "In this type of economy where people will kind of cocoon and go back to their comfort entertainment -- which are sports and movies and those type of things -- I think we are actually gaining market share, gaining mind share." But he added, "The net impact in terms of personnel is that there is going to be less money for players. It's going to be a really, really interesting off-season because I think there are going to be some teams that have to readjust their spending levels to match their revenue levels because not only do they have to deal with their own budgets and their own finances and losses, but there's less money available from the larger-market teams for them to go after for revenue-sharing." Cuban noted CBA negotiations are "right around the corner," and said, "To be honest with you, I have no idea what direction the collective bargaining is going to go." Cuban said he hopes the NBA does not go into a lockout, but added, "It all comes down to the temperature in the room at the time the negotiations go on. If the stock market goes down further, owners are going to be terrified." Meanwhile, when asked if he lost money on the '08-09 NBA season, Cuban said, "Oh, hell yeah." Cuban added, "Next season, it will depend on how our payroll comes out. If I take on salary from other teams, then I'll take an ass-whooping financially" ("BS Report," ESPN.com, 5/27).
NOT A BEACON OF LIGHT: The SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL’s W. Scott Bailey writes Cuban “generates attention for a league apparently so short on supply of captivating teams and talent that NBA Commissioner David Stern seems compelled to lean on crutches like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James as if they are all that is relevant.” Cuban at times is the “epitome of what ails the NBA.” Cuban “becomes the proverbial hand-basket that is rolling uncontrollably toward hell, another of the spoiled rich kids in a sport full of them.” Bailey: “Surely, the NBA can see that Cuban, who has reminded us that he is often the target of abuse, can also be the instigator” (SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/22 issue).
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