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Mark Cuban Takes Blame For Not Knowing Details Of Mavs Allegations

Cuban said that he was solely responsible for the decision to keep SneedNBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban said his decision to keep former Mavs.com writer Earl Sneed on staff after two separate domestic violence incidents was a "horrible mistake in hindsight," according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com. Cuban said that was "solely responsible" for the decision to keep Sneed, but he was "not aware of 'gruesome details'" of an '11 domestic dispute that resulted in Sneed being arrested at the Mavs' offices until contacted by SI this week. Cuban said, "I want to be clear: I'm not putting the blame on anybody else. It came down to my final decision that I made." In hindsight, he added, "I would have fired him and still made him go to counseling." Cuban said of how he originally dealt with the issue, "We got it mostly from Earl's perspective, and because we didn't dig in with the details -- and obviously it was a horrible mistake in hindsight -- we kind of, I don't want to say took his word for it, but we didn't see all the gruesome details until just recently. I didn't read the police report on that until just (Tuesday), and that was a huge mistake obviously." He added, "I didn't realize the impact that it would have on the workplace and on the women that worked here and how it sent a message to them that, if it was OK for Earl to do that, who knows what else is OK in the workplace? I missed that completely. I missed it completely" (ESPN.com, 2/21). When asked whether he ever spoke to Cuban about the '11 or '14 alleged domestic violence incidents, Sneed said, "I never spoke directly with Mark on the issues, only through Buddy Pittman and through (former Mavs President & CEO Terdema Ussery) at the time of the 2011 incident. The reason why I took the plea deal was so the organization wouldn't look bad. I was in a public position where it would have come back and reflected on my employment with the Mavericks" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/22). 

INVESTIGATION BEGINS: Cuban "declined to comment on allegations of serial sexual harassment" against Ussery (ESPN.com, 2/21). The Mavs yesterday announced the hiring of lawyers Evan Krutoy and Anne Milgrim to "lead an independent investigation into the organization." In Dallas, Eddie Sefko in a front-page piece notes the pair will "conduct interviews with all Mavericks staff members as well as previous employees" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/22). Meanwhile, ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said the NBA should "step in today and say, 'We are going to do our own investigation.'" Kornheiser: "Donald Sterling was easy. This you have to find out who knew what and when ... and ultimately it's going to come around Mark Cuban" ("PTI," ESPN, 2/21). ESPN's Rachel Nichols: "I will give the NBA a little bit of the benefit of the doubt here. They have shown themselves for decades to be progressive, to be supportive of women, to be supportive of diversity. I would like to see what they're going to do here and I would frankly ask them, 'We are counting on you to do the right thing here" ("The Jump," ESPN, 2/21).

INSIDE THE CLUB: Mavs F Dirk Nowitzki said of the scandal, "It's very disappointing. It's heartbreaking. I'm glad it's all coming out. I was disgusted when I read the article, obviously." He added, "I was shocked by some of the stuff. ... It's just very sad." Nowitzki: "But I think Mark is trying to step up and lead this franchise in the right direction." Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said, "Mark Cuban is a strong believer in extreme ownership, extreme accountability. And he's highly motivated to get this resolved in an expeditious, but thorough manner. No steps will be skipped" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/22).

PICKING UP THE PIECES: In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel notes the Mavs on Tuesday "called all of their corporate sponsors to warn them of a story coming" from SI. This report has ended "any thought" of Cuban running for President in '20. Cuban "blew it." He "knew what he wanted to know, and acted accordingly." Few of the details in this report are "surprising" as this is a "pro sports issue" (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/22). ESPN's Jalen Rose said of the allegations, "This is only a drip of what's going to be the ultimate avalanche of incidents and conversations that are going to take place in the sports and entertainment world" ("Jalen & Jacoby," ESPN Radio, 2/22). In S.F., Ann Killon writes the #MeToo movement will "involve other sports teams, where too many employees believe that swaggering, testosterone-fueled behavior is a prerogative of the workplace" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/22). ESPN's Amin Elhassan said, "I don't think this is a Dallas Mavericks specific issue." Elhassan: "This is pervasive through society. It's not just Hollywood, it's not just Capitol Hill, it's us too. It's the NBA" ("The Jump," ESPN, 2/21). In Dallas, Matt Mosley notes Cuban "claims that he mainly focused on basketball operations and left the workplace up to his employees." Cuban has also "mainly worked from home the last several years when he's in town." Cuban will "want to take the lead in all of this, but it will be difficult because he will receive much of the blame" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/22). NBA TV's Sekou Smith said, "It's clear somebody dropped the ball here but he [Cuban] is the ultimate bearer of responsibility. ... It's going to have to be cleaned up" ("NBA GameTime," NBA TV, 2/21). In N.Y., Frank Isola asks, "Did the controversial owner, who doesn’t mind telling others how to run their business, ignore it or just miss it?" This should be a "cautionary tale for owners of every professional franchise to become more hands-on" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/22). NBA TV's Leigh Ellis said, "Mark Cuban has some explaining to do" ("The Starters," NBA TV, 2/21). ESPN's Jackie MacMullan said Cuban is "paying a price now and will continue to pay a price, but it shouldn't cost him his franchise" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 2/21).

WAS CUBAN IN THE DARK? The MORNING NEWS' Mosley writes Cuban is now "running point on his own crisis management team" after being "as transparent as possible in the aftermath" of the SI report. But Cuban saying that the allegations are a surprise to him is a "tough sell for a man who prides himself in being involved in every aspect of the organization." The Mavs will "need to make massive changes to ensure nothing like this can ever happen again" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/22). FS1's Colin Cowherd said of Cuban, "It goes back to the Rick Pitino thing, 'I didn't know.' It's your job to know." FS1's Jason Whitlock: "Mark Cuban can't catch religion today because he's been exposed by Sports Illustrated." He added, "Mark Cuban has run his mouth for years ... and now it's his day of reckoning" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 2/21). In Dallas, Tim Cowlishaw writes, "Of all the prominent people in sports likely to exclaim, 'I know nothing,'' Cuban ranks at the bottom of the list" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/22). Also in Dallas, Kevin Sherrington writes, "I have a hard time believing Cuban is surprised by anything. That's the image he's cultivated, and on just about any subject" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/22). USA TODAY's Sam Amick writes Cuban "must have known about some of the allegations" reported by SI. Maybe one day the "titans of industry will demand a healthier work environment simply because it’s right" (USA TODAY, 2/22).

OLD NEWS? The DALLAS MORNING NEWS today brings back a Tim Cowlishaw story from '98 that detailed allegations against Ussery under the header, "Cowlishaw In 1998 On Terdema Ussery Allegations: These Things Have Their Way Of Leaking Out Into Brightest Of Spotlights" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/22).

TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT: SI's Jon Wertheim, speaking yesterday on Dallas-based KTCK-FM, said of how the Mavs report came together, "I did a piece on Jerry Richardson and the Panthers in December. It came out on a Sunday and on Monday my mailbox was filling up with tips and you should look at this. There were two separate pretty detailed, impassioned letters about the Mavericks ... and American Airlines Center." He added, "The big surprise was just how pervasive it was in the sports workplace." Wertheim: "Ussery was a David Stern protege who by all accounts was talked up by David Stern." Ussery was a "guy who the league had invested in." Wertheim, "It's another strange quirk to this whole thing is one of the culprits is a guy that the NBA really groomed and promoted and championed" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/22).

CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY: USA TODAY's A.J. Neuharth-Keusch notes Cuban has been "fined $600,000 for making public statements detrimental to the NBA." Cuban on Monday said that it is in his team's "best interests to lose on purpose for the remainder of the season in order to better position themselves for the draft lottery" (USA TODAY, 2/22).

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