Marshall will reportedly run all non-basketball operations in her new role with the MavericksGETTY IMAGES
The Mavericks "intend to hire" former AT&T Senior VP/HR Cynthia Marshall in a "capacity that will help lead the revitalization of the franchise" following last week's report on alleged workplace misconduct, according to sources cited by Eddie Sefko of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Marshall also "took on the additional role" of AT&T Chief Diversity Officer in '15. Black Enterprise magazine previously named Marshall "one of the top 50 most powerful women in corporate America." It is "believed Marshall's title will be interim executive chairwoman, but the key is that she will run all non-basketball operations." Marshall on Friday was "introduced to front office members." Hiring Marshall would "send a strong message to both investigators and the NBA" that Mavs Owner Mark Cuban is "serious about fixing the problems that may still exist in a front office that has been rocked" by the scandal (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/24).
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Sefko noted possible repercussions from the scandal "already have been discussed -- ranging from the loss of draft picks to a suspension for Cuban." However, it appears Cuban will "not be subject to losing the franchise" (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/24). The Dallas Morning News' Tim Cowlishaw on Friday appeared on "The Dan Patrick Show," saying it is "just incredible to think Mark Cuban, who micromanages everything, didn't know any of this; never heard about it." Cowlishaw: "His HR director didn't tell him, so he had no way of knowing. I mean people find that part of it preposterous, and that's going to be the hardest thing to sell is that he's going to be a guy who bragged about being an owner who was hands on, and knows everything, and talks to people, and he's transparent, he was clueless to what was going on in his own business office" (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/24). In Dallas, Matt Mosley wrote despite the scandal, Cuban "isn't going anywhere ... unless the NBA makes him go away." Mosley: "I don't see that happening for an extended amount of time, but I could be wrong" (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/24). ESPN's Bob Ley said Cuban is the "rare individual who can verbally dive into provocative waters and for that, draw a fine of more than a half million dollars and, still, that's not the worst part of his week" ("E:60," ESPN, 2/25).
COULD'VE DONE MORE? Cowlishaw wrote Cuban, who "carries himself as the smartest guy in the room will have trouble proving to investigators he's actually the most ignorant." Cowlishaw: "I had one conversation around 2005 with a Mavs employee who knew details of what had happened back in 1998." She "wasn't interested in talking about it as a source," but it helped to learn "a little about what had happened." Cowlishaw: "I could have worked harder to pursue it with someone else." Cowlishaw wrote it was "highly unlikely" he would have "broken this story." Cowlishaw: "But I could have cared a little more after that one conversation a decade ago, and one hopes I will try harder next time. The victims deserve that much" (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/24).
TIME FOR REFLECTION: SI.com's Ben Golliver said the scandal "needs to be a look inward" for Cuban himself. Appearing on SI's "Open Floor" podcast, Golliver said, "His response so far to me has really been mixed results. He tried [to] get out in front of it. He tried to take accountability. I didn't think his explanations on each point were very great." SI.com's Andrew Sharp said, "The Mavs will get hammered." He added, "I'm not defending Mark Cuban, I just think that it's a broader cultural problem that we're all sort of reckoning with right now" (SI.com, 2/23). ESPN's Rachel Nichols said it "matters to me that [Cuban] has been so quick to recognize how serious this all is, and to accept blame." Nichols said, "But I also don't think you get a parade for saying you're sorry only after you've been called out and embarrassed." Nichols added she was "happy to see one of the changes the NBA announced it's going to make will be setting up a confidential hotline for team employees." Nichols: "It would be naive to think that there aren't incidents like this happening within any of the other 29 teams in the league" (SI.com, 2/23). SI.com's Michael McCann wrote under the header, "How The NBA Will Investigate And Potentially Punish Mark Cuban And The Mavericks" (2/23). Meanwhile, SI.com's Jon Wertheim wrote under the header, "The Striking Contrast Between The Mavs And Panthers In Crisis" (2/23).
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: ESPN's Jalen Rose said the NBA's new hotline is "progress," and it "continues to point to why Adam Silver ... is the best commissioner in professional sports." If he "sees an issue, he addresses it immediately." Former NBA coach David Fizdale said it is an "effective thing to do" for the league because it "takes out the middle man." People can "go directly to the NBA." Fizdale: "That gives everybody a lot of comfort in the process." But ESPN's Michelle Beadle said it will still need to be proven "effective or not effective." It will be "nerve-wracking because at the end of the day, what keeps one quiet is the fear of losing your career." But she said, "I appreciate any effort in the right direction. It will be scary for the first few, but it's a start" ("NBA Countdown," ESPN, 2/23).
