Cuban not a monster

Mark Cuban, the fiery owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has acted up again.\nIncensed about a possible goaltending in the final minute of a Mav's 107-104 loss to Detroit last week, Cuban showed the replay frozen on the JumboTron for photographers in a post-game press conference. \nSports columnists and fellow owners have clucked at Cuban's lack of tact, heaping scorn on the outspoken owner. New money, thinking he can just waltz in and play by his own rules. \nMy god, an owner who actually wants to win! How audacious! \nI'm locking myself in a bunker with plenty of firearms, for the fear of the imminent descent of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.\nCuban's taken the Mavericks from their perennial mediocrity to a winning record and playoff contention. He wants to win.\nHe does as much for his players as he possibly can, traveling and working out with them. He's provided them with custom-made courtside chairs and electronics-filled lockers. Not a spendthrift, he's coughed up the maximum $3 million to complete trades.\nComing from the Chicago sports scene, this amazes me. Most owners with whom I'm familiar simply look at the bottom line, the record be damned. The Blackhawks traded away all the talent they had ostensibly for the sole purpose of psychologically tormenting star center Tony Amonte. And after Jordan announced his retirement again, the Bulls didn't spend a wooden nickel to retain anyone. \nThey have the lowest payroll in the NBA and, not coincidentally, the worst record. It's not as if they're rebuilding with young talent, either. The roster is stuffed with players such as 6-11 center Dragan Tarlac, who doesn't seem to be sure of what country he's in or what sport he's supposed to be playing. \nBut Cuban is a fan. He wants to win, to put on a good show for the people who flock to his stadium. Attendance at Mavericks' games has reached an all-time high. There's excitement again about a once-moribund franchise.\nHe's not the cold-blooded entrepreneur who'll subject the fans to years of unremitting mediocrity. He's not about to ship the team out to Kansas City because he can fleece the taxpayers there into building a new facility. \nHe gives a damn. I'd rather have an owner who gets a little worked up about bad officiating. And, say what you want, you should, too.