Mark Cuban run in
by breezyb on Mar 11, 2009 12:30 PM PDT
Email
PrintFunny story that we're still laughing about and appropriate since we're playing the Mavs tonight...
I live in DC but I'm from Portland. On Saturday night I was out at this bar across the street from the verizon center with my best friend (also from pdx and a HUGE blazers fan and BE reader), her boyfriend and his roommate. My friend made a comment about how this guy near us looked just like Mark Cuban.
So the roommate goes up to the guy and says something like would it mean anything to you if I told you that those girls over there think you look like Mark Cuban and think the mavs suck? I'm a little unsure exactly what all was said but next thing you know, Mark Cuban look alike is at our table talking to me and and my friend (the boys backed off). I asked him if people tell him that he looks like Cuban all the time? And then my friend says "well you can't be Mark Cuban, because i've seen him on tv and the real Mark Cuban has a much bigger gut than you!!!"
He laughs and says he's told the fatter on tv thing all the time but he actually is Mark Cuban. We say no way and then he whips out his amex black card and sure enough it's him! Oops.
We proceeded to have a whole basketball conversation- reminding him frequently about our dislike for his team and our love of the Blazers. The mavs had played the wizards that day in Dallas (I don't know why he was in DC but I do know he had been in Boston earlier in the day for the MIT sports analytics conf) so we talked about that. He hadn't heard that the Blazers had just beaten the twolves and when we gave him the recap he swore and was annoyed. Talked about how the Blazers have a hard time guarding Dirk. My friend asked if he's scared of the Blazers. He said no but that we're good and he will scared in the next couple years. We all spoke for quite some time... occasionally someone would come over and ask for his autograph and he was constantly checking his sidekick until he got pulled away to play pool. When I walked by him a few mins later on my way to the bar he made a funny face at me- amusing.
Best part was my friend calling Mark Cuban fat though.
99 comments
|
14 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
cool story
I’d always thought of him as kind of a jerk. Nice to hear he’s civil occasionally. Way to stick up for the Blazers!
"Travis has more hops than a bunny in a brewery. He elevates so high his seat doubles as a flotation device."
-Dave
He seems like a sports fan jerk.
A lot of my friends and I “hate” each other during sporting events, but are civil 100% of the time outside of them.
everybody can say what they will
but who was the only other owner, besides Uncle Paul to give a no vote to the Sonics move?? Mark Cuban. I think that sometimes he does get carried away, but at least it shows that he has passion and that is a lot more than a lot of owners have.
He was the only one railing against NBA officiating, which is still a problem, LONG before the whole Donaghee crap came out and Stern was forced to take action to save face.
I have see interviews and pieces on his life and he seems like a cool guy, like living in a 20-25k sq foot house, but having no furniture and nothing in his fridge other than some beers and ketchup. He seems like a regular Joe who just happens to be REALLY business smart if not an otherwise ordinary guy.
He took the Mavs from laughing stock to elite and that was all his moves.
He is my second favorite owner after Uncle Paul.
"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." - Bill Simmons 6/26/08
by SpyderRyder on Mar 11, 2009 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
You might want to consider that Dallas is the closest market to OKC so he also had business reasons to vote against it
Still, as also a Mavs fan he is a good guy in my book.
from what i read
he did it because he is a businessman and due to the fact that Seattle is a bigger market and would of created more TV revenue and therefore greater revneue overall for the league, which trickles down.
He knew that OKC would not make as much $$ as Seattle would and I think he is right.
I can see about the whole regional thing but I dont think it would be that much of a loss for him.
"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." - Bill Simmons 6/26/08
by SpyderRyder on Mar 11, 2009 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't care about his reasons
I just care that he voted no.
Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game
I ran into him at AURA
About two years ago.
He was NOT with his wife, he was with a young hottie and they smirked when I asked if she was his wife.
He asked ME if I could get him a drink! I told him he’s Mr. Moneybags.
I ask him if he regrets letting a two-time MVP go. (Nash)
He told me about his DQ experience.
When I said he looks taller in person, he said “you would too if you are always around 7 footers on TV”
That was the craziest night of my life for many many reasons, that just added to it.
#5
how about he whips out a big card that says
“Yes, I am Mark Cuban and yes the TV makes me look fat.”
"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." - Bill Simmons 6/26/08
by SpyderRyder on Mar 11, 2009 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Certified by all players of the Mavs
Or a copy of the document that ensured him his billions when he sold broadband.com to some AOL fools.
as far as status symbols that fit in your wallet go, it doesn’t get better than that.
by Ben Golliver on Mar 11, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
How about a basketball card?
Jerryd Bayless has two emotions: Kill and Win.
"I want to put points on your face."
-Rudy to Pau Gasol
TRADE TRAVIS OUTLAW FOR A CHAIR
by rockingharder on Mar 12, 2009 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah
It’s pretty darn near impossible for a normal person to get a Black Card.
Probably easier to get a fake driver’s license than one of them.
OH! HE JAMS WITH TWO HANDS! You gotta be kidding me!
Now don't get too excited Bayless, We'll let MB do that -
No get excited! TELL EM WHERE YOU'RE FROM!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-OAPsB9vyM
no they're fine
but not impossible to get. i just checked wikipedia and the average net worth of Black Card holders worldwide is 4.3 million Euros. With an average income of 680,000 Euros. And you have to spend minimum of 250,000 a year, with at least 10,000 each month.
and pay in full at the end of each month.
just not a normal credit card.
OH! HE JAMS WITH TWO HANDS! You gotta be kidding me!
Now don't get too excited Bayless, We'll let MB do that -
No get excited! TELL EM WHERE YOU'RE FROM!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-OAPsB9vyM
weird that they advertise for these on tv, I guess it’s just to max out amex’s status appeal. “Can’t get the black, I’ll just go for the green one and work my way up I guess”
FYI the advertisements on TV are for visa’s black card. straight rip off of amex.
by Ben Golliver on Mar 11, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah
both Visa and Mastercard have “black cards”
Also there are other Amex that are black but not the “Black Card” which is actually called the “Centurion Card”
OH! HE JAMS WITH TWO HANDS! You gotta be kidding me!
Now don't get too excited Bayless, We'll let MB do that -
No get excited! TELL EM WHERE YOU'RE FROM!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-OAPsB9vyM
the card of death
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
I remember him
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons used to sing about Mr. Eeeeeee all the time. – Elgin
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
If you are really legit
and are an Executive Costco Member, they give you a new card with a black back.
The cashback feature on that card is nice.
We put all our expenses, even bills, on the card. Just cashed a refund check for $526. Spent most of it at Costco, of course.
Like they would let anyone with a Qyntel Woods ID into a bar
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy
by Honka Playboy on Mar 11, 2009 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm a Cuban fan
I would much rather have him as an owner, even though he may be overly passionate at times, then an owner like Donald Sterling.
At least he enjoys basketball and is passionate about the team and the league.
Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game
by iDea on Mar 11, 2009 12:45 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
indeed
It was "mascot night" at the Rose Garden, which apparently translates to a dozen inflatable versions of various NBA mascots being chased around the arena by Portland's "Blaze", which is some breed of rapist dog. -PostingandToasting
by GreatOden'sRaven on Mar 11, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Sterling will never have a winning franchise
neither will Warriors owner. Very sad. – Elgin
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
Love the guy
even if he annoys occasionally. He’s a great owner, and the MLB turning him down as owner of the Cubbies is further proof of their incompetence. They should have been falling all over themselves welcoming him to the club.
Exactly
passionate ownwers just make for better stories. More drama. They add to the game.
Want more aggressiveness? Try less Baylesslessness.
man...one day i too will met someone famous...
and then I’ll be carted off to jail…
:) but my story will be strange to say the least….
thanks for this, that’s funny … I hear he’s alright until he gets mad ;)
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Begs the question...
Did he really sit down and have a conversation and NOT offer to buy a round? Seems like common courtesy. Particularly if you’re whipping around your black AmEx.
That’s hilarious if a guy worth $2 billion or whatever didn’t offer to spring for a couple Miller Lites.
Love the story, good post. Cuban’s sounds exactly like I would’ve expected him to be.
One more question: why did the guys bow out? Your rommate’s bf just stood aside while super baller Cuban made a play on his girl?
I’m sure it wasn’t like that, but if I would think the guys wouldn’t want to be left out of the story.
Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.
He didn’t buy a round but I think we had just gotten beers and had full ones. I don’t really remember but I know I wasn’t needing a drink. I agree though- would have been an even better story if he had bought us drinks!
The guys didn’t bow out, they were just kind of letting us talk to him. They were definitely nearby listening in but neither of them are NBA fans and my friend and I were the ones who had more to say to him. I’m sure that if it became obvious that Mark Cuban were trying to get my friend to leave with him he would have been at the table in a second. But wasn’t really like that.
he always kinda reminded me
of a richer joe francis.. you know that one scumbag that owns all the girls gone wild stuff?
It was "mascot night" at the Rose Garden, which apparently translates to a dozen inflatable versions of various NBA mascots being chased around the arena by Portland's "Blaze", which is some breed of rapist dog. -PostingandToasting
by GreatOden'sRaven on Mar 11, 2009 12:51 PM PDT reply actions
Great call
They have a similar facial expression. I think Cuban is taller.
While not as rich as Cuban, I think Francis is doing pretty well for himself, other than all the lawsuits and death threats (how dare you put my daughter in that video…).
Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.
Could be
Inmates Gone Wid!!
Not NEARLY as cool…
Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.
Inmates Gone Wild, I mean...
It’s even less of a best seller if inmates are going wid.
Man, typos can kill a joke dead.
Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.
MARK CUBAN
one of the BEST OWNERS IN SPORTS.. Paul Allen is number 1.
by JRRIDER on Mar 11, 2009 1:15 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
ESPN Page 2 Came Up With A List....
A bit dated from back in 2001 but here she is:
1. Pat Bowlen (Denver Broncos)
2. George Steinbrenner (New York Yankees)
3. Pat Croce (Philadelphia 76ers)
4. Paul Allen (Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle Seahawks)
5. Jerry Buss (Los Angeles Lakers)
6. Michael Jordan (Washington Wizards)
7. Stanley Kroenke (Colorado Avalanche)
8. Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks)
9. Ted Turner (Atlanta Braves)
10. Wellington Mara (New York Giants)
I would say that Bowlen is no longer #1, maybe not even in the top 10 anymore with the recent departure of Shanahan and alienation of Jay Cutler. Croce was only on this list because the 76ers made the finals that season and he has since left the organization.
I would still put Steinbrenner at #1 and Allen #2. It is a close race between Buss and Cuban for #3, but Buss is still ahead in my book due to his legacy of winning championships. Stanley Kroenke is still up there. Not only is he worth $3 billion but he is also on the BOD for Arsenal F.C.
Obviously Jordan has switched his allegences to the Bobcats and Liberty Media now owns the Braves.
The Mara family may still be on this list but Wellington, may he RIP is no longer with us. He sold 50% interest to the Tisch family and the other 50% is owned by the Mara family.
Kroenke may be #2 or #3...
While he is definitely more softspoken than Cuban or Buss and definitely a lesser known, especially around these parts, the dude owns the Nuggets, Avalanche, MLS Colorado Rapids, Co-Owner of the St. Louis Rams, MLL Colorado Mamouth and sits on the BOD of Arsenal F.C. This guy has more hands in sports leagues across the globe than anyone in history.
who are you going to get that's better?
Mark Few? Is he better? – Elgin
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
No knock on him but he definitely owns the ducks.
Luckily he’s a pretty good owner. Although, the costume changes are a little much.
Cuban
Seems like he would be a pretty funny guy in person. Im sure if I owned a team I would be equally as out of control as him if not more. The guy is passionate and it shows. I thought it was cool that he sat down and talked to everyone. That just shows the guy is down to earth and hasn’t let his money and fame go to his head. I still want to see the Mavs get served up tonight though. Not a big fan of Dirk.
I actually like Mark Cuban
I mean, c’mon. He’s living the dream. If I hit it huge in the stock market, I’d buy the Blazers and freak out about the refs on my blog after every single game! Who wouldn’t?! He’s a normal guy who lucked in to a ridiculous situation. I can respect that, even if I hate the Mavs.
Can't just buy the Blazers
Gotta convince Allen to get a team back in Seattle so that he could own 2 Seattle teams and not have to share him love.
Then you could have epic I-5 rivalries with Paul Allen!
I like Mark Cuban...
I’m glad he destroyed his team with the Kidd trade, too!
Pontiff of the Pryz for Prez Posse...
and the Dampier contract?
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy
by Honka Playboy on Mar 11, 2009 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions
The Erick Dampier 2010 Expiring Contract will be highly valuable next season
And I can almost guarantee he won’t let the EDEC expire on the Mavs like KP with the RLEC.
Long time coming for Erick Dampier to become valuable...
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy
by Honka Playboy on Mar 11, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Of course you are right that his contract is/was bad :)
Together with overpaying Diop before they managed to trade him for the only marginally less bad contract of Carrol, they had arguably the most overpaid center combo in the NBA. Yet the nature of the game is that bad contracts become attractive as expiring deals. And since Damp is unguaranteed in 2011, he will be such a contract next year.
I've tried to imagine a world where players are signed not because of who they are
but how much cap space they’ll free up when it is finally possible to dump them.
Maybe John Nash was brighter than we all thought…
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy
by Honka Playboy on Mar 11, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions
This is an awesome story!
How on Earth does it not have more recs?? I like Mark Cuban alot because he cares for his team with great zeal and he’s a defender of hijacked basketball teams.
Where do you guys watch games in DC?
I had a little run at Ventnor Sports Bar in Adams Morgan – I threw a bag popcorn at the image of Trevor Ariza’s face on the big screen tv and the owner was not cool with that (can’t understand why). I may need a backup spot to watch games, if (or once) the playoffs start. One with projectile-resistence televisions
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy
I normally watch at Ventnor too...
It’s right near my apartment. I actually almost went on Monday (and would have seen this popcorn incident) but decided to be lazy and watch from my computer instead.
I just moved here from NYC so I haven’t come up with any backup sports bars yet.
we'll find each other then - I apologized to Scott and he forgave me
there used to be a half dozen places in the neighborhood to watch – Chief Ikes was the best because absolutely no one else was there on the weeknights. But nobody bought the NBA package this year.
Still, Ventnor is not too shabby – they will always put the game on. I’m just 20 years out of college and the College Reuinion atmosphere there kind of irritates me sometimes.
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy
by Honka Playboy on Mar 11, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Considering Cuban was the only other owner besides PA
to vote against the Sonics move to OKC, he’s cool in my book.
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
I agree, I respect both men for opposing that. Lots of invertibrates own NBA teams.
Plus, he can dance.
I see no big gut
is that the real Cuban? I’ll need to see a credit card before I believe it
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy
by Honka Playboy on Mar 11, 2009 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions
He must be in his dancing form there
I’ll let my friend defend the gut comment but he did seem skinnier that I would have expected. And definitely looked really young for being 50 years old!
he looked even skinnier than that in person!! i have never thought he was fat…i just thought he was heavier than what he looked like in person. and a couple drinks in…you never know what i’ll say :-) i’m glad it entertained all of you, though!
When Cuban did his open source business stimulus package blog thing
he actually responded to my idea and had positive feedback for me. He didn’t end up going into a partnership with me because he was “not familiar enough with the area” i’m in….
i just thought it was cool he actually read my business proposal and actually responded to it
Want more aggressiveness? Try less Baylesslessness.
Very cool
He’s innovative and energetic, no question.
As far as the super intense NBA owner thing is concerned, I think he went clinically insane during the fourth quarter of game 5 of the ’07 finals (or whatever), when they blew that series.
But as a business guy, he’s still got a few years left.
Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.
yeah I like that commercial too
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
Fan
I have to say he seems fun. Maybe a toolbag, but fun nonetheless.
But I just read that he tried to buy the Penguins…if he was gonna move them I have to hate…
Frye-lock and I'm on top rock you like a cop
The New Jersey Nets love Mark Cuban
These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx
I have a friend
who worked at Ed Debevic’s in Chicago back in the 90’s. The servers each have a ‘character’ and try to have fun with the customers as much as possible.
So one night a large party comes in and one guy in the party looks a lot like George Clooney, so my friend (their server) makes ER jokes and the like and the whole party gets a kick out of it.
At one point, my friend stands up on a chair and makes a loud announcement to the entire restaurant that “Batman and Robin sucked!” which brought a lot of laughter from everyone, but especially from the Clooney look-alike.
The party was finishing dessert when a limo driver came into the restaurant and asked that the Clooney party be informed that he was there to pick them up. My friend heard this and was so embarrassed when he realized that this guy really was George Clooney – he apologized over and over and I guess Clooney was very good natured about it and told him not to worry, that he enjoyed every minute of it. I guess they left a pretty good tip on top of everything.
Great story man -
Made me want to tell my Ed Debevic’s story.
When I was in High School, our whole music program went to Chicago for a jazz competition and we ended up going there for dinner one night (it was on our itinerary). None of us knew about the waiter’s deal beforehand, but it just ended up that all of the snarkiest kids in the entire group ended up at the same table. We had one primary waitress and she kept on going back and forth with us, ending up with my redheaded friend calling her “my fellow firecrotch” and the good-natured BS just flying back and forth.
Great, great time.
Good to hear that Clooney is a good guy too- I can say unequivocally that Tom Cruise is as well, as is Paul Dano (who is obviously lesser known).
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Roy Hibbert tap-dances to Maine
- Grizzlies Valentine’s Day cards are the key to love
- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
