CUBAN DEAL INCHES CLOSER TO FRUITION; STARKS SEEKS FREEDOM
Published
March 2, 2000
NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik said that
prospective Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban "will be formally
approved" as team owner by April 11 "at the latest," after
representatives of the league's Board of Governors
unanimously approved to forward Cuban's application to the
BOG Wednesday, according to Marc Stein of the DALLAS MORNING
NEWS. Mavs Owner Ross Perot Jr.: "I'm absolutely confident"
of Cuban's bid (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/2). Mavs President &
CEO Terdema Ussery: "I thought the interview process went
well. ...[A]t the end of the day he showed the owners
respect and was very honest in the room, and I thought he
did a great job" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/2). Granik, on
Mavs F Dennis Rodman challenging NBA Commissioner David
Stern to a fight: "Any other comments he makes nobody takes
that seriously" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/2).
IN SEARCH OF FREEDOM: In Chicago, Fred Mitchell writes
that "the latest [Bulls GM Jerry] Krause maneuver has him
attempting to waive" G John Starks so he "can sign with a
playoff contender." An arbitrator "is considering the
proposal that would have Krause and the Bulls agreeing to
"forfeit" paying Starks' $900,000 salary (C. TRIBUNE, 3/2).
CAN WE TALK? Wizards President of Basketball Operations
Michael Jordan participated in "an exclusive chat" last
night on CBS SportsLine, discussing his new role and his
team's development. Jordan: "A lot of the players in the
game I played against, and knowing what it takes to be a
championship team and how that relates to management, I
think that gives me an upper hand. A lot of the presidents
and GMs have yet to play in the NBA and seeing how I've done
that -- starting from the bottom and moving to the top --
will be helpful to a franchise like Washington that hasn't
really won since 1978" (CBS SportsLine, 3/1).
DRAWING CARD: In Toronto, Frank Zicarelli writes that
the presence of Raptors F Vince Carter "has spurred ticket
sales in Vancouver, where the Grizzlies expect their first
sellout of the season" this Sunday when they play the
Raptors. The Grizzlies are averaging 13,417 fans this
season at 19,193-seat GM Place, which "hasn't had a sellout"
since an April '99 game against the Sonics (TOR. SUN, 3/2).
