Babe Laufenberg
It was nice to see Mark Cuban apologize to Kenyon Martin (on his blog) for his comment to Martin’s mother. Cuban, like most of us, has a difficult time saying, “I was wrong.”
Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images
Now he needs to issue another one to CBS 11 cameraman Bill Ellis. Ellis was the photojournalist who had his arm shoved by Cuban as the Mavs owner angrily stormed off the court after the chaos that was Game 3. I was at the American Airlines Center last night before Game 4, and had an amicable conversation with Cuban regarding the incident with Bill Ellis. And let me preface by saying that I like Cuban more than most. Without relating the details of the conversation, he is still under the misguided perception that he did nothing wrong.
Bill Ellis is a true professional, minds his business and does a great job for our sports department. We are lucky to have him. He stepped out of Cuban’s way to allow him to pass by while he shot Cuban coming off the court. I have looked at the tape 30 times and in slow motion to boot. Cuban gave a completely unwarranted push/shove/gentle nudge as he went by. It was totally unnecessary and certainly unbecoming of an NBA owner. Ellis is not looking for money, just a little respect, and he did not get it.
I am very fond of the saying, “The measure of a man is how you treat the people you don’t need.” Mark Cuban doesn’t need Bill Ellis. And he didn’t treat him very well.
