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The Don Nelson-Mark Cuban conflict was supposed to be about money owed to Nelson.? It still is, but apparently it has gone to another level as according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News, Nelson on Wednesday said that it was a shame that the owner of the Dallas Mavericks views the Olympics as a financial proposition.? Nelson added, “I couldn’t disagree more.? It’s not about the money.? There is pride in these athletes.? He ought to have more respect for his country.? Everybody in the NBA makes plenty of money.? It’s not too much to ask that every four years you give something back to your country.”
Prior to Nelson’s comments, Cuban told the Morning News on Wednesday, “It’s not that I don’t like the idea of them representing their countries.? What I don’t like is that we lie to ourselves and pretend that Olympians represent our country.? They don’t.? It’s about money.”? First things first.? Cuban, the last time I checked, never suited up as a NBA player.? And as such, he has no idea why NBA players choose to play in the Olympics.? While yes, the Olympics do make money (what successful not-for-profit entity doesn’t?), it runs deeper than the financial bottom line.
Perhaps Cuban’s shortsightedness will not allow him to realize that believe it or not, patriotism does exist in the Olympics.? And who is to say that Cuban has a hidden agenda with his remarks?? Things such as Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd possibly getting hurt during the Games come to mind.? Cuban isn’t stupid by any stretch of the imagination – he simply wants to protect his investments (Kidd and Nowitzki).? So it is entirely possible that Cuban’s comments have more meaning than what is originally assumed.? All of this aside, I wonder if Nelson would have said anything if the Mavericks had paid him the money due him while he was the Mavericks coach.? Nelson says that isn’t the case, but I’m not entirely convinced.? This should get interesting between now and the start of the Games, so stay tuned.
Nellie Blasts Cuban’s Olympic Comments
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The Don Nelson-Mark Cuban conflict was supposed to be about money owed to Nelson.? It still is, but apparently it has gone to another level as according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News, Nelson on Wednesday said that it was a shame that the owner of the Dallas Mavericks views the Olympics as a financial proposition.? Nelson added, “I couldn’t disagree more.? It’s not about the money.? There is pride in these athletes.? He ought to have more respect for his country.? Everybody in the NBA makes plenty of money.? It’s not too much to ask that every four years you give something back to your country.”
Prior to Nelson’s comments, Cuban told the Morning News on Wednesday, “It’s not that I don’t like the idea of them representing their countries.? What I don’t like is that we lie to ourselves and pretend that Olympians represent our country.? They don’t.? It’s about money.”? First things first.? Cuban, the last time I checked, never suited up as a NBA player.? And as such, he has no idea why NBA players choose to play in the Olympics.? While yes, the Olympics do make money (what successful not-for-profit entity doesn’t?), it runs deeper than the financial bottom line.
Perhaps Cuban’s shortsightedness will not allow him to realize that believe it or not, patriotism does exist in the Olympics.? And who is to say that Cuban has a hidden agenda with his remarks?? Things such as Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd possibly getting hurt during the Games come to mind.? Cuban isn’t stupid by any stretch of the imagination – he simply wants to protect his investments (Kidd and Nowitzki).? So it is entirely possible that Cuban’s comments have more meaning than what is originally assumed.? All of this aside, I wonder if Nelson would have said anything if the Mavericks had paid him the money due him while he was the Mavericks coach.? Nelson says that isn’t the case, but I’m not entirely convinced.? This should get interesting between now and the start of the Games, so stay tuned.
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