Phil Jackson & Mark Cuban at it again
 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2323199

Cuban's response to Jackson's criticism of his tactics and the officiating:

"I own Phil Jackson. Not literally of course. That thrill belongs to the smartest businesswoman in professional sports, Jeannie Buss. Figuratively however, the coach formerly known as the Zen Master must now be considered my bucket boy.

"This wasn't an acquisition I proactively pursued. There wasn't an official competition that I won, thereby confirming my dominance of his psyche. Instead Phil has initiated an ongoing commentary about me that started in his previous stint with the Lakers and was reinstated this year with his return, that proves I own the guy.

"For whatever reason, I have gotten to Phil so completely and thoroughly that every time he comes to Dallas he has to offer unsolicited comments about me to the media. I wonder if he dreams about me the nights he spends here in Dallas. Ok, I don't wonder. I'm curious about it.

"How can the NBA coach with so many championship rings find me so intimidating? I really don't know, but he said as much in December when he called me an 'intimidating force' to the LA Times:

"'Consider a place like Dallas, where the owner runs around, pumps up the volume, intimidates the referees and ... has announcers as hired cheerleaders, which is an intimidating force.'

"Then of course last night he again took the initiative to comment to the media about how I am such a presence in the NBA that I turn the officials into 'nervous nellies.' Implying that I can have more influence on the outcome of a game than his coaching skills. I wish. But if Phil wants to this so, I'm fine with that. That's what happens when you own someone, they can't get you out of their head, and they don't often think, speak or act rationally.

"I guess Phil was so overwhelmed that it caused him to take back-to-back delay of game penalties and the technical foul that comes with it, rather than send his team out to the court at the conclusion of a timeout in the 4th quarter.

"Of course the officials weren't intimidated. At least no more than the other officials who have given Kobe technical fouls to the tune of a league-leading 11. Maybe, instead of being so concerned with Mark Cuban, Phil should be worried about the new rule in place that causes a player to be suspended a game after he gets his 16th technical foul of the season. And if I remember correctly, every technical after 16 results in a 1-game suspension as well. Can't wait to hear what he has to say when that happens.

"Of course I don't truly believe that I own Phil. But that won't prevent me from walking up to him and saying 'Boo' to see if he jumps, just to find out for sure."
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Wow. The guy whose team has never won anything claiming that he "owns" the guy who has 9 rings?

That's because Phil is overrated and Cubes knows he can mess with him.

LOL awesome

Call him what you will (and I'm no fan of Phil Jackson) but 9 rings is 9 rings.

Cuban's an attention whore.

Of course he is overrated. He went to LA when they were useless in the playoffs, and he to got them 3 rings and 4 final appearances. He comes back this yr after LA stunk with a well respected coach, and he once again turns the team around. Yeah, it's not him, he is just lucky he gets great players. The fact that they perform for him much better than anyone else is irrelevant.

PS I like Cuban, but he is an attention...

9 rings w/ Michael Jordan-Pippen and Kobe-Shaq.

He won't collect another as long as he coaches.

So how did Kobe-Shaq do in the playoffs before he arrived? Oh, just as I thought.

You want to support Phil? Go ahead. Let's hear your argument for how he's such a good coach in the 2005-2006 season.

I am a big fan of Cuban.

Very good reads on the blog he keeps.

http://www.blogmaverick.com

I like all of Mark's thoughts on vertical marketing and the stories of how he made it to where he is today. He may not be the slickest guy around, but he knows what he's talking about.

LA was 11-29 in its last 40 games. Despite its recent slide, and its rough beginning Phil is still 500. I am sure he will finish better than 500 by the end of the season, which is impressive considering lasts year's performance with what was considered a good coach.

.500 won't get them past the Clippers and into the playoffs. By my calculations, you have to make the playoffs to have a shot at the title.

I'm no real big fan of Cuban...but I do wish he would buy the Pirates and provide stable ownership for the franchise. He's a flake, but he would turn the organization around.

This whole thing is hilarious. It is a consensus among Dallas fans that Cuban's behavior draws ire from refs and league officials alike and we have seen the results of that in the way that Dirk Nowitzki gets treated by the officials. If Phil really had a head about him, he would have taken a little time to do research and realize this.

I think that Cuban is right about the intimidation thing. Every time the Mavs have played LA or Jackson has given a soundbite about the Mavs, he has taken shots at every aspect of Dallas' organization from Cuban, to the announcer, to the coach, to the players. It's beginning to look like Jackson is a defeated, jealous child that is nothing but a plaything for Cuban's superior Mavs. The funny thing is, Jackson has done it to himself. This is the first time that Cuban has responded to several of Jackson's jabs this season. As a Mav fan, there is no better time for us. The Lakers are whining at our feet for attention and validation. WoooHooo!!!

Every man loves Cuban whether you want to admit it or not, I mean hell he brought audio to internet porn!!!;D

I care about this just like I care about ESPN pimping Kobe-Shaq XXI

It really is rediculous. It's an attempt by the sports media to generate interest in basketball now that football season's over. I'd rather just watch the games and watch Dallas waltz through the NBA this season without all of the drama.

Phil Jackson is the primary reason I couldn't care less what happens to the Lakers anymore, but a pimple in his colon has more class than Mark Cuban.

i hate Cuban, arrogant prick imo.

Phil is getting a poor Lakers squad to the playoffs, thats a good coaching job imo

This statement just proves that you know nothing about Cuban.

It also proves that you know nothing about basketball.

What did i say?
Phil is agood coach?
i dont like Cuban?
Those prove i dont know basketball? whatever...

Cuban is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He just rubs people the wrong way because he's so outspoken and knows how to push their buttons.

How is it knowing the freaking Clippers are the best team in the Staples Center this season?

He's a poor sport and a bully. He just tries to cover it by acting like a goofball.

He's not like that at all off of the court. He's gracious and has great people skills. A good, decent guy who works his butt off. You guys only get to see what your media outlets show you. They arent going to show you all of the neat things that he does for fans off of the record, and how nice of a guy he is outside of basketball. Those things dont sell subscriptions.

In the sake of everyone's best interests, I'll skim right past the notion that my opinions are influenced by media outlets.

I know people who are acquainted with Cuban and I know, under the proper circumstances, he can be quite charming. I have also witnessed him trying to bully $9 an hour timekeepers in Utah like some kind of wildeyed maniac, among other childish tactics. I don't care how nice he is when he's not in the heat of the moment. After all these years, the guy should have learned how to lose with a little class and dignity. He never has, though, and he never will.