"Facts are for pussies."

I usually don’t concern this space of my world for pro sports, but when you’re in the middle of the darkest corner of the off-season you are left to your own devices.

From time to time I read “Blog Maverick”, written by none other than Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Most of his entries swamp me with technical jargon about his second love, HDNet. However, from time to time, Cuban will touch on a subject or two that appeal to me as insider information. Primarily, I read because where else can you get insight to the thoughts of an NBA general manager that aren’t whitewashed by their team’s public relations staff? (Boy, an Isiah Thomas blog would be damn interesting right about now, but I digress.)

Cuban even relates in one of his most recent entries that he blogs for an outlet of his competitiveness. I like that about him as well. In his last entry, Cuban mentions sports writers (and business people) who work in “headline mode”, not taking the time to provide substance for an article, but rather reacting to a deadline.

Cuban’s latest headline maker was apparently a statement made towards David Stern, NBA Commissioner after Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Cuban was alleged to have said, “your league is rigged”, which he denounced on his blog as being not true in two forms: he didn’t make the statement, and the league cannot be rigged. Stern even claimed that Cuban sat close enough for him to never hear the comment. Didn’t stop Greg Cote, writer for the Miami Herald to move forward on the alleged quote.

Fast forward to the Mike & Mike show on ESPN Radio and their contacting Cote on the source of who confirmed that Cuban made the statement. His answer? He heard from a guy, who heard from a guy, who heard Cuban’s statement. Excuse me? A guy who knows a guy who heard? Are you kidding me?

Apparently Mr. Cote went to the Steven Colbert School of Journalism – “facts are for pussies”. Topping that assertion was the Herald’s reporting that Cuban had his boat parked in a Miami marina with a “Go Mavs Go” banner proudly displayed. One problem, Cuban writes he has never owned a boat. Good job gang. Maybe Cuban’s blog is two fold: releasing his intensity and being able to have his own platform to refute such nonsense.

Either way, it’s good reading.