Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban rips NFL for scheduling of Dallas Cowboys game

DALLAS -- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is firing criticism at a league office again, but this time he has the NFL in his crosshairs.

Cuban is upset that the NFL scheduled the Dallas Cowboys' home playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles for Saturday night, which conflicts with the Mavericks' home game against the Utah Jazz.


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Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban rips NFL for scheduling of Dallas Cowboys game

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"I know we're just little pissants compared to the NFL, but seriously, the NFL is turning into the ugly American when it comes to sports leagues," Cuban said. "They don't give a crap about anybody but themselves."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined to respond to Cuban's comments.

The Mavericks' sellout streak of 334 consecutive games is not in jeopardy Saturday night because all the tickets have already been sold, Cuban said. However, he anticipates a high number of no-shows.

Cuban had nothing but praise for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, his partner in bringing the NBA All-Star Game to Cowboys Stadium in February. However, Cuban lashed out at the NFL, which he said could lose the political support of other professional sports leagues if it continues to be inconsiderate with its scheduling.

"There's a balance between all the leagues," Cuban said. "They deal with similar issues. They deal with issues with copyright, antitrust, [Federal Communications Commission], all kinds of things. And it's going to bite them in the ass one day."

Cuban concluded with a jab at the NFL.

"Maybe the other leagues, when it comes to supporting them, will pull a Jim Irsay and disappear in the middle of the night," Cuban said, referring to the Colts' move from Baltimore to Indianapolis that was actually orchestrated by Jim Irsay's father Bob in 1984.



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