Mark makes his point

by Toddy on Sep 20, 2008 12:44 PM CDT Comment 12 comments

As much as I felt posting my "Thanks for the Advice on Josh Howard" post was the right thing to do, I have had an upset stomach all day because of it.

I thought it was important to point out the hatred and ignorance of so many who quickly judge people they have never met, based purely on soundbites and headlines. If you think you know any public figure based on what you see on TV or read on the internet or in newspapers, you are sadly mistaken.

I wanted to point out the irony of them experiencing the onslaught of attention from suddenly and unexpectedly being placed in the media spotlight from a throwaway comment.

Try being in a position of always having to be "on" and checking for cameras, because if you let down your guard, any soundbite, even one as short as 11 seconds, can turn into headline news across the country, no matter what the context. Its not always easy. Nor is it easy to just accept that its part of being a "public figure" .

I also knew that because of the email addresses being included, they would be receiving the same level of hate, ignorance and judgment that Josh and I had. They would get the same type of ignorant email threats of "I wont do business with your company again", from people who have never done business with their company. The "I’m going to email your boss and all your sponsors" threats, because that’s the way people try to shout down other people these days.

That’s what bothered me all day. So I have removed the post.

Hopefully something good came from it being posted.

Hat tip to DerekSTheRed, in the comments of Ron's two cents.

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Off topic here, but I have had this debate for years with people.

How do you pronounce Dirk’s last name? Is it no-wit-ski or na-ven-ski?

The offensive machine rolls in Texas.

by srdmad on Sep 21, 2008 10:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

no-wit-ski is fine. But that still has an American sound to it ;) In German the “w” is pronounced a little sharper, more like a “v”.

by coolste on Sep 21, 2008 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

with a “v” sound… but I have even heard him say it with a “w”.

by Toddy on Sep 21, 2008 8:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So more like, no-ven-ski?

The offensive machine rolls in Texas.

by srdmad on Sep 23, 2008 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here is an interview with Dirk during the Olympics in German TV. You can hear his name prnounced in German a couple of time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWKh5zl4p4o&feature=related

by coolste on Sep 21, 2008 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is stupid. He put the emails of idiots out there to try and deflect from the original point.
The original point is that Josh Howard has become a disaster. Instead of enabling Josh Howard, Mark should be trying to get him some real counseling. Perhaps he can be helped, if they actually tried to help him.

As it is, Mark Cuban is enabling a druggie, anti-social, malcontent.

Good job Mark, way to keep it classy and full of good character.

by Conan the Cimmerian on Sep 22, 2008 8:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

I couldn’t disagree with you more. A lot of white America (like myself and most NBA fans) can’t understand how anyone could say such things after all the good things this country has done for athletes like Howard. Showing the hate mail reminds us how much further we need to go as a country. Just as the Howard video showed a candid view of many African-Americans that Howard thought he was talking to solely, the emails show a candid view of white Americans that thought they were only talking to Cuban. Candid discussion is more constructive to the situation of race, rather than the heated exchange between talking heads of both races or a public admonishment of Howard.

Was Howard an idiot? Of course he was and Mark Cuban has said they will work to help Howard make better choices, but they will do so privately. Usually I’m all for transparency, but Howard’s been humiliated publicly enough. When someone is suffering such negatively from all corners, there is no enabling going on. This humiliation is again negative reinforcement that hasn’t shown to change Howard’s behavior so giving him more negative reinforcement simply won’t work. Other methods are needed and I’m sure Mark Cuban is doing that, but the public doesn’t have the right to know about the doings of private citizens, despite the paparazzi.

Eventually, the Mavs will have to say “enough”, with Howard if his behavior continues in this reckless manner. Yet, Howard isn’t the only NBA player or celebrity to initially struggle with fame. Many overcome it to at least survive the fish bowl that is celebrity status in the 24/7 media cycle, but others do not. Howard deserves a chance at redemption and if he fails again then I have no doubt the Mavs will do what’s appropriate at that time.

Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!

by DerekSTheRed on Sep 22, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

the question I have is

does Howard reallllllllly feel that way, or was he acting for the camera, and in present company of thugs? you can hear how the guys were speaking, and you don’t hear that when players address the media. I speak differently to different groups of people, but the “true” me is what it is. I am NOT defending Howard, just HOPING that, even though he probably does have some issues with the Republican, upper-class, white ruling class on one side, that he doesn’t really feel the desire to not recognize his country’s anthem. I like to believe he was just “speaking to his audience,” and he didn’t realize or think ahead of time that it would be a much more broad audience. He needs more education, and I can’t say I wouldn’t make a fool of myself in the public’s eye on a YouTube video, either.

I’m being optimistic, because we need him on the court as himself to succeed this year and in the future. If we don’t get it, if he can’t get over this, if he truly meant what he said and he lets it affect his play going forward, we’re in big trouble…

somebody made a good point: they expect Howard to rebound and everybody to forget about this summer. HOPEFULLY so.

"So you have no frame of reference here, Donny. You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know... "

by Walter Sobchak on Sep 23, 2008 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

You disagree….Well I don’t remember requesting your agreement.
I am tempted to take apart your post.
It would require a moment of time to do so.
I have better uses of my time, and choose not waste it here on this.
The pap posted does not much of an argument make.
I really don’t care how much some people might feel that they have had it bad or rough.
I ain’t going to cry tears for them.
It is really pathetic that those that benefit so from a system want to rail against it as if they are some sort of victims.
So very stupid really.
Everybody in this country is blessed. TO act otherwise is to deny reality.
To coddle the stupid/self absorbed/narcissists such as this…beyond idiotic….
This man-child needs seriosous counseling.
Mark Cuban is a sad excuse for an enabler.

I suspect that Mark Cuban would expect/demand much more from his own children.

I know I do. I would not excuse this sort of behaviour from my child. This type of behaviour would disgust me. I would tell them my thoughts on their abhorrent behavior/actions.

You can make excuses…I believe that a man should be a man. But in this day and age excuse is the stink of the ethically/morally challenged.

Do not include me in your egregiousness.

by Conan the Cimmerian on Sep 22, 2008 9:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Excuse.....

I am so tired and sick of this type of excuse and those that excuse them.
Be a man.
If you can’t, then don’t try and feed the rest of us this nonsense.

by Conan the Cimmerian on Sep 22, 2008 10:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

settle down, Conan.

are you yourself perfect? have you ever made a mistake? are you in the public’s eye every day of your life? I doubt it. if so, tell me who you are and let me pick you apart. I leave you with one of my favorite series of quotes:

The Dude: Just take it easy man.
Walter Sobchak: I’m perfectly calm Dude.
The Dude: [shouting] Yeah, waving the fucking gun around?
Walter Sobchak: Calmer than you are.
The Dude: Will you just take it easy?
Walter Sobchak: Calmer than you are.

"So you have no frame of reference here, Donny. You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know... "

by Walter Sobchak on Sep 23, 2008 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Settle Down, Walter

Just calling it as I see it Walter.
I ain’t yelling and I am plenty calm, you suggesting otherwise notwithstanding.

This ain’t no discussion about people being perfect. That is a mischaracterization. And I will give the leeway and believe you are not obfuscating for the sake of your view.

This is a discussion about a man-child and his bad behaviour.

What would be refreshing would be for him to start making right choices and ending this streak of idiotic behaviour.

The closest thing to being right( when one is wrong) is to admit it, apologize for it, and make amends for the wrong doing. It is called character, something that seems to be in short supply.

by Conan the Cimmerian on Sep 23, 2008 2:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs