Mark Cuban and the Cubs

The New York Times is running an article entitled, "Cuban Wants Cubs, but Will Baseball Want Him?" Cuban has developed a highly controversial reputation as owner of the Dallas Mavericks. The article states, "Cuban is loud, passionate and opinionated. He’s a media creature comfortable on multiple platforms, and he turned the once-comatose Mavericks into a perennial winner (though they have not won it all, just like the Cubbies). He has amassed nearly $1.7 million in fines, mostly for criticizing N.B.A. referees. As penance for insulting the chief of referees as incapable of managing a Dairy Queen, he spent a day at the chain serving up a promotional bonanza."

Read the Article!!

Discussion Starters for Younger Children

• What does it mean to be nice? Can a nice person point out mistakes that other people have made? Why/why not?
  
• Do you think that you can communicate with more people if they say something or write something? Challenge them to explain their thoughts?
  
• What do you think it means to be obnoxious? Do you think it's ever OK to be obnoxious? Why/why not? Is it ever OK to scream? If so, when? Why/why not?
  
• Do you think that it would be fun to be on a professional sports team? What team would you like to be on? What might be some of the benefits of being on such a team? What would be the drawbacks?
  

Discussion Starters for Older Students

• Vocabulary terms to discuss: Conceded; Loquacious; Acquisition; and, Stodgier.
  
• Do you think that the person who offers the most money to purchase a product, like a professional sports team, should be able to buy it? Why/why not? Should the other baseball team owners be able to deny Mark Cuban the right to purchase the Chicago Cubs? Explain!!
• According to the article, Cuban write, "The best references I have will come from other N.B.A. owners who know what my contributions as a partner are...multiple N.B.A. owners have asked if they could participate in our attempts to purchase the Cubs.” Why might the other owners want to work with Mr. Cuban if he has a reputation for being loquacious? Would you want to work with somebody like Mark Cuban? Explain!
  
• In his first year as the Dallas Mavericks' owner, Cuban was fined $1 million. Is this a lot of money? What dollar amount is a lot of money to you? What do you think that Mark Cuban thinks is a lot of money? Explain!!!