Mark Cuban has been called “unpatriotic” for his stance on NBA players participating in international competitions. Given his Fallen Patriot Fund and the Mavs’ annual night benefitting soldiers and their families, of course that notion is ridiculous.
Now Cuban will likely draw the ire of his critics for daring to not jump onto the coattails of America’s latest fad – the ALS Ice-Bucket Challenge.
Speaking on CBS Radio in Dallas last Friday, Cuban explained why he’s declined numerous “nominations” to video himself being doused with a bucket of ice water to raise awareness and donations to fight ALS.
“We’ve gotten to the point now where it’s not so much about ALS or raising money,” he said. “It’s really a social-media phenomenon and I’m starting to feel bad for a lot of the other charities who are going to have a far more difficult time raising money. A lot of people are going to try to copy what ALS has done and it’s going to be impossible. Someone else is going to have to come up with something completely different. Not to take anything away from ALS. Whatever amount of money they raise, good for them. It's a terrible disease. I don’t want trying to coming up with an idea to fund raise to be about who is the most creative on social media. I don’t want to see a lot of charities waste a lot of money trying to come up with the next social-media phenomenon. I just don’t feel comfortable with it at this point in time. Had I done it early I would have been like, ‘Yeah I was one of the early ones.’ That’s just my style.”
As always, the Mavs owner sees things from a unique perspective.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
