My email exchange with Mark Cuban

I sent Mark an email on Saturday evening. Next time I logged onto my computer Sunday afternoon, I had a reply.<br>
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Here it is, cut and pasted in correct sequence:<br>
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<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>From: Jeff Pitluk <br>
To: mark.cuban@dallasmavs.com <br>
Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2003 6:55 PM<br>
Subject: Ask Mark Cuban<br>
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Mark,<br>
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I have been wanting to send you an email for some time now, just never followed through until now. <br>
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I'm from San Antonio...a big Spurs fan. The reason I wanted to write you is for two reasons: 1) I want to tell you that despite our new rivalry, I enjoy your team and have admired much of what you have done as owner of the Mavericks. And 2) to ask you a question which I am guessing you hear a lot of, concerning NBA refs...<br>
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I'm not going to go into my thoughts of the way NBA games are officiated and the officials' behavior themselves. I believe that they are currently being exposed...albeit slowly. I think you know what I mean. <br>
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My question is more along the lines of the administration of the officials. The NBA, on Friday, reversed three calls by one official in a Spurs game vs. Washington this past Tuesday (an ejection of Steven Jackson and technical foul on Tim Duncan in one instant by one of the officials in that game) saving those guys some cash. Big deal. What I want to know is what happens to the officials who make those calls? Is there ever action taken against NBA referees for incompetence or behavior on the court? What kind of accountability do these guys really have?<br>
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What are your thoughts on the state of officiating in the game today? The league runs the risk of disenfranchising the fans that make all this happen. What is going on?<br>
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Thanks for your spirit. This league needs more like you. <br>
<br>
Jeff Pitluk<br>
San Antonio, TX</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
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<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>From: mark cuban <br>
To: Jeff Pitluk <br>
Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2003 9:23 PM<br>
Subject: Re: Ask Mark Cuban<br>
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i agree with you that its a management issue. Its not a well run department of our company. Where did you see they were reversed and who were the refs ?<br>
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and to answer your question on refs getting in trouble, they NEVER tell us.<br>
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I would ask that you PLEASE call Peter Holt the spurs owner, and have as many fans do the same and ask him to work towards improving it. Part of the problem is that he and other owners are great people , but they never push the league to improve the officiating.<br>
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thanks !<br>
<br>
m</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
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<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Mark,<br>
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Thanks for the reply. I will follow your advice and write Peter Holt...and encourage other fans to do so.<br>
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The league's reversal on the calls I mentioned was reported in San Antonio here:<br>
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<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=211&xlc=911751">www.mysanantonio.com/spor...xlc=911751</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br>
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Here is a link to the actual game vs. Wash. <br>
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<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=221231027">sports.espn.go.com/nba/bo...=221231027</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br>
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It was NOT Jack Nies who made the call. It was a young rookie (possibly) ref....one I'd never seen before. I'm pretty sure it was Marc Davis, if Marc is a stocky, muscular bald dude. <br>
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The calls came at a critical time in the game and the Spurs lose by two. I wish I could link video of it for you. It was a laughable situation despite the fact that they were hammering my team. Then the league reverses the calls. Great for the guys' pocketbooks, but what about the game? <br>
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Again, thanks for your efforts.<br>
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Jeff Pitluk</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
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<p></p><i></i>

Clearly a subject he feels strongly about. Nothing he'd like more than for Holt to call and say "Mark, what can we do about this?"<br>
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Wonder how long you'd wait to get a personal reply from any other owner in the league? I'll bet only the brothers in Sac have anything set up via email.<br>
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Anyone got Holt's email addy? <p>-----------------------<br>
Sometimes I think I understand everything - then I regain consciousness...</p><i></i>

Holt is a wuss... He hasn't even been seen at the games lately..<br>
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hmmmm... don't waste your time. <p></p><i></i>

Have you gotten a second response yet? I think you worded that question perfectly. You can tell he loves to talk about the subject. Way to go! <p>--<!--EZCODE BR START--><br /><!--EZCODE BR END--><br>
<!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:brown;font-size:small;">I come from a dusty place<!--EZCODE BR START--><br /><!--EZCODE BR END--><br>
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He never got back to me a second time. I did think that it was interesting that he asked me which game and which officials I was referring to. I bet the guy keeps a log. <p></p><i></i>

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>I bet the guy keeps a log. <hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>
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Yes, he does. A very thorough log that goes back to his first year as an owner. I remember reading or hearing that somewhere. <p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.sahoops.net/SuperB2000.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><!--EZCODE BR START--><br /><!--EZCODE BR END-->[<!--EZCODE BR START--><br /><!--EZCODE BR END--><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SwDfAqwVoSVoAA32Jm63CuxkhPlLG1RqItvUz6P0G2ZGqaXsdIsZvNTNsBVZMxIZNDjzIfjswtSZoXeps8JXpUlpuKtG4PcrvHag9GcALTXKmz0fMIgxVA/super-B20001.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></p><i></i>