Nowitzki says Cuban should back off refs

Dirk Nowitzki has all but acknowledged that Mark Cuban's antics are a distraction to the Dallas Mavericks, saying that the team's owner must "learn to control himself as well as the players do."

In a stories posted Friday night on the Web sites of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Dallas Morning News, Nowitzki was quoted as saying, "We can't lose our temper all the time on the court or off the court, and I think he's got to learn that, too. He's got to improve in that area and not yell at the officials the whole game."

The newspapers also reported that Nowitzki, Michael Finley and Steve Nash had asked Cuban in the past about watching games from a suite, rather than from his usual seat near the Mavericks' bench.

"The game starts and he's already yelling at [the officials]," Nowitzki was quoted as saying. "He needs to learn how to control himself a little better. If somebody's in your ear constantly. ... I'd be [ticked] off if I were an official."

Cuban was fined $250,000 for his outbursts about the officiating during Game 5 of the NBA Finals, and commissioner David Stern said he was tired of off-court antics drawing attention from the series.

Cuban has been fined at least $1.65 million since buying the team in January 2000. The exact total of his punishment tab isn't known because the league doesn't always publicize action against team owners. Cuban has said he matches every dollar he is fined with a charitable donation.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2506302

wonder if cuban is considering trading dirk after this?

I can't imagine Cuban is too thrilled to hear about those remarks but Dirk makes a very good point. As I said after his behaviour at the end of Game 5, you can't fault him for his passion and it's his right to be upset the same as anyone else but that kind of stuff can't do the Mavericks any favours.

Interesting, Nowitzki has grown a spine. I can't wait to see how Cuban responds to this.

Well I was once thinking about this, this guy is so passionate and it's good. But the way he talks to the league and when he shouts and points at the referees... It's surely gonna have some disadvantage for the Mavs, nobody can stand that type of a person just like Dirk mentioned. If Mark Cuban controlled himself a little big more, the referees might not be on Heat's side that often. Especially Salvatore and DeRosa!

I don't think he'll have a negative response to Dirk's comment, they were this those to NBA champions because of who? Dirk Nowitzki, Cuban has to love him...

*goes and check blogmaverick.com and leaves*

Maybe the only way Cuban will learn is if he hears it from his beloved superstar.

Dirk sounds like a scared little kid telling his daddy to stop yelling so much at his little league games.

Aaah, nothing breaks a team's chemistry better than to lose in The Finals...

Trade Dirk to the Spurs for Oberto!

LMAO @ Trade Dirk