The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cuban talking like a candidate
Everyone’s favorite outsider for president, tech billionaire Mark Cuban, is again fueling the long-glowing embers of a potential 2020 run against President Donald Trump.
“I’ve got a lot of time to decide, and we’ll see what happens,” was the latest teasing line from the “Shark Tank” investor and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, this time at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, last week. Cuban has long toyed publicly with a White House run, an idea that has gained more traction after the improbable rise of Trump, whose parlaying of celebrity into electoral success is seen as Cuban’s model.
Cuban, a self-identified libertarian, sounded as if he was already taking on Trump, portraying himself as “less extreme” on immigration, more concerned about the environment and more technologically advanced than POTUS.
Another full-shade line dig at Trump? “In terms of him personally, he’s the ‘Zoolander’ president,” Cuban said, referring to the self-centered movie character played by Ben Stiller.
More from Cuban
Cuban on star forward Dirk Nowitzki’s loyalty to the team and city for 19 seasons: “When you pay somebody $200 million, they tend to be loyal.”
Quick Whistle Dept.
Talk about getting an early T time: DeMarcus Cousins’ 101st career technical foul was also his quickest — just 32 seconds into the Pelicans-Thunder game Feb. 26.
You shouldn’t have
The Sacramento Kings blew a 28-point lead in falling to the San Antonio Spurs recently.
But there wasn’t a dry eye in sight when they walked into the locker room and saw the pick-me-up bouquet from the Atlanta Falcons sitting there.
All-star cast
Who says pro sports aren’t show business? Andrew Bogut broke a leg in his Cavaliers debut.
Seeding overrated
Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he’s not concerned with the race between the Jazz, Clippers, Thunder and Grizzlies for the No. 4 playoff seed.
“Yeah, we would like whoever is the 30th seed ... we’d prefer that,” Rivers said. “Other than that, you’ve just got to get ready in the playoffs.
“I’ve always laughed at three (seed), four, let’s get five. That’s ridiculous. If you’re trying to win it all, you’re going to play the good teams eventually. You just have to be ready for it.”
Headlines
■ NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ,as quoted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, on getting bullied as a kid in Harlem: “I got beat up quite a bit. But once I got the jab down, they didn’t bother me anymore.
■ At TheKicker.com: “Fun: Madison Square Garden debuts ‘Wince Cam’ during Knicks games.”