How about Cuban just goes away?
The local infatuation with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is nearly as obnoxious as the man himself.
As you might have heard -- Cuban certainly has -- Cubs fans would like him to buy their team.
As you also might have heard, I would barf in my soup if he did.
Cuban is one of the few issues Jerry Reinsdorf and I have agreed on in recent years: He reportedly doesn't want Cuban to own the Cubs, and I certainly don't.
People who support Cuban's candidacy must believe you have to be a loudmouth exhibitionist to succeed as an owner in professional sports.
I hold out hope that isn't the case.
Like, could you pick the owner of the Spurs out of a police lineup? Or of the Heat, which happened to beat the Mavs in the NBA Finals two years ago?
Me neither. But everybody knows Cuban's face, whether you want to or not, because he seeks attention like a child acting out.
The Mavericks' owner was at the United Center the other night and the media breathlessly asked him about his interest in the Cubs.
Folks, please, give it a rest. If we allow the story to go away, hopefully Cuban will, too.
Otherwise I might have to root against the Cubs in the World Series -- talk about a hypothetical -- if Cuban bought them just because he always seemed to be one of those guys I would rather lose without than win with.
Why? Well, nobody in America needs a explain a dislike for somebody. Let's just say I dislike Cuban for no particular reason.
Ah, but if you pressed me for one, how about that he's a 40something man who dresses like a high school sophomore?
A billionaire sports owner should be required by law to wear a necktie in public. If he doesn't want to, let him become a sports writer and attend games dressed like, yes, a high school sophomore.
I recently mentioned that to somebody who shot back with, "What about Bill Veeck?" The late, great former White Sox owner didn't wear a tie, either, yet he was the most interesting sports figure I ever spent time with.
My only explanation is that Veeck wasn't a billionaire. He was the kind of guy who resided closer to South Shore than the North Shore.
Another reason for my disdain of Cuban is he sits on or near the Mavs' bench as if he were a member of the team rather than a measly owner.
A final reason is the way Cuban harps on NBA officiating. It's a worthy cause, but I just don't like rich rebels who continue to defy authority just because they can afford the fines.
True rebels taunt the establishment when they can't afford to. Heck, they go on the lam when they can't raise bail.
Maybe my problem is that people have said I'm a little like Cuban, only without the money. Maybe so, but I like to think that if I were that rich, I would behave with the decorum befitting the extremely fortunate instead of remaining as disgusting as a sports writer.
Having Mark Cuban's cash would be great, but only if you didn't have to be Mark Cuban.
Here's a real deal for him to consider: I'll promise not to buy the Cubs if he'll promise not to.
mimrem@dailyherald.com