The owner of the Dallas Mavericks cannot dunk a basketball, but he posterized Texas' junior U.S. senator in a war of words over social media on Monday after the billionaire businessman took on one of Congress' most formidable debaters.
Considering that most sports are only now returning after months of suspended contests, Mark Cuban and Sen. Ted Cruz lobbing barbs at each other over Twitter was a nice alternative to a game involving a basketball hoop.
Just why Cruz decided to try to block Cuban is anyone's guess, but the results were ugly, entertaining and predictable. Think Vince Carter dunking on Shawn Bradley.
The last thing the senator should be doing is issuing a challenge over the presence of a spine since he clearly had his own removed years ago.
Ted, you had this one coming.
Cruz, who attended Princeton and Harvard, won the 1992 U.S. National Debating Championship and the North American Debating Championship. He was a semifinalist in the 1995 World Universities Debating Championship.
Cuban attended Indiana University.
Big Ten 1, Ivy League 0.
Because debating a politician on policy, and a guy who has more money than he can count and is beholden to no one, are different opponents.
This all started somewhat innocently on Monday morning when Dallas-Fort Worth political commentator Mark Davis tweeted, "I am so ready to be in on this year's #Mavericks home stretch: so much promise, so much personality. But the minute one player kneels during the anthem, I am OUT. Surely (Mark Cuban) can lead the way for #Mavs, #NBA to do whatever gesture they wish without insulting the nation."
Davis has been a hard-core right wing voice in DFW for decades. He is also a vocal supporter of President Trump.
Cuban responded to Davis' tweet with a single, "Bye."
Cuban leans more to the side of the NBA players, the majority of whom are Black. Many players have taken to standing for social awareness, including supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, which could potentially include engaging in a silent protest during the National Anthem.
Cuban later Tweeted: "The National Anthem Police in this country are out of control. If you want to complain, complain to your boss and ask why they don't play the National Anthem every day before you start work."
That's when Cruz made his mistake.
He tweeted at Mark Davis, "Really??!? NBA is telling everyone who stands for the flag, who honors our cops and our veterans, to "p--- off"? In Texas, no less? Good luck with that."
The Mavericks owner and part-time political pundit has no fear in engaging anyone in a debate.
Cuban tweeted at Cruz, "Have some b---- for once @tedcruz. Speak to me. It's my tweet."
A fair point.
Cruz was verbally whipped by Trump during the 2016 presidential primary campaign. Trump insulted Cruz's wife, his father, his mental stability and nicknamed him "Lyin' Ted."
Since Trump won the election, Cruz has offered not a single rebuke of Trump.
Cuban was irritated, and he let it go.
"Why is it, @tedcruz, that you take such pride in standing up to and speaking truth to the Chinese, but you have no ability to stand up to and speak the truth to @realdonaldtrump?" he Tweeted.
Cuban and Trump are not exactly fishing buddies. And now Cruz will no longer receive a holiday card from the Cubans.
Cruz took another dig at Cuban, "Still no answer from @mcuban Let's try simpler. Mark, tough guy, can you say 'Free Hong Kong'? Can your players put that on their jerseys? Can you condemn the CCP's concentration camps w/ 1 million Uyghurs? Can you say ANYTHING other than 'Chairman Mao is beautiful & wise'?"
To which Cuban responded, "If you think I wont criticize China and what they do as it concerns American Citizens watch this https://youtu.be/McgLMUUHs0I and this movie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_China_Hustle.... But I have never gotten involved in the domestic policies of ANY foreign country. We have too much to do here."
This catfight won't amount to much, but it did provide entertainment until NBA teams are back on the court.
It should serve as a reminder to Cruz to avoid debating people who are emboldened by their wealth with nothing to lose. And he should never accuse someone else of not having a spine.
