Mark Cuban sides with Stern in Restgate controversy

Mar 17, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban celebrates as his team takes on the against the San Antonio Spurs at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Spurs 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

Big surprise: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is siding with NBA commissioner David Stern in the national fiasco, being coined as “Restgate” (or “Miamigate”).

Cuban agrees with the fine because the NBA’s primary customer, the television viewer, is at stake.

Acting in his team’s interest, as Stern and Cuban seem to be reiterating, is not a good enough excuse to shun the national television audience. Who, of course, were treated to a mesmerizing 105-100 game, in which the Spurs rotation players earned a lead with as little as 2:14 remaining.

Per Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com:

“Look, I respect the Spurs,” Cuban said. “Pop is the best coach in the league. I understand why he did it. I might even take the fine if it was us, but I understand why the league (fined the Spurs). It maybe should have even been higher, because the amount at stake is enormous.

“I’m not saying the Mavs wouldn’t have done the same thing, but I realize that it’d be a fineable offense. And if it was me, it’d probably be 10 times as much.”

And, yeah, Cuban just said the fine should have been 10 times as much — completely serious, presumably. If my math is correct … That’s a whopping $2,500,000 penalty.

In case you forgot you hated Cuban, tack on another reason.