Home >  Sports >  Columnists

Wednesday, February 21, 2001

Mario's back is aching, the goalie situation is deteriorating and down the road looms the probability that the Penguins will not be able to keep their thick corps of skill players.

It's not a happy time for the Penguins, who, nevertheless, remain a team to be reckoned with in the postseason. They would, of course, be more of a factor in the playoffs this year and in the future if the problems listed above could be remedied.

There's no easy answer to Lemieux's back problem, although everything will be done to get it to respond. As for the goalie situation, things can be done -- but not everything. The Penguins are not the New York Rangers, which means that, when acquiring a goalie, finances must be a concern. The team just can't go out and trade for any goalie, just one who fits into its budget.

Would that be the case if Mark Cuban, the free-spending owner of the Dallas Mavericks, owned a piece of the Penguins?

What if the flirtation Cuban had with Lemieux's ownership group when the team was going through bankruptcy in the summer of 1999 had come to fruition?

The Penguins might not be so concerned about their budget. The figure being thrown around as Cuban's contribution to the ownership group was $40 million.

Oh, sure, the public perception of Cuban, a Mt. Lebanon High School graduate, is one of a loose cannon who thinks he can throw money at every situation. But that perception isn't always correct. The Mavericks are a better team because of Cuban, and there's a body of evidence that indicates his wealth, enthusiasm and ownership skills at least have something to do with that.

Besides, what's wrong with throwing money at problems?

In an online interview the other day, Cuban discussed for the first time why he and Lemieux never became partners.

"When I sat in the room for the first time, there was Mario and nine lawyers. That was scary to me. I loved Mario. He was and is one of the classiest guys I have ever met, and there was no doubt that his heart and soul were into this. But seeing all the lawyers scared the heck out of me. There wasn't a single business person at the table.

"There also was a lot of animosity between the different groups trying to get involved. Things like, if you talk to them, you are on the other side. To me, that made no sense. I tried to talk to everyone and get to a point where we all could benefit, whether it was people from the previous ownership, the landlords, whoever. That didn't sit too well with all the lawyers. Which scared me even more.

"But I wanted to be able to help, so in the negotiations, I put performance requirements on any investment I made. They didn't like what they saw. So they passed. I had no intention of getting actively involved like I am with the Mavs. My only intention was to make sure the Pens stayed in Pittsburgh. But Mario's group didn't like the performance parameters I set, nor the fact that I suggested that outside business people be brought in . So it just didn't work out."

Judging from the warm sports memories he holds of growing up in Pittsburgh, Cuban probably would have enjoyed owning a piece of the Penguins. He was a sports junkie back then and remains a Pittsburgh sports fan at heart. When asked who he would root for if the Steelers and Cowboys met in the Super Bowl, he said: "I was there when they met [in Super Bowl XXX]. I had on my black and gold coat, my Terrible Towel, and all my [Dallas] friends to this day hate me to death when they start to hear me sing, 'We're from the town with the Super Bowl team.' Does that answer your question?"

Cuban said if he had bought into the Penguins he would have assumed a "passive" role as an owner.

"If I lived in Pittsburgh, it might have been different. But I couldn't sell a lot of tickets from Dallas. So my only actions would have been to be publicly supportive and to offer any general business assistance I could."

Cuban says his reputation as a guy who recklessly throws around money is a false one.

"Contrary to what some may think, I don't spend money indiscriminately. Any investments I have made have been just that, investments. They allow our team to perform better. Nothing has been done out of benevolence or frivolity. There is a reason for every penny I have spent, and that is to get results."

Cuban follows the Penguins from Dallas and likes what he sees. But his feel for the team isn't totally correct.

"The team is playing to sold-out houses, so they obviously didn't need my help, and all is well that ends well. I'm a huge Pens fan, and just as big a Mario fan. I still wear my 66 jersey around with pride, so no one is happier than I am about everything."

The Penguins are doing well, holding their own. Still, it might have been nice for the future of hockey in Pittsburgh if Cuban and his millions and Lemieux had become partners.

Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com.