Mark Cuban on possibly buying Panthers: 'Not interested at all'

Shalise Manza Young
·Columnist

Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has long been critical of the NFL. Three years ago, he was mocked in many circles for his assertion that the NFL was headed for an “implosion” within a decade – “Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered,” he infamously said. “And [it’s] getting hoggy.”

Despite that, with the news on Sunday night that the Carolina Panthers will be sold by Jerry Richardson after a Sports Illustrated report detailing Richardson’s lengthy history of alleged sexual harassment against female employees and at least one instance of calling an African-American team scout a racial slur, Cuban was named on at least one list of potential Panthers buyers.

But Cuban made it pretty clear to Dallas Morning News reporter Brad Townsend that he will not be the Panthers’ next owner.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he has no interest in buying the Carolina Panthers, calling the NFL a “league in decline.” (AP)
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he has no interest in buying the Carolina Panthers, calling the NFL a “league in decline.” (AP)

In an email on Monday afternoon, he told Townsend, “Not interested at all in any NFL franchise.”

Then later on Monday, before his Mavericks hosted the Phoenix Suns, Cuban expounded on his reasons.

“Why would I buy an NFL team if I think the league is in decline?” he asked, harkening back to his 2014 statements.

“There’s no team I would want other than the Mavericks, certainly no football team in the universe,” Cuban said. “There’s not even a close second. I love the Mavs. I love Dallas. I mean, Charlotte’s a great city, but there’s nothing I don’t like here — other than losing right now. I would never turn my back on the city of Dallas.

“Like I’ve always said, Dallas has given me so much. And what am I going to say to my son and his friends or my daughter and her friends: ‘Oh, yeah: Football’s dangerous for you, but I bought a football team.’

“I know I’m a hypocrite from time to time, but I really, really, really try not to be.”

(NFL rules stipulate that franchise owners can’t own teams in other leagues, though Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula also owns the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.)

Cuban has previously shown interest in buying the Pittsburgh Penguins as well as the Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs. He bought a majority stake in the Mavericks on Jan. 4, 2000.

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