[WWW] WWE.com 11.16.03 Cuban talks about what the NBA can learn from WWE

http://www.wwe.com/news/headlines/1247735

Cuban talks about what the NBA can learn from WWE
by Phil Speer

DALLAS – Nov. 16, 2003 -- Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban – who
could be called the Vince McMahon of the NBA – attended Survivor
Series tonight at his arena, the American Airlines Center. After
taking the RKO from "Legend Killer" Randy Orton, Cuban headed
backstage to mingle with the WWE Superstars, happily snapping pictures
with many of them, and specifically seeking out Kurt Angle. Both men
attended the same high school in Pittsburgh. Cuban talked with the
Olympic gold medalist for a few minutes, took pictures with Angle and
John Cena among others, and then chatted with WWE.com about his
initial in-ring WWE experience.

WWE.com: What brings you here tonight?

Cuban: Oh, man. Survivor Series is top notch. You've got the best
wrestlers in the world. You've got Goldberg vs. Triple H. I'm so sick
of Triple H now. I want to see him get his ass kicked. I had to come
see Stone Cold's Team just taking on Bischoff's Team. Bischoff's all
talk. And I had to do what I had to do out there.

WWE.com: I heard a rumor that you were either a WWE fan growing up, or
you're a fan now …

Cuban: Oh, I've always been a fan. I've been a fan since I was a kid,
back to when there were different shows going on. But you have to
follow the series; you have to stay with it. You've got great new
guys. And actually, I went to the same high school as Kurt Angle. So
I've been a Kurt Angle fan since he came out of school.

WWE.com: Growing up, who are some of the guys you enjoyed watching?

Cuban: Oh, Hulk Hogan. And then later The Rock. And my granddad used
to tell me stories growing up in Pittsburgh about Bruno Sammartino.
And then when I came to Dallas it was the Von Erichs. We used to go
the Sportatorium. There's just a long history of amazing wrestlers
that I've watched.

WWE.com: What's it like to perform in front of a live crowd like you
did tonight?

Cuban: You've got to love it. The crowd gets into it. The people are
chanting your name, screaming. You feel the pump. Unfortunately, I
kind of took a hit that staggered me. But that's part of it, and it
was worth it.

WWE.com: Should NBA referees be more like WWE referees?

Cuban: Well, they're both well trained and professional, and I think
they both have their own pluses and minuses. (Laughs)

WWE.com: When you bought the Mavs, they were just any old NBA teams. 
And you've been able to turn them around and make them one of the most
exciting teams in basketball. How were you able to do that?

Cuban: Just like with WWE, it's all about having great wrestlers with
great personalities, great ways to communicate with the fans and great
chemistry. That's the same thing with the Mavs. We have great players
with great chemistry who get along so well. That allows them to play
better.

WWE.com: How does Vince McMahon compare to you as a promoter?

Cuban: I think Vince has got me, to be honest. But I'm trying to catch
up. Vince is amazing with WWE. I'm taking notes.

WWE.com: How important is it for the owner to be a fan of the product?

Cuban: You've got to be. If you don't love your own product, you're in
the wrong business. There's just no in between. There's no substitute.

WWE.com: What can the NBA learn from WWE, and vice versa?

Cuban: I don't know what WWE can learn from the NBA, but the NBA
certainly can learn how to link the passions and emotions of the fans
to the players and to the events. As much as there are rivalries here
(in WWE) and there are likes and dislikes of people getting along,
it's the same thing in the NBA, but the NBA tries to hide that, and we
should be bringing that out more. Because it really, really is part of
the game of basketball. Guys trash talk out there. Guys are rivals.
Guys have been playing against one another their entire lives. If they
don't like each other, you shouldn't try to hide it; you should try to
build it.

WWE.com: I noticed you taking pictures with a couple of different
Superstars. Where are these pictures going?

Cuban: Oh, they're going in my personal collection. I'm going to get
(the Superstars) to sign them. I love these guys.

WWE.com: Anything you want to add?

Cuban: I love the fact that the Mavs fans here are fans of WWE, and
WWE fans are fans of the Mavs. I loved the fact that I walked out
there and I saw tons of Mavs jerseys. That really pumped me up.

WWE.com: I understand you're going to be sending John Cena a couple of
Mavs jerseys.

Cuban: Absolutely. Absolutely. Cena's a good man.