KFDM COOP Posted November 3, 2006 Report Posted November 3, 2006 Cuban's antics spur new code of conduct for owners..... Web Posted: 11/03/2006 12:22 AM CST Johnny Ludden Express-News Staff Writer DALLAS — Oh, the memories. The last time Bruce Bowen walked off the floor at American Airlines Center, he was greeted by a curt, two-word curse from Dallas owner Mark Cuban. Cuban immediately sent a Mavericks employee to the Spurs' locker room to apologize to Bowen. He also approached Bowen before Game 7 and asked if he had received the apology. When Bowen questioned its sincerity, Cuban apologized again. The Spurs, however, haven't forgotten the incident. "It was pretty unbelievable," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "There might be an irate fan somewhere in the U.S. that might do something like that, but you wouldn't expect that from an owner." The NBA is developing a code of conduct for owners. Spurs chairman Peter Holt said Cuban's incident with Bowen didn't spur the policy as much as his on-court complaints about officiating. Holt said the league would be "two-faced" if it didn't hold owners to a similar standard as players. During the recent Board of Governors meeting in New York, the owners were told the NBA ranked last in "on-court and off-court professionalism" among the four major U.S. professional sports leagues, Holt said. "Our whole thought process as owners is, 'How can we ask everybody to be one way and we're not willing to live under essentially the same code of conduct?'" Holt said. Holt also said he understands why Cuban would think the policy is directed at him. "I think Mark has been the most prime example of acting out at times," said Holt, who later bolted out of his sideline chair to yell at an official for a traveling call on Tony Parker. "We all love Mark. He's turned this franchise around. He's brought a lot of good attention to the league with the things he's done. "But I think the sense of frustration for the owners is that we're not having discussions first internally." __________________
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