Cuban to sit after hoopla over chalupa
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DALLAS - Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $10,000 yesterday - enough to buy 10,101 chalupas - and banned from Reunion Arena for two games for his fast-food inspired dash onto the court during Thursday's Dallas-Cleveland game.
A shoving match between the Mavs and the Cavs ensued when Dallas tried to reach 100 points in the final seconds of a blowout victory so fans could get free coupons for a 99-cent chalupa - a warm flatbread taco that's filled with steak or chicken - as part of a fast-food promotion.
Cuban came rushing onto the court to aid his players after the Cavaliers objected to Dallas running up the score. The outspoken owner has been fined a total of $405,000 this season for infractions that range from criticizing referees to sitting too close to the court. But this was his first suspension.
In addition, Robert Traylor of Cleveland was suspended for one game and fined $5,000 for throwing a punch at the Mavericks' Courtney Alexander.
Under NBA rules, any team official other than a coach who comes onto the court during a game is automatically suspended for the next two home games and the team is fined $10,000.
The dot.com billionaire said he was simply trying to protect his players. "These are people I care about," Cuban said on KTCK radio. "When something like that happens, your instinct isn't to worry what the rule book is going to say."
In the game's waning seconds, fans began chanting "Cha-lu-pa! Cha-lu-pa!" to urge the Mavericks to reach the century mark, which guarantees the Taco Bell treat for the home crowd.
Dallas forward Gary Trent was knocked to the floor by the Cavaliers' Wesley Person after Trent's turnaround jumper with 3.3 seconds to go put Dallas at 100 points. A brief shoving match broke out, and Cuban ran on the court, then quickly backed off when the players were separated.
Person said he went after Trent because he thought the Mavericks were trying to run up the score: "It's bigger than chalupas. Their coach called a play with 10 seconds left in a 20-point game. That's disrespect."
Mavericks interim coach Donnie Nelson disputed Person's claim. "Running up the score? That's comical," he said.
Taco Bell runs the 100-point promotion for about a dozen NBA teams, including Cleveland. This is the first time the Irvine, Calif.-based company has ever had a problem with it, said Laurie Gannon, a company spokeswoman.
Last year, the Cavaliers were booed off their home floor for failing to get 100 points and winning free chalupas in a 98-95 victory over Houston.
The chalupa hoopla will be worth at least $1 million in free publicity to Taco Bell because it got the popular food item mentioned in the media, said Eric Wright, a vice president for Joyce Julius & Associates, which estimates the value of corporate sponsorships. "It's not the greatest light, but a mention is a mention," Wright said. "This is a big story, and it's not going away."