Nellie and Cuban and the Love Lost

On the front page of this morning's Wall Street Journal, you will find a story detailing the relationship -- or, rather, rift -- between Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and his former coach, Golden State's Don Nelson. Maybe their falling-out was over money -- the $6.6 mil Nellie claims Cuban...

By Robert Wilonsky

May 1, 2007

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On the front page of this morning's Wall Street Journal, you will find a story detailing the relationship -- or, rather, rift -- between Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and his former coach, Golden State's Don Nelson. Maybe their falling-out was over money -- the $6.6 mil Nellie claims Cuban owes him. Maybe it was over Dirk's not playing with sprained ligaments in his left knee during Game Three of the 2003 Western Conference finals against San Antonio. Maybe it was over the trading of Steve Nash. (Fun fact: Nellie shares an attorney with Deep Throat, which might explain all the unnamed sources in the WSJ story.)

Only one thing's for certain: If the Warriors knock out the Mavericks tonight, Nelson will "earn close to what he did with the Mavericks after a hefty incentive bonus," reports the WSJ, which ends its piece with a quote from, of all people, former Mavs minority owner and team president Frank Zaccanelli. "Can you imagine, now, if Don Nelson comes back to Dallas and knocks Mark out of the playoffs? It's unbelievable." --Robert Wilonsky

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