Let the Games Begin

LeBron James and Steve Nash are among several NBA stars set to take center stage in the playoffs, which started on April 21. But, for the next two months, I'll be keeping my eye on another marquee name: Mark Cuban.
The owner of the Dallas Mavericks has been instrumental in the team's turnaround from league laughingstock to championship contender. Ten years ago, mentioning 'Mavericks' and 'NBA Finals' in the same sentence would've been considered an oxymoron. Now that they've compiled a 67-15 record, they're ready to compete for a shot at winning their first title. But, as any sports fan knows, the regular season doesn't mean anything once the playoffs get underway.
The Miami Heat may be focused on defending its basketball crown, but 15 other teams are just as eager to take it away. An athlete's desire to reach the pinnacle of their sport is what drives them to endure countless obstacles. It's not so much about proving the doubters wrong as it is about proving to themselves that they can achieve the ultimate success. That same character trait can be found in businessmen like Cuban.
Through the years, the technology guru has endeared himself to many people because of his entrepreneurial savvy and outspoken persona. Cuban has drawn the ire of NBA commissioner David Stern for his constant criticism of the referees, which has led to fines totaling more than $1 million. (He even spent a day working at Dairy Queen in 2002, after being fined $500,000 for saying the league's director of officials wasn't capable of managing the fast-food restaurant.) He writes off the penalties as "a business expense" by donating matching amounts to various charities.
The only quality that outshines Cuban's willingness to help others is his accessibility to the public. He maintains a blog for admirers -- and detractors -- to contact him, and is just as likely to be seen sitting in the nosebleed seats as he is courtside at American Airlines Center.
Given Cuban's marketing acumen, one can't help but respect a man who's rewriting the rules on how to manage a sports franchise. Instead of being at odds with him, the NBA should follow his lead in making the sport more accessible to the fans. It would be a win-win situation that extends beyond the playoffs.

Making Sense of the Senseless

What was supposed to be another day of school at Virginia Tech became a bloody footnote in American history on April 16, when a student unleashed his inner demons to the world, killing himself and 32 other people on campus. But the only thing more troubling than the loss of life is seeing one man's act of rage used as a springboard to debate the Second Amendment.
I don't have a problem with responsible gun owners keeping and bearing arms, but I'm troubled by the ease with which firearms can be purchased. Even though the suspect bought his Glock 9-millimeter handgun and Walther .22-caliber semiautomatic pistol legally, having the right to possess a gun doesn't give one the right to take a human life unless it's in self-defense. Besides, that constitutional right only applies to a well-regulated militia -- not troubled young men.
What makes this massacre even more difficult to comprehend is that the gunman's former classmates, professors, and even neighbors admitted to seeing warning signs -- from social isolation to disturbing writings. (Two of his plays, Mr. Brownstone and Richard McBeef, are about revenge killings.) Hindsight is always full of what ifs, and saying what one could've, should've, or would've done is meaningless now.
As easy as it is to point fingers at the university or police over their handling of the situation, only one person is to blame for what happened. Now is the time to mourn for those who died, not to politicize a senseless tragedy.