Smoking a Cuban

There is a small chance I may hate myself for writing this, but I found a way Peter Holt should copy Mark Cuban. Spurs fans know Peter Holt as being possibly the best owner in the NBA, and as the owner that brought Championship Basketball to San Antonio. Residents of cities like Phoenix, New Orleans, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Cleveland, and Orlando may need to reference the following link: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/championship. Holt has traditionally been a hands-off owner who has allowed Gregg Popovich and RC Buford build a winning organization without interference. After years of keeping a close eye on the Spurs' payroll, Holt made an uncharacteristic move this summer in telling Pop and RC to get who they needed and send him the bill. Though the Spurs are in the luxury tax for the first time in recent memory, Holt says "we're ready to kick ass."

Now, I'm not saying Holt should start trashing other cities in a blog, insulting tourist attractions on a radio show, setting and breaking league records for fines, encouraging the taunting of a former player's family, or allegedly insulting a player's aging mother during an embarrassing playoff series. I'm not saying Holt should enter litigation against his head coach, or trade away an up-and-coming point guard for an aged one. I'm not saying Holt should believe $35,000,000 would be better spent on Erik Dampier than Steve Nash after proclaiming Nash's best days were behind him only to watch him ride two career years to two MVP awards. I'm not even saying Holt should dance with the stars or wear custom Spurs t-shirts better fitted for small children.

What I AM saying is based on an Express News story about Tony Parker this week. Parker, who has suffered various injuries playing for the French national team nearly every year, led his team past Germany with an enormous fourth quarter last week. Two items were notable about that game: 1) Parker scored 11 points in the final 2:30, and 2) German star and David Hasslhoff fan, Dirk Nowitzki, was nowhere to be found. The Express News reported the following: "Germany, which led at halftime 37-33, sorely missed Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki. He led all scorers at the 2007 championships, but Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has refused to allow him to play in the tournament."

Simply astounding. Since Parker joined the Spurs in 2001, and Ginobili followed in 2002, each has heard Gregg Popovich plead against their playing for their national teams during the summer. Parker has tweaked, rolled, sprained, and fatigued his ankles severely during the past several summers, and Manu Ginobili is a completely different story. With deep playoff runs and Olympic trials, this may be Ginobili's first summer of rest since he joined the team. Nowitzki's absence from European competition won't equate to much because he is, after all, a Dallas Maverick. Being a Mav won't win a ring, but being a Mav with a stress fracture or severe fatigue during only the tenth game of the season is even worse.

Cuban has actually learned from the Spurs' mistakes, and Holt should do the same. By now we all know that Parker and Ginobili will not listen to Pop and actually rest and train for the Spurs season, but this story is not about Rick Carlisle asking Nowitzki not to play - it's about Cuban telling him he won't. If the Spurs are to make the best out of the Big Fundamental's final years, they need everyone else to be in top form. Holt has opened his pocketbook, but it's time for him to close the customs booth. Holt is paying Parker and Ginobili approximately $10,500,000 and $9,100,000 (respectively) to play basketball this year. For that kind of money, he should be able to get healthy, strong players when training camp starts. Where Pop's requests end, Holt's demands should begin. Holt and Cuban are still the ones signing their players checks. Holt may do so with more class, humility, and dignity, but that doesn't mean he can't protect his investment like Cuban does.