I came up with a radical idea so I quickly dashed this e-mail off to Mark Cuban

One of the lamest needles I have ever seen.

Quote Originally Posted by scalabrine:

The S.E. Hinton of the sports betting world this Bator character is...

I have an idea...

Instead of "The Outsiders" you could title a book about lost sports bettors who post on Covers called "The Degenerates". You could even initialize your authorship like Hinton with M.B. Ator so your prospective massive sales and literary fame aren't sullied by your uh-hum...past time. 

We could even use Covers.com members for your character base:

Ponyboy Curtis (Sammy11): A dreamy fourteen year old boy who belongs to a gang of pizza delivery men. He wonders why life is so much more difficult for him and his friends than it is for their rivals, the Five Dollar Foot Longs .  He loves his brother Sodapop (Dovjak), who is kind and loving and understanding, but he doesn't get along with his older brother Darry (PittViper), who he sees as a bully. Though he wants to be part of the gang (a respected capper on covers) he doesn't always agree with their violent (capping) ways: he is quiet and shy, and prefers decade old VHS tapes and talking to a Five Dollar Foot Chick named Cherry (Pizzamaker) about sunsets (his pic). 

We're already started. Get to it Bator!

(I fully relinquish any and all ownership to the above stated content and agree that it is the sole property of covers.com in-house author M.B. Ator)

You might be a bit too well read for this forum.

 Great post, Mr. Bator.  I thought you were exagerrating the 17 straight failures by the Mavs as home chalk, but you were spot on.  It definitely tells anyone with half a brain that the team is too lacksadisical, unspired, comfortable, etc. at home.  Or it could be more sinister and Cuban could be fading his own guys.  Or having Cuban sit behind them during the game causes the players to have zero respect for their owner. 

I told my brother the other day that the Mavs weren't very good, as they seemed to play a lot of unispired ball at times.  Now I realize why when you astutely pointed out their pathetic home performances. 

Cuban is a joke of an owner and I am glad you took the time to write him.  And even though his response was juvenile and rather unimaginative, at least you got a reply.  And I assure you that if he actually read your letter, the thought of his team's play had to cross his mind during the game.  If not, he is just a smart dot com technology whiz that has NO common sense. 

Thanks, wizardofroz.  After I got Cuban's brief reply I thought I had wasted my time in writing to him, but after watching his team mail it in again in Dallas, I know I didn't.  I wonder if he'll be half-expecting an "I told you so" e-mail when he wakes up in the morning.  I'm not feeling inspired to pursue this, though.  The horrid Knicks and the putrid Kings let me down last night.  This losing streak is one of the rougher ones.  What the hell am I doing betting on the directionless New York Knicks??  Am I subconsciously trying to lose on purpose?

anyway - he needs to motivate his team for Monday 2/8 I have a series bet with Dallas starting that day

I shared this Mark Cuban story with a few friends and they each expressed surprise that he sent you any form of reply.  They thought the story was pure comedy.

What the hell am I doing betting on the directionless New York Knicks??  Am I subconsciously trying to lose on purpose?

... If it's any consolation, one of my biggest bets tonight was on the Detroit Pissedons. And I too wonder if my subconscious' diabolical plan predicts my unexpected unraveling in the form of persistent losses. Does my subconscious mind prefer the stress associated with losses?