DALLAS (WBAP / KLIF News) — Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban appeared on the WBAP Morning News Wednesday morning to talk politics and the upcoming Mavericks season. Our Hal Jay asked Cuban what he would do if one of his players decided to take a knee during the national anthem.
Here is his response.
Cuban: “I’d respect it, and I’d ask them, and I’d say ‘Look at me and look at my family with our hands over our hearts standing up.’ Look, before every game, and I’ve done this since the day I bought the Mavs, the first thing I say to myself when the national anthem starts playing is ‘Thank you to everyone who has fought, protecting this amazing country, and thank you for those now who are fighting to protect us to keep this country so great.’ That’s the start of a little prayer I say to myself. My Dad was in the Navy, my uncle flew for the Navy. My grandparents came over to this country from Russia, and my Dad always, always, always taught us, me and my brothers, that if we don’t respect the people we disagree with, when somebody disagrees with us, there won’t be anybody left to respect us.”
He was then asked a follow-up question about whether or not he would call a player into his office and fine them for kneeling during the anthem.
“No, I would not do that, because again, there’s going to be a time when people disagree with me,” Cuban said. “People disagree with us. People don’t realize the demographics in this country are changing dramatically, and if you don’t respect those that disagree with us now, for my kids — I have kids 7, 10 and 13 — it’s going to be a different demographic for this country, and I want people to show them respect when they’re older, and that’s the position I’ll always take.”
To hear Cuban’s comments, click the media player below.
