Cuban Apologizes To K-Mart Family

    Mavs owner Mark Cuban has extended an olive branch – and a private suite at the AAC, dinner and an apology– to Kenyon Martin, his mother and any other members of the Nuggets family who felt justifiably threatened by the events that unfolded this week, including during the Mavs’ 119-117 win in Game 4 on Monday.

   “I would like to apologize to you and your mom, K-Mart, for my comment,’’ Cuban wrote at 1:34 a.m. Tuesday on his BlogMaverick.com site. “I should have not said anything and I was wrong. Hopefully you will accept the apology and we can move on.’’

     Reportedly, ‘Melo’s sweetheart, the TV personality Lala, left the arena in the fourth quarter after being hooted at. Some of the Dallas fans appeared to be harassing K-Mart’s family – or maybe the whole group was going back and forth.

     Who started it? Who knows?

     But Cuban is trying to end it.

    “When the series comes back to Dallas,’’ he writes (optimistically) your family, and the family of other Nuggets players, are welcome to stay in my suite, with my family. It’s amazing how tempers mellow when real people talk to each other and realize that it’s still just a game.

    “If that isn't acceptable, I'm happy to provide a suite, free of charge to them as well and place whatever security is needed to make them feel comfortable.

    “We tried to have enough additional security for them tonight as well, but I know your family and friends didn't feel as comfortable as they should. I apologize for that as well. This arena is my responsibility, we could and should do a better job.’’

     At some point, it really doesn’t matter who did what, who incited what. Some can argue that Martin’s Game 1 goal-line-stand hit on Dirk was the trigger. Others argue that K-Mart’s family haven’t said a peep.

    Want me to tell you what I saw on Monday, from fairly close range?

    While one report alleges that K-Mart’s mom and stepfather habitually sit calmly and quietly in their seats, I did not see that on Monday. It’s impossible to know who started it, but during a timeout early in the second quarter, fans and the K-Mart family were all talking at each other. K-Mart’s girlfriend, the singer Trina, was in the mix, too. And then Kenyon came to the scorer’s table and he started yelling at people in the audience.

    Who is guilty of losing control of themselves? Lots of folks.

    Martin had vowed early on Monday to visit with Mavs owner Mark Cuban to clear up an apparent Game 3 exchange between Momma and the owner. Instead, ‘Melo spoke after the game as if the matter wasn’t settled. Moments earlier, K-Mart had walked off the floor yelling in the general direction of Cuban.

    But can it be over now? Please? Cuban seems willing to do his part.

   “So if we can put this behind us,’’ he writes, “I will make sure when the series comes back to Dallas, your family and friends, and that of your teammates are very comfortable at our Arena.

   “Then I hope we both take the advice of your coach and can get together this summer. Dinner for you and your family is on me.’’