Mavs Donuts: Mark Cuban On Rush Limbaugh

Mark Cuban with an unusual take on Rush Limbaugh as sports owner ... NBA.com with an unusual take on how Dirk Nowitzki isn't a 'Franchise Guy' (?!) ... Ranking JJ Barea ... The Six Degrees of Tim Thomas ... Whatever happened to Raef? ... It's more Mavs stuff than you can fit on one plate … It’s Wednesday Morning Donuts!

   DONUT 1: This idiot – writing under the official banner of NBA.com, of all places – insists that Dirk Nowitzki is not a “franchise player.’’ I’ll manhandle him later today. Stay tuned.

   DONUT 2: I’m not saying the replacement refs are without flaw and I’m not saying all of these zany stories of poor officiating are untrue. But a lot of us are making it sound like these guys just became refs this week, that they’ve been plucked from their previous jobs as cabbies and carnies and rodeo clowns. I’m guessing that they are all professionals and all talented … but all a couple of notches down from the real thing.

   On Thursday when the Pistons are here to play the Mavs, I’m going to ask around. And if the three refs that work out to be a former cabbie, a former carnie and a former rodeo clown, I’ll retract.

   DONUT 3: The Six Degrees of Tim Thomas. Featuring Dirk Nowitzki, Rosario Dawson and JFK. 

   DONUT 4: Brian Cuban and I talk basketball and dating and media and Brian swears a few times in this “The Cuban Revolution’’ Rant.

   DONUT 5: Misty Mav has a way for you to win a FOUR-PACK of tickets to Saturday’s Cavs-at-Mavs game … what are y'all waiting for?!

   DONUT 6: Does JJ Barea rank among the NBA’s top backup PGs?

    DONUT 7: Well, if he doesn't already, chasing a new contract will probably get him there.

    DONUT 8: The lunacy continues in Nellietown, where Capt. Jack is no longer the Warriors’ team captain. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. A good read.

    DONUT 9: What a surprise: Via FanHouse, here’s The Birdman saying he won't shave his beard until his wedding in June 2010.

    No, the surprise isn’t that The Birdman’s beard.

    The surprise is that somebody is marrying him.

    DONUT 11: Outspoken Dallas owner Mark Cuban is outspoken about outspoken potential St. Louis owner Rush Limbaugh.

    DONUT 12: If you’d like to make the argument that the Cowboys miss Terrell Owens, you’d better do it through the prism of perceived Cowboys failures and not through the prism of perceived T.O. successes. Last Sunday, T.O. had four catches for 44 yards and his Buffalo Bills scored three points. They are 1-4 and are “led’’ by Owens, who this year has 12 receptions.

    DONUT 13: Whatever happened to Raef LaFrentz? He’s chillaxing on the farm.