Mavs Mark Cuban Jousts With ‘National Anthem Police'

DALLAS - Dallas Mavs owner Mark Cuban’s latest Twitter thread is going viral for his opinion of “National Anthem Police” who take issue with athletes kneeling during the pre-game song.

It started when Dallas-Fort Worth radio talk-show host Mark Davis wrote, “The minute one player kneels during the anthem I am OUT.” Davis asked Cuban to “lead the way” with the Mavericks.

Cuban’s dismissed Davis with “Bye” quote tweet.

Cuban continued, “the national anthem police in this country are out of control.”

“If you want to complain, complain to your boss and ask why they don't play the national anthem every day before you start work.”

Last month, Cuban spoke out about his hope that the NBA can adapt the current rule that NBA players and coaches must stand for the national anthem to “allot players to do what’s in their hearts.”

"If they were taking a knee and they were being respectful, I'd be proud of them,” Cuban said on ESPN’s Outside The Lines. “Hopefully I'd join them.”

The Twitter thread continues …

Then, Sen. Ted Cruz, who represents Texas, got involved on the Twitter thread.

"Really??!? NBA is telling everyone who stands for the flag, who honors our cops and our veterans, to ‘piss off?’ In Texas, no less? Good luck with that,” Cruz wrote.

Cuban responded: "Have some balls for once @tedcruz. Speak to me. It's my tweet."

Cruz responded to Cuban by asking his thoughts on the ongoing controversy between the NBA and China.

Speaking of balls, tell us what you think about China.

I’ll wait. https://t.co/s68JYk9MLR
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 20, 2020

Still no answer from @mcuban

Let’s try simpler. Mark, tough guy, can you say “Free Hong Kong”?

Can your players put that on their jerseys?

Can you condemn the CCP’s concentration camps w/ 1 million Uyghurs?

Can you say ANYTHING other than “Chairman Mao is beautiful & wise”? https://t.co/0XpLRaFSw2
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 20, 2020

Cuban’s response was that he doesn’t get involved in domestic policies with other countries.

I can say Black Lives Matter. I can say there is systemic racism in this country. I can say there is a Pandemic that you have done little to end. I can say I care about this country first and last and.. https://t.co/URFs41XloY
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 20, 2020

The billionaire made his stance and defense of NBA athletes protesting police brutality by taking a knee during the national anthem, very clear.

The Mavs have not made their intentions known yet on what they will do for the anthem. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle "100 percent" supports his team if they decide to kneel. Dallas’ first seeding game is July 31 vs. the Rockets at 8 p.m. CT.