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| | Tuesday, September 12 Mavs owner wants Knight as consultant | |||||
| Associated Press FORT WORTH, Texas -- Fired Indiana coach Bobby Knight can work for the Dallas Mavericks, according to the team's owner. Internet billionaire Mark Cuban, an Indiana University graduate, was not hesitant about the legendary, outspoken coach whose infamous temper was a factor in his firing Sunday by IU president Myles Brand for violating a "zero tolerance" behavior policy. "As a huge fan, Bobby has a standing offer to join the Mavs as a consultant," Cuban told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Monday. "I would offer him a job in a heartbeat." Cuban, who is fond of Knight and even visited him when the Mavericks played the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis in February, said Knight's dismissal turn out to be a positive. "It's difficult in some respects, because I know how important coaching is to him, and no one wants to be fired under those circumstances," said Cuban. "On the other hand, it's liberating. "And if he takes another coaching job, my guess is he is going to be incredibly motivated," he said. It's not the first interest being taken in Knight after Indiana. Isiah Thomas, new Indiana Pacers coach, said he wants Knight to be an assistant on his staff. Thomas, who played two years for Knight at Indiana, guided the Hoosiers to the 1981 NCAA championship. He left for the NBA later that year as a first-round draft pick of the Detroit Pistons. A Pacers' opportunity in Indianapolis would be closer for Knight, who lives in Bloomington, Ind., and has coached there for 29 years. But Thomas' relationship with the men's basketball coach has not deterred Cuban from a move that could gain the Mavericks more national exposure. "I think Bobby is a great coach," said Cuban. "From an NBA perspective, his players always come well prepared to the league and the coaching shows. As far as whether he will coach again, I don't know. He may decide his future lies in discovering new fishing spots around the world." | ALSO SEE Hoosiers set to name Davis interim coach Thomas interested in hiring Knight with Pacers Ousted General: Knight fired for unacceptable behavior Indiana decides to go all season with an interim coach AUDIO/VIDEO   Isiah Thomas entertains the idea of hiring Bob Knight for the Pacers.wav: 131 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6   Indiana University officials excuse Bob Knight of his coaching duties.RealVideo: 28.8 | |||||