2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[Not an evil robot]

Here is my (I think) final thought on this and after that it is probably best to agree to disagree. This isn't a perfect analogy but my hope is it presents why I think Donnie bears more or at least equal blame in this:

If I go to a local Taco Bell restaurant and there is chaos in that restaurant I believe the most culpable person is the on-site manager who is in charge of the day to day operations, I do not blame the corporate CEO for the dysfunction at a single chain restaurant. However, if the CEO is aware over time of this dysfunction and does not fix it, then the CEO begins to be as culpable as the manager. 

The day to day operations of the Mavs failed under Donnie (especially in recent years). He was the "on-site manager." Cuban (as the CEO) should have stepped in sooner to fix the dysfunction (that is the fault he bears). But at the end of the day, the manager bears most of the blame IMO. Now that the CEO has stepped in and removed the manager, there should be some concern about whether he would let it happen again. But because of Cuban's fierce love of the Mavs and of winning, I do not think he will make this same mistake twice.  

I can get behind someone saying Cuban and Donnie bear equal blame (though I personally would put a little more on Donnie). But to suggest Cuban is THE singular one to blame is not something I can get behind based on what I know of the situation.


Regardless, I am watching things closely in the Mavs management department and hoping Cuban has learned his lesson.

Yeah, agreed that we’ve (just about) drained the topic. I’m not sure you’re following me based on that analogy, so let me tweak it and I’ll leave it at that.

Our beloved, local Taco Bell franchise is in chaos. The day-to-day store manager isn’t covering himself in glory (and may have lucked into the one Dallas Best Of list back in 2011). The head chef (this is the only Michelin starred Taco Bell in the world) is a bit of a dick but elevates a pretty uninspiring ingredient list that includes plenty of dog food grade meat and cheese-adjacent dairy product. The CEO, who only owns the one store and periodically shows up to tell everyone how to order ingredients and sometimes which ones are his favorite, decides he needs a new perspective in the organization.

The CEO hires a Director of Taco Process Improvement (DoTPI). Reports to the store manager, right? Nope, directly to the CEO. It doesn’t take long for it to become clear that not everyone agrees on the scope of taco process improvement. The DoTPI is outside the usual chain of command and you could make an argument that everything comes back to the tacos so he should have some say. Or maybe he should just stick to how the tacos are actually put together? Who knows - it’s not like other restaurants have a similar role. This could all be smoothed over with a little communication but the CEO is mum and the DoTPI learned how to speak to humans by watching pick-up artist videos on YouTube so he’s an even bigger dick than the head chef.

One Cinco de Mayo the store manager is perceived to be AWOL - maybe he’s just in the bathroom for too long, maybe he’s behind the dumpster out back chasing the green dragon with the cashier. The ingredient order has to go in immediately so the DoTPI decides he’ll call the shots without consulting with the assistant store manager or others who report to the store manager. No consequences as far as anyone can tell, so that’s…something.

Also the CEO, who structured his organization for success like he’s the smartest guy in every room, responds to gross allegations against a couple members of his marketing team by telling anyone he’s just been soooo focused on his Taco Bell restaurant. Seriously guys, so focused he couldn’t have known what was going on in marketing.