During a pre-taped appearance on ESPN, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban apologized for the “disturbing and heartbreaking” workplace conditions an independent investigation into the team uncovered.
Cuban, who agreed to donate $10 million to organizations that promote women in leadership roles, was proactive about making changes within the organization following a Sports Illustrated report that exposed a workplace culture ripe with sexual misconduct.
In addition to starting the investigation into the team, Cuban immediately hired Cynthia Marshall as CEO to effect change in Dallas.
But, as even he admitted, it was too little, too late.
“In hindsight, it was staring me right in the face and I missed it,” Cuban said. “You know … I wasn’t as focused on the business as I should’ve been. It just never in my wildest dreams that I think that this was happening right underneath me. And I never – the pain that people went through, the pain that people shared with me as this happened, the tears that I saw … It just — it hurt. And the way I felt is nothing compared to the way they felt. … I mean, I have to recognize I made a mistake, learn from it and then try to fix it.”
Cuban also offered a blanket apology to all involved.
“First, just an apology to the women involved,” Cuban said. “This is not something that just is an incident and then it’s over. It stays with people. It stays with families. And I’m just sorry I didn’t see it. I’m just sorry I didn’t recognize it.”
Here are Cuban’s remarks in full from his appearance on The Jump.
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