Arguing With the Stars

E! Online reports that dot-com tycoon Mark Cuban may be joining the cast of ABC's Dancing With the Stars next season.

For most billionaire businessman—even Ted Turner—rumors about following in the dancing shoes of Mario Lopez, Joey Lawrence, and Emmitt Smith to cut a rug on national TV would be too ludicrous to be believable.

Cuban, however, has a reputation for courting media attention in unusual ways.

Most notably, since buying the Dallas Mavericks in 2000, Cuban has managed to cultivate his own celebrity as the most out-of-control team owner in league history.

The N.B.A. has fined Cuban around $1.5 million, at last count, for over a dozen separate incidents—everything from trash talking, to walking on the court, verbal abuse, and derogatory gestures.

In 2004 Cuban tried to launch his own television show, an Apprentice knock-off called Benefactor, but it tanked almost before anyone had a chance to watch it.

Currently, the fiery young mogul uses as his soapbox an active (some might say overactive) personal Web diary called "Blog Maverick," which chronicles his near-constant stream of strong opinions and strident views.

So the idea that Cuban's next move might be on the dance floor isn't as crazy as it might sound at first. Hopefully, he'll be better at holding his temper with the Dancing judges than he is with N.B.A. officials.

by Liz Gunnison