By Niki Bakouli
It’s an age-old belief (from Aristophanes’s ages) that everyone has a double, somewhere on this planet. Maybe not an identical one, but we all have a soul mate, who most probably will never meet. Unless…
Unless we are lucky enough to love the same thing with our other half and to be known for this love, all over the world. Like Mark Cuban and Panagiotis Aggelopoulos! And yes, we understand why you might have some objections, but hear me –actually read me- before… strike me (as Themistocles once said).
- Mark Cuban was the youngest owner of an NBA team, when he took over Dallas Mavericks (2000, at the age of 42). Panagiotis Aggelopoulos was the youngest co-owner of a European basketball, in 2004 when along with his brother took – part – ownership of Olympiacos (at the age of 32).
- Mark Cuban has a habit to play one on one with Mavs’ players, during warm ups. Panagiotis Aggelopoulos used to have few shots during Olympiacos’ practices.
- Mark Cuban goes to Mavs games, with Mavs t-shirts on. Panagiotis Aggelopoulos goes to Olympiacos games (for Greek League), with his team’s overalls! They both have… wear their opinions –as phrases in special customized t-shirts!
- They both are often the voices of criticism for their leagues. And they both don’t hesitate to question from referees to general operation of their leagues.
- They both are among the wealthiest men in the world (check out Forbes list)
- They adore basketball –as a sport- and both of them have basketball courts… at their houses –which are actually mansions. Also, both of them play basketball games with friends –during weekends.
- Panagiotis Aggelopoulos was a huge fan of Olympiacos from his childhood. Mark Cuban was a Maverick fan from his adulthood. Both of them rised to the occasion, when their teams needed them. And money is not an object when it comes to… love: they have spent a huge amount of money to defend their vision.
a) Mark Cuban was watching a game when he thought “I could do a better job, as an owner”. And then he said “I should put my money where my mouth is”. The past 12 years he has spent approximately 2.000.000.000$ (to players, for the arena etc). and made Mavs from a losing team to champion team!
b) Olympiacos was close to dialysis in 2004, when Aggelopoulos brother decided not to let their favorite team “faint”. They took over by paying 50.000.000$. to taxes and from then they have given around 200.000.000$. (for everything). - Of course the crowd loves them. Olympiacos fans created a slogan just for Aggelopoulos («Για πάντα στο λιμάνι, Αγγελόπουλε» eng: Stay forever to the port –to Olympiacos- Aggelopoulos”) and Mavs fans give standing ovations to Cuban, as if he was the biggest star!
- The both were among the “55 most influential in Basketball” list of HoopsWorld, for 2010. Marc Cuban was number 7 and Aggelopoulos was No39.
- They both give back to the community. From season 2005-06 Mark Cuban matches all his (NBA) fines to charity (the total is over 1.000.000$). Aggelopoulos –together with his family- donated over 16.000.000$ for victims of 2007 wildfires, at Pyrgos, Ilias.
- They have their own solid way to communicate with whoever doubt them –or criticize them using incorrect data: Mark Cuban writes his thoughts/answers to his blog. Panagiotis Aggelopoulos sends text messages to reporters –with his disagreements or his corrections to false informations.
Their biggest difference here, is that Mark Cuban lives to make statements – specially against the NBA refs – and Panagiotis Aggelopoulos prefers to have somebody else to do this job, generally taking the high road when he don’t like a call. But both of them lawyer up for defending their rights to cases that might end up in courts. Let’s hope they wont have a problem with this article…