I can not figure it out.  For the last few days, I have been depressed, angry, sick to my stomach and unable to focus.  I have cried uncontrollably, kicked my dog and chased my cat around the house flicking  Dirk Nowitzki basketball trading cards at her.

To top it off, this morning I woke up sitting naked in an seat in an empty American Airlines Center screaming “KMART’S A THUG”, again flicking.  This time flicking imaginary beer and popcorn on imaginary Denver Nuggets fans seated next to me.

After posting bail, I rushed home to see if I could self diagnose the mysterious symptoms that have overtaken my body.

I did an exhaustive Google search. I  researched medical journals. I even scheduled an emergency visit with a sports fan psychologist.  Much to my relief, I finally found the answer in an obscure article entitled “Sports Fanatic Psychosis, Diagnosis and Treatment“.  The article was put out by the South End Of The Island Of Grenada School Of Medicine. I am suffering from “Season Over Syndrome“(SOS). It turns out there are seven stages of “SOS”.

1.  SHOCK AND DENIAL

This feeling is generally manifested in a  heightened awareness of situations and individuals that will be left behind after the season is over.  You find yourself with overwhelming feelings of sorrow and sympathy for players making millions of dollars per year who are already sitting on desert islands sipping Cuba Libre drinks, banging hot women and partying with the Dos Equis Man as they live vicariously through themselves.

2. PAIN AND GUILT

As your body goes through the withdrawal of countless nights of playoff drinking and debauchery, you suddenly realize that your condo has not been cleaned in weeks. Your  unwashed laundry stinks.  Your girlfriend has left you.  You can longer see your feet or your “Johnson” from drinking and eating so much.  The fat slob in the mirror overwhelms you with pain and guilt.  The rest does not bother you that much.  That’s what maids and strip clubs are for.

3.  ANGER

Your guilt turns to increasing anger as you realize that you look like shit, your baseball team sucks, football is months away and your your now eliminated NBA team wont have a 1st round draft pick because they traded it for a Slobovian point guard named Meloosh.

4.  DEPRESSION AND LONELINESS

Just as all your friends think you are over the disappointment and ready to move on, you become very reflective of the season that was.  You begin inviting your friends over to show them your new Tops Basketball Card Collection and  watch endless reruns of movies like Hoosiers, The Fish That Save Pittsburgh, Celtic Pride, Like Mike, And Space Jam.  After one night of this, your friends begin discussing an SOS intervention behind your back.

5.  FEELING BETTER

You start to adjust to a boring summer without the benefit of good tickets to playoff games to pick up hot women. That’s ok though because the night club scene is improving.  Out of contention and out of work NBA players, groupies and douchebag wannabes converge on the club scene  with guns, entourage and gangsta attitude in tow.  “Celebrity Beatdowns“  are a weekly nightclub event.  They help wean you off the Jerry Springer and TMZ addictions that are  symptoms of SOS.

6.  RECONSTRUCTION AND REDEMPTION

November is rapidly approaching. Time to get your body back shape for the long grueling season. Pre-game happy hours, post game happy hours, post game private parties.  An intense heckling regime to be rehearsed.  Have to look good for the Jumbotron or any impromptu national television appearances.  The gym is now your best friend. Your team is not looking good for the new year so you have to be looking extra buff.  It’s exponentially harder to pick up chicks after a loss. You think Meelosh will be a bust.

7. ACCEPTANCE AND HOPE

As opening day gets closer, the trash talk of a new season begins. You once again begin to feel the hope of a the promised NBA title  despite a bunch of crappy mid-level exception signings, no bench and Meelosh as your starting center.

You will once again experience the joy of basketball, women and making a complete drunken idiot out of yourself all in the name of basketball fandom.  If the team wins you might even get laid this year.  Meelosh is coming around. Life is good.

I had the honor and privilege to discuss the Facebook Holocaust Denial  subject and the 1st Amendment in general with Mr. Bob Guccione, the founder of Penthouse Magazine.

While Facebook and Penthouse may seem like strange bedfellows, Mr. Guccione is no stranger to criticism and controversy for the publishing of controversial content. Penthouse Magazine is predominately known as a publisher of soft  core pornography, satire as well as controversial interviews.  One of those interviews happens to be one done in 2001 with my brother Mark Cuban. ( I was unable to find it online)

We discussed the fact that while not a publisher and probably protected by the Communications Decency Act,  Facebook does make “publishing like” decisions on what types of content is acceptable.

Bob and I  discussed 1st Amendment principals in the private realm.   Here is what he had to say:

“The propagation of 1st Amendment ideals in the private realm including social networking is also a two way street.   While people certainly have the right to express their opinions, Facebook as a private entity has the right to choose not to allow themselves to be used as a forum. These types of decisions are made in newspapers and other media all over country even within the realm of 1st amendment ideals.”  There is no conflict.

“As a private publisher, I often rejected content I deemed inappropriate”

We also discussed  public perception that the “pseudo 1st Amendment”  Facebook obligation to publish certain types of content is a “fiction” created by Facebook.

Finally, I know many are tired of hear me “speak” on the subject of Holocaust Denial groups on Facebook.  Some of my “Tweet Peeps, Facebo0k Friends, and blog readers feel I am beating this subject to death.  I understand.  I also understand if I lose audience because of it.  I don’t blame you for leaving.  I have never written on the same subject four times in a row for that very reason. I try to be as diverse as possible in my writing.

There however is a fundamental difference between a talking point and a cause.  To many who come  here to be entertained and educated on diverse subjects, its time to move on to a different talking point.  From my viewpoint, my stance on Holocaust Denial groups on Facebook is a cause.  There is never an end to a cause until the cause is won.

There however, is a tipping point where even people who believe in the cause become numb to the message.  As I think I have reached this point, this will be the last I have to say on this blog unless something new comes up to discuss.  This does not mean I have stopped fighting for the cause.  It simply means that until there is a new “talking point”  on this subject, I won’t beat it to death any further on The Cuban Revolution.

It has never been my intention to minimize the “idea” of free speech in the Facebook realm regardless of the actual application of the 1st Amendment.  I value the concept of the free and open exchange with every bone in my body.  I also understand that Facebook is attempting to shape its policies to mirror 1st Amendment ideals to encourage “Free Speech”.  This is commendable and something I am on board with.

There however is a fundamental difference in how Mr. Zuckerberg and I view this ideal.  To overuse a cliche, “while we have free speech in this country, not all speech is in fact free.” Certainly not hate speech.  Hate speech has consequence in this country.  I think Mr. Zuckerberg would agree with this.  Facebook has often removed groups whose discussions and rhetoric propagate hate and violence against various types of groups.

This is where the break occurs. Mr. Zuckerberg and many others look at Holocaust Denial and see a historical revisionist theory that while  vile does not in itself constitute  hate speech.

I and many others look at Holocaust Denial  and see two words that were created solely to propagate hate and violence against Jews. The words themselves represent the “idea of hate”  The two words are hate speech.  It is irrelevant to us that the name of the groups do not specifically reference hatred towards Jews.

Even Facebook’s Chief Privacy Officer Chris Kelley stated: “Holocaust Denial is motivated by hate” I have yet seen to see a statement from either him or Mr. Zuckerberg on this matter. Where is the transparency here?

If they agree that Holocaust Denial is motivated by hate,who do they think the deniers hate? The logical answer is Jews. I doubt Mr. Kelly was referring to their hate of Dairy Queen Ice Cream.

The two words themselves stand for nothing more than pure unadulterated antisemitism. This is okay simply because the title speaks of Holocaust Denial instead of “We Hate Jews” or no one puts in a discussion comment “We Hate Jews”? This is form over substance at its worst. That type of speech is not free. It has consequences. It should not be tolerated in any forum

Finally, the “idea” of free speech is not the abrogation of social conscience and corporate sensitivity to the victims of unspeakable human tragedy.

I realize that hiding behind lawyers and PR spin gurus is in the CEO handbook.  It is a play run over and over in the annals of corporate history.  Most often, in the long run, it is  a strategy that backfires.

I have also  been around respected corporate  leaders.   This includes my brother, Mark Cuban, who is widely considered one of the most innovative and respected business leaders in the world.  I have seen how they handled public  debate about controversial business decisions.  I have seen how their handling of these issues has either weakened or strengthened their companies internally and in the public eye.  I have had a front row seat to what works and what fails.

I have also seen the difference between business leaders who hope people follow and those who lead by example.  Leaders who stand out in front of controversial customer issues no matter how small others may perceive it.   Leaders who make it known that they are actively engaged in the discussion and tell us, their customers, how THEY feel.  True corporate leaders.

I have also seen  those who have no interest in leading.  They had an idea.  They made a ton.  They delegate others to further the idea while they go out and have a ball with their windfall.  They are not engaged with the customer and have no desire to be. They only show themselves when there is a crisis that could affect the bottom line.  When an issue reaches  a critical mass.  Unless this occurs,  If you want to know what they are thinking you wait for the press release or contact their P.R department.

Which type of business leader are you Mark?   Why won’t you come out from behind your lawyers and PR spin gurus to have a conversation about Holocaust Denial Groups on your site.

I have no doubt you have personally interacted with your employees on this issue.  I have no doubt you are highly  respected by your employees.  Does it end there?  What about your customers?   Come out to have a conversation with your community, your customers,on this important issue. Why not?  Is it because the controversy  has not generated the same outcry as the recent TOS change with regards to ownership of user content?  I understand a good leader delegates but it is not like this issue is a single email from some guy in Katmandu.  It seems pretty clear that tens of thousands of people have taken interest. Do you only engage your customers when an issue reaches critical mass?  That is not the act of an engaged leader.   Come on out and to play for a while.  Talk to us.  I for one am listening.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is not known for his love of NBA referees. He has been fined, suspended and reprimanded numerous times by the NBA for his sometimes harsh vocal and twitter treatment of unlucky zebra types.

Case in point is The Mark Cuban Talking/ Dancing Doll.  Note the placement of the “Choking Hazard“ sticker.  It is rumored that Mark has sent a “cursed” Mark Cuban doll to everyone on the Denver Nuggets as well as the crew refereeing the playoff series. Think it gives us and edge?  Has anyone seen “Chucky’s Revenge”?  Do you see a resemblance?  Open At Your Own Risk!