Mark Cuban gets a bad rap. There are lots of complaints, chief among them that he is arrogant. But one thing I knew, he doesn't just put his money where his heart is, he puts his heart where his heart is!

At this week's Mavericks game, I watched Mark come to his usual courtside seat at the American Airlines Center. Moments later, a wheelchair entered the arena and was pushed to the back of Mark's section. And then ever so painfully a young man rose from the wheelchair and painfully inched his way to the seat next to Mark. As he approached, Mark reached out and hugged him. It was pretty obvious that this was a returning US soldier who had lost one or both of his legs in Iraq. There was no flash, no pubic announcement, it was just a simple act of recognition and honor.

OK, nothing will ever make up for the sacrifice that these young men have made and continue to make in this devastating mess called Iraq, but being invited by a billionaire to sit courtside at a major sports venue at least says in some simple way, "We see what has happened to you, we can never make it up to you, but we want you to know we won't ever forget you."

And for those who believe that if you are against the war (which I would surmise Mark Cuban is having hired Dan Rather to work for him) you must be against the troops - I guess this simple act should put that charge to rest.

Hey Mark Cuban might be lots of things, but he has a heart and he's not afraid to show it. Not just by sending checks, which I am sure he does, but by reaching out on a one-on-one basis.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive