So there's some rumors or truth behind it that Mark Cuban stated that the players were the force that drove to fire Avery Johnson. He's stated that most of the players asked that if Avery were coach next season, they would want to be traded. It was mentioned most either spoke of this through generalities or through their agents.

Could this be the truth coming from Cuban? Personally I believe it's probably and highly a partial truth. We all could realize that there was tension between the players and Avery, but I'm willing to bet there was tension between Cuban and Avery as well that lead to his firing.

Josh Howard has issued an apology. We all knew this was coming. You don't disrespect the National Anthem and not issue an apology when you are in the public eye.

So you're apology is accepted Josh. Now can you just shut up and play basketball. If you're going to say stupid things like most of us can or do, make sure there's not recording device around.

"I had a good time with Avery," Nowitzki said Thursday. "But sometimes I wish we had communicated a little more. We all know Avery ran a little dictatorship here. I think this league is still a league of players, not a coaches league."

Hopefully with the new coach and other changes in the coaching staff, Carlisle will allow Kidd to make a lot of the decisions on the court. What's really the point of a point guard not calling shots as he sees fit. Sure the coach can come up with a great offensive play but everyone who's played basketball should realize that it could change in a heartbeat on the court.

Players do need to adapt and have a little more control of what's going on. They're the ones playing. A coach can be a glorified fan that just actually gets to interact with the players up close and personal. At times fans can call the shots from the stands that make sense of what we see from a point of view but it just doesn't work out every single time calling shots from the stands and sidelines if you're a coach.

You can read more about Dirk on Avery here.

I use to like Josh Howard. I thought he was a rising star and was a great member to have on the Dallas Mavericks. I shrugged off the pot smoking because well, that's his business and as long as it's not affecting his performance, then all power to him in smoking pot.

But now he's disrespecting the National Anthem, claiming he doesn't celebrate that "shit" because he's black. If you really don't celebrate that shit, then move the fuck on out of the United States. You'd be a great addition to the European Basketball League.

I think it's time for Mark Cuban to maybe think about trading Howard. How can you keep someone on your team that disrespects the National Anthem that's played before every game he plays.

There were also comments that he said Obama '08 afterwards. Let's be quite clear, Obama probably wouldn't endorse you Josh Howard and probably be ashamed of such statements towards the National Anthem.