Mavs launch probe into allegations of improper behavior

The Dallas Mavericks have hired outside counsel to investigate allegations of improper conduct by former team president and CEO Terdema Ussery, including inappropriate remarks and touching, as well as requests for sex.

Sports Illustrated contacted six female former Mavericks or American Airlines Center employees who claimed they left the sports sector because of a structure that left them feeling vulnerable and devalued while protecting powerful men who misbehaved. A male former department head said there was ‘built-in protection for a lot of men.’

Two women claimed the Ussery, 59, harassed them for years, including the aforementioned incidents ranging from inappropriate remarks and requests for sex to touching women’s calves and thighs during meetings. 

Another female support staffer said Ussery made sexually suggestive remarks to her in the media dining room before a game during the 2010-11 season, when the Mavericks won their only NBA championship. Ussery reportedly asked the woman if she would be having group sex that weekend.

The woman said she had been told by others to be wary of Ussery.  

‘It was a real life Animal House,’ said one former employee who recently left the organization after five years. ‘And I only say “was” because I’m not there anymore. I’m sure it’s still going on.’  

Mavs owner Mark Cuban fired the team’s human resources after learning details of the report. He’s also establishing a hotline for counseling and support services for past and current employees while mandating sensitivity training for all employees, himself included

Ussery, who was investigated by the team over similar claims in 1998, denied the allegations in a statement to SI. He spent 18 years with the team before going to the sports apparel company Under Armour in 2015.

He reportedly resigned from Under Armour after three months of work. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

‘While we cannot disclose specific personnel matters, Under Armour takes these matters very seriously,’ said a company spokesperson when reached for comment.

The report also said team website reporter Earl Sneed was twice accused of domestic assault while working for the Mavericks, including a guilty plea in a case that was dismissed when he met the conditions of the agreement. 

The team said Sneed had been fired, and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told SI that he fired human resources director Buddy Pittman after learning details of the magazine’s report. Pittman and Sneed declined to comment to SI.

• Ussery allegedly asked one co-worker if she was having group sex that weekend 
• During the 2010-11 season, team website reporter Earl Sneed was involved in a domestic dispute with girlfriend, according to a police report reviewed by SI
• Sneed allegedly threatened her and physically assaulted her before fleeing before police arrived, leaving her with a fractured right wrist and bruises
• He still kept his job despite pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of family violence and interference with emergency request 

Sneed did give a statement to The Dallas Morning News: 

‘While both instances described in the report are damning and language used is not accurate, the two relationships described in the report are not something I am proud to have been a part of,’ he wrote. ‘I underwent much counseling after both situations, under the direction of [now-former Mavs vice president of human resources] Buddy Pittman, and I feel like I grew from that counseling. 

‘I also signed a contract stating that I would not have one-on-one contact or fraternize with female employees after the inaccurately described incident with my female co-worker, who was a live-in girlfriend,’ the statement continued. ‘I abided by the details of that contract for four years, and received counseling during that period to avoid future instances.

‘I thank Buddy Pittman for helping me to grow during that time, and I thank Mark Cuban for his willingness to help facilitate that growth.’

The NBA said the Mavericks had informed the league of the allegations involving Ussery and Sneed.

‘This alleged conduct runs counter to the steadfast commitment of the NBA and its teams to foster safe, respectful and welcoming workplaces for all employees,’ the league said. ‘Such behavior is completely unacceptable and we will closely monitor the independent investigation into this matter.’ 

Team website beat writer Earl K. Sneed was reportedly accused of domestic assault on two occassions while working for the Mavericks, including a guilty plea in a case that was dismissed when he met the conditions of the agreement 

Ussery had left Nike to join the Mavericks and had previously served as commissioner of the old Continental Basketball Association. He was praised by former NBA Commissioner David Stern and served as the Mavericks’ alternate governor with the league

Cuban also condemned the alleged behavior. 

‘Obviously there’s a problem in the Mavericks organization and we’ve got to fix it,’ Cuban told the magazine. ‘I’m embarrassed, to be honest with you, that it happened under my ownership, and it needs to be fixed.’

Team owner Mark Cuban condemned the alleged behavior, saying ‘[o]bviously there’s a problem in the Mavericks organization and we’ve got to fix it’

Ussery had left Nike to join the Mavericks and had previously served as commissioner of the old Continental Basketball Association. He was praised by former NBA Commissioner David Stern and served as the Mavericks’ alternate governor with the league.

‘I am deeply disappointed that anonymous sources have made such outright false and inflammatory accusations against me,’ Ussery said. ‘During my nearly 20-year tenure with the Mavericks, I am not aware of any sexual harassment complaints about me or any findings by the organization that I engaged in inappropriate conduct.’

Ussery said he had raised concerns about other Mavericks employees who he said engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct and the organization didn’t address those concerns.

‘I believe these misleading claims about me are part of an attempt to shift blame for the failure to remove employees who created an uncomfortable and hostile work environment within the Mavericks organization,’ Ussery said

Cuban told the magazine that the team was establishing a hotline for counseling and support services for past and current employees. He is mandating sensitivity training for all employees, himself included.

No Mavericks players were accused of inappropriate behavior in the Sports Illustrated report