April Fools' throwback: Mark Cuban stages fight with a ref

Twelve years ago on April 1, Mark Cuban took advantage of his reputation as the NBA's most vocal and hands-on owner to pull off a wonderful April Fools' Day prank.

• Extra Mustard's roundup of April Fools' Day jokes

Twelve years ago on April 1, Mark Cuban took advantage of his reputation as the NBA's most vocal and hands-on owner to pull off a wonderful April Fools' Day prank.

During a timeout in the Mavericks game against the then-New Orleans Hornets, Cuban began to argue with a ref, as he had done many times, but this was actually an actor dressed up as ref, and Cuban took the battle to another level, repeatedly shoving and then trying to wrestle the official.

The Dallas owner later told the Dallas Morning News that he was nervous the gambit would fall flat.

• English soccer team Introduces 'Selfie Spots' in April Fools joke

“We did it, and I remember thinking, I hope this doesn’t crater,” Cuban said. “When I stood up and there was the first shove, I could hear the whole place gasp. Then we went at it and I could hear everybody going nuts. Then I started laughing and blew it.”

- Brendan Maloy