Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

Hi,

Here is my original paragraph.

<<Or how about basketball? Have you followed Mark Cuban at all and his
determination that every team must provide an experience, and that owners
should not take fans for granted? Or do you believe like the owners that
Cuban despises, the players are the only thing that matters? Or is Cuban
another rich eccentric who you can just dismiss?>>

I think this following sentence is incorrectly structured, "Or do you
believe like the owners that Cuban despises, the players are the only thing
that matters?"

Would the following be better, or do you have any suggestions?

"Or do you believe just as the owners that Cuban despises do that the
players are the only thing that matters?"

That sentence seems clumsy.  I want to ask the recipient if he believe as
some of the NBA owners (whom Mark Cuban despises) do that players are the
only thing that matters.

FWIW, this is just a friendly on-going debate I am currently having with a
friend.

Thank you.

HS