HuskyCaucasian Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2934920 Cuban officially joins crowded field of Cubs suitors ESPN.com news services Fans of the Windy City's lovable losers can count a maverick NBA owner among those interested in purchasing the Chicago Cubs. Mark Cuban confirmed Thursday that he has submitted his application to Major League Baseball to purchase the Cubs. Cuban, who has owned the NBA's Dallas Mavericks since January of 2000 and is known for his free-spending ways, told the newspaper he sent the paperwork in last week. Cuban's efforts to enter the already crowded field to purchase the team is being met with some speculation. The Chicago Tribune summed up Cuban's efforts to buy the team in its Thursday edition as follows: "And while Internet billionaire Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has expressed interest, most observers think Major League Baseball would balk at a potential owner as unpredictable and outspoken as Cuban." When e-mailed by the Tribune to respond to the sentence, Cuban replied via e-mail: "I never comment on 'most observers' reports. It's like responding to a random blog post, a waste of time." The Tribune Co. announced in April it would sell the team at season's end, after the ailing media conglomerate announced its acquisition by billionaire investor Sam Zell. It put one of sports' most storied and star-crossed franchises on the block, a year shy of the 100th anniversary of its last World Series title. Zell, a real estate magnate who already owns part of his hometown Bulls and White Sox, did not comment about why he's was not interested in keeping the Cubs in connection with the $8.2 billion deal. The team is one of Tribune's richest assets. Cuban faces some stiff competition among suitors for the Cubs. The Tribune reported Thursday that the Ricketts family, which founded discount broker TD Ameritrade Holding Corp., has joined the list of potential bidders. Sources close to the situation said the Ricketts family is readying their application MLB requires for all parties wishing to bid on a franchise. The group is led by Thomas Ricketts, 41, who is the founder and chief executive of the Chicago-based investment firm, Incapital Holdings LLC. Thomas Ricketts is the son of J. Joe Ricketts, an Omaha billionaire who founded Ameritrade. Forbes Magazine this year estimated the Ricketts' family worth is $2.3 billion. The Tribune reports other bidders include John Canning, who heads the Chicago-based private-equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners and is a part-owner of the Milwaukee Brewers. Additionally, a partnership of restaurateur Larry Levy and Chicago business owner Craig Duchossois is also thought to be interested in entering the fray. Don Levin, who owns the Chicago Wolves minor league hockey team has said he is interested in bidding for the team, as is a partnership of Chicago attorney Thomas Mandler and area businessman Jim Anixter. A group led by industrialist and private-equity investor Thomas Begel may also try bidding on the Cubs, the newspaper reports. Bidding for the ballclub and historic Wrigley Field, however, is certain to be fiercely competitive. Forbes Magazine recently valued the Cubs at $592 million, fifth-highest in baseball, although experts speculate the bidding could start at $600 million. Tribune paid $20.5 million for the team in 1981. Cubs manager Lou Piniella seemed impressed with Cuban's credentials. "I don't know him, but the guy basically, he's a winner. He's a character. He has obviously got the resources," Piniella said Friday. "I do know that he's got a lot of charisma. He likes the competition and he likes to win. So he's certainly a very viable candidate to buy the club. But there are going to be a lot of people that want the club." Piniella said he didn't think he'd have any problems working with a hands-on boss like Cuban, if that should ever happen. "I can work for anybody. I've done this for 20 years, all I do is my job on the field. Let me tell you this, there are going to be a lot of people that have interest, and Mark is one of them," Piniella said. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg The Bull Luzinski Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Let me put a stop to speculation. There is no chance in hell Bud Selig would allow an insubordinate like Mark Cuban to join the owner's club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVSoxFan Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Too bad, too, because as much as I despise the Cubs I've told my Cub fan co-worker for years: you guys need a Mark Cuban-like owner. You're right: Selig-zilla will never allow it to happen. And JR doesn't like him either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Jul 13, 2007 -> 08:40 PM) Too bad, too, because as much as I despise the Cubs I've told my Cub fan co-worker for years: you guys need a Mark Cuban-like owner. You're right: Selig-zilla will never allow it to happen. And JR doesn't like him either. Cuban to the Cubs would be awful for the Sox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg The Bull Luzinski Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 13, 2007 -> 03:43 PM) Cuban to the Cubs would be awful for the Sox. Which is reason #3 of about 100 that this will never happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 Cuban gonna bring his experience of being the owner of a team that wins championships? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 QUOTE(Brian @ Jul 13, 2007 -> 05:21 PM) Cuban gonna bring his experience of being the owner of a team that wins championships? All you need is his money (which is limitless), and there's no cap in baseball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jul 13, 2007 -> 08:59 PM) All you need is his money (which is limitless), and there's no cap in baseball. Cuban doesn't spend money in the right places in basketball, probably wouldn't in baseball. Get some defenders in Dallas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Pratt Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 What's the Cube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuskyCaucasian Posted July 14, 2007 Author Share Posted July 14, 2007 QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jul 13, 2007 -> 10:00 PM) What's the Cube? oh shhooosh! So i cant type! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daa84 Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jul 13, 2007 -> 08:59 PM) All you need is his money (which is limitless), and there's no cap in baseball. this isnt necessarily true...you also have to be willing to spend the money.....carl pohlad is worth more than cuban, but clearly doesnt spend much money on his team because it doenst bring in as much revenue....that said, cubs bring alot more money in than the twins, and im sure cuban would be willing to cut profit in order to have a winner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linnwood Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 (edited) QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 13, 2007 -> 05:54 PM) You're right: Selig-zilla will never allow it to happen. And JR doesn't like him either. Cuban to the Cubs would be awful for the Sox. Yeah, JR would never allow that guy in to the city. Edited July 18, 2007 by Linnwood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoota Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 (edited) Why would Bud Selig and the other MLB team owners deny Cuban the opportunity to buy an MLB team? If Cuban is as big of a Pirate fan as he claims, I'd think he'd have no interest in buying a much more expensive, rival team in the division of his Pirates. Edited July 20, 2007 by shoota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 QUOTE(Brian @ Jul 13, 2007 -> 09:32 PM) <!--quoteo(post=1471825:date=Jul 13, 2007 -> 08:59 PM:name=greasywheels121)-->QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jul 13, 2007 -> 08:59 PM) <!--quotec-->All you need is his money (which is limitless), and there's no cap in baseball. Cuban doesn't spend money in the right places in basketball, probably wouldn't in baseball. Get some defenders in Dallas. First of all, he's the owner, not the GM nor the coach nor part of the coaching staff. Secondly, they didn't make the NBA Finals a year ago, did they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.