Cubs will be sold?

[mjuedes]

I know this is my first post on the site, but I have been reading the posts on NSBB for over a year now. I know someone who is very high up at Tribune and he told me yesterday that he is 99.9% sure that the Cubs will be sold before the start of the 2007 season. That due to all the shake up that is about to happen at Tribune, that the Cubs would be one of the first pieces to go. Now this shake up that is gonna happen will also cost my source his job most likely, but he is high up enough that he has a golden parachute so it is of no matter to him. He didn't mention any potential buyers, but he did almost guarantee that a sale will be done in the next 5 months.

[Rob]

I'd be extremely surprised if the Trib actually managed to finalize the sale of the Cubs within the next five months. Heck, Major League Baseball will take longer than that to go through everything in approving the new owner(s).

[goonys evil twin]

I don't know anybody at the Trib but I'd bet the Cubs are sold sometime within the next 365 days.

[A New Era]

I'm sorry if we don't beleive someone with 1 post claims to have a source and who is now going to be fired. Sounds too much like the banter over at cubs.com.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

While the Cubs may be put up for sale in the next five months, there is absolutely no way a sale will go through in the next five months.

[goonys evil twin]

While the Cubs may be put up for sale in the next five months, there is absolutely no way a sale will go through in the next five months.

 

They aren't going to put a big sign out front saying for sale. For all we know, they've already had discussions.

 

I wouldn't be surprised at all.

[Laura]

First, Welcome to the forums! :)

 

I posted this to the Emergency NSBB board, so I might as well re-post it here.

 

AP News

 

The pressure on Tribune to act is intense, though. On Sept. 21, Tribune signaled its intent to make big changes, and CEO Dennis FitzSimons says all options are on the table.

 

While an outright sale of the company, as happened with Knight Ridder, may not be likely, several partial breakup scenarios are starting to emerge, ones the company will have to consider before investors force action.

 

The Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Cubs and other prize jewels all will be studied for what selling them would do to the company's stock, tax bills and future, even though FitzSimons insists the Times isn't for sale.

 

The Chicago Tribune recently cited sources it did not identify as saying the company's preferred solution is to spin off many of its two dozen TV stations, sell several smaller papers among its 11 dailies and take the rest of the company private in a leveraged buyout.

 

Tribune insisted until recently that such marquee assets as the Cubs or its Tribune Tower headquarters building were untouchable, as were businesses in its three major markets of Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. But many think that has changed as the stock continues to languish.

 

Hence many theories about McDonough being named just to maintain status quo and keep the Cubs' value stable.

[UMFan83]

If the Cubs are sold over the offseason, that could prove to be disasterous to 2007 prospects. The last thing a team looking to sell would do is add payroll

[goonys evil twin]

If the Cubs are sold over the offseason, that could prove to be disasterous to 2007 prospects. The last thing a team looking to sell would do is add payroll

 

Unless the prospective new buyer gave them the go ahead.

[A New Era]

If the Cubs are sold over the offseason, that could prove to be disasterous to 2007 prospects. The last thing a team looking to sell would do is add payroll

 

Unless the prospective new buyer gave them the go ahead.

 

AHAAA!!! Boy do I love the speculative banter here at NSBB sometimes. :D

[C.C.]

I know this is my first post on the site, but I have been reading the posts on NSBB for over a year now. I know someone who is very high up at Tribune and he told me yesterday that he is 99.9% sure that the Cubs will be sold before the start of the 2007 season. That due to all the shake up that is about to happen at Tribune, that the Cubs would be one of the first pieces to go. Now this shake up that is gonna happen will also cost my source his job most likely, but he is high up enough that he has a golden parachute so it is of no matter to him. He didn't mention any potential buyers, but he did almost guarantee that a sale will be done in the next 5 months.

 

Oh god! 'Tis the season of "My friend who is on the inside tells me" or the famous "My sister-husbands-uncle-knows a person...". Why do these post always come from first time posters? I call it bogus...

[A New Era]

I know this is my first post on the site, but I have been reading the posts on NSBB for over a year now. I know someone who is very high up at Tribune and he told me yesterday that he is 99.9% sure that the Cubs will be sold before the start of the 2007 season. That due to all the shake up that is about to happen at Tribune, that the Cubs would be one of the first pieces to go. Now this shake up that is gonna happen will also cost my source his job most likely, but he is high up enough that he has a golden parachute so it is of no matter to him. He didn't mention any potential buyers, but he did almost guarantee that a sale will be done in the next 5 months.

 

Oh god! 'Tis the season of "My friend who is on the inside tells me" or the famous "My sister-husbands-uncle-knows a person...". Why do these post always come from first time posters? I call it bogus...

 

So do I, but Serena's post is encouraging. .

[Yeti]

I'm sorry if we don't beleive someone with 1 post claims to have a source and who is now going to be fired. Sounds too much like the banter over at cubs.com.

seconded

[Laura]

I changed the thread title to reflect uncertainty.

 

The overall subject of the Tribune being sold or not being sold is legit for discussion regardless of the veracity of this particular rumor.

[David]

OK... I'll be the first to say it..

 

Cuban, where you at?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If the Cubs are going to be sold, I hope I hurry up and win the PowerBall, so I can try to get in on this action!

[mjuedes]

I would be very skeptical about this too, but I know for a fact that this is very possible, my source is not my uncles-best friends sister in law through marriage, it is my housemates dad who is in the top 5 at Tribune. All he said was that he is 99.9% sure they will be sold before the season starts, that is his feeling based on the way their internal meetings with Chantlers have gone and based on what he knows, which to say the least is far more than anyone on the NSBB board unless there is someone who is in upper management at Tribune that would disagree with these statements.

[goonys evil twin]

I would be very skeptical about this too, but I know for a fact that this is very possible, my source is not my uncles-best friends sister in law through marriage, it is my housemates dad who is in the top 5 at Tribune. All he said was that he is 99.9% sure they will be sold before the season starts, that is his feeling based on the way their internal meetings with Chantlers have gone and based on what he knows, which to say the least is far more than anyone on the NSBB board unless there is someone who is in upper management at Tribune that would disagree with these statements.

 

HP's CEO should put a wiretap on your friend's dad's phone.

[mjuedes]

Plus it is not like it is new news that the Cubs might be spun off if the Tribune tries to go back to their core and take the company private for a few years

[CubinNY]

I smell something fishy.

[goonys evil twin]

Insider trading scandal

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I would be very skeptical about this too, but I know for a fact that this is very possible, my source is not my uncles-best friends sister in law through marriage, it is my housemates dad who is in the top 5 at Tribune. All he said was that he is 99.9% sure they will be sold before the season starts, that is his feeling based on the way their internal meetings with Chantlers have gone and based on what he knows, which to say the least is far more than anyone on the NSBB board unless there is someone who is in upper management at Tribune that would disagree with these statements.

 

Please don't take our skepticism as an insult. But considering this is your first time to post, we don't know how reliable you are. You may very well know this man and if so, yes, I'd trust his assessment over most others. Then again, you could be making it all up. I'm not saying you are, but since we neither know you nor know for certain that this conversation took place, we have doubts.

 

It's not uncommon for bogus claims to be made on message boards, lest we forget that we had it on good authority that Furcal was signed only to find out two hours later he was a Dodger. (Oh, the irony there!)

 

So, I appreciate you sharing this. I remain skeptical for the time being.

[A New Era]

I would be very skeptical about this too, but I know for a fact that this is very possible, my source is not my uncles-best friends sister in law through marriage, it is my housemates dad who is in the top 5 at Tribune. All he said was that he is 99.9% sure they will be sold before the season starts, that is his feeling based on the way their internal meetings with Chantlers have gone and based on what he knows, which to say the least is far more than anyone on the NSBB board unless there is someone who is in upper management at Tribune that would disagree with these statements.

 

If your housemate's father was really that high up. I think he would have told you it's smart to not go on messege boards and give inside information. I therefore conclude you are just a new poster posting bogus information to get attention. And since when does a higher up's son need a housemate? Their stinkin rich!! Sorry nothing against you, but you do not have a long history of posting rumors which turned out to be true.

Edited October 3, 2006 by A New Era

[mjuedes]

Insider trading scandal

 

The only way it would be insider trading is if he knew for sure that they had a buyer lined up and the sale was not yet released to the public. He is speculating based on the information he knows. He would not be necessarily involved in any selling discussions directly, that would be the CEO and the Board. But good try.

[mjuedes]

I would be very skeptical about this too, but I know for a fact that this is very possible, my source is not my uncles-best friends sister in law through marriage, it is my housemates dad who is in the top 5 at Tribune. All he said was that he is 99.9% sure they will be sold before the season starts, that is his feeling based on the way their internal meetings with Chantlers have gone and based on what he knows, which to say the least is far more than anyone on the NSBB board unless there is someone who is in upper management at Tribune that would disagree with these statements.

 

If your housemate's father was really that high up. I think he would have told you it's smart to not go on messege boards and give inside information. I therefore conclude you are just a new poster posting bogus information to get attention. And since when does a higher up's son need a housemate? Their stinkin rich!! Sorry nothing against you, but you do not have a 3 year tradition of posting rumors which turned out to be true.

 

Whether or not a higher up at Tribune's son has a housemate has no bearing on the Tribune selling off the Cubs. Why would I be trying to get attention, I can assure you I have better things to do during the day than try and get a message board fired up by posting bogus rumors. And there is nothing wrong with posting someones speculation. Many people posted that Dusty was going to get fired based purely off their own speculation. This speculation just happens to come from someone with more knowledge of the situation than you or I.