Cuban to bid on Cubs (RUMOR - SHOT DOWN BY CUBAN + TRIB)

[Balsa]

LINK

 

Billionaire blogger Mark Cuban is more serious about buying a major league baseball team than he's been letting on. The tech entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner is set to offer $625 million to buy the Chicago Cubs from Tribune Co., according to a source familiar with the matter. "Mark is desperate to buy the Cubs," says the source. "He wants this so bad."

Edited February 28, 2007 by Balsa

[CUBZ99]

LINK

 

Billionaire blogger Mark Cuban is more serious about buying a major league baseball team than he's been letting on. The tech entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner is set to offer $625 million to buy the Chicago Cubs from Tribune Co., according to a source familiar with the matter. "Mark is desperate to buy the Cubs," says the source. "He wants this so bad."

 

Sounds better than some of the other names we have been hearing lately.

[moorecg]

That would be fun on so many levels....I think he'd be a great owner.

[CoolHandLuke]

If he does buy the team are we going to have a pool similar the the lou ejection pool, for when Cuban gets ejected for yelling at the ump from the front row?

[USSoccer]

Color me skeptical. I would think the Cubs would be worth far mre than than.

[David]

Even though, considering our payroll, our problems don't really stem from ownership, I'd love to see this happen.

 

I know we can't just throw money at the Cubs' problems, but Cuban seems like the type that would bring in forward thinking baseball people, which is exactly what this team needs.

[CUBZ99]

Color me skeptical. I would think the Cubs would be worth far mre than than.

 

Cuban is a billionare for a reason, I'm sure this was just his first offer, to get discussions started.

[Soul]

Cuban is exactly what this franchise needs to finally shed the loser reputation that permeates everything we try to accomplish.

[98navigator]

I don't think this is viable. The deadline to submit a proposal is fast approaching and Cuban hasn't officially put his hat in the ring. I think they are reporting more on him saying he likes the idea of owning the Cubs instead of Cuban actively pursuing the goal. Additionally, Crain's Chicago Business is reporting that the Tribune is close to choosing recapitaliation over selling the company. We'll see Edited February 28, 2007 by 98navigator

[goonys evil twin]

I don't think this is viable. The deadline to submit a proposal is fast approaching and Cuban hasn't officially put his hat in the ring. I think they are reporting more on him saying he likes the idea of owning the Cubs instead of Cuban actively pursuing the goal. Additionally, Crain's Chicago Business is reporting that the Tribune is close to choosing recapitaliation over selling the company.

 

But the Tribune can sell the Cubs whenever they want. The deadline is for TRB reorganization in general. The Cubs are just a very small part of that plan.

[Pushfrog98]

Until the Mavericks with the NBA Finals, I'm going to be skeptical about Cuban's ability to run a team.

 

 

That being said, I think the Mavs have the best chance this year...

[CuseCubFan69]

I don't think this is viable. The deadline to submit a proposal is fast approaching and Cuban hasn't officially put his hat in the ring. I think they are reporting more on him saying he likes the idea of owning the Cubs instead of Cuban actively pursuing the goal. Additionally, Crain's Chicago Business is reporting that the Tribune is close to choosing recapitaliation over selling the company.

 

But the Tribune can sell the Cubs whenever they want. The deadline is for TRB reorganization in general. The Cubs are just a very small part of that plan.

 

Amazing that 700 million dollars is a small part of anything. I'm in the wrong business.

[Chocolate Milk]

Oh man.

[98navigator]

I don't think this is viable. The deadline to submit a proposal is fast approaching and Cuban hasn't officially put his hat in the ring. I think they are reporting more on him saying he likes the idea of owning the Cubs instead of Cuban actively pursuing the goal. Additionally, Crain's Chicago Business is reporting that the Tribune is close to choosing recapitaliation over selling the company.

 

But the Tribune can sell the Cubs whenever they want. The deadline is for TRB reorganization in general. The Cubs are just a very small part of that plan.

 

Everything that I've read claims that Tribune wouldn't sell the Cubs if they opt to recapitalize. The Cubs and WGN are arguably the most profitable assets of Tribune company. It seems odd that they would use resources to reorganize if they plan to divest themselves of the Cubs; it would be more efficient to just sell the Cubs to the highest bidder and use the profits to appease the shareholders.

[CoolHandLuke]

Until the Mavericks with the NBA Finals, I'm going to be skeptical about Cuban's ability to run a team.

 

 

That being said, I think the Mavs have the best chance this year...

 

Isn't giving the team the monetary and personnel resources to give them the best chance to win all an owner can really do? Actually winning a championship takes a fair bit of luck that is far outside the owner's hands.

[David]

Until the Mavericks with the NBA Finals, I'm going to be skeptical about Cuban's ability to run a team.

 

 

That being said, I think the Mavs have the best chance this year...

 

Why should the crapshoot that is the playoffs (less so in basketball, but true in all sports, IMO) help you determine how good of an owner he is? There's a lot more to go on than that.

[98navigator]

Also, there is talk that the other owners, whom would have to approve a Cuban buy-in, don't want him to become an owner.

 

I heard this seperately from Boers & Bernstein and Steve Stone (who's own ownership group was blocked several years ago when he attempted to buy the Diamondbacks). It's not as easy as "I'm the higgest bidder so I get the team." There is politics in the selection...

[Soul]

Until the Mavericks with the NBA Finals, I'm going to be skeptical about Cuban's ability to run a team.

 

 

That being said, I think the Mavs have the best chance this year...

 

I think this is the year, but who knows. At any rate the Mavs turnaround has been incredible.

[C.C.]

I can't see the other owners allowing it. Cuban is too vocal for baseball.

[CuseCubFan69]

I wonder if Cuban would send video to the Commissioners office about how horrible the umps are?

[Pushfrog98]

Until the Mavericks with the NBA Finals, I'm going to be skeptical about Cuban's ability to run a team.

 

 

That being said, I think the Mavs have the best chance this year...

 

I think this is the year, but who knows. At any rate the Mavs turnaround has been incredible.

It has been impressive, but for a while there, early on, it was like a 3-Ring Circus with Cuban yapping and causing a scene.

 

Frankly though, I'd love to see a little of that at wrigley... the owners actually Caring about the team.

[98navigator]

I can't see the other owners allowing it. Cuban is too vocal for baseball.

 

That's exactly what they said! They said that Cuban's realistic chances of being approved are very slim.

[Soul]

Also, there is talk that the other owners, whom would have to approve a Cuban buy-in, don't want him to become an owner.

 

I heard this seperately from Boers & Bernstein and Steve Stone (who's own ownership group was blocked several years ago when he attempted to buy the Diamondbacks). It's not as easy as "I'm the higgest bidder so I get the team." There is politics in the selection...

 

You are right, of course.

 

I think it's overblown that Cuban is somehow 'bad' for the NBA though. He's been an incredible boon for Dallas, and has increased the level of interest immensely. Sure David Stern doesn't like him. Notice he tolerates him though -- because Cuban's raking in dollars and ratings with that Mavs team. That's part of the politics, too.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I absolutely love this move. What Cuban has done for the Mavs is remarkable. I think this would be fantastic.

 

Plz happen!

[goonys evil twin]

I don't think this is viable. The deadline to submit a proposal is fast approaching and Cuban hasn't officially put his hat in the ring. I think they are reporting more on him saying he likes the idea of owning the Cubs instead of Cuban actively pursuing the goal. Additionally, Crain's Chicago Business is reporting that the Tribune is close to choosing recapitaliation over selling the company.

 

But the Tribune can sell the Cubs whenever they want. The deadline is for TRB reorganization in general. The Cubs are just a very small part of that plan.

 

Everything that I've read claims that Tribune wouldn't sell the Cubs if they opt to recapitalize. The Cubs and WGN are arguably the most profitable assets of Tribune company. It seems odd that they would use resources to reorganize if they plan to divest themselves of the Cubs; it would be more efficient to just sell the Cubs to the highest bidder and use the profits to appease the shareholders.

 

Or it could be more profitable to give the impression that you aren't selling the Cubs, thus, hopefully driving up the offers from potential buyers.