Cuban submits application to buy Cubs

[frostwyrm]

Only major worry I have about Cuban is that he'll let his emotions influence decisions. Baseball requires a very Spock-like decision-making process. It's not like basketball, where the exciting players are usually the right ones to get. In baseball you have stylish players like Juan Pierre, who sucks. Emotional people tend to overvalue relief pitching too.

[hawkcub]

I saw this discussed on another Site. Sam Zell is a Sox fan and friends with Reinsdorf. Reinsdorf didn't want Cuban in the NBA much less MLB. Wouldn't Zell be the seller of the Cubs. If that's the case why would he ever sell the Cubs to Cuban.

[Derwood]

A caller on ESPN 1000 suggested Oprah.

 

That was Derwood.

 

http://www.northsidebaseball.com/PremiumForum/images/smiles/eusa_whistle.gif

[E.J.]

I saw this discussed on another Site. Sam Zell is a Sox fan and friends with Reinsdorf. Reinsdorf didn't want Cuban in the NBA much less MLB. Wouldn't Zell be the seller of the Cubs. If that's the case why would he ever sell the Cubs to Cuban.

 

Because he's a business man looking to make money. If Cuban is the highest bidder, do you really think Zell is going to turn that down?

[Fro]

Only major worry I have about Cuban is that he'll let his emotions influence decisions. Baseball requires a very Spock-like decision-making process. It's not like basketball, where the exciting players are usually the right ones to get. In baseball you have stylish players like Juan Pierre, who sucks. Emotional people tend to overvalue relief pitching too.

 

That's not correct in basketball, so you're greatly oversimplifying things.

 

As said, Cuban's been trying to make SABR stats for basketball since he bought the Mavs, so I don't think we have to worry about him just getting stylish players.

[Fro]

I saw this discussed on another Site. Sam Zell is a Sox fan and friends with Reinsdorf. Reinsdorf didn't want Cuban in the NBA much less MLB. Wouldn't Zell be the seller of the Cubs. If that's the case why would he ever sell the Cubs to Cuban.

 

Because he has an obligation to the people in his equity group to make the best deal he can off this sale. His fandom or being a friend of Reinsdorf doesn't mean jack. We're talking about millions of dollars here.

[The Voice of Reason]

Why does everyone automatically assume Cuban will be the highest bidder?

 

I think he may be too smart to get into an bidding war and overpay for the Cubs. He's a pretty smart businessman.

[J.R.]

Because he has an obligation to the people in his equity group to make the best deal he can off this sale. His fandom or being a friend of Reinsdorf doesn't mean jack. We're talking about millions of dollars here.

 

Rogers was on ESPN Radio this morning, and assumed that Cuban plans to simply throw money at the Trib until he gets his way. Tribune's obligation to raise the most cash would theoretically trump other factors.

 

I'm more hopeful than I was yesterday.

[USSoccer]

Because he has an obligation to the people in his equity group to make the best deal he can off this sale. His fandom or being a friend of Reinsdorf doesn't mean jack. We're talking about millions of dollars here.

 

Rogers was on ESPN Radio this morning, and assumed that Cuban plans to simply throw money at the Trib until he gets his way. Tribune's obligation to raise the most cash would theoretically trump other factors.

 

I'm more hopeful than I was yesterday.

 

If my logic is correct, Zell has to sell the Cubs before aquiring ownership of the Trib, because he can be invested in 2 teams, so MLB really can't block a Cuban bid if he's the highest bidder, right?

[CubFanPhilly]

If my logic is correct, Zell has to sell the Cubs before aquiring ownership of the Trib, because he can be invested in 2 teams, so MLB really can't block a Cuban bid if he's the highest bidder, right?

 

Zell doesn't (and won't) own a share of the Tribune or the Cubs. He's a creditor in the deal and he holds stock warrants. Those warrants only become valuable if/when the Tribune retires a significant portion of the debt it's taking on.

 

Once the redemption of the public shares is complete, the Tribune will be highly-leveraged and 100% owned by its employees.

 

It's a technicality, because Zell is obviously leading the deal, but it might mean that the dual ownership isn't an issue.

[Jon]

I'm pretty sure Selig has gone on record saying that it won't matter if there is an overlap in ownership, as long as he is actively trying to sell the Cubs.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Fort-Worth Star Telegram weighs in on Cuban's bid.

 

Link.

 

Far be it for me to quibble with the owner of the Cubs or Gammons, but I give Mark a 50-50 shot of elbowing his way in because: (a) He is not afraid to pony up the most cash, and the Trib needs cash; (b) MLB and HDNet have collaborated before, so it is not like they cannot work together; © Bud keeps talking about his dedication to bring minorities back to the game, and guess who is the biggest contributor to Little Heroes, a charity that helps bring the game to the inner city? and (d) Cubs fans might redirect that Bartman wrath on Bud if he denied them Cuban.

 

And here is why many want Cuban....

 

One of the things that makes Mark one of the best owners in professional sports is his passion for this Mavs team. He is just a fan who happens to own the whole thing.

 

Sure, he has other endeavors -- HDNet and his toe dip into the movie biz, to name a couple -- but those are work. The Mavs are like one of his kids.

 

He can always be counted on to brag on them, stick up for them, blog about them, spend money on them and prioritize them. He attends almost all of their games. He travels with the team. He sits courtside, in seats that practically are on the Mavs' bench. He cheers like you and I do at games.

 

I mean right now, if I told you the Mavs would be playing Santonio in the West Finals in May 2008, do you have any doubt where Mark would be or what he'd be doing?

 

Of course not.

 

He'd be courtside, screaming at Bennett Salvatore on behalf of Dirk.

 

Next year, he could very well be arguing balls and strikes with Ed Montague on behalf of Carlos Zambrano.

 

Mark is incapable of doing sports halfway.

[Banedon]

Well if he were to buy the Cubs, I'd expect him to miss some early season Cubs games and some early season Mavs games assuming both teams are in the playoffs.

[Jon]

I think everyone would agree that in Cuban submitting the application, it's a pretty good indication that he's very serious about this. And when he's serious about something, he goes all out. The article is right that there's little chance he'd run the Cubs half-assed.

 

But I don't see much of a chance that he'd be a "presence" during baseball games. Umpires would have none of it.

[Jazz]

I think everyone would agree that in Cuban submitting the application, it's a pretty good indication that he's very serious about this. And when he's serious about something, he goes all out. The article is right that there's little chance he'd run the Cubs half-assed.

 

But I don't see much of a chance that he'd be a "presence" during baseball games. Umpires would have none of it.

 

CUBAN FOR ALL TIME GUEST CONDUCTOR!

[Soul]

Only major worry I have about Cuban is that he'll let his emotions influence decisions. Baseball requires a very Spock-like decision-making process. It's not like basketball, where the exciting players are usually the right ones to get. In baseball you have stylish players like Juan Pierre, who sucks. Emotional people tend to overvalue relief pitching too.

 

That's not a real worry for me. I don't think what you see when Cuban is being a fan is necessarily how he conducts himself when he's doing business. If he was abrasive & loudmouthed in the boardroom, I sincerely doubt he would have earned the respect of so many people, including NBA stars like Dirk, who don't need that crap and aren't inclined to take it.

 

His players love him. That tells me Cuban is able to segment his 'super-fan' behavior out from his business sensibilities.

[fibro]

Z seems to really want Cuban to own the team (and Lou likes him too).

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AtPGy5PKtaVBSGnnmF8Hk3URvLYF?slug=ap-cubs-cuban&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

"I think he would bring whatever it takes to win the World Series," Zambrano said. "Plus, I can be signed by him. You know, I know he has the money for me. Hopefully he can buy the Cubs."

 

Add that to Lee, Floyd, and Dempster

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/baseball/marlins/sfl-mikeb10jun10,0,148706.column

 

"I'm just going to throw out there Mark Cuban," Lee said with a laugh. "That would be my vote. I hope that's not tampering."

 

Don't worry, Derrek. Tampering only flows in one direction. We think.

 

"Well, he seems awesome," Lee continued. "He's passionate. The guy wants to win, so you know he's going to try his best to make the team a winner. He seems like he'd be cool as an owner."

 

 

 

This may be why they are in favor of Cuban.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/players/04/25/inside.stuff0502/

 

Each locker has a built-in 13-inch TV with satellite, a stereo system, a DVD-CD player and a PlayStation 2. Mavs looking for freedom of choice can don their own $400 Sennheiser headphones. "Everyone prepares for a game differently, from watching game tape to listening to music," says Cuban. "I had seen guys argue about what kind of music to play in the locker room. We solved that problem."

 

I think they needed Cuban when Sammy was here.

Edited July 15, 2007 by fibro

[shnsajax]

Z seems to really want Cuban to own the team (and Lou likes him too).

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AtPGy5PKtaVBSGnnmF8Hk3URvLYF?slug=ap-cubs-cuban&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

"I think he would bring whatever it takes to win the World Series," Zambrano said. "Plus, I can be signed by him. You know, I know he has the money for me. Hopefully he can buy the Cubs."

 

Add that to Lee, Floyd, and Dempster

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/baseball/marlins/sfl-mikeb10jun10,0,148706.column

 

"I'm just going to throw out there Mark Cuban," Lee said with a laugh. "That would be my vote. I hope that's not tampering."

 

Don't worry, Derrek. Tampering only flows in one direction. We think.

 

"Well, he seems awesome," Lee continued. "He's passionate. The guy wants to win, so you know he's going to try his best to make the team a winner. He seems like he'd be cool as an owner."

 

 

 

This maybe why they are in favor of Cuban.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/players/04/25/inside.stuff0502/

 

Each locker has a built-in 13-inch TV with satellite, a stereo system, a DVD-CD player and a PlayStation 2. Mavs looking for freedom of choice can don their own $400 Sennheiser headphones. "Everyone prepares for a game differently, from watching game tape to listening to music," says Cuban. "I had seen guys argue about what kind of music to play in the locker room. We solved that problem."

 

I think they needed Cuban when Sammy was here.

 

He's a little too behind the times for me ;-)

[nilodnayr]

Z seems to really want Cuban to own the team (and Lou likes him too).

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AtPGy5PKtaVBSGnnmF8Hk3URvLYF?slug=ap-cubs-cuban&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

"I think he would bring whatever it takes to win the World Series," Zambrano said. "Plus, I can be signed by him. You know, I know he has the money for me. Hopefully he can buy the Cubs."

 

Add that to Lee, Floyd, and Dempster

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/baseball/marlins/sfl-mikeb10jun10,0,148706.column

 

"I'm just going to throw out there Mark Cuban," Lee said with a laugh. "That would be my vote. I hope that's not tampering."

 

Don't worry, Derrek. Tampering only flows in one direction. We think.

 

"Well, he seems awesome," Lee continued. "He's passionate. The guy wants to win, so you know he's going to try his best to make the team a winner. He seems like he'd be cool as an owner."

 

 

 

This maybe why they are in favor of Cuban.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/players/04/25/inside.stuff0502/

 

Each locker has a built-in 13-inch TV with satellite, a stereo system, a DVD-CD player and a PlayStation 2. Mavs looking for freedom of choice can don their own $400 Sennheiser headphones. "Everyone prepares for a game differently, from watching game tape to listening to music," says Cuban. "I had seen guys argue about what kind of music to play in the locker room. We solved that problem."

 

I think they needed Cuban when Sammy was here.

 

He's a little too behind the times for me ;-)

 

To be fair, PS3 wouldnt come out for another 2 years.

[Elrhino]

If Cuban was an irrational hothead making decisions on emotions, he would have blown up the Mavs after getting ousted in the first round of the playoffs.

[cbbryan]

I don't know if anyone else has heard this, but FOX Sports Radio has been reporting that Cuban "is willing to spend up to $850 million to purchase the Cubs."

 

For a frachise that appraised at $590 million, I think the Trib would have a hard time saying no to such a HUGE number. I would also think there would be some leaning done on other MLB owners to approve Cuban based on such a HUGE number.

 

Thoughts?

[CubColtPacer]

I don't know if anyone else has heard this, but FOX Sports Radio has been reporting that Cuban "is willing to spend up to $850 million to purchase the Cubs."

 

For a frachise that appraised at $590 million, I think the Trib would have a hard time saying no to such a HUGE number. I would also think there would be some leaning done on other MLB owners to approve Cuban based on such a HUGE number.

 

Thoughts?

 

I don't think that will be such a huge number by the time the bidding is done. It is likely IMO that the bidding will reach close to 1 billion just because of the number of buyers involved and the passion that some of them will have to really want to buy the Cubs (Cuban won't be the only one who won't look it as completely a business decision).

[Banedon]

I don't know if anyone else has heard this, but FOX Sports Radio has been reporting that Cuban "is willing to spend up to $850 million to purchase the Cubs."

 

For a frachise that appraised at $590 million, I think the Trib would have a hard time saying no to such a HUGE number. I would also think there would be some leaning done on other MLB owners to approve Cuban based on such a HUGE number.

 

Thoughts?

 

I don't think that will be such a huge number by the time the bidding is done. It is likely IMO that the bidding will reach close to 1 billion just because of the number of buyers involved and the passion that some of them will have to really want to buy the Cubs (Cuban won't be the only one who won't look it as completely a business decision).

 

Yeah...if $850 million is his cap...I don't know if he'd even be the top bidder...which would make it much easier for MLB to say "we gave him a shot!"

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What's the timetable for receiving bids and announcing who the high bidder is?

[Magnetic Curses]

i don't know why cuban would announce his maximum bid so soon.