More Fuel to the Mark Cuban Fire

[David]

I still think it'd be wishful thinking on our parts, but...

 

http://www.nysun.com/article/23217

 

 

Now that Mark Cuban's bid to buy the Pittsburgh Pirates has been officially squashed by the team's owners, will Cuban pick up the phone and call Dennis FitzSimons to ask the Chicago Tribune Company's Chief Executive Officer if he is about ready to sell the Chicago Cubs? Probably.

 

Unfortunately, Kevin McClatchy, who also owns a national newspaper chain called the McClatchy Company, let Cuban know the Pirates are not for sale. But FitzSimons and his board may have to part with the Cubs, a decision that will have nothing to do with the team's success between the lines. Simply put, the Tribune Company is short of money, and the Cubs franchise is a major asset that can bring in big dollars.

 

I found it interesting in light of this comment in today's Mike Downey column in the Tribune...

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-051118downey,1,1416748.column?page=2&coll=cs-home-utility

 

9 Please forgive me if I can't quite bring myself to encourage the Cubs to offer $50 million to a shortstop, Rafael Furcal, at the same time Tribune Co. (which owns the Cubs, this newspaper and papers in Los Angeles; Hartford, Conn.; and Orlando, among others) is announcing the elimination of more than 200 jobs. Sorry.

 

You would think if they were short of money, though, the last thing they'd want to get rid of is one of their biggest cash cows.

[Banedon]

I tried submitting a question to Mark Cuban through his blog about a month ago asking him if he would have any interest in the Cubs, but never got a response or any comment in his blog. I wasn't surprised since I'm sure he gets a ton of that kind of stuff, but given the topic I thought I'd mention it.

 

He'd certainly spice things up. :D

 

You would think if they were short of money, though, the last thing they'd want to get rid of is one of their biggest cash cows.

 

Money now vs Money later?

[Mike Aller]

Personally, I love Mark Cuban. He treats his players like kings, and players love to play for him. He isn't just an old guy sitting in a luxury suite demanding success, he's a fan who lives and dies with his team. Great owner.

[NCCubFan]

Please give us Mark Cub(f)an. It would be the biggest offseason signing we could get. :D

[bc2k]

I still think it'd be wishful thinking on our parts, but...

 

http://www.nysun.com/article/23217

 

I can't think of a better owner. I would love it if Cuban bought the Cubs.

[adamb0719]

Personally, I love Mark Cuban. He treats his players like kings, and players love to play for him. He isn't just an old guy sitting in a luxury suite demanding success, he's a fan who lives and dies with his team. Great owner.

 

Have you seen that locker room? It is insane. Nicest one in professional sports by far (as far as I have seen on TV and stuff) :D

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Cuban would be a great owner. You can be sure that all profits would be put back into the team in some fashion.

[adamb0719]

Cuban would be a great owner. You can be sure that all profits would be put back into the team in some fashion.

 

 

Definately. This may soulnd dumb to say, but Cuban is a real fan of his team. IMO, it is not about the bottom dollar to him.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Cuban would dump Dusty for Bobby Valentine in a heartbeat. Bobby V and Cuban are good friends.

[Omar]

I dont know much... so I will ask...

 

If he bought the Cubs, will he be the GM? What part will he play?

 

Will the Tribune still own Wrigley Field? What Cubs games on WGN?

[Bote McBoteface]

Owner and GM are 2 seperate things. Technically, he COULD fire Hendry and appoint himself to the GM position, but I doubt he would do that.

 

Also, the Cubs would no longer be on WGN

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Another way for the Trib to make money. Sell the team (cash now) and negotiate TV rights (cash later). They'd still be on WGN.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Another way for the Trib to make money. Sell the team (cash now) and negotiate TV rights (cash later). They'd still be on WGN.

 

Yeah, I can't see why they wouldn't still be on WGN.

[erik316wttn]

Owner and GM are 2 seperate things. Technically, he COULD fire Hendry and appoint himself to the GM position, but I doubt he would do that.

 

Also, the Cubs would no longer be on WGN

 

There is a dark cloud behind every silver lining. Everything would get shimmied over to FSN-C (which I don't get) and I'd never see a game. Grr!!

 

But if it brought us a World Series, I'd be all for it.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

There is a dark cloud behind every silver lining. Everything would get shimmied over to FSN-C (which I don't get) and I'd never see a game. Grr!!

 

But if it brought us a World Series, I'd be all for it.

 

Exactly. If they were only broadcast once a week on a local station in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, I couldn't care less if they won it all...

[erik316wttn]

There is a dark cloud behind every silver lining. Everything would get shimmied over to FSN-C (which I don't get) and I'd never see a game. Grr!!

 

But if it brought us a World Series, I'd be all for it.

 

Exactly. If they were only broadcast once a week on a local station in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, I couldn't care less if they won it all...

 

I'd still have Pat and Ron.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

More than likely, if the Trib sells the Cubs they will work the broadcast rights issue as part of the sale.

[shnsajax]

Dont mistaken Cuban for just a crazy fan. He is a very smart business man.

[adamb0719]

Dont mistaken Cuban for just a crazy fan. He is a very smart business man.

 

Yes he is, but he sees more than just the money. He actually cares about the fans, his players, etc...

 

Not that the Trib doesn't, just not to the extent that Cuban does.

[Careless]

Dont mistaken Cuban for just a crazy fan. He is a very smart business man.

He's a very smart businessman who made a ton of money and wants to play with it. He's willing to spend to have fun, and while I don't think he'd lose millions to win (he might, but I doubt it), he isn't fundamentally opposed to it as a publicly owned company (the tribune) is. He could pull a 97 marlins if he wanted to, risky as that is.

[erik316wttn]

Dont mistaken Cuban for just a crazy fan. He is a very smart business man.

He's a very smart businessman who made a ton of money and wants to play with it. He's willing to spend to have fun, and while I don't think he'd lose millions to win (he might, but I doubt it), he isn't fundamentally opposed to it as a publicly owned company (the tribune) is. He could pull a 97 marlins if he wanted to, risky as that is.

 

If it brought me a World Series victory in my lifetime, I'd go for it.

[satxcubfan]

I'm all for it!!

[donobr]

Would he try to get the league to let him move the team to Dallas?

[Sarcastic]

I predict that if Mark Cuban buys to the Cubs, he will a) get injured somehow, and b) become an idiot. As for how, my guess is that he'll be hit in the head by a line drive into foul territory. Two birds with one stone.

[Roast]

If mark Cuban buys the cubs, I'll buy him dinner. Sounds like an even trade.