Chicagoist: Cuban Applies To Buy Cubs

quint

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:49:13 -0600

first of all Selig and the other owners do have the final say in who gets to buy this team. It stems from the anti-trust exemption that baseball may or may not be covered by (they act like they are covered though it has never been challenged and the legal precedents are murky at best). As for Cuban, guest #4 is right and wrong. The owners want somebody who will go along with them in any collective bargaining with the players or any dealings with Congress. They don't want a loose cannon messing things up. Additionally they don't want somebody who will drive salaries up through the roof by foolish spending. But they do want someone who will spend a ton of money on the purchase of the team. As most owners are in baseball to flip the team within about 5 years any mega sale helps their own franchise values go up. This is where they make the real money, not from beer or ticket sales but from the increase in team value. So if Cuban offers up the most it may yet happen. But Benjay is missing a real key component in all of this as usual. Selig is very skilled at the deal making aspect of his job. The last time a premier franchise was sold (the Red Sox) he took components from competing bids to make the winning bid. That is what is likely to happen here assuming that financials work out. The only other wrinkle is that the Trib is a publicly traded company and is obligated to take the highest bid. If that bid isn't acceptable to MLB then watch the deal making really begin.

SAMiller

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:47:44 -0600

Jerry Reinsdorf, big pals with Bud Selig, will make sure that it never happens.

guest

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:21:34 -0600

It'll never happen and not because Cuban is a loudmouth. The other owners do not want a guy who can outspend George Steinbrenner, plain and simple. Look at all the flak the Cubs caught in the off-season for their spending spree. I don't think Cuban is what the Cubs need though. The Cubs need a majority owner with deep pockets (but not as deep as Cuban) who is from Chicago, grew up a Cubs fan, knows what Cub fans have gone through. I like The Rickets, I like Colangelo, I like Levy, I like the guy who owns the Wolves. Those are all great options.

guest

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:12:32 -0600

Guest would love to see Cuban give it a run. Sure, he'd be sharing time w/the Mavs, but there's no doubt that he would be the guy to bring the most passion to the table. And if it failed -- so what? Par for the course.

guest

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:00:26 -0600

I was wondering the same... I would love to see CUBan buy the Cubs, but does any sale have to be approved by Selig first? Or would Zell get the final say, since he is selling the team, and would most likely sell to the highest bidder?

Jocelyn Geboy

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:20:13 -0600

YAY! i know he's a crazy mofo, but so am i and we need a FAN! fck this "major league" (the movie) crap. selig doesn't get to decide/have a say in who buys the team, does he? i'm originally from WI (kill me), and i now hate ex-brewer guy selig. what a fuckshaw.