Cuban's Cubs?

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Aug 4, 2008 5:12PM

As the bidding process on the Chicago Cubs continues, a new front-runner has emerged: one-time long-shot Mark Cuban is, according to insiders, the new favorite to land the team. We're sure it has nothing to do with the fact that he already owns a successful professional sports team. While NBA Commissioner David Stern already voiced his support for Cuban, the outspoken owner got a vote of support from an actual current MLB owner: John Henry of the Boston Red Sox. In an email to the New York Times, Henry said he could think, “of no one better suited to reverse the fortunes of the Cubs for the long term.” Henry also added, tongue-in-cheek, “The commissioner’s office abhors owners who speak their minds and fight for the rights of their respective franchises.” In his own email to the Times, Cuban said:

“The Cubs are an amazing franchise and brand,” Cuban wrote in an e-mail message. “I think the owner of any major sports franchise has two jobs: first, it’s to work hard to win a championship year after year, and second, to be the caretaker of the franchise in the community.”

For what it's worth, it seems most Cubs players are supportive of Cuban as a potential owner. Said Derrick Lee to the Trib:

"He's doing a great job in Dallas and I'm sure he would come in here and do a good job...He's passionate about winning. That's his main concern—putting a winning product out there—plus he's a lot of fun. He really gets into it. He's not just a guy who throws his money in and is hands-off. He's hands-on and involved, so I think it would be a lot of fun."