I took one look at the headlines and my heart skipped a beat. Mark Cuban has finally placed a bid for my beloved Cubbies. One can only dream of the havoc Cuban could wreak in a sport with no salary cap. Cuban as the owner of the Cubs.... you might as well start producing the A-Rod jerseys. Wouldn't he look great in blue? In all seriousness, the rumor is that his lack of local roots and loquacious ways are going to be held against him when his bid is in consideration. A bigger load of BS would be really hard to come by. This is the Chicago Cubs we are talking about. With a fan base that blames it's futility on a freakin' goat, what would be more fitting than a guy like Cuban sitting pretty on top? Mark Cuban is a good owner. Despite his antics, he knows how to bring in talented players and keep a team competitive. He would spend through the roof AND bring in the best of the best when it comes to his employees in the scouting department. The point is that Mark Cuban is a guy that expects exellence from the product that he produces on the court/field and i am sure the first thought that crosses his mind every morning is winning-related. Mark Cuban would also fit in very well with Lou Piniella. Lou is a guy that likes to get things done. From what has been said, Lou has pretty much gave Jim Hendry a list of things he wants done, such as ridding the Cubs of Jacque Jones, Cesar Izturis, demoting Matt Murton and trading Michael Barrett. Trading Barrett and sending Murton down were easy because there wasn't much of a loss financially. But if Cuban was around, i believe that the minute Lou told him to get rid of Jones, Cuban would have cut the cords on him. I think Cuban would be an owner on the level of Art Moreno, perhaps not as classy.
The Cubs need Mark Cuban. Simple as that.
**New Info: I was just listening to the radio and an expert just broght up a point that bodes very well for Cuban if in fact he is the high bidder. The Chicago Tribune has a responsibility to it's shareholders to sell the Chicago Cubs to the highest bidder. If Cuban is the high bidder and Bud Selig, along with many of the other owner in the MLB, nix the deal in favor of a local owner that is not willing to pay as much as Cuban is, Cuban and the Chicago Tribune can take Selig and Major League Baseball to court and force baseball to fork the Cubs over to Cuban. And between me and you, i would take Cuban/ Chicago Tribune(An enormous media conglomorate)'s lawyers over Major League Baseball's lawyers any day of the week. Yet another twist in the sale of the Cubs.
It would be great for Cubs fans if Cuban became owner but I think the owners may be scared off by the antics he displays as a basketball owner. With his demand for perfection for referees in the NBA you can only imagine what he would do to the umpires. Sitting in his first row box seat at Wrigley he would really be an irritant to the umpires and he would probably set a record never to be broken for being an owner thrown out o####ame beacuase the umpires wouldn't put up with it. That could be a detriment to the Cubs pitchers because an umpire can make you pay just by not giving you the marginal calls especially on balls and strikes. MLB baseball also wouldn't put up with his constant sniping to the press about the umpires or his constant criticism of baseball in general. Although Cuban has spent so much money on player salaries to the point where he is like the NBA's version of the Yankees he has not brought Dallas a championship. There is no guarantee that him coming in and throwing more money out there will bring the Cubs a championship. The Cubs would be better off getting a priest to perform an exorcism at Wrigley Field to break their long curse.
God no. Not Mark Cuban as owner of the beloved Cubs.
First, night-time games at Wrigley. Then Mark Cuban as owner.
This is too much change for us Cub fans. Next thing you know, we'll be winning a World Series and we might as well #### cut our wrists. DON'T DO THIS! Some things need to stay the way they are; you fear global warming? Wait until you see what happens if the Cubs win a World Series ...
If he does buy your Cubs, you need to hope for one thing. Hope that he does not alienate all of MLB's umpires and the commissioner's office as he has done with the NBA's refs and David Stern. Trust me. If you have the entire league against you, a world series title will be even further away than you think it is.
I don't think Mark Cuban will play very well in Chicago. He just doesn't seem like the type Chicagoans rally behind. Cuban is kind of an uber-nerdy Quentin Tarantino type, Chicago is more the Martin Scorcese type - well grounded but with enough eccentricity to keep things interesting. Chicago likes a touch of avante garde with a heavy dose of tradition.
That, and he would #### off all the umpires and league officials ...
"I don't think Mark Cuban will play very well in Chicago. He just doesn't seem like the type Chicagoans rally behind....Chicago likes a touch of avante garde with a heavy dose of tradition."
Once again DiI wrong, way wrong.
We have been sick of the ownership for years. We have been sick of the Absentee-type of owner that cares more about the bottom line than bringing in a winner. For years the Tribune Co. would send 7 average to below average players out on the field...and one token all-star so we would buy his jersey.
Tradition? How about our losing tradition? The Bulls have won 6 championships (and continue to make the playoffs), the Bears were in the Super Bowl, and to make matters worse, the ChiSox won the World Series. No Dave, Cubs fans are more than ready to wave bye bye to the old guard and eagerly welcome an owner who wants to win.
No we're not. Not when it's in the form of a Mark Cuban. Cub fans have some pride. Actually, we have a lot of pride, mixed with a good sense of humor regarding our history. I don't see Mark Cuban fitting in, unless he creates an out-of-the-gate World Series winner. I do see Mark Cuban building a new ballpark somewhere on the north side, making it a state of the art venue, buying more talent than we're used to (although we've had a couple of strong teams in the last decade or so). I'd prefer an owner who will bring a winner to Chicago AND honor it's traditions - don't see Cuban doing that, let alone not embarrassing us with his in-park (on-field?) antics.
Dave, what are you talking about? After listening to the radio for just a few minutes it was made pretty clear that Chicagoans would LOVE to have Marc Cuban by the Cubs. A for all that trash about tradition, gimme a break. I would take a tradition of winning over the tradition of losing over the last 100 years.
You sound like you are one of those "Cub" fans that really are more Wrigley Field fans than anything. I love Wrigley and i dont see Cuban moving out of there any time soon, but winning should be valued above all, including the venue in which your favorite team plays in.
Are you a Cubs fan or a Wrigley fan? Which is it? Sounds like the latter.
I understand Cubs fans frustration with the last few years but this ownership went out and spent a ton of money in the off season to try and improve the team and they got the best manager out there in Lou Pinella. The Cubs have been playing pretty well and are competing in there division. With Pinella at the helm and the ownerships willingness to spend money the only other thing to do is get Carlos Zambrano under contract and get into the post season. Having Pinella at the helm gives the Cubs the best chance to win a World Series in years. The only thing that would be left to do is change the front office if the Cubs aren't successful. Other than that what more can the ownership do? Spending more money doesn't guarantee a World Series just ask the Yankees. Do you really want Cuban to come in and alienate MLB and the umpires like he has the NBA? That would only hurt the Cubs more. Let the owners spend the money and the baseball people run the team.
It is absurd to suggest that Cuban is not a good choice because he may get under some umpires' skin. The refs may not like Cuban in the NBA but the Mavs will not win or lose because of the referees. They won a bajillion games in the regular season despite Cuban's antics and they lost to Golden State because they didnt play well enough to win, not because of Cuban.
I heard this story this morning and wondered how Cubby fans would react. I think Cuban would be good for baseball, he is one of the more visible characters in the NBA, and has a reputation for spending whatever it takes to put together a winning team. Plus any excuse I can get to see him in agony on the sidelines during a close game is worth it.
I like the Arte Moreno nod, very nice, but I have to say, A Rod is going to look better in red and batting behind Vlade than in a cubs uniform.
Cuban would be kinda good. I'd be ralphing about every day from the nerdy arrogance he'd display on his daily television-attention-getting stunt - I could stand to lose about fifteen pounds.
chitown'
As much as most Cubs' fans would like to see that scenario unfold. I doubt the present owners see him as the guy that they'd sell the team to. He may well have all the money in the world and can assume ownership of the franchise. But really are the Cubs' fans willing to put up with all of his exploits and extravagance and pretentiousness ?
God knows the franchise needs a fresh influx of new ideas and originality.
But like all franchises that go high's and lows they'll find a way to get things done and no doubt find a suitable owner.
41,000 fans showed up at Wrigley today. 41,000 to see a team that is now 2 games over .500. Damn it, Cubs fans deserve more than veiled attempts at getting better. The 300 million spent in free-agency comes out to 130 mil for '07. That 130 mil. by the end of this season will do nothing less than command 750-850 million plus for the Cubs. Everything has always been done for the bottom line and this was no different. I would welcome a face to go with "my" team. A face that puts as much as an emphasis on winning as it does on churning a profit.
Smoke, couldn't have said it better myself.
Side point, Jim Hendry's off-season moves have mostly panned out, but if Cuban gets the nod i would like him to bring in Steve Stone to be the new GM. Most outside of Chicago dont know much about Stoney but he has a very good baseball mind and he always seems to be right on with evaluatins of Cub's and other teams' talent. Some in Chicago speak of Stoney as a G-od; I wont go that far, but i think he would immmediately be one of the top GM's in the game.
I really like Cuban. I am a Spurs fan, too, and I don't have a problem with him. He is just a fan who happens to be an owner. If things were happening to my team than I would stand up for them, unlike most other NBA owners.
However, in a sport where there is no salary cap and the Commissioner does nothing, Cuban could become twice the annoyance as George Steinbrenner was.
Cubs fans will love him, everbody else will hate him.
Last edited by hstreet4cyyoung on July 13th at 3:41 PM.
cuban is a great owner. You dont have to like his personality. a lot of people trash Jerry Jones, but almost all the NFL owners respect him as one of the best in the business.
Cuban wouldnt be afraid to pay the cash to get quality players which is all you need in the MLB to succeed. The Yankees have bought many world championships. The Cubs would be lucky if they got Cuban to buy a few for them
What's up Chitown?
I mentioned Cubes in my most recent post too... and honestly, I think it would be big for him to own the Cubs. He is an interesting character, and many people question him for a number of reasons, but no one should question his desire to win, and his passion to get his team to the top.
Later -- KP
I agree Jerry Jones is in a similar class as Mark Cuban. There are guys who win and maintain high standards of personal conduct and then there's your Jerry Jones and Mark Cubans.
Just win baby! Where have I heard that before? (I think from a now wholly discredited former "do anything to get a winner" owner). Surely Chicago has a tycoon or two who would elevate the Cubs to the highest level without the sideshow that Cuban brings. Come on, SURELY the country's third largest metro area can pull this off.
Cuban goes too far, but Dallas has been winning since he took over -- which is more than I can say for Cubs the last 125 years.
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I like it, but I hear a group led by someone with interests in the Brewers is the front runner. Seems like a conflict of interest to me, but Bud never shied from that.
Bud Selig, conflict of interest? Nearly as much as Jerry Reinsdorf having a say in who can buy the Cubs.
Sideshows in Chicago? How about Premium Tickets (owned by Tribune Co.) printing tickets and then scalping those tickets to Cubs fans? Rooftop owners pony 17% of revenue to Cubs? Concrete falling on fans? Advertising on steel doors along outfield ivy? Barrett vs AJ? Years of Sosa? Prior, Wood, and Dusty.
We know all about sideshows in Chicago, but living with one (Cuban) that wants to win is the one we can live with.
I am college kid out of chicago and love Chicago sports aka a huge homer. My writing may contradict this, but i do care and know about sports outside of Chicago, although I may never blog about it.
