04/19/24
July 13, 2007
Mark Cuban Applies to Buy Chicago Cubs: Add internet billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to the list of potential Chicago Cubs buyers.
posted by commander cody to baseball at 01:18 PM - 24 comments
Interested parties must submit an application to Major League Baseball to examine the team's finances. Anyone here want to submit an application? I'd love to see that process from the inside.
posted by rcade at 02:12 PM on July 13, 2007
Could SportsFilter submit an application? What are the prerequisites? Is there a deposit required?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 02:36 PM on July 13, 2007
Not me. With my luck I'd sign the wrong thing and end up owing the team! Uh Uh! I ended up married three times doing that! Besides, the Cubs?
posted by commander cody at 02:36 PM on July 13, 2007
There's usually an up-front fee, not necessarily refundable either.
posted by yerfatma at 02:55 PM on July 13, 2007
Being a Brewers fan, I'm no stranger to futility. But Cuban buying the Cubs makes my short list of dread-inspiring events, right above Turnbow walking the leadoff hitter and below Claudio Vargas' next start. Hopefully they pass on an offer from him and make Wrigley Field the next stop for the ongoing party that is Loria/Sampson.
posted by rocketman at 03:35 PM on July 13, 2007
With my luck I'd sign the wrong thing and end up owing the team! We're talking about the Cubs here....with my luck, I'd sign the wrong thing and end up OWNING the team! :-)
posted by bdaddy at 03:46 PM on July 13, 2007
I'm a life-long "Southside" Cubs fan, and I hope Cuban gets jettisoned from this quest. I root against the Mavs BECAUSE of Cuban and his juvenile courtside antics. Cody is right on the money, and I wouldn't want the umps making "I'm in charge here, not you!"-type of calls because Marky can't keep his rump in his seat or keep his trap shut. I don't really care how much dough this guy spends, he still irks me to no end!
posted by weeklyguy at 04:21 PM on July 13, 2007
I agree with those who say Cuban irritates them. But, his savvy, passion, and willingness to spend a shit load of dough, appeal to the side of me who would love to see the Cubs finally contend for the WS. Hopefully, Cuban would be smart enough not to piss off and alienate the umpiring crew each and every series. Oh well, it's all for nought. Selig will never let Cuban into the MLB owners club and Reinsdorf, Selig's buddy, hates Cuban, too.
posted by willthrill72 at 04:41 PM on July 13, 2007
I think it would be mighty interesting to see Cuban owning a major league team. As annoying as he can be sometimes his passion and presence would be an exciting thing to see in the MLB. On a different note this is SpoFi's 8,888th thread. One thousand one hundred and twelve to go until 10,000.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:14 PM on July 13, 2007
Lets see here.... the Cubs haven't done squat in a couple decades or so and you have an owner that is willing to put his money and efforts into a league that has no salary cap. Seems to me that Cubs fans should jump at the chance that he gets his wish. Sure he is animated, passionate, and sometimes a bit goofy. But, if I recall he has turned a laughable Mavericks team into real contenders. They didn't win it last year and yes they had the best record, but I am certain you will see them again and they WILL get better and better. He had good ideas and is visible, but I find it refreshing. If I owned a team, I would want to be involved. He is no different than I am on my couch, but he has GREAT seats and owns the team. I jump up and down, curse the officials, and point to the big screen to prove "he wasn't fouled". But, I am not a public figure or owner. So, please spare me all the stuff about his antics and passion for the game because all of the stuffed shirt owners will eventually vote NO to him. Not because of his actions, but because they know he will buy whatever players he needs, hire the coaches he needs, and put a winner in the Windy City. He will make anyone short of "The Boss" look cheap and they don't want that.
posted by Mickster at 05:21 PM on July 13, 2007
I wish he would buy the Lions. Since he bought the Mavs,things haven't been the same in Big D.A team of lovable losers,(the Cowboys won more games in a season one year)the Mavs are now annual contenders.
posted by sickleguy at 06:05 PM on July 13, 2007
I wish he would buy the Lions. I wish ANYONE would buy the Lions. Their number one problem has not been the players or the coaches, but the owners! Mr. Ford, if you really love the Lions, sell them! To Cuban or even Cuba! Someone! Anyone! Please! But fire Millian first!
posted by commander cody at 06:21 PM on July 13, 2007
I'll go along with the crowd that wants Cuban to buy their team. Hey Cube! Come on over to Baltimore! Angelos has sucked about everything he's going to get out of the Orioles. It's time for him to turn his $100 million profit and quit ruining my life. I'd give anything for an owner that gives a shit about something other than the profit. Say what you will about Cuban, there is no doubt he wants to win.
posted by gradioc at 06:43 PM on July 13, 2007
If Cuban buys the Cubs, they will certainly lose their label "Lovable Losers." Cubs fans will hope that it is because they start winning, but they will lose the label regardless.
posted by Aardhart at 07:41 PM on July 13, 2007
But, if I recall he has turned a laughable Mavericks team into real contenders. They weren't just laughable. The Mavs were the losingest franchise in major American sports in the '90s. He bought a dismal team no free agent would sign with in 2000 and had them in the NBA Finals six years later. The guy's aggravating at times, but he's one of the most astute hands-on owners in sports. The Cubs would be lucky to have him.
posted by rcade at 11:20 PM on July 13, 2007
If Cuban buys the Cubs, I wonder if he'll run out on the field and throw the bases in a temper tantrum with Lou when there is a bad call.
posted by MGDADDYO at 10:01 AM on July 14, 2007
As a fellow fan of a rival NL Central team, I've gotta agree with rocketman and say this scares me to death. As if it's not bad enough that the Cubs got a semi-competent manager, now there is a possibility of getting an owner who actually gives a crap and is willing to think outside of the box. Love or hate Cuban's courtside antics, he's willing to do what it takes to win and to challenge the conventional wisdom for the good of the team. By the way, rocketman -- which Milwaukee starter's arm are you hoping falls off to get Gallardo back in the rotation?
posted by holden at 11:10 AM on July 14, 2007
I don't think Cuban's antics at a basketball game would be tolerated (or even noticed) by the umpires at a baseball game. If he sets foot on the field, the umpire-in-chief has the authority to eject him from the park. Yes, even the team owner can be ejected, and if he refuses to go, the game can be forfeited on the spot. Thus, I wouldn't worry about Mark Cuban disrupting a baseball game more than once. Judging by his performance as an owner in Dallas, Mark Cuban could be the best thing to happen to the Cubs since, since, um, has anything good ever happened to the Cubs? Seriously, he built a laughing stock into a contender, has a first-class facility for his team, and he treats his players better than any other owner in the league. If he's not allowed into the "owners' club", it will be on account of the other owners being afraid of the competition.
posted by Howard_T at 12:22 PM on July 14, 2007
Cuban's M.O. seems to be that he loves the Bad News Bears types. So in concordance I must agree with COMMANDER CODY. I would love to see him buy the Lions. The Ford's can barely keep Ford Co. afloat right now, so maybe they will put the team up for sale. (Ahhhh wishful thinking) It must be pretty sad when all of your teams fans want you gone...just like the GM. Notice a pattern here outside observers? As far as Cuban goes, wasnt he just trying got buy the Pirates? I give him credit for not giving up though, unfortuantely for him, he doesnt fit the profile that Bud Selig and his Ole-Boys Club of owners want for MLB. It's to bad, cuz last I remember, MLB wasnt the #1 sport in America anymore and I dont see how someone with Cuban's money and notariety...love him or hate him...couldnt be good for MLB. He couldnt hurt, could he?
posted by dezznutz at 01:32 PM on July 14, 2007
Holden: For me, right now it's Cappy, followed closely by Vargas.
posted by drezdn at 02:38 PM on July 14, 2007
followed closely by Vargas. Love his pin-up drawings.........
posted by commander cody at 10:14 PM on July 14, 2007
Vargas, didn't he work for Fed Ex, in the bizarro world episode of Seinfeld?
posted by tommybiden at 10:54 PM on July 14, 2007
drezdn -- I'm sure you didn't want to see Sheets being the one to go down yesterday, but let's hope it's not for too long. I read somewhere that Yost won't demote Capuano from a starting role because he's a good guy and regularly clocked in and did an admirable job during the past few years of mediocrity and they won't move Suppan to the bullpen because of his contract, so I assume unless there is an injury that Bush or Vargas is really going to have to stink it up to get Yovani back in a starting role. It's too bad, because Gallardo is easily the second best starting pitcher the Brewers have.
posted by holden at 08:41 AM on July 15, 2007
As a Tigers fan I probably shouldn't care, but I somehow have this image in my mind of Mark Cuban jumping up and down on the Cubs dugout and screaming every time one of them swings the bat or catches the ball. Even during batting practice.