On The Mark: Cuban Confirms He Has Formally Applied To Buy Cubs

Cuban Confirms Submitting Application To Buy Cubs

Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban confirmed he has formally submitted an application to buy the Cubs, according to Rick Morrissey of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. However, sources close to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said that the league “doesn’t like Cuban. It doesn’t like the fact he has to pay about $1.5[M] in fines for criticizing the NBA and its referees.”  Morrissey adds it is “hard to picture Bulls and White Sox [Chair] Jerry Reinsdorf, who has seen Cuban’s act in the NBA, remaining quiet during the bid process.”  A report in Thursday’s Chicago Tribune said that most observers “think [MLB] would balk at a potential owner as unpredictable and outspoken as Cuban,” but Cuban said through an e-mail, “I never comment on ‘most observers’ reports. It’s like responding to a random blog post, a waste of time.” Morrissey writes at a minimum, Cuban “could help drive up the sale price of the franchise, which some experts believe could top $1[B]” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/13). Cuban declined to say what comes next after officially applying for the team or “how his pursuit of the Cubs might affect his ownership and involvement with the Mavericks.” Cuban: “I submitted the application and have no comment on the rest” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/13).