Cubs Narrow List Of Buyers; Cuban Makes Cut, Canning Jr. Out

Cuban One Of Five Groups To Make Cut For Second Round Of Bidding For Cubs

MONEY MATTERS: In Chicago, Rosenthal & Sachdev report with Tribune Co. rejecting Canning's offer, the team "fired a warning shot concerning the auction for the ball club, Wrigley Field and related properties." By informing Canning that his group's first-round proposal "fell short of those advancing," sources indicated that Tribune Co. "sought to tell everyone involved -- including MLB -- that money matters more than who you know." Sources said that Tribune Co.'s "knockdown of the Canning group did not necessarily take Canning out of the game, which was described by one auction source as being only in 'the second inning.'" But it was "unknown whether Canning's group would increase its offer, or how Tribune Co. would respond if it did." It also is possible some bidders whose offers "were not satisfactory to Tribune Co. may choose to align themselves with others still in the auction" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/24). The Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan said Tribune Co. owes it to their employees "to take the highest bid possible and if there’s any other way that it goes through, then it’s a sham" (“Chicago Tribune Live,” CSN Chicago, 7/23).  

HAVING THE FINAL SAY: CSN Chicago's David Kaplan said of Canning reportedly being out of the bidding, “Really good sources I spoke to today said, ‘Don’t believe that.’ Because their bid was a lot lower than the others … people believe (the Canning group is) out. They said, ‘Don’t believe that,’ that it will change and that people at the Tribune Co. are underestimating how much power Bud Selig and (MLB) will have in deciding who's going to get this team.” Kaplan said Cuban will not be allowed to purchase the team, even if he has the highest bid, because Kaplan does not "believe (MLB’s) group of owners is going to want him in their club.” Sullivan: “You talk to the players and basically, they’re all for Cuban (buying the team) … because they see how he handles his athletes with Dallas.”  However, Kaplan said, “People out there who think Cuban is the greatest to have (as an owner), front row tickets for a Mavericks game since he took over -- $2,800 a seat. So as soon as the Cubs fans go, ‘Wait a minute, you’re raising my tickets to what,’ he doesn’t become so attractive” (“Chicago Tribune Live,” CSN Chicago, 7/23).

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