Mark Cuban Reportedly Bids $1.3 Billion for the Cubs

It hasn't exactly been a secret that current Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has long been interested in owning the Chicago Cubs. Whether he's sitting in the bleachers downing beers with the fans, or next to the Cubs dugout with the Tribune Company brass, Mark has made his intentions pretty clear.

The only question is whether or not Bud Selig and his buddies would ever allow Cuban to enter their exclusive fraternity of stuffy old white guys. It doesn't seem likely, so if Mark is going to have a real shot, he's going to have to blow away every other bidder for the team. Word on the street is that Cuban has already put in the biggest offer for the team, as he pulled $1.3 billion out of his pocket and put it on the table.

Cuban is reported to be the top bidder, at nearly $1.3 billion, but the auction will begin soon, after the applicants and their bankers delve further into the assets books.

"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."

Did You See That?

In this photo provided by the USGA, a black bear runs across the 13th fairway during the second round of the 2008 U.S. Senior Open Championship at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Friday, August 1, 2008. (AP Photo/ USGA, John Mummert) ** PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE USGA, FOR ONE TIME USE ONLY, NO SALES, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY **

John Mummert, USGA / AP

U.S. Olympic basketball team center Dwight Howard makes a slam dunk during a match against Lithuania in Macau, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008. (Kin Cheung, AP)

Kin Cheung, AP

Green Bay Packers safety Atari Bigby rides a small borrowed bicycle a block from Lambeau Field to Clark Hinkle Field for training camp in Green Bay, Wisconsin August 1, 2008. (Allen Fredrickson, Reuters)

Allen Fredrickson, Reuters

Danny Way flips around after hitting the coping while coming down on the quarter pipe during the Skateboard Big Air Finals at the X-Games on Thursday, July 31, 2008, inside the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Way was helped off the ramp, then later returned to win the silver medal. (Sean DuFrene, AP)

Sean DuFrene, AP

Carolina Panthers coaches and team members work to separate Steve Smith and Ken Lucas during an altercation on the sideline in the morning session of training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Friday, August 1, 2008. (David T. Foster III. Charlotte Observer/MCT)

David T. Foster III, Charlotte Observer/MCT

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder celebrates after tagging out Los Angeles Dodgers' Andre Ethier as he tried to score on a hit by Matt Kemp during the eighth inning of their Major League Baseball game, Thursday, July 31, 2008, in Los Angeles. The Diamondbacks won the game 2-1. (Mark J. Terrill, AP)

Mark J. Terrill, AP

Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal reacts after losing a point during her match against Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Montreal, July 31, 2008. (Christinne Muschi, Reuters)

Christinne Muschi, Reuters

New York Mets starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey delivers against the Florida Marlins during first inning National League baseball action in Miami, Florida July 30, 2008.(Hans Deryk, Reuters)

Hans Deryk, Reuters

Maria Sharapova, of Russia, gets medical treatment to her shoulder in her winning match against Poland's Marta Domachowska during second round action at the Rogers Cup tennis match Wednesday, July 30, 2008 in Montreal. Third-seeded Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Rogers Open after her second-round victory Wednesday because of a shoulder injury, possibly jeopardizing her participation at the Beijing Olympics. (Jacques Boissinot, The Canadian Press/AP)

Jacques Boissinot, The Canadian Press/AP

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella, left, argues with third base umpire Brian Gorman, right, after first base umpire Rob Drake ejected Piniella during the ninth inning of their baseball game against the Florida Marlins at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Saturday, July 26, 2008. (Charles Rex Arbogast, AP)

Charles Rex Arbogast, AP

Well, if the starting offer for the team is $1.3 billion, who knows how high it will go before the team is sold. Though it's important to note that the highest bidder doesn't always win. We learned this most recently when John Henry was awarded the Boston Red Sox even though he didn't put up the most money.

Which is exactly why I don't see any way that Bud Selig and MLB will sell the Cubs to Cuban. Sure, he'd do everything in his power to turn the team into a perennial powerhouse, and increase revenues for everybody around the league, but his personality just doesn't mesh with what Selig wants in an owner (and by personality I mean he's not one of Bud's good friends).

Selig takes enough heat as it is from the media and fans alike, and the last thing he's going to want is one of the owners calling him out on a regular basis like Cuban does to NBA commissioner David Stern.

Latest MLB Photos

Chicago Cubs' Jim Edmunds, right, celebrates his solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers with Geovany Soto, left, in the third inning of a baseball game Thursday July 31, 2008, Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

Chicago Cubs' Jim Edmunds watches his solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the third inning of a baseball game Thursday July 31, 2008, Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Dave Busch pitches to the Chicago Cubs in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday July 31, 2008, Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

Milwaukee Brewers' Prince Fielder runs to first as he grounds out to the Chicago Cubs in the second inning of a baseball game Thursday July 31, 2008, Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Rich Harden pitches to the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday July 31, 2008, Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

Cleveland Indians' Fausto Carmona pitches to Detroit Tigers' Curtis Granderson in the first inning during a baseball game Thursday July 31, 2008, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Detroit Tigers' Justin Verlander pitches to Cleveland Indians' Grady Sizemore in the first inning during a baseball game Thursday July 31, 2008, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Cleveland Indians' Fausto Carmona pitches to Detroit Tigers' Curtis Granderson in the first inning during a baseball game Thursday July 31, 2008, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Detroit Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson, left, makes a running catch to get out Cleveland Indians' Franklin Gutierrez while running into right fielder Matt Joyce in the third inning during a baseball game Thursday July 31, 2008, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Detroit Tigers' Justin Verlander pitches to Cleveland Indians' Grady Sizemore in the first inning during a baseball game Thursday July 31, 2008, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)