This was definetly guaranteed by Selig and his old men cronies, but very disappointing. I figure Cuban would send shockwaves down MLB, have a dissenting view of Selig which I would of welcomed, and feel he would of did what was neccessary to keep and continue to make the Cubs a winning team. Shame on Selig for being so underhanded.

One more thing also, if MLB blocks Cuban from buying the Cubs I think Cuban ought to send MLB to court. Cuban's deal is easily the best option for Zell and the Cubs. I hope Cuban just doesn't surrender without a fight.

If Cuban truly has the best offer by a good margin, he should take it to court. Or Congress. Nothing is quite as good as Bud Selig talking circles around himself in front of Congress.

Mark Cuban owning the Cubs is in baseballs best interest. The fact that it's the best offer just icing on the cake.

David dislikes Bud, of course, so he's hoping Cuban would mouth off. Funny thing, though, Cuban's frequent run-ins with Stern have tamed his mouth quite a bit. He's much more subdued nowadays.

I don't care one way or the other if Cuban buys the Cubs. The team is already very good and should contend for the next few years no matter who owns 'em. I know people think Cuban would be a loud and colorful presence, but he really hasn't done much of anything outlandish lately in the NBA. He'd probably be similarly quiet in baseball, much to the disappointment of some.

As for MLB blackballing Cuban, it's impossible. They'd never be guilty of collusion...oh, wait....

I await Mark Cuban's lawsuit - and if not, to try to personally fund Barry Bonds' collusion suit just to stick it in MLB's ear!

A lawsuit about what? Is there a right to buy a MLB franchise in the constitution? If anyone has standing it is Zell, let's see what he does. Cuban can rot; a brat with a mouth and wallet getting rejected by a select billionaires club. Oh the humanity!

A lawsuit has already happened because of this; and if Cuban is rejected, I'm sure $6 million settlement won't deter him:

In Piazza v. Major League Baseball (1993), Vince Piazza sued baseball after it blocked San Francisco Giants owner Bob Lurie from selling the team to Piazza, who planned to move it to St. Petersburg, Fla. MLB then approved a sale, for $15 million less, to Peter Magowan that kept the team in San Francisco. A federal judge ruled that baseball's restrictions on team relocation were not protected by the exemption. However, the judge then ordered a trial to further explore whether he was incorrect about the scope of baseball's exemption. On the eve of trial, Piazza reportedly received a $6 million settlement from MLB and the hearing never happened.

Cuban as an owner would be great- much like Bill Veeck was- of course Corporate Baseball America did not like Veeck too much either and you KNOW Bud wont want Cuban as an owner

I gotta believe blackballing a potential owner with cash in hand is arguably against some aspect of antitrust law. However, the Bush Administration hasn't brought a significant case of antitrust against any business in its entire two terms, so Cuban might be better off waiting till January 20.

Baseball has had an anti-trust exemption since 1922.

I know that, Boomer, but Congress has periodically called Selig and his predecessors in to ask them why the exemption should continue in light of certain actions they've taken which would seem to violate antitrust law had they been subject to it. It's not an experience Selig should court, and denying Cuban and his bucks the chance to buy a team might trigger another round of hearings.

Link: That's exactly why I think this talk of Cuban having ZERO chance is garbage. He's got money to go to court, and if there is ANY chance at all MLB loses the exemption, Selig will let him in.

Again, all the anti-Bud folks figure Cuban would be a Selig scourge once he owned the Cubs. Sorry to disappoint you, but I think Cuban would be pretty much what he has been lately in the NBA, a quiet owner not interested in being anybody's scourge.

I think Cuban actually got embarrassed himself over some of his antics. If he bought the Cubs, he'd still pal around with the fans and act goofy. But I don't see him doing anything to offend Bud, much to the disappointment of David and some of the posters in this thread. He hasn't done anything to offend Stern lately.

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