Why Mark Cuban Should Own the Chicago Cubs

In July 2007, Mark Cuban, the nonconformist owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, applied for ownership of the Chicago Cubs.

Since buying the Mavericks in 2000, Cuban has repeatedly expressed interest in purchasing another sports franchise. In 2005, he formed a group of potential buyers—including Dan Marino—for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.

But the Cubs deal won't be an easy one to make.

Assuming Cuban can get the money together, he has to convince Sam Zell—the billionaire investor buying the Tribune Company—to sell the club to him. Then, he has to convince the other MLB owners to sign off on the transaction.

Zell has already stated that he doesn't want anything to do with the Cubs, but the owners are an old-boys club who've never been interested in embracing new members or new ideas.

Cuban, to his credit, has turned every company he's touched to gold. The Mavs' winning percentage is up 30 points since Cuban took over—and the team has twice as many playoff wins in his seven-year tenure as it did in the 21 previous seasons.

More importantly, Cuban wants to own the Cubs.

And that alone makes his qualified for the position.

The Cubs haven’t played in the World Series since 1945. They haven’t won the World Series since 1908.

If my math is correct, that’s 99 years without a title.

Why would anyone want to own that?

The Cubs and their diehard fans have been nicknamed the “Lovable Losers.” We were cursed by the owner of a goat in 1945. In September of 1969, after a black cat circled Ron Santo, we lost a nine-game lead to the Mets. In 1984, we had a ball go through Leon Durham’s legs en route to an NLCS loss to the Padres.

(Two years later, the same fate befell Bill Buckner—who was wearing his old Cubs batting glove at the time).

And then, of course, we had Steve Bartman reaching up to to catch a foul ball in 2003.

We've had MVPs, Cy Young winners, Rookies of the Year, Gold Glovers, All-Stars, Managers of the Year, and Hall-of-Famers.

We’ve had Cap Anson, Three Finger Brown, Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance, Hack Wilson, Ernie “Let’s Play Two” Banks, Fergie Jenkins, Sweet Swingin’ Billy Williams, Ryno, The Hawk, Mad Dog, and Slammin’ Sammy Sosa on the field...and Ronald Reagan, Jack Brickhouse, and Harry Caray over the airwaves.

Who would be a better to fit to inherit that legacy than Mark Cuban?

Cuban doesn’t want an owner’s box; he wants to be a Bleacher Bum. He doesn’t want to build a new stadium; he wants to refurbish Wrigley. He doesn’t want money from the taxpayers; he has enough of his own.

And if all that isn't enough, he wants to be the owner.

Not because of the history, but because he's a fan—and has been since the first time he sat in the right field bleachers and understood what being a Cubs fan is all about.

We, as fans, deserve a say in who gets to own the Cubs. We don’t need another corporation looking for an investment. We need someone who's not afraid to spend money—and who wants to win.

Mark Cuban is that someone.

He turned the Mavericks into contenders. He'll do the same thing for the Cubs.

The Lovable Losers couldn't ask for anything more than that.

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