(Jeff Roberson/AP)
Filed: Nov. 19, 2008
Finally.
I take a few days to take care of business, and all sorts of hell break loose. The good news I guess is that my work blitz has finally passed, the school quarter is over, and there is plenty going on in Cubbie Nation to make things interesting. Let's get to it.
Mark Cuban
Had to start there. With insider trading charges brought by the SEC Monday, I'd say that his bid to purchase the Cubs has unofficially officially come to an end. Now, I completely understand the nature of the charges, having worked in finance for some time.
So, I understand that there likely won't be perp walks, scandal-ridden snippets, or major headlines with this outside of regional coverage, and business journals. However, this guy just can't stay out of the news, which must drive the owners of the NBA and MLB crazy.
With a new owner to be voted on as soon as December, this is terrible timing, and his announcement that he'll fight the charges—over what amounts to a few million in fines and confiscation of gains—is nuts.
No, the charges won't do him in. But the fresh reminder to owners that in a group who not only handles their marketing and media relations poorly, but seems to have a genuine disdain for it, that this guy can't keep out the press, will.
I actually did an in-depth interview with the local ABC affiliate for reaction to the charges Monday. Piece of advice for bloggers: it's a whole other world doing TV. Playing pundit in front of a video camera will make you rethink why the hell you're doing this, especially if you're not getting paid.
Meanwhile though, Ryan Dempster was completing his rags-to-riches story, inking a $52 million—not including incentives—deal to remain with the Cubs. Weird. As recently as a year ago, I talked to fans who would have traded him for a decent middle infielder and a used rake.
Now, we're sighing in relief that we've the right to pay him $15 million per. You know my feelings; it's more cash than I would have liked to commit to him. But the Cubs stayed away from a fifth year, and some of the amateur sabermetricians that I've chatted with think that with inflation, and the assumption of slightly above-average performance, that this looks like a good deal for the Cubs in a year or two.
I'll take their word for it—for now—but I can't help feeling like spending that money on offers to Randy Johnson and Bobby Abreu would have been a better bet. Just saying.
And, this has to be my quote of the year:
''Maybe we underestimated how prepared you have to be, how ready you have to be, especially in a five-game series.
Game One pitcher Ryan Dempster said Tuesday after signing a four-year contract to return to the Cubs.
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