Winning Bidder Could Be Announced Within A Week

[Ace]

There's a CNBC article that sounds a lot more optimistic than that one. Too tired, lazy to get it now.

[vegascub]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/31001796

[rok]

He's full of shit. The deal will happen. The other parties don't have anywhere near the cash he's looking for. And good for Ricketts for exposing the Trib for the racket that it has been for decades. Zell is just trying to save face after a series of bad decisions.

[rok]

This also came out late yesterday. The deal is pretty much done, and Zell is full of shit.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Trib, Ricketts edge toward closing Cubs sale
By: Ann Saphir May 29, 2009

(Crain’s) — Thomas Ricketts, who is leading his family’s bid to buy the Chicago Cubs from Tribune Co., is closer to sealing the deal than recent reports suggest.

As recently as two weeks ago, disagreement over the terms of the team’s broadcast contract with Tribune’s WGN network left the two sides as much as $50 million apart on the nearly $900-million deal.

<b>Sources now tell Crain’s that both sides have made concessions on some of the key sticking points, bringing them near the conclusion of a sale process that’s dragged on for Tribune more than two years. </b>The family, led by Mr. Ricketts, has been in exclusive talks with TribCo on the Cubs sale since January.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[rok]

More keeps coming out on this each day, and with all the newly available info shedding some light on the situation, it's clear that the Ricketts are doing a much better job of handling PR than Zell's lackies who are trying to make the family look like sudden deadbeats. Shocking, eh?

Interesting tidbit from the Sunday Trib:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi...0,3534403.story

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->But Tribune Co. also wanted to protect WGN. So it continues to broadcast about 70 games a year on its television station and all 162 games on the radio. The Cubs and WGN have historically split advertising revenue 50-50, three former Tribune executives said. The Cubs' share was probably less than the team might have gotten from an independent station.

Tribune doesn't release those numbers, but in 2001, an MLB report to Congress showed that the team's broadcast revenues were significantly below what other big-market teams pulled in, including the Chicago White Sox, the rival across town. The document said the Cubs received $23.5 million in revenue from local television, radio and cable contracts, while the White Sox commanded $30 million.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Seems to me that eventually Zell will cave in but not after a little kicking and screaming, because no other interested party is going come close to meeting his demands. The Ricketts have both the cash and the financing lined up to close this thing. Zell's just trying to be a hardass and cover up the fact that the Tribco has been running an accounting shell game for years and has overstated the value of the team. No other party will want to swoop in and replace the Ricketts, as Zell wants us to believe. Not a chance. During more prosperous times, maybe, but not in today's environment.

[Clapp]

I saw Mark Cuban say a few days ago on Twitter that if the Cubs by chance became available again, he's not interested.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=41336:date=May 31 2009, 03:45 AM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ May 31 2009, 03:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I saw Mark Cuban say a few days ago on Twitter that if the Cubs by chance became available again, he's not interested.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Given the way Zell's carried himself through the process, I'm sure the other formerly interested parties feel the same way. He can go eat a dick.

[cherp]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi...0,3534403.story

I find this one interesting....discusses the Trib paying broadcast rights to the Cubs well below market value... That's no surprise to me.

I wonder what the real worth of those contracts are - has to be more than the 23.5mm that the article indicates - certainly if the Sox are getting 30mm. We know the Cubs (local) broadcast rights should be worth well more than the Sox.

This is going to be interesting. I hope the Ricketts thing works out. I really don't want to see a lesser calibre owner have to overfinance themselves and not be able to make this a competitive club. And I want Zell's ass out of town QUICKLY.

The unfortunate thing is this will impact the Cubs ability to make a move at the deadline unless this deal is closed. In fact, would it possibly lead to a salary dump if they are a handfull (6+?) games out at the deadline? Is there a good move the Cubs could make?

In any case, seems like this is close...but not close enough yet.

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=41386:date=Jun 1 2009, 07:52 AM:name=cherp)-->QUOTE (cherp @ Jun 1 2009, 07:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi...0,3534403.story

I find this one interesting....discusses the Trib paying broadcast rights to the Cubs well below market value... That's no surprise to me.

I wonder what the real worth of those contracts are - has to be more than the 23.5mm that the article indicates - certainly if the Sox are getting 30mm. We know the Cubs (local) broadcast rights should be worth well more than the Sox.

This is going to be interesting. I hope the Ricketts thing works out. I really don't want to see a lesser calibre owner have to overfinance themselves and not be able to make this a competitive club. And I want Zell's ass out of town QUICKLY.

The unfortunate thing is this will impact the Cubs ability to make a move at the deadline unless this deal is closed. In fact, would it possibly lead to a salary dump if they are a handfull (6+?) games out at the deadline? Is there a good move the Cubs could make?

In any case, seems like this is close...but not close enough yet.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->



In other news, France has presented the United States with a giant green woman holding a torch. Kind of a weird present if you ask me.

[PcB]

<!--quoteo(post=41387:date=Jun 1 2009, 08:04 AM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Jun 1 2009, 08:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=41386:date=Jun 1 2009, 07:52 AM:name=cherp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cherp @ Jun 1 2009, 07:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi...0,3534403.story

I find this one interesting....discusses the Trib paying broadcast rights to the Cubs well below market value... That's no surprise to me.

I wonder what the real worth of those contracts are - has to be more than the 23.5mm that the article indicates - certainly if the Sox are getting 30mm. We know the Cubs (local) broadcast rights should be worth well more than the Sox.

This is going to be interesting. I hope the Ricketts thing works out. I really don't want to see a lesser calibre owner have to overfinance themselves and not be able to make this a competitive club. And I want Zell's ass out of town QUICKLY.

The unfortunate thing is this will impact the Cubs ability to make a move at the deadline unless this deal is closed. In fact, would it possibly lead to a salary dump if they are a handfull (6+?) games out at the deadline? Is there a good move the Cubs could make?

In any case, seems like this is close...but not close enough yet.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->



In other news, France has presented the United States with a giant green woman holding a torch. Kind of a weird present if you ask me.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] STEAK DINNER. BOOM!

[Butcher]

The Statue of Liberty wasn't green when France gave her to the U.S. She's made of of copper -- like a penny. So it looked like a penny when it was delivered. Oxidation and whatever else happens to copper when it is exposed to the elements for a long time turned it green.

[rok]

Deja Vu.

[Brock]

They should spraypaint that bitch pink.

[Coldneck]

<!--quoteo(post=41427:date=Jun 1 2009, 01:46 PM:name=Brock)-->QUOTE (Brock @ Jun 1 2009, 01:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->They should spraypaint that bitch pink.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I'm going to spraypaint your chin white.

[The Dude]

Ricketts on CNBC after this commercial break.