Don Levin is still in the picture to buy the Cubs

by blackhawk24 on Mar 12, 2008 6:00 AM CDT Comment 35 comments

An article by Barry Rozner, IMHO the best Chicago sports columnist, today discusses Don Levin in consideration buying the Cubs.

I'm totally biased in favor of Don Levin owning the Cubs - plus actually considered campaigning for him to buy the Blackhawks if he didn't get the Cubs and Rocky Wirtz didn't take over - because of his classy approach in connecting with a fan base of a minor league hockey team in a big city. Don's ownership of the Wolves should be a benchmark on how professional teams shall be run.

He's been approved to see the books but none have yet been available.

While patient and as always saying the right thing, Levin wouldn't be surprised if the team sale won't occur until after the season.

He knows Zell has had to think this out and believes the ball park sale may work out better for the buyer. He's mindful that a greedy lease from the state won't help prospective buyers.

Don is obviously a smart businessman and, unlike what I've seen with Zell thus far, a gentleman. He understands what it will take to balance the mix financially that would make it a win-win situation for both the seller and buyer.

While patient he's still a bit anxious and is looking for resolution soon stating, "I just hope I can buy the team while I still have the strength to walk up the ramp at Wrigley Field".

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=151786

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Well stated

I agree 100%

by Neifi Puppy on Mar 12, 2008 7:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is excellent news.

Levin would be the perfect owner -- a guy with pockets as deep as Mark Cuban's, along with being a Cubs fan all his life. He has shown how a fan-friendly operation can run with the Wolves.

I'm 100% for Levin as the next owner.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 12, 2008 8:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

but...

would he have his own seat in the bleachers? :P

Worst to First in 2007, brought to you by Lou, Sori, A-Ram and D-Lee.

by drewishdrewid on Mar 12, 2008 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

I'm sure he could sit wherever he wanted. But you can bet he'd do it without calling attention to himself.

At Wolves games he often stands behind one of the sections and talks to fans.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 12, 2008 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want an owner that we will see twice

In first speech as owner and while shaking hands at the parade in Oct.

Well he might get a hug from me.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Mar 12, 2008 10:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You're gonna see him more

but because of his connecting with the fans, not being the centre of attention like Cuban would.

Don't know if you've been to Wolves games but Don is rather accessible, fan friendly but never the centre of attention.

To give everyone an idea of the kind of guy he is...when the Wolves did NOT make the playoffs a couple years ago, he panned a letter to all season ticket holders apologizing for the season, vowed to correct the mistake and made an offer to the fans to assure them they would renew their packages. Ever hear of a pro sports team do that? And if so, how often does that happen?

BTW, the Wolves have one of the best (if not the very best) records in the AHL this year. They're 30 games over .500 and post a winning percentage of nearly .750. I think he's making good on his promises.

by blackhawk24 on Mar 12, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

All in know,...

....is this is going to get real interesting if Cuban does what I think he might - and that is blow everybody else out of the water with his bid.

I just can't see Zell sitting quietly by while the league tells him he has to accept a bid that is $200 million lower.

Things will get very entertaining.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 12, 2008 11:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wrong

You're wrong on Mark Cuban. There is no way Bud Selig, Jerry Reinsdorf and the other owners are going to vote him into their tight, cloistered little fraternity. It simply won't happen.

by MDBNIU on Mar 12, 2008 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you...

...and I didn't say the league would approve Cuban. What I said was it is going to be interesting when (if this happens) Cuban has the best bid and the league tells Zell sorry. That will be fun to watch.

If you have observed Zell, he wants to squeeze every last dollar out of this thing he can (I don't blame him), and he doesn't take kindly to someone telling him who he can sell one of his assets to.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 12, 2008 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zell will lose on this one...if it comes to that

Sam Zell knew fair well when he purchased the Tribune Company that any sale of the Cubs is conditioned on approval by the MLB owners. Keep in mind Bud Selig's pal John Canning is in the bidding. Also, Jerry Reinsdorf loathes Mark Cuban. And Reinsdorf is a very powerful and influential owner. If it becomes a power play between Zell and Selig/MLB owners it will be Selig and company who win.

by MDBNIU on Mar 12, 2008 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really

And when did MLB approve Zell as the Owner of the Cubs? The short answer is that they did not because he purchased an asset holding the Cubs and not the Cubs. The ownership of the Cubs (The Tribune Company) did not change. The ownership of the Tribune Company changed. If the difference were big enough, perhaps you would simply see a sale of "The Tribune Company".

by frustratedfan on Mar 12, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huh

I like that. Its actually a good idea to keep Selig and his old man friends out of it.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Mar 12, 2008 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand what you are saying...

...but the Trib (run by Zell) will still be subject to the rules the owners have in place. It really doesn't matter that the league did not view Zell (himself) as the new owner.

Bottom line; if he tells one of his employees in public to F-off, I can imagine what he will say behind closed doors (to the league) if he has to turn down a bunch of money to make them happy.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 12, 2008 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I realize the owners...

...can let in or deny anyone into their club they choose. What I am saying is I can't wait to see the sparks fly when and if Zell has to turn down a bigger offer because of this.

I just think it could get very enteraining with Sammy involved.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 12, 2008 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you MPH

Hey, is that Mikita, Pappen & Hull?

I noticed the other day there's lots of folks tied to the video world. Wouldn't it be cool one of them somehow someway caught Zell losing it when Bud Lite and his cronies tell him he CAN'T accept Cuban's $1.65B offer and has to take DON LEVIN's $1.1B offer?

by blackhawk24 on Mar 12, 2008 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It sure is...

...the old MPH line, with 73 representing their best year.

My family owned a restaurant in the western suburbs for a period of time. Dennis Hull would come in most Saturday nights for pizza, and he was a good guy with a great sense of humor.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 13, 2008 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What we know is...

...four to six potential ownership groups have been cleared to see the Cubs' financials.

Ownership groups we know of:

John Canning, Jr.
Mark Cuban
Robinson-Greenberg and Associates
Don Levin

Are there any I'm missing?

I has a blog.

by cwyers on Mar 12, 2008 11:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

How about...

...the guy from Nebraska that has Chicago ties. I can't recall his name or business, but I do remember him being talked about early on.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 12, 2008 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ricketts, Omaha NE...

of TD/Ameritrade fame.

Has Cuban been cleared? If so, I must have missed that.

by blackhawk24 on Mar 12, 2008 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course I'm forgetting one.

Jerry Colangelo.

I has a blog.

by cwyers on Mar 12, 2008 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ricketts family of Omaha Nebraska

They too met the pre-qualification process.

by MDBNIU on Mar 12, 2008 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about the guy in the pink hat

N/T

by LT on Mar 12, 2008 1:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Jim Anixter.

I don't think he's among the groups that's been vetted, although I know he was interested at one point.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 12, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I admit....

Not being a hockey fan, I don't know much about Levin, and in fact, had never heard of him until I first heard his name mentioned as a prospective buyer of the team. But after reading about him and his ownership of the Wolves, and how he was a Chicagoan who is a lifelong Cubs fan, I became a Levin fan. Reading this article gives me hope that one day we will have it--one owner with deep pockets, who genuinely and PERSONALLY wants to see the Cubs win, as opposed to it being a giant business venture. In short, the new owner has to be a real Cubs fan.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Mar 12, 2008 2:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

DINGDINGDINGDING!!!

We have a winner.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 12, 2008 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I 2nd that Al..........

Let's hope Levins' the guy. If not...........I feel Cuban brings the same enthusiasm

by plenz on Mar 12, 2008 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

All I want...

...is for the new owner to put winning about all else.

I don't care if the guy seeks attention or doesn't, as long as the motivation is to build the best organization possible.

There have been a lot of successful owners (winners) who liked the attention, and they realize the best way to get attention is to win. Sure, I would prefer a classy guy to some goofball, but as long as they do the right things to win, thats all I care about.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 12, 2008 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

However, given a choice between an equally deep pocketed owner who wants to win and stays in the background, and a deep pocketed owner who wants to win but goes on "Dancing With the Stars", I choose the former.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 12, 2008 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Loud, sustained applause.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Mar 12, 2008 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seems all agree.........

that we DON'T want Seligs pawn Canning to end up with the team. Based on what we hear.........I prefer Levins' more laid back style. That being said.....I have no problem with Cuban either..........winning would be a priority for him despite his antics

by plenz on Mar 13, 2008 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd be very pleased if Levin was the choice

I don't know enough about the Ricketts family of TD/Ameritrade fortune. But of the names on the table Donald Levin is the one who I want to see win this competition. By all indications he is a good sharp man who cares about the product and cares about winning.

by MDBNIU on Mar 13, 2008 9:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

A name that has not been mentioned.

In thinking of people around Chicago who could potentially be interested, the one name that I'm surprised never even surfaced would be.....Michael Jordan. I know he is now VP of basketball ops, or whatever, with the Charlotte NBA franchise, but I wonder if he would have an interest in owning the Cubs outright, or trying to put together an ownership group. You know he would just love to compete against Jerry Reinsdorf to be #1 in the city.

I'm not suggesting that MJ would be a better option than Don Levin, by the way, I'm just thinking out loud. I would be curious if someone broached the idea to him, what his response would be.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Mar 13, 2008 12:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Just as long...

as he didn't try to play for them...

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 13, 2008 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jordan lost a lot of his money in the divorce

ALTHOUGH, Im sure he would become the face of the Cubs MUCH MORE than Cuban would.

Jordan= STILL my favorite sports athlete ever. I cant help it he was there when I was a kid until my late teen years

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Mar 13, 2008 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks but no thanks

The last thing the team needs is another guy that loves the spotlight. Jordan is an egomanic.

I could give a rats ass how good a hoops player he was or all his NBA-related glory. I could not care less he was a "White Sox farmhand that owns 3 NBA rings" (1994 commercial).

The Cubs need an owner who is business savvy and "gets it" on what it takes to run a baseball team that was once (and still is) their home town team. Don Levin is that man!

by blackhawk24 on Mar 13, 2008 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs