The Chicago Cubs filed for bankruptcy at the end of this season. They are owned by the Tribune. Joe Ricketts is in line to purchase the Cubs for about $845,000,000.00. You could outbid him for $900,000,000.00 and get the Cubbies. What would you get in the deal?
You would get a team that is one of two charter members of the National League. You would get the champion non-winner in professional sports. The Cubs haven't won a championship in 101 years! It doesn't bother the fans that much. They love the old park built in 1916 on the north side of Chicago. The brick fence is vine covered and can actually hide a ball hit into it. For most of their years they had no lights so only played day games. Nearby apartments have fans sitting on the roof watching the games for free. The place is called Wrigley Field for the gum. Players are called, "The Boys In Blue" or simply "The Cubbies". In the last of the seventh they all sing, "Take Me Out To The Ballgame". Harry Carey used to lead them. He is gone.
There are two Major League teams in Chicago: The White Sox are an American League team. Many years ago they were called "The Black Sox" for a scandal that nearly destroyed baseball.
You would get the Cubs, all related properties, and the old Wrigley Field. You would have the most expensive loser franchise in baseball. I love the place, though I have never been there. A few great players have come there through the years. Ernie Banks was one. Unfortunately, they weren't on the same team.
Over in New York you have two teams in the same city; the Mets and Yankees. At no surprise the Yankees are in the playoffs. They are winning with pitching. How? Sabathia, Burnett, and Pettitte are in contracts totaling $243 million? That would buy one fourth of the entire Cubs operation. Money is the name of the game. I still would take the Cubs for my team over the Bronx Bombers. They tore down "The House That Ruth Built". No class. Go Cubs! Maybe next year! .... or the next, or the next, or the next.......
