Ricketts writes $900 million check

Posted by Jeff Jorgensen on January 23, 2009

The sports world is starting to make less and less sense to me.

A coach goes 5-19, quits his job and is hired at a higher profile position for twice the money. Manny Ramirez walks away from a 2-year $45 million dollar contract. A franchise that hasn’t won a Championship in 100 years sells for $900 million. Things seem a bit out of whack.

Regarding the $900 million, it looks like the Ameri-Ricketts of Omaha, Neb. are going to purchase the Cubs, Wrigley Field and a 25% stake in Comcast SportsNet. This good news for Chicago Cubs fans, because the Ricketts are actually cubs fans, unlike previous owners, Wrigley, Tribune, Zell, etc. The news for Iowa Cubs fans might not be so good, the Ricketts live in Omaha.

“My family and I are Cubs fans,” Tom Ricketts said in a statement. “We share the goal of Cubs fans everywhere to win a World Series and build the consistent championship tradition that the fans deserve.”

Tom and Pete Ricketts got hooked on the Cubs when they lived together across the street from Wrigley Field during graduate school. They watched the 1984 season at the ballpark beneath Chicago’s skyline as the Cubs finished in first place in the National League East.

And Tom Ricketts met his wife, Cecilia, in the bleachers above the green checkered diamond and ivy-covered outfield wall.

The big question now is – What does this mean for the Iowa Cubs?

Cubs fan Sean Grant, 30, of Omaha said from Pauli’s, a local haunt for Chicago baseball junkies, that a possible change in Cubs ownership mattered less than results on the field.

But, he said, he would welcome any pressure new owners with Omaha ties could place on a minor league team affiliated with the Cubs to locate here.

Omaha (Iowa) Cubs (AAA), Omaha (Tennessee) Smokies (AA), Omaha (Daytona) Cubs (A), Omaha (Peoria) Chiefs (A)?

The Chicago Cubs extended their Player Development Contract (PDC) with the Iowa Cubs through the 2012 season two years ago. One of the main selling points of the Iowa Cubs, besides the first class run organization, is the proximity to Chicago. Having player able to be in Chicago in 45 minutes never hurts, but at the last look at a map Omaha offers the same advantage.

Marty and Miller will have David Kaplan from WGN on this afternoon. Tune in at 1460 on your AM dial or live on the web.

[Read more at Omaha World-Herald.com]

Baseball, Chicago Cubs, Sports

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