Though A 'Cool Idea,' Mark Cuban Lukewarm On Buying Mets
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Sure, many Mets fans want Mark Cuban to open his checkbook toward Flushing. But if the mogul's appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" is any indication, he won't be calling the Wilpons any time soon.
"Maybe. It's interesting," Cuban explained to Kimmel. "I'd like it. It'd be a cool idea. But I don't think it's going to happen simply because it'd require writing an $800 million or more check. It's a big check, right?"
Cuban, before Charlie Sheen crashed his interview, appeared hesitant on chasing any ownership of the Mets.
"I've been through this before, but call me crazy: When I write an $800 million check, I want somebody to kiss my a--," he said. "I don't want to have to beg and grovel to write that check."
An investment group led by Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan won a contentious auction for the Rangers in August, beating back a nearly $600 million offer from Cuban. He also reportedly lost out on an attempt to purchase the Cubs in 2007.
The Mets are under pressure as a result of a lawsuit from the trustee trying to reclaim money for victims of the Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme. In January, Fred Wilpon and his son, Jeff, announced they were exploring a partial sale of the team that would raise several hundred million dollars.
"The whole situation with the Mets and everything ... I don't think it's going to happen," Cuban said. "I think they might put it out to bid if they have to sell it, and I'm just not going to go through that process."
Cuban, who owns the Dallas Mavericks, said on February 2 that he would be "willing" to discuss purchasing part of the Mets, but won't go out of his way to bid on the team.
"If they want to sit down and sell me on it, I can be a willing buyer and a willing customer," said Cuban while courtside at Madison Square Garden. "But I'm not going to be a bidder on anything."
Do you think Cuban should rethink his position on buying part of the Mets? Sound off in the comments below...
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