Hi Sam,

I’m fairly confident you’ll never read this. A man such as yourself doesn’t have the time to fart around on the interwebs when there are deals to be made. However, on the off chance that this missive reaches you, please take these words to heart.

After closing the deal on your Tribune purchase in December, it was widely speculated that you would be selling off the Cubs faster than a real estate speculator was flipping homes in 2002. However, it is now March, Opening Day is 26 days away, and it now seems as though you are going to be the top dog as far as the Cubs are concerned for the 2008 season. I’ll let the chicken littles of the world” bleat about how this affects the Cubs’ fortunes on the field. As far as I’m concerned, you can hardly do worse than all of the previous ownership regimes dating back to when William Wrigley Jr. prematurely died during the Herbert Hoover Administration.

I understand that your reputation within the world of real estate is that of a “grave dancer” and that you’re probably not eager to invest your time and resources into an industry that does not yield the types of large annual net revenues to which you’re accustomed. Lording over a payroll that is loaded with millionaires and ther commesurate egos is not, I’m certain, why you find yourself in this position. While your buddy across town acts as though getting rich off of sports teams is a birthright when he cries poor, he ignores the fact that his franchise has appreciated to over thirty times what he paid for it only 28 years ago. Nevertheless, it’s clear that owning a team is not something that you’re in to for the long haul.

Also, let me just say this about Wrigley Field. We don’t care what the ballpark is called. In fact, most of us with operable brains don’t care what happens to the ballpark in the first place. For us, many of whom have inherited our rooting interest through generations that go far enough back to pre-date that park, the team is so far more important that the venue in which they place so as to make the comparison between the two laughable and unreal. The damn team is oh-for-five in World Series at Wrigley anyway.

So let me just say this, Sam. If 2008 does prove to be the only season you’re up top of this club, make it count. Please. You were barely alive the last time the Cubs played in the World Series, having turned four in the same month that they clinched the NL pennant. I know you’re not holding onto this team for the money or the recognition, but even you are aware, sir, of the fact that should the Cubs win it all under your watch, nothing you do in the world of media, real estate, or investment will make you nearly as memorable.

After that, we’ll hardly care to whom you sell your team. But if you’re open to suggestions anyway, there are a few guys who we wouldn’t mind seeing involved.