Egomaniacs Needed

Why do the Cubs continue to fail despite millions spent on payroll, managers, and ballpark renovations? "Well," people say, "It's because they are owned by a media conglomerate that looks only to the bottom line." That's true, to a point. But for years, the Braves had the same ownership. As did the Angels. They all did better than the Cubs.

So, what's the difference between the Cubs and the others?

Simple. Ted Turner and Michael Eisner.

Those two egomaniacs would not stand for the level of incompetence that the Cubs are. Turner once went so far as to actually manage the Braves for one game.

These two men want, not only to pummel their competition, but to have no part of their organization that appears to be slipshod.

Who is that person at Tribune Corp.?

No one. No one has that level of ego. They look at the Cubs as a tiny piece of their multi-billion dollar enterprise. Being so small relative to the whole pie, they really don't care what it does, so long as it provides profits. The Cubs losing hasn't hurt the stock price. The losing hasn't dragged down the reputation of the corporation. Why really, really try? Why fire MacPhail? He's doing a decent job keeping the small, sleepy piece in one piece.

If the Cubs are ever going to win under the Trib, it's going to take a monster ego on top to insist on a level of quality and competence not seen in nearly 100 years.

Were a Sam Zell or a Mark Cuban or a Patrick Ryan to buy the Cubs, I expect a winner in 3 to 5 years, tops.

But with the Trib's current C-level suite? They just don't care because the Cubs just aren't big enough to make them care.

Think about that the next time you buy a ticket.