By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
Let's face it. Kansas Citians have some pretty boring major league sports owners in the Royals' David Glass and the Chiefs' Clark Hunt.
But now one of the most outspoken owners in sports -- Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks -- has problems that are attracting negative publicity nationally.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday charged Cuban with insider trading, because he allegedly sold 600,000 shares of the Internet search company Mamma.com in 2004 using confidential information.
Cuban, who's been trying to buy one of the most famous franchises in sports -- the Chicago Cubs -- can now kiss that possibility goodbye.
Major League Baseball owners don't like others who attract attention to themselves. They don't like the fact that Cuban goes around getting fined for making comments about National Basketball Association officials, for instance.
Of course, Cuban also has gained a reputation for being an ally of the players, working with them to put a better product on the field.
That's another strike with baseball's owners, who don't want a billionaire with money to burn as part of their competition.
Now, the insider trading charge will give those owners a convenient excuse to say "no" to Cuban's efforts to buy the Cubs.
Too bad. Cuban would have created some excitement in baseball with a public that has lost some interest in the sport over the years.
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Cuban Didn't Have A Chance..
... to join the baseball ownership club. That group is so exclusive they don't even allow each other as members.
sam zell and the employees of the Trib
Who cares about the loud-mouthed mark cuban. The sad part of this story is that Sam Zell goofed and held on to the Cubs for too long and asked for too much. Now he is lined up to get the very least instead of the very most. The group hurt most by this? The hapless employees of the dying newspaper/media conglomerate.