Mark Cuban: ‘I’m done chasing and bidding on baseball teams’

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Mark Cuban might be a popular choice to buy the Dodgers should the team go up for sale, but the Dallas Mavericks owner said Wednesday that he no longer will initiate efforts to acquire a major league team.

Cuban, speaking before the Mavericks played the New York Knicks, was responding to questions about his possible interest in the New York Mets. The Mets’ owners announced last week that they would be interested in selling a minority share of the team.

‘I’m not going to -- whether it’s here or the Dodgers, for that matter -- I’m not going to put myself in a bidding situation,’ Cuban said, according to ESPNNewYork.com. ‘I did that twice and learned my lesson.’

Cuban bid for the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers but failed to acquire either team. In December, after a judge threw out an agreement that would have granted Frank McCourt sole ownership of the Dodgers, Cuban declined to say whether he would pursue the club.

‘It’s too early to say,’ he said in an e-mail to The Times. ‘Let’s see what happens if and when it goes up for sale.’

Cuban did not go as far Wednesday as to say he is not interested in buying a team. He said he would discuss possible acquisitions or partnerships but would not lead the way in pursuing a team.

‘I’d be more than happy to discuss it,’ Cuban said. ‘But I’m done chasing and bidding on baseball teams.’

He added: ‘I get contacted by franchises all the time, or representatives of franchises, in all the major leagues,’ Cuban said. ‘I’ve just come to the conclusion that if I’m going to write a huge check, I’d rather have my [butt] kissed than have to chase.’

-- Bill Shaikin