Mark Cuban on buying Dodgers: ‘L.A. would never be the same’

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All the super rich who claim they want to buy the bankrupt Dodgers are facing Monday’s deadline for getting their initial bids in, and that could put a damper on the pre-purchase quotes.

Bidders are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, meaning they’re not supposed to be discussing the process with the media, outsiders or their favorite latte baristas.

Where’s the fun in that?

Apparently Mark Cuban has already signed up, since he went on ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’ Thursday and was ever so careful not to spill any negotiating secrets, which could simply prove a negotiating tactic.

Leno asked Cuban about the rumor he ‘might be buying the Dodgers. Any truth to that?” Guess it’s a rumor on late-night talk shows.

Answered Cuban, “I’m not allowed to really talk about it, but …” At which point Leno interrupted and said, “That means yes.” Laughs all around.

Leno tried again, “Would you like to buy the Dodgers if it was possible?” Do his writers read newspapers (or blogs)?

“It could be fun,’ Cuban said. ‘Could you imagine? L.A. would never be the same.”

Or at least the Dodgers, which is sort of the idea. Particularly with Cuban supporters. Leno also asked Cuban if he would be interested in buying an NFL team.

“I can’t afford NFL teams,” Cuban said.

Both Frank McCourt and previous team owner Peter O’Malley discussed building an NFL stadium in the Dodger Stadium parking lots. A two-for-one special! Of course, there must be some concern Cuban can’t afford the Dodgers, or at least seriously is interested at their expected price tag. Forbes estimates Cuban is worth $2.3 billion.

Cuban told The Times in November he offered to buy the Dodgers last summer, but bowed out when told the purchase price would be $1 billion to $1.2 billion.

‘At that price, I wasn’t interested,’ Cuban said.

That price could sound like a bargain before the expected bidding is through. Now guesstimates are up to $1.5 billion.

Cuban previously bid on the Texas Rangers, losing out to Nolan Ryan’s group when the team sold for $593 million. Cuban said he didn’t think the Dodgers were worth twice as much as the Rangers. I guess not, when McCourt is dreaming of three times as much.

‘Once the sale price gets too high, you can’t invest in the team,’ said Cuban in November.

‘I don’t want to be in a position to have a lot of debt. Those would be dollars that could not be used to put together a winning team.’

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— Steve Dilbeck