As you likely know, the Chicago Cubs are going to have a new owner by year's end. The Tribune Co. announced in April it would sell the team at season's end, after the ailing media conglomerate announced its acquisition by billionaire investor Sam Zell.

Several groups are lining up to place their bid on the "lovable losers" who have one of the largest, most loyal fan bases of any sports franchise in North America. After all, the Cubs routinely draw more fans to Wrigley Field than any other MLB team despite their inability to win a championship (or even make the playoffs most seasons).

Competition for the Cubs will be stiff. The Chicago Tribune reported Thursday that the Ricketts family, which founded discount broker TD Ameritrade Holding Corp., has joined the list of potential bidders. Forbes magazine puts the Rickets' family worth at about $2.3B.

Former Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo has also been mentioned as a possibility.

According to an online poll at ChicagoTribune.com today over 70% of the voters want to see current Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban purchase the Cubs. Cuban has confirmed that he has filed the paperwork required to be considered for purchasing the team.

Here are 5 Reasons I think Mark Cuban would make the perfect choice as the next owner of the Cubs (I told him as much when I had on Sports Business Radio in June of 2006):

1.) Passion and dedication - when Mark Cuban jumps into the pool with both feet and dedicates himself to a project - sports (Mavericks) or otherwise (HDTV), there are few people who bring as much energy as he does. If I'm a fan, I want Cuban as my team's owner because he'll be totally engaged........unlike a lot of other owners who simply count their sports team as part of their overall financial portfolio. Also, nobody wants to win as badly as Cuban does.

2.) Financial resources - From signing the best players (A-Rod anyone?) to providing the best possible facilities for the players and the coaching staff, Cuban creates a winning environment that is attractive to any athlete, coach or executive in that sport.

3.) Creativity - Cuban is as innovative as any owner in all of sports. He'd not only bring great ideas to the Cubs, but he would be a tremendous asset to Major League Baseball........if Bud Selig and his group of mostly grumpy good 'ol boy owners can open their eyes and ears and let someone like Cuban bring some new life to the party.

4.) Accessibility - While many sports owners are recluses who sit in their luxury boxes at games, Cuban mingles with the fans and he's very candid with the media. The Cubs brand would be enhanced simply by Cuban's bold presence. In today's world when fans want transparency with their sports teams, Cuban is as transparent as any owner in all of sports.

5.) He'll have you on the edge of your seat - Few owners in all of sports are as entertaining as Cuban. There's always a level of unpredictability with him and I love that about him. It keeps the media and fans engaged and on our toes because we never know what we may see. From serving ice cream at Dairy Queen to showing up to make sales calls with the team's sales staff to giving away roundtrip tickets on American Airlines to everyone in attendance at his team's home season finale, you never know what you'll get with Mr. Cuban.

Cuban definitely has his share of critics, but I'm pretty convinced that most people criticize him because they are jealous.........they wish they WERE him.

I'll be interested to see how this all plays out. Bidding for the team could top $600M (remember that the Tribune Company paid $20M for the Cubs back in 1981) and some candidates could drop out because they won't engage in a bidding war for the team along the way.

If you're a Cubs fan though, you had better be rooting hard that Cuban is the guy who wins out and ultimately owns your team. Then you hang on for wild and exciting ride.