Mark Cuban

Can anyone really argue? The hands-on billionaire was at the forefront of one of the most astonishing professional-sports turnarounds in history, seeing his Dallas Mavericks morph into one of the NBA’s most feared teams. A no nonsense, win-at-all-costs owner is exactly what the Cubs have been missing for, oh, a century, and he could be the one man in the world who could bring the North Side a championship. As a bonus? He was spotted at Wrigley just a few weeks ago taking in a game. Not in an elitist club box either. In the bleachers.

Audience Choice
Mark Cuban

Best of Chicago 2007

The Street

Do it old-school, and get your tickets at the corner of Addison and Clark. The Cubs are an archaic team anyway, and the Internet lacks the personality of grabbing some quick tix from a total stranger just before first pitch. In this age of technology, however, you have to be careful you’re not being tricked—but if you can’t spot a fake ticket (or one that is Standing-Room Only), you should’ve bought your seats in advance anyway, pal.

Audience Choice (tie)
Craigslist

Murphy’s
3655 North Sheffield
(773)929-7061

on the street

Best of Chicago 2007

Alfonso Soriano

Best new Cub? How about best Cub, period. The $136 million-dollar deal Soriano inked over the last off-season was the richest the franchise has ever awarded, and Soriano has come through in franchise-player fashion. At press time Soriano was batting .297 with a team-leading thirty-one homeruns, nineteen stolen bases and a slugging percentage of .552, well above his career average. If he hadn’t tweaked his hamstring and missed a month this season, his homerun numbers might have been in the forties. Plus, he’s acclimated himself to left field reasonably well.

Audience Choice
Alfonso Soriano

Best of Chicago 2007