Chicago Sports: Zell on Cubs, Leno in last leg of tour (RR)

Unfortunately…no word on bringing the Milton DeLuggnuts team back to the Cubs.

Tribune Co. expects to retain a minority interest in the Chicago Cubs when it sells control of the major league ballclub. It also wants to talk to top-rated late-night comedian Jay Leno, whom NBC plans to replace next year as host of “The Tonight Show.”

Those were the revelations as Sam Zell, chairman and chief executive of Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co., completed his introductory tour of company newspapers and television stations this week, a five-month road trip that initially scored headlines with bleeps and ended with a couple of bombshells.

Denver is where Zell said nine potential buyers, preapproved by Major League Baseball, are awaiting release of the team’s financial data, which should be sent out soon. He also revealed that Tribune Co. won’t completely let loose of the team, carried by WGN-TV, WGN America and WGN-AM 720.

“In all likelihood, the company will keep some kind of minority interest in the Cubs,” Zell said, as he reiterated his interest in letting a new owner take over.

“An asset like that is an extraordinary asset for ego gratification and identification, none of which the Tribune took advantage of … nor do I think they were capable of doing that,” he said. “It belongs in entrepreneurial hands and I think that would benefit the team, the city and, for sure, Tribune.”