Financial crisis won't deter Cuban's quest

Mark Cuban's desire to purchase the Cubs hasn't lost any steam because of the recent financial crisis.

"Actually, I shorted the markets and got out of pretty much all but two of my stocks that are long-term holdings," the Dallas Mavericks owner said before Thursday's game against the Bulls.

"So up until today, I was up a little bit. I lost a little money today because I covered my shorts and they went down. So I'm flat, basically, for the year, which is amazing."

Cuban does expect the credit crunch to stall the sales process. Cuban is one of at least three serious bidders for the Cubs and is reportedly offering upward of $1 billion.

"Honestly, they'd be crazy to do something now," Cuban said. "I'm in no rush. There's no drop-dead date. Until there's some more certainty in the financial markets, that uncertainty is so expensive."

Cuban was at Wrigley Field for Game 2 of the playoff series against the Dodgers and didn't think the Cubs would have lasted any longer in the postseason had he been the owner.

"Just think of the Red Sox, down 3-0 to the Yankees (in 2004), the Curse of the Bambino in full effect," he said. "Then all of the sudden, it's not. That's just the way those things work."

Rose-Kidd a rematch: Derrick Rose absorbed a lesson from veteran point guard Jason Kidd even before they matched up at the start of Thursday's preseason game.

"I was learning from him in the USA practices," Rose said. "He was telling Kobe (Bryant) and all them really what to do, because he was like the vet on that team. For them to listen to him, he's got to be somebody."

Rose was a member of the U.S. select team that scrimmaged against the Olympic squad this summer in Las Vegas. Rose played against Kidd, but said he didn't talk to him very much.

Bull horns: Coach Vinny Del Negro said Ben Gordon (jammed toe) might have played Thursday if it were a regular-season game. ... Joakim Noah (eye) expects to return to practice Monday after missing more than a week. ... With Bulls and White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf in the building, Mark Cuban was asked if he'd consider making an offer for the White Sox. "I'm not a Sox guy," he said with a laugh. "I should go to a game at the Cell, though. Everyone says it's beautiful."