The Wrigley sale is back in the spotlight, and the Tribune Co. had some interesting things to say about the state of the ballpark. Or, rather, they didn’t have much to say at all, as the Tribune (who recused themselves from such matters) reports:

Sources indicated the books make no specific representation as to the condition of Wrigley Field and the work that needs to be done, even though the urgency of major capital expenditures on repairs and improvements was front and center as owner Tribune Co. sought to transfer ownership of the ballpark to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. Those negotiations broke down Monday.

The Sun-Times, however, seems to have acquired either a different report or a different definition of “no specific representation“:

A source said it conveys the message that, “If we didn’t put a penny into the stadium, it would be fine for 20 years.”

Now, the two papers saying entirely different things about what should be a fundamentally neutral set of facts is nothing new; in fact, the Sun-Times has essentially continued to exist solely by not saying what the Tribune says. But things become more interesting when you put things into their larger and chronological context.

1. The state originally wanted to buy Wrigley for $90 million, with another $300-$400 million in public funds already deemed necessary to rehab the park.
2. The state deal is allegedly laughed out of existence by Tribune Co. owner Sam Zell not for its price tag or use of public funds, but because the proposed deal as structured might get the club in hot water with MLB.
3. The deal with the state really only just fell apart this past Monday, despite involved parties reporting such collapse had already happened.
4. Mark Cuban, among other private parties, expressed interest in buying the Cubs.
5. The Tribune reports that Wrigley’s in fine working order and doesn’t need repairs.

This isn’t a political site, and we’re not here to just rip on all things Cub-related. At the same time, there’s something extremely unsettling about the fact that either a) a state agency was seriously going to use Wrigley Field as an excuse to fleece Illinois taxpayers out of half a billion dollars or b) the Chicago Tribune, World’s Greatest Newspaper that it is, has suddenly just become the world’s most expensive and exclusive real estate listing, complete with misinformation and self-perpetrating hype.

FOR SALE: Antique 3-story ballpark in hot neighborhood! Near transportation, nightlife. Handyman’s dream! Call Sam, 312-222-9100, serious inq. only.