Does the Chicago Tribune’s Mike Downey actually believe his TribCo paymasters — directors and shareholders — are bona fide Cubs fans? The columnist, aggrieved by Mark Cuban’s devotion to the Pittsburgh Pirates, suggests that when and if the Blog Maverick purchases the Northsiders, “Jason Kendall could be one of the few Cubs he could name.”

Do you fans still believe Cuban is your man? The same Cuban who on July 15, 2005, said: “It absolutely killed me to sing ‘root, root, root for the Cubbies.’ I asked the broadcasters if anybody had ever put in the other team.”

Of more than 22,000 readers who voted in a Tribune online poll, roughly 75 percent said this is the guy they would like to buy the Cubs next.

A guy whose favorite team is a rival team in the Cubs’ own division.

“I am a huge Pirates fan,” Cuban told reporters after leaving the TV booth at Wrigley that day. “I’m a Pittsburgh fan.”

Len Kasper was one of the Cubs’ broadcasters at that game. He can’t recall Cuban saying any of this.

“I just remember that he was a great guest,” Kasper said before Monday’s game at Wrigley.

Ron Santo, as die-hard a Cubs fan as you can find, was asked if he cares if the Cubs are sold to someone who doesn’t care about the Cubs.

“No,” Santo said. “My feelings on this are very simple. The commissioner, Bud Selig, is the best I’ve ever seen. He knows how important the Cubbies are. There are going to be quite a few bids on this ballclub, and he’ll make the right decision.”

Would you want the Bears to be sold to a Wisconsin billionaire who is a rabid Packers fan?

A player, a manager or a general manager is needed for his skill or expertise, but how about an owner? Do you mind if this team to which you’ve given your heart is no more than a plaything to the next owner? A new toy?

Cuban is not going to become a Chicagoan, the way Jerry Reinsdorf, a native New Yorker, did. He is going to continue to be a Pittsburgh baseball fan and a Dallas basketball fan. He wouldn’t know Santo from Santa Claus.