Mark Cuban waiting for Mets to call

Several investment groups interested in buying the Mets have reached out to billionaire Mark Cuban in recent days, but he’s still waiting for the only call that matters to him.

And the Mets, Cuban told Newsday Monday, haven't called.

The Dallas Mavericks owner has long wanted to join the ownership ranks of Major League Baseball, and last week he sounded intrigued by the prospect of buying the Mets, openly describing them as "a great franchise in a great city" and calling it "a great opportunity."

But Cuban insisted he was finished with pursuing Major League Baseball teams after failed bids to buy the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers in recent years.

In an e-mail exchange with Newsday Monday, Cuban said his comments from last week -- made to New York area reporters before a Knicks-Mavs game at Madison Square Garden -- resulted in "several investment groups" making contact with him.

But he said he wasn't interested in joining forces with any of them, at least not until he hears from the Mets that they're interested in pursuing a partnership with him.

"Nothing," Cuban added," has changed."

The Wilpons, facing the potential of a $1 billion lawsuit brought forth by the special trustee in the Bernard Madoff fraud case, recently announced they are willing to sell 20 to 25 percent of the Mets.

Steve Greenberg, the managing director at Allen & Co. who is handling the recruitment process for the Wilpons, did not return a message seeking comment Monday.

Even if the Wilpons are interested in doing business with Cuban, one potential sticking point could be the future of the team.

The Wilpons intend to keep majority control, and Fred Wilpon has often stated he would like the team to be in his family for generations. Cuban, meanwhile, said last week that it would be “unlikely” he would be interested in a minority share of a team “unless there was a right to buy in the event of that opportunity.”

The Wilpons have not indicated whether they would be willing to include a “first right of refusal” clause in a deal with minority owner.