A Long-Island-based suitor with deep pockets, but no newspaper experience, has emerged the surprise winner in the bidding war for Newsday, the Long Island tabloid put up for sale by the debt-ridden Tribune Company.

Of course, Rupert Murdoch already has two sons. But after the ouster of Wall Street Journal editor Marcus W. Brauchli, the man said to be most likely to become the paper’s top editor – Robert J. Thomson - is said to be almost an honorary third son.

Tribune Company owner Sam Zell may be entertaining bids for Newsday, the company’s Long Island paper, amid mounting financial pressures.