The [Tuesday] Papers

"As professional sports have grown increasingly lucrative, highly-paid front office executives, coaches and players no longer need to press to act as boosters for their teams," says Malcolm Moran, director of the Sports Capital Journalism Program at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

That's how they see you, sportswriters - arms of the marketing department. That's why you have access to locker rooms.

See the item The Hurt Locker Room.

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There is a reason why Deadspin's motto is "Sports News without Access, Favor or Discretion."

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Dear Hollywood
In the aftermath of Spotlight's Academy Award win on Sunday night, the Poynter Institute recommends nine other Pulitzer-winning newspaper projects it thinks are worthy of the big screen.

I was thinking the same thing in terms of Chicago journalism. Here are some ideas:

Red Light District: The inside story of a reporter who learns that a city's red-light camera program is utterly corrupt. While John Bills would make for a compelling villain, the truth is I just don't see a narrative arc here.

The Koschman Files: A tragic tale that needs to be told, but I'm not sure a film could be made from just one (fatal) punch.

Tuition & Casinos: The Barbara Byrd-Bennett Story: Again, probably not enough narrative power, even though the central character could be shown going from school district to school district feathering her friends' beds while destroying children's educations.

Little League: The Jackie Robinson West Story: Isn't this idea already out there? This would actually work - narrative arc, heroes and villains, sports, morals aplenty.

Mortgage Street: A movie about the mortgage crisis? Yes, through the prism of a single Chicago block. Vastly more easy to make than The Big Short. The screenplay writes itself; all the elements are there.

Homan Square: A no-brainer, though the Chicago media would refuse to review it.

Bonds: A Love Story: Two mayors, one city and a co-dependent relationship. Maybe told through animation.

Blago: I feel like this idea has been floated, but frankly it would be pretty boring. You'd have the central character, who would be played for laughs, and, what? If Rod Blagojevich were a more successful pol, then you'd have something. If he had a good side, as it were. He simply isn't textured enough to sustain a feature film.

The Horse Embezzler: This is a pretty strong contender, though Hollywood would have to fuzz up some of the details to make a more compelling story. I imagine a small town filled with stereotypically eccentric characters, and some drama in the end as to whether (or at least how) the main figure pulled off such a scam.

Burge: The rich possibility here is not only a weekly reporter's decades-long uncovering of a city police torture chamber, but the disbelief or just plain uncaring of that reporter's newspaper peers - including that of a world-famous columnist (see the item "Royko's Tortured Reasoning").

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Birding In The Cook County Forest Preserves!
"Did you know that just after dusk in late March and early April, the male timberdoodle performs a strange mating ritual? Or that Baltimore orioles have a serious sweet tooth in spring and fall? The native and migrating birds spotted in the Forest Preserves of Cook County are as diverse and interesting as the Forest Preserves themselves.

"Throughout 2016, the Forest Preserves invites visitors to take advantage of frequent opportunities to view some of the most interesting and spectacular birds in the preserves. Odd mating dances, unbelievable migrations and interesting birds including ruby-throated hummingbirds and red-bellied woodpeckers will take center stage at bird walks, festivals and informational programs across Cook County."

Fantasy Fix Baseball Draft Guide: Starting Pitchers
Arrieta vs. Sale; Lester vs. Rodon.

Corporate Campaign To Ditch Workers' Comp Stalls
"Company plans were supposed to provide equal benefits to workers' comp. But in its unanimous ruling, the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission compared that notion to 'a water mirage on the highway that disappears upon closer inspection.'"

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BeachBook

. . . Chicago.

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TweetWood
A sampling.

Farrakhan praises Trump for rejecting 'Jewish' money: "I like what I'm looking at" https://t.co/0f2n3iikk4 pic.twitter.com/lsOcjH6EhK

— The Hill (@thehill) March 1, 2016

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Politico: Newspaper That Endorsed Christie: 'Boy, Were We Wrong' https://t.co/N1uplmLdkb

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 1, 2016

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The NYT's strange behavior in controversy over Trump's off-the-record comments https://t.co/qydfdvsGKa @ggreenwald pic.twitter.com/IMzYrfSwsG

— Charlotte Greensit (@cgreensit) March 1, 2016

This off-the-record business is far more embarrassing for the New York Times than for Trump.

— John McQuaid (@johnmcquaid) March 1, 2016

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Maybe like Donald Trump Jr., he wants to make us a meritocracy again.

Liberty Principles PAC adds $50K including $25K from Todd Ricketts. (1060 W. Addison, not a falsified renewal) https://t.co/IsJr2d9IZw

— IL Election Data (@ILElectionData) March 1, 2016

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Anita Alvarez lives in River Grove. https://t.co/ERiUZwbP2O

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 1, 2016

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Tons of airports better than #Chicago's in customer service: https://t.co/qbz4OLSogl

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) March 1, 2016

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All in!! $2,000,000.00 from Rauner, Bruce to Turnaround Illinois. https://t.co/ZscRaHwMFA

— Trib IL CampaignCash (@ILCampaignCash) March 1, 2016

.@ILElectionData pic.twitter.com/Y7qdCvg8bV

— bob fec (@BobFec88) March 1, 2016

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Governor Rauner to celebrate Leap Day by leaping ahead to the 2019 budget.

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 29, 2016

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Anita Alvarez to celebrate Leap Day 400 days from now.

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 29, 2016

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Breaking: Derrick Rose tears ACL leaping day.

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 29, 2016

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This video doesn't show the "first person to climb the bean" in Chicago. https://t.co/Qd4JdIBpjd pic.twitter.com/3boMqmSFaP

— snopes.com (@snopes) February 29, 2016

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(Not.)

FALSE: Police Did Nxot Find A Satanic Ritual Dungeon In The Basement Of A #Chicago Chuck E. Cheese: https://t.co/QYUhhYQquM

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 29, 2016

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