The Weekend Desk Report

Here's what I wrote in an e-mail exchange on Friday:

"The Buffalo prosecutors can charge the case with or without the accused - though the DA there is known to be exceedingly cautious and is also, I think, running for judge. So his political calculation, because apparently he's a political animal, is whether he'd alienate more women voters by prosecuting than Pat Kane fanboys.

"HOWEVER, it really isn't up to him in that it's going before a grand jury. If the grand jury doesn't indict, it will only be because the prosecutor has purposely presented the weakest version of the case . . . because, as you know, a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich if the prosecutor tells it too.

"I don't know what to think of settlement talks. My gut tells me the talks are going on and the Kane lawyer is lying . . . or somehow playing semantics. And my guess is that the prosecutor delayed the grand jury to let settlement talks proceed - even though one doesn't have to have anything to do with the other. A political dance is going on right now, and I haven't seen a single reporter really do a good job on this. The Buffalo News reporters are horrible, and the Trib just did that story about settlement talks that I found unsatisfying.

"In the podcast, I think Coach is wrong when he guesses that the Blackhawks must know something we don't. No. The likelihood of that is near zero. But the Blackhawks are all in now on Kane's innocence, in my view, given what they've said, what they've allowed, and what captain Johnny Toews is saying.

"Truly, I don't think I can watch that team anymore. At first, it would just have been Kane. Now the whole team is dirty to me. Even if Kane is innocent."

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You can hear me and Jim "Coach" Coffman discuss the Kane situation on The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #69. It's not all glum, either; we also discuss the Bears (okay, a little glum) and the Cubs (not glum at all!). Plus: Chicago's MVP, Elena Delle Donne.

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Also, this:

Remember how we talked about ripple effects? Toews keeps putting his foot in his mouth. Bad look for EVERYONE. https://t.co/SGWm18e3Cp

— Jay Zawaski (@JayZawaski670) September 18, 2015

See what I mean? Don't even want to watch Toews anymore.

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P.S.:

Somehow I feel like those who stand with Ahmed are not the same people who stand with 88.

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) September 18, 2015

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Weekend CPS
"Chicago Public Schools will need to start sending out layoff notices by Thanksgiving if a state financial bailout doesn't materialize, district CEO Forrest Claypool acknowledged Friday," the Tribune reports.

First, think about how different you would read this story if "acknowledged" was replaced by "claimed." So just use "said."

Second, given that it's CPS, expect layoff notices on the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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The Sound Opinions Weekend Listening Report: "Ever since they formed in 1977, experimental art-punk band Wire has had a tremendous influence on music. And unlike most first wave punks, the group continues to release challenging music into the 21st century. Wire joins Jim and Greg for a special live performance and interview."

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Weekend BeachBook

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Weekend TweetWood

This article vs. tweeting out your print sports cover http://t.co/KF8qWQEqc2

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) September 19, 2015

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#Cubs magic number still 1908.

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) September 19, 2015

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Love how #Bears media praises the professionalism of a coaching staff that just spent six weeks lying to them.

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) September 19, 2015

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NFL Analysts Doubling As Fans: http://t.co/5OJCA1JCuM | Ahem, #Chicago

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) September 18, 2015

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Trying out the new Chicago inspired Smoked Beef Pickle Hotdog from @5boroughsbne 🍴👌 their new Hotdog menu is launch... pic.twitter.com/KmN4tOgXAY

— Toscana La Tíenda (@toscanalatienda) September 19, 2015

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Brilliant! The sunmobile might replace the automobile. -Arthur Radebaugh Chicago Tribune, 1958. pic.twitter.com/3cF2mKpw6K

— Bill Lucey (@wplucey) September 19, 2015

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The Weekend Desk Tip Line: Ripple.

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