By Steve Rhodes
The trial of Bill Cellini, The Consigliere of Illinois, begins today. Cellini is the ultimate guy behind the guys.
“Cellini never wanted publicity. Instead, he prided himself on ‘flying under the radar,’ and for decades, the news media in Illinois accommodated his desire to remain in the shadows,” John Kass writes.
“There’s another reason Cellini isn’t very well-known: He had no real title, except maybe Combine Boss. But that’s something I gave him. It’s not official. It doesn’t come with a blue sash and gold braid.”
Indeed, WBEZ calls Cellini “The Most Influential Illinoisan You Don’t Know.”
But whose job is it to tell us?
AP calls Cellini The King of Clout and the Pope of Illinois.
The Springfield State Journal-Register calls him The Ultimate Insider.
Has anyone ever held such an impressive collection of titles? Maybe we should just call him The Ultimate Illinoisan.
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It’s not true that the media never looked at Bill Cellini; just that it mostly ignored him. You know, inside baseball – as if that’s not the first place news organizations should train their eyes.
The Sun-Times, for example, republishes today an investigation it undertook in 1996.
One-and-dones, however, are fleeting. They may sometimes win big prizes – that’s always been the Tribune’s style – but sustained coverage better serves the public.
Governor Gumby
“Some lunatic wants to close three of the state’s mental hospitals and dump their patients on the streets,” Phil Kadner writes in the SouthtownStar.
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BREAKING: “An arbitrator has ordered Gov. Pat Quinn to cancel his plan to lay off state employees and close several prisons and mental facilities,” AP reports.
Agreements aren’t merely devices of convenience.
Endorsement Perfection
Lovie Smith For NyQuil.
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Which doesn’t mean the sleepy coach’s team is sleepy.
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But wouldn’t Lovie Smith for Red Bull be funnier? Maybe he turns into Mike Martz.
Time Line
Chicago firm preventing Facebook from further alienating users.
Our Man In Africa
“U.S. sailors from the Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MAREXSECRON) Two recently escorted the USS Carney (DDG-64) into the Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti,” the U.S. Air Force reports.
“U.S. Navy Engineman Fireman Peter Choi, originally from Chicago, Illinois, provided security during the escort by manning a .50 caliber machine gun on one of the Sea Arks.”
Obama’s America
U.S. Food-Stamp Use Reaches Record 45.3 Million.
The Growing Occupation
Now in Chicago.
Live Long And Prosper
Spock says farewell in Rosemont.
Moon Unit
New Rocks For Tribune Tower.
Boats And Buehrle
Big surprise: It all comes down to money.
Programming Note
I’m back behind the bar tonight at the venerable Beachwood Inn. Cold beer, hot jukebox, free pizza, witty lamentations. 5p – 2a.
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Lamentable.
Posted on October 3, 2011