By Steve Rhodes
Here’s my column for today: The media sucks and politicians lie. Same column I’ve written for eight years.
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 17, 2015
Posted on February 17, 2015
The [Monday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
No column today. Plenty of other stuff:
* The Beachwood Radio Hour #44: David Carr, Brian Williams And The Discontents Of Journalism.
The case against this generation’s greatest media reporter and his pals – and what it says about the way we think about journalism. Plus: Adults continue to behave badly in the wake of the Jackie Robinson West scandal – including Rahm, Sneed, Kass, Jesse and Pfleger. And: Why J schools are important.
Posted on February 16, 2015
The Weekend Desk Report
By Steve Rhodes
This edition of The Weekend Desk Report brought to you by the $2 ($1 on Mondays and Thursdays) 10 oz. mugs of Old Style from the tap at the Two Way, frosted and refrigerated for your enjoyment and always served with the possibility of violence in the general vicinity.
*
Actually there was a skirmish last night, which isn’t unusual. It happened during “The Best of Times,” followed by “Good Vibrations.” I just stayed put and sang louder.
*
This weekend’s Beachwood Radio Hour is still in the works. Topics will include David Carr, Jackie Robinson West and the mayoral campaign. Most depressing yet?
Speaking of Jackie Robinson West – and I hope we stop doing so soon – I consider this weekend’s edition of The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour a must-listen for the clarity Jim “Coach” Coffman brings to facts of the case most people seem unaware of and misconceptions that keep getting repeated. Also: Great stuff on the Bulls and Blackhawks – and more!
Posted on February 14, 2015
The [Friday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
I thought my column on Thursday told you everything you needed to know about Jackie Robinson West, at least from a punditry point of view, seeing as how I didn’t delve deeply into the reporting details, but it turns out I was wrong – and for just that reason.
In this week’s Beachwood Radio Sports Hour, our very own Jim “Coach” Coffman brings some of that reporting to light that seems to have escaped most commentators – facts that make a big difference in how one might perceive what has happened. I encourage you to listen.
Posted on February 13, 2015
The [Thursday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
“Ultimately, the rules took down Jackie Robinson West,” John Kass writes for the Tribune, once he’s done complaining that some people insist on seeing everything through the prism of race.
And by some people, he means blacks, not whites.
Even though it’s whites who have been so fanatical about race that not long ago we had separate drinking fountains, separate entrances to schools and separate seats on buses so as not to mix icky germs and such. White people did that. They saw everything through race. But I, like Kass, digress.
Kass writes:
Ultimately, the rules took down Jackie Robinson West.
And a particular kind of rule that Chicago’s rulers know all too well, a residency violation; and a suspect, perhaps cynical map, drawn up to allow certain players to be on the team even if they didn’t rightfully belong.
If Chicago knows anything, it’s about residency and maps.
Posted on February 12, 2015
The [Wednesday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
“Little League International stripped Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West baseball team of its national title following a boundary remap that Little League International now says allowed the team to bring in star players from outside its boundaries,” Mark Konkol reports for DNAinfo Chicago.
“Officials from the Williamsport, Pa.-based league awarded the title to the Nevada team Jackie Robinson beat in the championship game, suspended manager Darold Butler from Little League activity, and removed Michael Kelley, the top administrator from Illinois District 4, which oversees several leagues on Chicago’s South Side.”
Posted on February 11, 2015
The [Tuesday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
I’ve long been on record as opposing early voting because of the interceding events that could – and do – happen between the start of such voting and Election Day. The campaign season isn’t over until it’s over, and the full facts of what will be known during a campaign aren’t fully delivered until it’s time to punch the ballot. A scandal may erupt, a gaffe may be committed, or something worse may occur. In the case of the 16th Ward, something worse has occurred.
In this case, only a day of early voting has been completed. Next time that may not be the case.
Posted on February 10, 2015
The [Monday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
“[B]y endorsing and expanding the complex new policies promoted by the health care industry, [Obamacare] may in some ways be undermining its signature promise: health care that is accessible and affordable for all,” Elisabeth Rosenthal writes for the New York Times.
I’d say she’s putting it charitably. It’s a disaster.
Posted on February 9, 2015
The Weekend Desk Report
By Natasha Julius
Sweet Jeebus, just in fucking time, right?
Market Update
Huh, turns out Talk really is cheap.
Posted on February 7, 2015
The [Friday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
I went downtown today to get fingerprinted.
The urban journalism program I work with has worked with the Spark mentoring program this year, and Spark in turn works with CPS.
I always wondered if CPS did background checks on folks like me. I’ve been in their schools and working with their students for two years and I don’t recall anything about a background check. Maybe my boss just vouched for me.
But now, CPS is not only doing a background check but requiring fingerprints of everyone working with Spark.
So I went today to comply.
Posted on February 6, 2015