By Steve Rhodes

1. “There is only one determining factor in the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes to Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer – can the city of Glendale sell $116 million in bonds to finance the purchase of the team?” Gary Lawless writes for the Winnipeg Free Press.
Who is Matthew Hulsizer?
“Hulsizer grew up in New Jersey and calls himself a hockey fan, player, and coach. He actually played hockey at Division III Amherst College and is currently a registered USA Hockey coach in Winnetka, Illinois,” Business Insider reports.

Read More

Posted on March 4, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

“You have the Riv, you have Aragon, you have Double Door,” Rahm Emanuel told an unquestioning Thomas Conner of the Sun-Times Lin Brehmer and Mary Dixon of WXRT. “We have a downtown theater district. Should there be an Uptown music district, given our history with labels as well as the club scene, which is truly, truly unique around the country?”
Um, the Double Door isn’t in Uptown. Not even close. It’s in Wicker Park.
*
And if Conner Brehmer and Dixon had been on the ball, he they would have realized he they had the perfect opening to ask about his ties to Ticketmaster/Live Nation.
After all, who do you think might end up making out if a music district proposed by Rahm came to fruition?
*
NOTE: Apologies to Thomas Conner, I read the story too quickly and didn’t realize he was quoting from an ‘XRT interview.
*
And for a much better review of the proceedings, check out Jim DeRogatis’s post.
The Problem With @MayorEmanuel
It obscured more truths than it revealed.

Read More

Posted on March 3, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

1. “Chicago Code Is On The Ropes.”
*
“The show has also inspired at least one tavern viewing locally. At the Beachwood Inn in Wicker Park, at 8 p.m. Mondays the TV is tuned to Fox, and patrons reportedly play a drinking game that involves, for instance, taking a swig each time ‘Irish mob’ is mentioned.”
Yeah, but we’re thinking about dedicating Monday nights to Charlie Sheen from here on out.

Read More

Posted on March 2, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

1. Blagojevich now trying to influence not only upcoming jury pool but potential jurors, judges, reporters of the future and/or children of important people.
2. Paralyzed high school athlete outlives his health insurance.

Read More

Posted on March 1, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

I have an appointment this morning so there won’t be a column today but that doesn’t mean we don’t have plenty to offer.
* Reading Rahm Part 1: Master Media Manipulator
* Yuppies – Not Asians – Made Ameya Pawar An Alderman

Read More

Posted on February 28, 2011

By Natasha Julius

Special 2011 Oscar Preview Edition
With the price of oil pushing above $100 per barrel this week, it’s possible Americans will soon pay almost as much for a gallon of gas as they did for a movie ticket in 1999. Which means, of course, that it’s time to gamely prop up the brutal dictatorship that is Hollywood. Here are our picks for the major categories.

Read More

Posted on February 26, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

1. Meet the new transition team, same as the old . . .
2. Add the nation’s mayors to the list of constituencies Barack Obama has alienated.
*
“And when I came to them for re-election there was no one left to speak out for me . . .”

Read More

Posted on February 25, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

1. “Prosecutors Moving To Dismiss Some Blagojevich Charges.”
For example, conspiracy to commit hair fraud and talk show racketeering.

Read More

Posted on February 24, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

Once again, the enemy of those of us with both brains and heart has been quantified: 321,773 Chicagoans (presumably) voted Rahm Emanuel into the mayor’s office on Tuesday.
Factor in the 59 percent of the city who didn’t bother to vote and you can see what we’re up against.

Read More

Posted on February 23, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

1. “Chicago voters, most of them living, set to pick a new mayor today,” the Los Angeles Times reports..
2. Most likely the final installment of The Mayoral Odds.
3. Follow us on Twitter today and tonight for the best breaking election quips.

Read More

Posted on February 22, 2011