By Steve Rhodes

“Tribune Co. Chairman Sam Zell has rejected former Gov. James Thompson’s secret plan to acquire and renovate Wrigley Field for at least $400 million without raising taxes and now plans to package the Cubs and their landmark stadium in a private transaction,” the Sun-Times reports.
Thank God that’s over.
“[S]ources said Zell has rejected the state’s proposed terms because it relies on a novel and untested financing plan: the sale of individual seats at Wrigley as if they were condominiums.”
Which would make Cubs fans feel right at home.

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Posted on May 13, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

* “Really, just a normal week of Ozzie Guillen’s White Sox,” our very own Ricky O’Donnell writes in his White Sox Report. “Simply a 4-3 record, with a little blow-up doll action, a near no-hitter, and some Cubs-bashing sprinkled in. Nothing to see here.”
* “It’s time, people. Time to hop on the Cub Train. And like the CTA, it’s on fire,” our very own Marty Gangler writes in The Cub Factor.
* “How about it, Jerry Reinsdorf? How about for once acknowledging you blew it and you’re sick about it?” our very own Jim Coffman writes in SportsMonday.
God, we’re good.

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Posted on May 12, 2008

By Natasha Julius

We’ll be taking a lovely nap this weekend while our minions take care of the hard work.
Market Update
Oil prices surges to another record high this week despite an unexpected drop in consumption. Officials point out that recent changes in a key coalition could lead to serious shortages in the marketplace.

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Posted on May 10, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

I’m sorry, I’ve got to take one more day to try to get some business done. This is the first time in more than two years that I’ve skipped a column two days in a row. Hey, I write more often than our highly paid newspaper columnists and I certainly put more effort into what I do than some of those who seem to spend no more than 15 minutes turning out drivel of less quality than your average single blog post. Make a list of those who qualify!
At any rate, if you look to the right you’ll see what’s new today. —>>>>>>
And I’ll try to catch up with the wealth of material in the papers these last two days with posts at Division Street later today and through the weekend.
Natasha Julius will be here tomorrow with her always-superb Weekend Desk Report. I’ll be back in this space on Monday.
*
Don’t forget: We accept advertising and memberships, some levels of which involve me coming to your house and washing your car.

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Posted on May 9, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

No Papers column today. Which means you should take this opportunity to read every other story on the site, plus every single story in our archives, and click on everything you see.
Also, the Dance Movie Blogathon over at Ferdy on Films is going great guns. Today’s offerings include Rod Heath looking at “The Dance That’s Stayin’ Alive,” and I recommend it highly.
Plus, everything I said about Indiana yesterday still goes.
The [Wednesday] Papers
The news out of Northwest Indiana this morning: More cable boxes coming to Cal City and Lake County still counting votes. UPDATE: Votes finally in.
The race nonetheless, has been called by most media outlets for Hillary Clinton. But her campaign is on life-support.

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Posted on May 8, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

The news out of Northwest Indiana this morning: More cable boxes coming to Cal City and Lake County still counting votes. UPDATE: Votes finally in.
The race nonetheless, has been called by most media outlets for Hillary Clinton. But her campaign is on life-support.

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Posted on May 7, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

“With their bats in a deep slump,” the Sun-Times explains on its front page today, “the White Sox needed a ‘slump-buster’ – a gimmick baseball players use to change their fortunes. Sox spokesman Scott Reifert said players have ‘burned bats, kissed bats, slept with their bats, blessed their bats, you name it.’ This time, the Sox placed bats around two blow-up sex dolls with a sign that read ‘You’ve got to push.'”
Let’s just be clear about what a slump-buster is:
– Via Urban Dictionary.
– Slump Buster Trucker Hat.
– Slump Buster Store.

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Posted on May 6, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

Programming Note: I’m scheduled to appear on the NBC5 morning news tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6:15 a.m. to discuss the Indiana and North Carolina primaries. If you’re awake – or just coming in – please tune in. Feel free to send comments to Division Street.
1. Victoria, Texas, is getting an indie record shop.
2. A 5-year-old Does Lou Piniella.
3. Is this any less crazy than anything Jeremiah Wright ever said?
4. The Dance Movie Blogathon is off to a rousing start over at Ferdy on Films.

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Posted on May 5, 2008

By The Weekend Desk B Team

Weekend Desk guru Natasha Julius is on assignment in the Ozarks looking for daredevils. The “B” team will keep watch on these important stories for you.
Math Test
Kentucky Derby favorite Big Brown will attempt to do today what no horse has done since 1929: win from the 20th post. The other horses have urged Big Brown to withdraw, saying “the math just isn’t there, and we need to unify this field.”
Old Kentucky Home
With Kentucky holding its primary in three weeks, Chelsea Clinton returns to the state to attend the Derby today. She reportedly will call on suspending the jockey tax for the summer.

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Posted on May 3, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

I’ll get things started here this morning and then head over to Division Street to catch up with all the shenanigans our scurrilous public servants are currently perpetrating.
Air Blago
“The way Ali Ata described it, the waiting room in the North Side office of Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko seemed as busy as an airport terminal,” the Tribune reports.
Apparently if you paid Rezko a fee you could get bumped up to first class.

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Posted on May 2, 2008