By Steve Rhodes

Congratulations – and gratitude, admiration and respect – are due the Tribune on the occasion of the well-deserved Pulitzer Prize it was awarded on Monday.
From the Trib’s own account:
“The Chicago Tribune won the Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting Monday for a series of articles about dangerously defective toys and children’s products, the federal regulatory agency that failed to uncover them, and families left to deal with the fatal consequences.”
You can find the stories here.

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Posted on April 8, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

“Anyone who was surprised by North Carolina and UCLA’s demise Saturday hasn’t been paying close enough attention,” writes our very own Jim Coffman in SportsMonday. “Memphis simply has more talent than any other team in this year’s tournament (and that will usually do the trick if the coach can avoid screwing it up).”
Beachwood Baseball
* Nick Swisher is already the best White Sock.
* Uncle Lou doesn’t have to explain his lineups to anyone. Now go get him another Falstaff.

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Posted on April 7, 2008

By Natasha Julius

We’ll be watching all of the most riveting stories for you this weekend. Well, all except for this one. Because, seriously? Whoa.
Market Update
Good news for once this week: Turns out, there’s a quick, painless way to make all of this unpleasantness disappear. And it’s about to get way easier, too.

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Posted on April 5, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

Here cometh the dreamer. Let us slay him and see what becomes of his dream.
* “I Have A Dream”
* “April 4, 1968: A Day Of Infamy At The Defender”
* “40 Years After The Riots: Residents Say Lawndale Area Is Still In Shambles”

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Posted on April 4, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

If you’re anything like me, you might think that it’s front-page news when the mayor accuses those opposed to the proposed move of the Children’s Museum into Grant Park of bigotry against children of color.
That’s about as big a charge you can make, isn’t it? Isn’t it sort of a big deal when the beknighted mayor of the country’s third-largest city makes it? Particularly when there isn’t a shred of credible evidence to support the charge?

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Posted on April 3, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

1. The 20 All-Time Greatest Chicago Guitarists.
2. If privatizing Midway is such a great idea, why not privatize O’Hare and really make a bundle?
3. “Stuart Levine was a man of big and crooked dreams, deep grudges and a twisted sense of integrity.”

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Posted on April 2, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

Stuart Levine continued to rock the Illinois political community on Monday with his testimony in the Tony Rezko trial. Who knew?
“Levine testified he reserved a private room on the fourth floor of the exclusive Standard Club downtown,” the Sun-Times reports in “Fast Times At Purple Hotel.” “Levine said he asked the waiter not to interrupt and drew up in his notes how he’d split a series of fees paid by firms seeking to do state business.”
“I wanted Mr. Rezko’s undivided attention,” Levine told a federal courtroom, according to the Daily Herald’s reports in “Steak ‘N Bribes.” “Mr. Rezko is a very busy man.”

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Posted on April 1, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

Opening Day.
1. “The crowd was vocal. Because the subject here was baseball and the stadium was full of scholars – and historians – and soon enough I found myself engaged in learned debate with all these . . . strangers, these . . . guys.”
2. “Cursed by goats/and a guy with glasses/ our Cubs front office/run by asses.”
With apologies to Nena.

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Posted on March 31, 2008

By Natasha Julius

We won’t let you stumble around in the dark for more than a symbolic hour this weekend.
Market Update
New research suggests that a series of small shocks can improve the sense of smell. They’re right; most Americans can now perceive that the economy stinks.

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Posted on March 29, 2008

By Steve Rhodes

Today’s Worst Person In Chicago is Jennifer Farrington, president of the Chicago Children’s Museum. Is this what you teach the children, Jennifer?
Last night, Farrington appeared on Chicago Tonight with 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly. What transpired was stunning for these parts: a Chicago alderman clearly and directly answering questions while a children’s advocate shamelessly dodged and weaved. Eddie Arruza moderated. Let’s take a look. (The questions are indirect quotes, but the answers are about 99 percent there; I typed as I watched. The comments are mine.)
*
ARRUZA: Does the mayor have the votes?
REILLY: Not according to my count. I think even museum officials will admit the vote count remains fluid . . . [contrary to Fran Spielman’s report], by my count, the mayor does not have the votes to pass this plan.
Comment: So the story was a plant. Good job, Hill & Knowlton!

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Posted on March 28, 2008