Chicago Happenings - Page 6

Aloha Mr. Learned Hand · 10-16-2003, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Tribune reports the IRS is going after Sidley and Austin for J&G-type problems.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...i-business-hed

Hello

Sounds like there could be more to come as well...

FYI, as a matter of housekeeping, can we keep everything in the Chicago Happenings thread? Makes it easier for the people who are actually reading things here to find stuff. Thanks.

Aloha Mr. Learned Hand · 10-16-2003, 09:31 PM

I am not a Cubs fan and am only a casual Sox fan (I support the team from my birthplace). As such I do not understand what decades and decades of utter despair and futility can do to the fans in this town, and I hope I never will.

That being said, I can't help feeling really bad for "The Fan", the 26-year-old guy who tried to catch the foul ball and led, at least karmically, if not in reality, to the Cubs not winning the pennant for the first time in 58 years.

It's ridiculous what he is having to put up with. At least 5 death threats, media camped out at his home and workplace, not to mention having thousands of people who for some insane reason want to assault him on sight. Cubs fans are always quick to tell anyone in earshot that they are the Best Fans in Baseball. I've always doubted that, having witnessed firsthand the drunken frat boy atmosphere in the bleachers at Wrigley, where most people hardly know a game is going on, they are so blitzed.

While they do have some truly loyal, passionate longtime fans who deserve better, many of them deserve just what they got. Especially those who are willing to cannibalize one of their own.

The poor guy now joins a billy goat and Leon Durham in the pantheon of the mystic excuses the Cubs have for not winning. He'll probably have to move. That would be a shame.

Particularly shameful was the media, especially the Chicago Sun-Times which started it, publicizing his name and where he lives and works. I only wish he had a cause of action against them, but he most likely doesn't.

Bottom line, blame the overpaid millionaires on the field who actually play the game. Leave the guy alone.

Say_hello_for_me · 10-16-2003, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
Sounds like there could be more to come as well...

FYI, as a matter of housekeeping, can we keep everything in the Chicago Happenings thread? Makes it easier for the people who are actually reading things here to find stuff. Thanks.

Will do. Figured at the time that it was of interest beyond Chicago, but Chicago (generically) was the appropriate forum for posting. But Chicago in the Chicago Happenings thread it is.

Hello

Say_hello_for_me · 10-16-2003, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
It's ridiculous what he is having to put up with. At least 5 death threats, media camped out at his home and workplace, not to mention having thousands of people who for some insane reason want to assault him on sight. Cubs fans are always quick to tell anyone in earshot that they are the Best Fans in Baseball. I've always doubted that, having witnessed firsthand the drunken frat boy atmosphere in the bleachers at Wrigley, where most people hardly know a game is going on, they are so blitzed.

While they do have some truly loyal, passionate longtime fans who deserve better, many of them deserve just what they got. Especially those who are willing to cannibalize one of their own.

The other Cubs fans are the best reason I can give for not being one myself. The bleachers were occasionally fun for 1-3 years of my life, but the drunken atmosphere is not an inducement for the adult Hello. Still, when they boys and I get together for a night of drunken fighting, there is nowhere better than Wrigleyville.

From the blame game being played this week, it looks like the drunken frat boys are the bulk of their fan base. Worse still is that the Cubs organization (esp. the most prominent members) don't stand up and say "screw that, he didn't put 8 across the place... uhm, that was us". Or something like that. Accountability in Chicago? Not in my lifetime.

Quote:

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
Particularly shameful was the media, especially the Chicago Sun-Times which started it, publicizing his name and where he lives and works. I only wish he had a cause of action against them, but he most likely doesn't.

And Fox that night repeatedly showing the play and drawing circles around him. And governor jagoff. And the media for even approaching his father and neighbors. Chicago was shown in a very ugly light (again) this week.

Hello

mmm3587 · 10-17-2003, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Tribune reports the IRS is going after Sidley and Austin for J&G-type problems.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...i-business-hed

Hello

Unless I'm mistaken, it's all the same series of transactions. J&G was setting them up and doing all the corporate and tax work; B&W was giving tax opinions.

Shape Shifter · 10-17-2003, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
That being said, I can't help feeling really bad for "The Fan", the 26-year-old guy who tried to catch the foul ball and led, at least karmically, if not in reality, to the Cubs not winning the pennant for the first time in 58 years.

I love this story. By all accounts, this guy sounds like a solid, quality individual. He lived his life correctly (if not right). He went to school, got a good job, and gave back to his community. He loved baseball and showed his love and respect for the game by teaching to youth. What could be better?

Things were going great. His Cubs were a game away from the World Series and he was able to score a really good seat. No rooftop this Bartman!

So he goes to the game and it's beautiful. His Cubs are winning and his new scratchproof lenses allow him to see clearly his team coming within five outs of overcoming decades of soulshattering humiliation. What great seats, what a great game. The only thing that could make it better is a souvenier . . . Oh . . . my . . . God . . . here it comes . . . he's about to catch a foul ball at the biggest game he's ever seen. And at that instant before he caught the ball, his life had never been better.

And in that split instant after he obstructed the catch, his life changed forever. He jinxed a team. Or perpetuated the jinx, or was simply inevitable. Either way, his life has changed in just a moment. His life is no longer defined by his previous good works and good qualities. He cannot stay at home, he cannot go to work, he subject to death threats. His friends and enemies alike mock him. He is a billy goat.

What a great story. We have done Our work well.

rufus leeking · 10-17-2003, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
And at that instant before he caught the ball, his life had never been better..............

And in that split instant after he obstructed the catch, his life changed forever. He jinxed a team. ................
What a great story. We have done Our work well.

well, worse. he dropped it. plus, he had headphones on so, at the exact moment he could hear the radio guy talking about " some idiot" in the stands that cost the Cubbies the out....

taxwonk · 10-17-2003, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
I am not a Cubs fan and am only a casual Sox fan (I support the team from my birthplace). As such I do not understand what decades and decades of utter despair and futility can do to the fans in this town, and I hope I never will.

That being said, I can't help feeling really bad for "The Fan", the 26-year-old guy who tried to catch the foul ball and led, at least karmically, if not in reality, to the Cubs not winning the pennant for the first time in 58 years.

It's ridiculous what he is having to put up with. At least 5 death threats, media camped out at his home and workplace, not to mention having thousands of people who for some insane reason want to assault him on sight. Cubs fans are always quick to tell anyone in earshot that they are the Best Fans in Baseball. I've always doubted that, having witnessed firsthand the drunken frat boy atmosphere in the bleachers at Wrigley, where most people hardly know a game is going on, they are so blitzed.

While they do have some truly loyal, passionate longtime fans who deserve better, many of them deserve just what they got. Especially those who are willing to cannibalize one of their own.

The poor guy now joins a billy goat and Leon Durham in the pantheon of the mystic excuses the Cubs have for not winning. He'll probably have to move. That would be a shame.

Particularly shameful was the media, especially the Chicago Sun-Times which started it, publicizing his name and where he lives and works. I only wish he had a cause of action against them, but he most likely doesn't.

Bottom line, blame the overpaid millionaires on the field who actually play the game. Leave the guy alone.

I have to agree. He wasn't the only one in the stands going for the ball. What's more, I don't think that anyone who was in his place would have done otherwise.

He certainly didn't cause the string of fuckups that allowed the Cubbies to go from a three-run lead to down by five in a single inning.

In still blame the assholes back in the 40's who wouldn't let Sam Yiannis bring in his goat.

Shape Shifter · 10-17-2003, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rufus leeking
well, worse. he dropped it. plus, he had headphones on so, at the exact moment he could hear the radio guy talking about " some idiot" in the stands that cost the Cubbies the out....

Right. It's all so perfect. And despite others going for the ball, he is The One.

Aloha Mr. Learned Hand · 10-17-2003, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Right. It's all so perfect. And despite others going for the ball, he is The One.

That was you talking to him through his headphones, huh, Shifter?

*calm monotone* "Look at the shiny white ball. You know you want it. Just reach out and grab it. That's it..."

Shape Shifter · 10-17-2003, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
That was you talking to him through his headphones, huh, Shifter?

*calm monotone* "Look at the shiny white ball. You know you want it. Just reach out and grab it. That's it..."

Quite perceptive, Mr. Hand. And have you noticed they never show pictures of the scoreboard when Mr. Bartman was performing his task? We have Our means of communication. We are sooo sneaky.

Say_hello_for_me · 10-21-2003, 10:00 PM

Just in case any of y'all missed this on the Trib's site today, a story about a lawsuit by one of Winston & Strawn's top rainmakers. Uhm, against the firm. This is one of my favorite places, so I take no pleasure in posting it.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...l=chi-news-hed

Basically, an old friend of Jack Welch, generated 90 million in revenues over 10 years, had his terms changed when Welch retired, yada yada yada. Sounds very messy.

Hello

Aloha Mr. Learned Hand · 10-22-2003, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Just in case any of y'all missed this on the Trib's site today, a story about a lawsuit by one of Winston & Strawn's top rainmakers. Uhm, against the firm. This is one of my favorite places, so I take no pleasure in posting it.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...l=chi-news-hed

Basically, an old friend of Jack Welch, generated 90 million in revenues over 10 years, had his terms changed when Welch retired, yada yada yada. Sounds very messy.

Hello

Yeah, just heard about this. My sources there tell me that they are not really concerned about it (they are younger), unless a settlement or judgement cuts into their bonuses... In which case, good luck getting people to do your work after you cause $$$ to come out of their pockets.

Say_hello_for_me · 10-26-2003, 11:48 PM

Ahh, more on the Man Behind the Curtain and his friends and relatives.

As previously noted, the man who pull's Daley's strings is Jeremiah Joyce. One columnist or another gets around to explaining this about, oh, every 2 years. Need primary campaign workers? Hundreds are available anywhere in the city if Joyce is willing to order out the troops. Need a contract at, e.g., Navy Pier? Ditto. Cleaning contracts? Paving contracts? Property contracts? Trucking contracts? Joyce, Joyce, Joyce and Joyce. Etc. ad nauseum.

I'm sure any relationship between Jeremiah and the fire chief has been mentioned once or twice in the media over the last few years already. AFAIK, they are cousins or something. Still, I couldn't help but notice one connection I'd never heard. Not only is Eileen Carey his sister in law (AFAIK); not only is the fire department head his brother or cousin or something (AFAIK); but, as it turns out, the downtown district chief (who got off duty, uhm 1/2 hour before the county building fire), is also related to the Chief... and thus to Jeremiah.

Of course, he's got a kid who is a politician (and another who is an ex con). Woo hoo, sound like anyone else in Illinois?

Madigan/Madigan?
Hynes/Hynes?
Mell/Blagoyevich?
Daley/Daley?
and Joyce/Joyce/Joyce/Joyce/Carey. And those are only the ones I've heard about in political office and/or top administrative (or, er, emergency) posts.

Nightclub fires, collapsing porches, burning government buildings... where does it end? Surely not with a, truly, finally, outraged Murphy. I get the feeling Devine had to make a few phone calls to find out how much *outrage* he could express about his near-death experience. But Murphy though. Dead man that he surely almost is, God bless him.

Is this what it takes for someone to quit toeing the line? Do the questions only come once you have to watch them carry your employee's bodies out of their workplace?

Yo, Say Hello For Me. If anyone sees the next Harold please give me a shout so I know where to send the check. Chicago is a frickin national embarrasment. And all Kass can write about is Gryzb now working for Higginbotham. Puh-thetic.

FWIW, all statements are only AFAIK, and not completely verified via, for instance, checking birth certificates and records. I almost guarantee I got something or other wrong in there. But even if I'm only half right, I've had enough. I'm joining my friends in the suburbs, cuz I've had enough.

So, any thoughts on La Grange, Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale or Downers Grove? Aside from them being nice and quiet and having good schools and good train service?

Hello

Say_hello_for_me · 10-27-2003, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Politics/fire/Chicago sucks stuff
Hello

And then, today, the paper reports that 270,000 Chicago public school students are eligible to transfer to better schools under federal guidelines. Apparently, their current schools suck that much.

Being a natural math genius, I did some quick math. That would be 10% of Chicago's current population.

Not 10% of Chicago's youth. Not 10% of Chicago's public school students. Not, whatever whatever, you hear me.

1 of every 10 Chicagoans is, right now, supposed to be in a failing public school.

Holy fuck.

Edited to add the "supposed to be" part, for obvious reasons I guess.