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* The AP on Mayor Rahm Emanuel…
The former congressman and White House chief of staff works out daily, runs marathons occasionally and is as fit as a 55-year-old can be. But Emanuel was never much of a ballplayer — he wound up ditching soccer for ballet as a teenager — and is only so much of a sports fan today.
“He’s really smart, very funny, very competitive and he knows the legislative process inside-out because he used to do the work,” said Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, a longtime colleague. “He also doesn’t swear nearly as much as his reputation makes it sound.
“But sports? I doubt he gives it a lot of thought,” Cullerton added a moment later. “I went to the Cubs opener with him this year and he didn’t seem to know much about it.”
Heh.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 9:50 am
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His ignorance on sports sounds like a typical Cubs fan.
Comment by Lionel R Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 9:51 am
I’m on the fence between Garcia and Rahm, but his apparent dislike for baseball tilts the scale towards Rahm.
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 9:54 am
Really sense Rahm is more of a WWE fan, I can see the rhetoric appealing to him…
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:03 am
so he doesn’t know the Cubs. great! (says the Sox fan.) besides, after this weekend’s Liverpool Arsenal match, we know that the football is more of a war than baseball or maybe even American football. gushing blood head wound patched up and the player left in. check. huge slash across the chest skin leaving a gaping hole in the shirt and the player left in. check. Playing way beyond full time. check. baseball, though I love the Sox, is not the barometer for the hardscrabble game of politics.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:05 am
At the last Hawks championship rally in Grant Park, Emanuel told the crowd that Bobby Hull was looking down from heaven and smiling.
Apparently, he didn’t know the rather beefy Canadian fella with the polar bear pelt on his head standing right behind him.
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:11 am
The problem Emanuel has — he is unable to articulate a heartfelt vision to the people
he is running government as he sees fit — inherited much of the problems opponents say are his faults — but he comes off as cold as the north pole
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:12 am
Interest in sports is most likely was something that a person learned as a child. They grew up in a family where watching sports on television or participating in sports was important to the family.
Sports may not have been a very big deal in Rahm’s family.
What is the big deal that somebody isn’t interested in sports?
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:13 am
The guy doesn’t know sports. Anytime he’s had to talk about them it’s been painful. When he announced he was leaving the White House he joked about the Bears being “3 and Zero”, he thought Bobby Hull was “looking down” on the Blackhawks and smiling, and tried talking about his favorite memory when he was in the booth at Wrigley and it was awkward.
He doesn’t like sports. It’s ok. He’s a bad mayor for other reasons.
Comment by LizPhairTax Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:13 am
I’m sure he’ll do a good enough sales job to convince people otherwise, such as Obama claiming be a huge fan of the team playing at Kominskey Field, or the one at Soldiers Stadium..,wherever those are.
Comment by Anonymoiis Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:13 am
I for one appreciate Sen. Cullerton’s candor.
The last thing I need is someone expanding on an athletic caricature, mocking it, and promoting it in a way that may not reflect who they really are, maybe even going as far as a nickname…
The last thing I would promote…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:14 am
Ron Santos
Comment by James the Intolerant Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:14 am
So he would rather watch the Nutcracker than the Cubs, tis the season.
Comment by The Colossus of Roads Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:14 am
Well, baseball isn’t quite the blood sport that politics is, Emmanuel’s specialty.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:18 am
Would be nice if he said hello to other runners on the running path one in a while
Comment by gesquire Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:18 am
In all fairness, seeing and listening to Hull does not give one the impression that he is 100% alive and well.
Comment by Snucka Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:19 am
oh, no, rahm is definitely a sports fan! he’s a huge fan of the blood sport of politics! darn good at it, too…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:22 am
Can’t fault him for going the ballet route. It’s a smart move for a hetero guy. Lot’s of gorgeous, shapely, fit girls with a few guys, little competition.
Think about it; wrestling with sweaty guys or doing pas de deux with hot girls? I remember when my girls were big into dance, the straight guys in the school made out like bandits.
Seems like Rahm’s parents didn’t raise no stupid children…..
He’s gonna have to get more knowledgeable about baseball if he’s courting the Hispanic vote, though.
Comment by Arizona Bob Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:24 am
===He’s gonna have to get more knowledgeable about baseball if he’s courting the Hispanic vote, though.===
Words fail me.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:28 am
When he starts calling where the Bears play “Soldiers Field” and the grocery store as “The Jewels” then he will become Chicago’s mayor.
Throwing in a few “diss” and “dat” would be helpful.
Comment by Del Clinkton Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:32 am
I may or may not agree with Rahm’s politics and such, but I really do respect anyone who would do ballet, which isn’t the easiest thing in the world (and can be beautiful when done well after much hard practice). The fake macho types who make fun of Rahm doing ballet don’t have a clue about what they are talking about.
Comment by vise77 Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:40 am
My understanding is that Mayor Emanuel is only 5′08″ tall and weighs only 138 pounds. Is it really surprising that he didn’t gravitate towards traditional American sports? He went to New Trier West High School in the late 1970s when Mel Sheets was baseball coach and it had highly competitive teams, it’s not likely a kid coming from a background in dance from an early age would make those teams.
The aerobic skills needed to be a formal Ballet dancer are very high and classical Ballet requires an immense commitment of time for practice. Mayor Emanuel need not be ashamed of his lack of interest in traditional sports, how many American males today know who Baryshnikov is and what he physically was able to do?
Comment by Rod Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:41 am
It’s the whole “out of touch with the common man” thing. You don’t have to read the box scores every day, but should sound passable such as knowing the names of Chicago sports icons, know when you read a score that the highest number comes first, know your runs and goals from points and quarters and periods from halves, etc.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:42 am
Hey, don’t criticize his culcha!
Give me a Mayor who can do a Tours Jette any day over a guy who over analyses a manager’s decision to hit and run.
Plus, Ballet dudes don’t spit.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:42 am
I was told years ago that Cullerton’s White Sox season tickets were all about obtain access and proximity to Mike Madigan who also has season tickets and attends games on a fairly regular basis.
It always seemed odd that when Cullerton’s House and, later, Senate, district included Wrigleyville that he was attending so many White Sox games. The investment seems to have paid dividends.
Comment by Under Further Review Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:54 am
@OW
=Words fail me.=
As they usually do,OW. My wife is Hispanic. Football (AKA “soccer”) and to a lesser extent baseball, are a major part of the culture.
If you don’t understand that, perhaps you should cultivate a more “diverse” circle of friends.
Either way, Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Comment by Arizona Bob Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 10:56 am
Oh my. I wonder what “Clark” thinks about this?
Comment by Boring Boring Arsenal Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:04 am
Bes-ball been berry berry good to me.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:04 am
Mayor Rahm Emanuel a ballerina! That explains a lot things. What hoot!
Comment by Bahahahahah! Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:10 am
I still remember watching one random Sox game (I am a Cubs fan) and Rahm was in the booth with Hawk and Stoney, and Hawk asked Rahm his favorite baseball play on either side of town.
And as been played on sports radio many times, Emanuel couldn’t remember the play exactly, but it involved Cubs’ Hall of Fame third baseman “Ron Santos.”
He also called the Weiner Circle the “Weenie Circle.”
While laughing hysterically, I was kind of glad my Mayor is not a Chicago sports meatball like I am.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:17 am
Hey, Bahahahaha, how do you get internet access when it’s 1950 where you are?
Not that I’m a fan of Rahm’s politics, but danseurs are far more athletic than some of the guys with plaques in Cooperstown.
Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:18 am
Bahahahahah! Ballerino. jeez.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:20 am
Since they were at a Cubs game, Rahm can be excused for not knowing what he was looking at.
Comment by Nonplussed Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:24 am
If Rahm still has the ballet moves and can catch a football, the Bears have some wide receiver positions available.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:27 am
Rahm has no interest in or time for losers.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:37 am
Is shooting fish in a barrel a sport? Think of the red light cameras.
Comment by Keyser Soze Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:37 am
Having a ballerina for a mayor is no big deal. Having a mayor that skips town during a murder crisis? That’s a big deal!
Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:40 am
- Arizona Bob -,
Stereotypes are the simple way to seem smart…
To the Post,
While music is a weak point for me, I can tell you the music in order for Act II of “Oklahoma!”, I can’t tell you who was the 2nd act of a band that played in Oklahoma City.
I love the arts. I enjoy talking about Cubs opening days as much as I like to discuss which opening numbers of the classic musicals is the best.
The arts are important. They can tell “our story” better than we hope to try. I enjoy talking about the revival of “South Pacific” as much as trying to pick who will win the NFC South.
People are unique, different. That is what’s cool.
We’re lucky we are different. I learn more from people not like me than anything like me.
To - Arizona Bob -,
Words really don’t fail me but I’ll let the artist Mr. Hughes speak for me, and borrow a bit from him.
“You see us as you want to see us… in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. ”
Merry Christmas.
OW
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:41 am
Skips town during a murder crisis?
Anybody wondering why Billy K finished fourth in a race for Committeeman need read only that post.
If there is a “murder crisis” than the media is doing a nice job of covering it up. I’m not aware of any such crisis.
Moreover, this is 2014. We have these things called “phones.” We can talk to people even when they are very far away.
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:46 am
Lynn Swan used to take ballet in the off-season.
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:49 am
Also, I guarantee that he does not know the Empire Carpet phone number or Victory Auto Wreckers address.
Comment by LizPhairTax Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 11:53 am
Goonerina, critics like you are priceless, please keep it up!
Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 12:14 pm
Rahm sounds like a true Cub fan.
Comment by Mokenavince Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 12:14 pm
“Goonerina” — hey that’s very funny, in a sort of “angry dude trying to act funny, but just coming off as bitter” sort of way.
My friend, it is not my fault you finished behind three people that nobody but the four of you can name.
But Bill, speaking of price, for your next “race” are you going to pay for a real website, or are you going to use one of those cheap do it yourself things like last time?
Be honest, Bill. Were you really trying to run for office, or just trying to promote whatever other crazy thing you wander into? It sure didn’t look like an actual campaign. So what’s the story Bill? What’s the scoop?
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 12:26 pm
Good for Rahm. The real question is: why do so many people care so much about sports? They are just meaningless entertainment. Empty lives equals caring about these teams of 1 % era!
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 12:28 pm
It would only create a larger fervor if Rahm put ketchup on his dog while at the game.
Comment by Creative Nickname Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 12:38 pm
Dang, Senate President Cullerton, way to through your BFF under the bus! No, Mayor Emmannuel does not look to be much of a BALLPLAYER, but a BALLER? Why yes, he certainly is!
Comment by Black Ivy Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 1:15 pm
How do you “through” someone under the bus?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 1:29 pm
Multi-tasking, Michelle Flaherty. I meant “throw.” Please forgive me, Scrooge. Happy holidays, all!
Comment by Black Ivy Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 1:37 pm
Roger Simon called out Rahm years ago. In one press release, Emanuel managed to mangle the spelling of Ryne Sandberg, get key Cubs dates and statistics wrong, and give the wrong address for Wrigley Field (brush up on your Blues Brothers while you’re at it, Rahm). And he said under oath before Congress while testifying on the White House Travel Office scandal that “I hate baseball.” Here’s the link http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42516.html
Comment by Gerson Tuesday, Dec 23, 14 @ 2:02 pm