Cowboy up
Friday, Aug 22, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
[This post was bumped up from last night to today.]
* The governor was in Dallas, Texas yesterday. NBC 5 Dallas reporter Omar Villafranca fills us in…
So why is the highest elected official of Illinois and an admitted Chicago Bears fan visiting Dallas Cowboys practice?
Money.
The Governor was in town for a fundraiser in Texas and decided to swing by Texas Stadium.
I chatted the Gov up about his trip. We talked sports and then the Chicago Cubs came up. I mentioned that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was very interested in buying the North Side’s Team…just to see what he’d say.
Get this….Governor Blag said he met with Cuban Tuesday! What did they have to talk about? Why would the acting Governor of Illinois talk to Cuban? We all know Cuban doesn’t waste his time, so something productive had to have come from that meeting. What? I don’t know. […]
It’d be interesting to see, when the filings come out, if Cuban donated to Governor Blag’s campaign. Greasing the wheel for ownership maybe?
* They appear to be courting each other. Set the Wayback Machine to just a couple of weeks ago…
The biggest draw at the Kerry Wood Strike Zone fund-raiser Wednesday night wasn’t one of the star athletes — it was Mark Cuban.
Fans swarmed outside 10Pin Bowling Lounge, 330 N. State, and when Cuban stepped outside they rushed him for autographs. “I can’t really say anything,” he told reporters when asked about his bid to buy the Chicago Cubs. “I just love Chicago.” […]
Gov. Blagojevich came with his 12-year-old daughter Amy, a major fan who likes to call pitches when she watches games with her dad. […]
The party raised about $360,000, which is being matched in a state grant by the governor, to benefit the Organic Food Project. The money will go to supply healthy lunches to students at Louisa May Alcott Elementary School, 2625 N. Orchard, for a year.
So, to add to Villafranca’s question, I’m wondering if Cuban repaid the taxpayer-funded kindness at the Dallas fundraiser.
* The Dallas TV reporter also posted a photo of our “acting governor”….
That appears to be Blagojevich pal and fundraiser John Wyma standing in the middle. I’ve posted Wyma’s lobbyist client list here, but if you want the links to work, you’ll have to look him up here.
* Since he was in Dallas, I also can’t help but wonder if he remembered to bring his Sun-Times cowboy hat…
- Dan S a Voter and a Cubs Fan - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 7:00 pm:
The last picture is the most accurate image I have ever witnessed of Blagoof. I just hope he’s carrying the smae weapon that Sheriff Andy Taylor used in Mayberry or at least the bullets are kept in his shirt pocket,
- Little Egypt - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 7:04 pm:
Villafranca caught on way earlier than most of us in Illinois. He refers to Blago as “the acting Governor of Illinois”. Ya gotta love it. Talk about no respect. The only way Blago can sink lower is to be indicted.
- downhereforyears - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 7:07 pm:
Oxford Federal Correctional Facility Haloween Party 2010
- Cornerfield - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 7:14 pm:
I had to laugh at the flippant use of the “Governor Blag” nickname. Must have been a heck of a first impression.
Doesn’t surprise me a bit that Texans can see that this guy is all hat and no cattle too.
- A Citizen - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 7:51 pm:
That is a blasphemous caricature of Howdy Doody, fairly accurate depiction of a dummy though.
- Sweet Polly Purebred - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 8:05 pm:
This picture just reinforces the gov’s homeboy/first African American governor statement doesn’t it? Another case of divine irony… Gotta love it.
- kimsch - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 8:23 pm:
“acting” governor. Heh&tm;
- Levois - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 8:46 pm:
OUCH!!! I hope he knew what he was saying but there are those who might feel this way.
- Anon - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 9:47 pm:
When Wyma was a DC lobbyist his partner was Texas powerhouse Ben Barnes. Also the worst kept secret in Illinois is that Blagojevich is a HUGE Cowboys fan.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 10:17 pm:
Blago and Cuban are made for each other.
Cuban cashed out at the height of the tech bubble. He didn’t have the best product, but he was smart enough to take the money off the table.
Blago cashed in on Mell. He didn’t have the best goods, either, but he was smart enough…. well, so, they’re not exactly alike.
I suspect Rod is promising Cuban the moon to renovate Wrigley, just so he can act the big shot. Remember all that Big Jim nonsense? Cuban ought to read his Cap Fax before he buys into that.
- Quizzical - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 10:34 pm:
Doesn’t Cuban know Blago is toxic?
Also, why did the governor promise $350,000 to provide organic lunches to a Lincoln Park school? We’re cutting essential services and Blago is promising money for this? ITMFA
- Little Egypt - Thursday, Aug 21, 08 @ 11:37 pm:
Maybe Blago is making a deal with Cuban for Blago to be the grounds keeper at Wrigley come January 2011.
- Nice Suit - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 12:06 am:
“appears to be Wyma”
100% John Wyma.
The DC lobbying firm was called Entrecorp, don’t know if John still keeps the K St. office they had.
- Frank Booth - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 6:44 am:
but wait, I kept getting news releases from the gov’s office about all the great laws he was signing yesterday.
Shocked and appalled!
Time to go back to the days of, when the governor leaves Illinois, the lieutenant gov is in charge and on down the line.
Rod would never dare leave.
- Ghost - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 8:11 am:
If we do that Frank I want the days when the lt gov could be from the opposing party!
- Secret Square - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 8:45 am:
If Blago is “acting” governor, who is the “real” governor?
- What planet is he from again? - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 8:47 am:
Doesn’t that last picture look EXACTLY like Michael (the boss) on “The Office”? Well that and other resembelences too.
- BIG R.PH. - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 8:51 am:
Since he is out of the State. Can we call FAA and prevent him from coming back?
- Belle - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 8:54 am:
Caption-Well, gooollleee Marshall Fitzgerald. I sure nuff didn’t know he was a bad guy.
- Secret Square - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 8:56 am:
Anyone know what the Dallas fundraiser was raising funds for?
Would Blago actually go all the way to Dallas to hold a fundraiser for himself? Are there any potential state contractors there?
- Wumpus - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 9:35 am:
I am so tired of Cuban. I am waiting for him to bring a world series just like he brought all the championships to Dallas.
- Captain America - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 9:38 am:
Cuban is my choice as the next owner of the Chicago Cubs. I think he can afford to purchase political access to every politician in Illinois, as well as rehab Wrigly field and pay big name free agents. Viva “Cuban”!
- Anonymous45 - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 10:53 am:
I just cracked up this morning when I saw this-
you are one hell of a photoshopper!
- Anonymous45 - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 10:54 am:
the funds collected will pay for his ahem, legal obligations
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 10:57 am:
===you are one hell of a photoshopper!===
Wasn’t me. That was from a recent CS-T front page.
- Irish - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 10:58 am:
Who else thinks the last picture looks like Corporal O’Rourke from the TV sitcom “F Troop”?
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 11:06 am:
Irish, you’re thinking of Corp. Agarn, played by the great Larry Storch.
Sgt. O’Rourke was played by the great Forrest Tucker, who legend has it…. well, let’s just say, Gov. Testicular Virility would enjoy that comparison.
- Plutocrat03 - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 11:22 am:
The Gov like surprises…..
Perhaps he is negotiating the sale of the entire State of Illinois including the Cubs to Mr. Cuban… cash up front plus a certificate to pay for all future legal defense work.
- Irish - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 11:27 am:
Word- Thanks, you are correct, my bad.
- Annie Oakley - Friday, Aug 22, 08 @ 12:48 pm:
A cowgirl’s tribute song to the Lonesome Cowboy Governor:
Happy trails to you….I doubt we’ll meet again….