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Still kicking myself

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Illinois

* I went out with some pals after work yesterday to enjoy the cool air and warm sun and maybe pick up a story idea or two.

My phone rang at 5:25 pm. I noticed it was a friend who is very close to Bill Daley’s campaign. But somebody was telling a funny story about his vacation, so I didn’t answer the call. My friend didn’t leave a message, so I figured it must not be too important and I’d just call back when I got home.

* An hour and a half later, I was at Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka’s campaign kickoff event when everybody’s phones suddenly started blowing up, including mine…

That text was from the same person who’d called me earlier.

Oops.

* I’m still so mad at myself for not answering that call and then getting scooped by the Tribune that I felt I needed to share my pain.

Arghhhh!!!!

Anybody else have a similar story?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 11:27 am

Comments

Let me guess?? Drinking was involved yesterday afternoon?? I know John Kass Mr.Miller!! and you are NO JOHN KASS!!
THANK GOD…

Comment by Mmmmmmm Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 11:34 am
Perhaps you should give Oscar The Puppy an extension phone so he could alert to calls from your joker friends who are not calling with jokes?

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 11:36 am
This post will be printed, framed, and hung on the wall of every office at the Tribune.

Comment by John A Logan Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 11:36 am
Scott Cisek at the Cook Co Dems posted this on facebook a good 15 to 20 min after Chicago Tonight announced it on their show at 7:01
===An unnamed high ranking operative advised me that Bill Daley dropped out of the Governor’s race today. Great news for Democrats!===
Either he didn’t hit “post” right away or his high ranking operative was watching Chicago Tonight

Comment by Monday Morning Quarterback Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 11:47 am
Seeing that you were having that beer after 5:00 and he is done with work, maybe you should keep Barton on as a night shift replacement.

Comment by Been There Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 11:52 am
Go ahead and kick yourself. You admit you deserve it. In your message, it’s clear you regard this as a “learning moment”. Your penance will be all of the useless calls you now take because it could be “the call”. No one promised journalism would be easy. 9 out of 10 times you’d have taken that call. It shall be referred to going forward as “this decade’s mistake”.

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:11 pm
Just report the funny vacation story, and it will be alright.

Comment by hold on Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:18 pm
Once I got a proposal lead. It seemed straightforward and favorable. I wrote the proposal.

Except I was so tired from being one month into new parenting that I forgot to hit send.

I found the draft saved several weeks later.

2012 was lame

Comment by Will Caskey Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:37 pm
Was at an event this morning with some other legislative staffers. Daley came up of course and one of them was awestruck. He hadn’t heard yet.

I’m either surprised that he’s not staying on top of the news, or jealous of his ability to disconnect from politics while not at work.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 12:46 pm
There is no reason for beating yourself up because you had your priorities right.

Big deal you got scooped by the Tribune.

There are too many people whose lives revolve around work and not enough who turn the phone off at the end of the day.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 1:00 pm
Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:22 pm
Rich,

At least you knew Dewey lost.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:33 pm
Somewhere Rich Miller’s doppleganger, Rick Pearson, is celebrating the Tribune’s scoop.

I picture some dark basement bar off Michigan Avenue, a jukebox, and Queen’s “We are the Champions” playing incessantly.

Comment by Irishpirate Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:33 pm
The score is now . . .
Rich Miller 999,999 Chicago Tribune 1

Comment by East Central Illinois Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:38 pm
I’ve never seen someone so upset they could lift a campaign tour bus over their head.

And I still have not.

But, Rich, you gave it a valiant effort.

Comment by Barton Lorimor Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 2:56 pm
**I picture some dark basement bar off Michigan Avenue**

Mike Royko’s spirit is also there, saying, “C’mon in and have a drink, kid, and forget about it. The Tribune’s also become a rag no self-respecting fish would be wrapped in. It’s a whiny shill for the super-rich. At least you have your dignity. That can never be scooped.”

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:15 pm
When w

Comment by BMAN Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:30 pm
=The score is now . . .
Rich Miller 999,999 Chicago Tribune 1=

Yep. I didn’t hear about it until this morning either. Saw it on Twitter and then waited for the CapFax. Didn’t even read the Trib/S-T stories first.

Comment by Snucka Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 3:42 pm
maryanne ahern just reported that some “dems” are trying to recruit Alexi or toni preckwinkle to primary quinn. this seems like a gasping media trying to keep a hot political story alive. i dont see either of these people challenging quinn at this late stage.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 6:10 pm
Listening to the funny story was more important.

Comment by Ruby Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 9:22 pm
Don’t be so hard on yourself.

Comment by Ruby Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 9:58 pm
It’s odd your friend didn’t text the message or leave a voicemail when you didn’t answer. Ever find out why?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 7:52 am
Daley pulled out after reading comments by Rich on this blog.

Kinda like John McCain and Keith Olbermann.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 18, 13 @ 9:24 am