Full Court Press

I no longer live in the city but I think this would be one catastrophic idea for the taxpayers. Hopefully the Olympic committee will see what a bumbling mayor Daley is, as well as an abrasive cuss they have with "Executive" Pat Ryan running the show.
This will end very badly if Chicago gets this deal...

Traffic is always a concern. Higher taxes is the only way to get what the committee wants. Who wants to watch while the taxes creep up higher and higher? Don't think for a moment that it won't happen. They've already said that Chicagoans would have to fund just about everything. At least build something that you can use for 45 years after that.Someone said we should get somthing with a roof so we can have the Super bowl. Now that's a great plan. Collapsable stadium? What on earth is that? Now,I'd love to own a Hotel downtown for something like that. Imagine all the money that it would rake in for some people. I moved away too and wouldn't dare venture into the city unless my life depended on it and even then I'd rather die than sit in the traffic. I lived on the southside and worked in Highland Park. Everyday was a hour and a half of my life each way that I can never get back. Now that I live further north I dread going into the City. I did it for years and wouldn't want to do it now. 9 years from now: I'll probably hate it even more. Please don't get me started about the drivers in the city. "Put down that newspaper and drive you idiot"!! How many times have you gotten from behind a SUV and the next car is 1/2 mile away. I hate when that happened. My road rage is acting up right now,so excuse me. But if the Olympics are here it's good to have the experience but I don't think it's worth it.

Why would anyone care that Rex is fine? Is anyone else feeling swell today that we should know about? We all know he is not fine - he's a head case. He needs a good sports psychologist, not an MRI on his "structurally sound" shoulder. No one ever doubted the soundness of Grossman's shoulder, until now. Maybe your friend was saying that your paper may have missed the real story here. It seems like something IS wrong with his shoulder, otherwise why would he need to have it tested? We have not heard one peep about this supposed tenderness and pain, and honestly, I'm thankful for that. But definitely keep us posted on Rex's good health, and anyone else's for that matter. I like good news.

My guess about the Olympics is if an American city is going to host it, Los Angeles seems to be the front runner. And, only because the NFL wants to have (2) teams in that market.

More pressing locally is this...
After 30 years of allowing their players to participate in charity basketball games to raise money for Chicago-area schools, the Bears decided to 'pull-the-plug' on the practice; leaving 16 schools scrambling to come up with a another fundraising plan.

I can understand why the Bears decided to stop this practice after two 'key' New Orleans Saints players, Drew Brees (Pro Bowl) and Reggie Bush (celebrity basketball game) were injured. But, shouldn't the Bears make an attempt at helping these schools in their fundraisers?

I suggest the Bears give each school some signed memorabilia or tickets to auction off, still allow players to attend the events and just sign autographs, and make any effort to help these schools have a successful event in any way possible.

Comment above on Pat Ryan is funny...I must agree. I used to call on Aon and my only interaction with Pat Ryan was hearing him yell at one of the security guards who told him that his limo was ready!

with Chicago having only two seasons of traffic...winter and construction...why not make things a little more interesting by throwing hosting the Olympic Games into the mix? maybe they could even make rush hour an Olympic event!

I Live in Wisconsin. Raise the taxes all you want. I can't wait for Soldier field to be on the world stage and be looked on in awe. Perhaps when people with tastes that go beyond the architecture of a mall, see Soldier Field in all its glory, then you Chicago, will truly appreciate the timeless architectural value. Remember,genuine architecture is something that perpetually evolves, not declines(i.e the 'new' Lambeu Field or your cookie cutter sub-division).

OMG! I was just thinking.....Toll Booths. Yes,you see! This is Chicago's chance to have their very own toll booths. Put one on every corner...nonono put them on the sidewalks....then get a 'J-pass' and we could all be J-walkers. Let's see Mayor Daley try to skirt around these toll booths. Thousands of jobs created-goodness, does the University of Pheonix have a toll booth curriculum? I'm there dude. OR If we fine Mike North $574.31 every time he says "back the truck up" we should be well financed by 2014. That of course is assuming that the Cubs,Bulls, and Blackhawks continue to suck til 2014.

I lived in Atlanta in the summer of 1996 during the summer olympics, and to my surprise it was really nice. I was attending Georgia State University then and it really wasn't bad at all. People were concerned about taxes being raised and traffic also. However, because of planning Traffic actually was the same. It was also nice to see all of the celebs in town + and all the other activities. So I think it would be pretty nice.

As far as the Bear cnacelling on the school, they did the right thing. Seems like players and coaches can't wait to skip town and work/play for another team/city/organization. The last thing they need is for the some of the players we have under contract to get hurt in a basketball game.
And I think people/ media needs to stop talking about Rex Grossman. The shoulder thing was a non issue. It shouldn't have been reported. Let the kid be able to turn on the TV-pick up the paper-browse the internet without seeing his name all up on it at least until spring workouts

The olympics would be a huge moneymaker for alot of people including me.
The only worry is the 366 million dollar stadium that no one will use again. My answer is build it for the cubs. 10 years from now they will need one anyway.Plus the trib will get help paying for it and they get an 80 thousand seat stadium out of it .So the cub fans lose a charming little park.The trib is just chipping away at it anyway.Lets tear wrigley down.:)

I'd love to see an article or two a week about the UFC in the Sun Times, sounds like a good job for you Roman.

Roman responds: The column is called "Fightin' Words." It's written by me and runs every other Friday. I've written a lot about the UFC and covered Ortiz-Liddell II.

Having the Olympics here in Chicago will result in more rampant widespread corruption and eventually permenant, long term higher taxes on the residents of the city and county. Who do you think is going to get all the hundreds of contracts and new government political pay-off jobs? Do you think the city and county governments will get smaller from this? Do you think all the political pay off jobs that are created from this are going away after the Olympics are over? Hell no. The size of government will be permenantly increased.1.4 Billion total projected cost - which of course is ridiculously low and will have huge cost over runs. Who's going to pay long term costs of building maintenance and finance? Who's going to pay the Real Estate Taxes on the buildings? Having the Olympics will, in the long run, be terrible for
all the tax payers of the City of Chicago and Cook County.

Put Todd "Erkel" Stroger in charge of the Olympics!!!

With the average olympic city in the past 20 years netting $500 mil in operating profit, why are Chicagoans choking at the possiblity of being on the hook for cost over-runs? We seem to have a perrenial losing attitude, where the absolute worst case scenario is all that's considered. We should be thinking about how we will spend the profits from a well planned and financed games, staged by a world class city. Not conceeding defeat before the battle begins

Also, the United Status is the mecca of Advertising dollars, which lead to a huge economic windfall for Atlanta. Atlanta doesnt have the Chicago lake front and skyline. It has none of the charm Chicago posses. So what does that mean - more tourist and sponsorship $. No way Chicago would be the next Montreal. As I said before, this is a world class city. Not that Montreal isnt. I love Montreal and its "joie de vive". They just had a really, really bad plan.

Furthermore, as we know the Olympics only comes around once every 4 years. Since Atlanta the summer games will have been hosted in Australia (Sydney), Europe (Athens), Asia (Bejing), and Europe again (London 2012). It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that the clear front runners for 2016 are North and South America. Therefore, when Chicago is selected over 2 time host LA as the offical bid of the US, it will have a 1 in 2 chance (assuming Rio bids) of winning the games. And if that is the case I like our chances.

Finally, the Olympic Games would drive real-estate prices in the Chciago area through the roof. Again, just refer to Atlanta

So stop complaining and start getting excited. This is going to happen!!

the olympics in chicago would be a disaster. as a former northern illinoian. i have witnessed the traffic on the expressways around chi town. you really want to add to that? true the job market will pick up. but for how long, and at what price? being a host city is mear hype. as soon as the shine wears off then what do you do with the foreigners? (only kidding). your taxes will go up. and your patients will go down, except in the hospitals. the only real winners will be the bars. some hotels will bennifit but only the higher priced ones. getting back to the traffic. i90 will be a night mare. and that would probably be the lightest traffic. true it would promote chicago tourism, but so wouldnt the final four. chicago is a world reknowned city already. adding to your taxes and headaches wouldnt be worth it.

Not sure what would be worse...the traffic for us poor slobs who have to work in the city, or the fact that the cronies of Gov. Blogo and Mayor Richy Rich Daley get rich and fat...sorry....richer and fatter!

Well I'm pulling for Madrid to get the games. Is lawn bowling an olympic sport?

Cubs 5'th starter may be Cotts, prior may be sent down to minor leagues, miller for long relief or trade. Just a guess.

Good god, I love that all these ppl who dont live in Chicago or never actually lived in Chicago are telling us about how bad this is going to be. Honestly, if there is substanital increase in traffic (not the case in Atlanta) for one month in 10 years from now is your reasoning for not having the olympics then you are one selfish and cultuarly ignorant person. Let's not forget that the Chicago public transportation system and infrastructure is wy better than the sprawl of LA or Atlanta. I understand people are concerned about taxes, but the chance of that happenening is extremely remote, but if it does happen, I bet the additional business, publicity, jobs, and tourism that the olympics would bring would substantially offset any tax increases.

The only reason the mayor wants to host the Olympics is so he can hire a bunch of trucks for the construction work.

Where do you live in the city Peter? Down town? Are your taxes already up there and you want the rest of us to catch up? They raise taxes after they pay a large sum to offset law suits brought against the city and it's inept civil servants. Do you know that there are more people who live in the city who can't pay what they want us to pay already in taxes? There are way more people living just above the poverty line than you really acknowledge. Rent is already at a alltime high and about to go higher because everything they expect a landlord to pay along with the taxes. Are you one of those people who say if you can't afford the city move out of the city? Eventually you run enough people out there will be no city. It's not a vital thing to host the Olympics. Who will get the jobs you talk about? Have you noticed the guys who are getting richer from doing business with the city? Will the extra money get the school system on par with the suburbs? Will everyone benefit from the Olympic influx of dollars? If I'm working at McDonalds having the Olympics does absolutely nothing for me. In the city there are more people working in the McDonalds-like atmosphere than anything else. You could not possibily drive and expect me to believe that you are willing to double or triple your times spent in each direction. The only people in line to make more money off the Olympics is someone already making money. No one who is poor will benefit,because the world isn't set up that way. Unless they build something and keep it going afterwards those jobs are as temporary as that collapsable stadium that they are talking about. You want to start something that will extend beyond 2016. A lot of people will move here to work and they will eventually be left here unemployed,along with the percentage we already keep. Who will make money from all this? Who in Iraq is getting richer with all the money and soldiers that the U.S. is sending to that country? Don't say the citizens because most of them will tell you that the U.S. has brought them more pain and anguish than they had before. They understood THEIR tyrant.

Hosting the Olympics is a mistake waiting to happen. Ask anybody who lived around Atlanta during the summer of 1996. If you think the traffic is bad during the Ryan construction wait and see how much worse the Summer Games will make the entire area. And there is the sticky little question about the cost, specifically, who pays for it? Recent history indicates the Cook County Board will just raise taxes.

1 LA isnt the front runner chicago is because the Olympics wants to leave something here LA is using hollywood and the fact that they already have buildings.
2 LA has worse traffic than us
3 I went to the Olympics in ALT and most people used public transportation to get round and if we get money for an upgrade on the el i say it's a good thing.
4 the stadium thing is a nice idea i builds up the southside. and the idiot who said the cubs should get it isnt that smart b/c it would be on the SOUTHSIDE

Whats wrong jb ? All the yuppies should make it across Roosevelt rd.