Cubs’ Parent Company Tied to Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s Investigation

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been arrested as a result of an ongoing federal investigation over corruption charges of the spectacularly audacious and/or idiotic kind.

Im the guv... no gimme my motha&%^ money... you got that?

The main charge against Blagojevich is that he tried to sell (!) President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat. But the investigation has dug up some sleazy deals behind the scenes that involve the Tribune Company, which owns the Cubbies. Keep this photo in mind as you read on.

From CNN:

Blagojevich and Harris threatened to withhold financial assistance from the Tribune Co. unless the company fired certain editorial board members who had been critical of Blagojevich and had called for the governor’s impeachment.

The money was related to the sale or financing of Wrigley Field, home stadium of the Chicago Cubs, a team owned by the Tribune Co.

(snip)

In a November 4 phone call, Blagojevich told Harris to tell the Tribune adviser, “Our recommendation is fire all those f—ing people, get ‘em the f— out of there and get us some editorial support.” The affidavit gives only one name, Deputy Editorial Page Editor John McCormick.

(snip)

Beginning November 30, Blagojevich began talking to a sports consultant and a Cubs officials about making state money available for Wrigley Field.

Holy Zell! The Gov. was running thangs like he was the, uhm, Guv…

I don’t think we’ve seen corruption of this magnitude in decades (I’m too young to have any objective recollective memory anyway), but it smacks of a dense movie plot.  Dude had a brassy pair, though, I mean, he was wearing a Cubs hat as a photo-op to strong-arm the Tribune people. Classy…