A Couple of Updates and Random Thoughts

Dude, I’m tellin ya…………..

I thought I’d go back and address a couple of points or predictions I made recently and see how they came out. Maybe offer up a couple of new random thoughts or observations as well.

In my first-ever blog on this site, I ranted about the special treatment that celebs get—-particularly in the courtroom {see:  The celebrity bennies never end}. I specifically mentioned the case of Blackhawks star Patrick Kane and his charges of assaulting a NYC cabbie. He was facing felony charges at the time of my post. Here is a direct quote I made from the blog:

I told my roommate sitting next to me, “Every penny I own in this world that he comes out facing misdemeanors and gets a cake walk on that too.”

Here’s the update: All felony charges were dropped and he was finally brought up on a misdemeanor charge. When all was said and done, Mr. Kane was required to apologize to the victimized cabdriver. He pled guilty to a non-criminal charge of disorderly conduct and had to say he was sorry to the cab driver who suffered broken glasses and bruises from the assault. Actually, he didn’t even have to tell the cabbie he was sorry; he is required to write a note of apology. Un-freakin-believeable !!

Wait a minute……what am I saying? It’s so totally believable. This is how the sham…..the myth……the joke that is the United States justice system is. My prediction on this issue was right on the money. And I’m a major Blackhawks fan. I actually didn’t want him to get six months in prison and miss any of the upcoming season. But the bottom line is that if this was me, or a non-famous friend of mine, or even YOU, we’d be up shit creek right now. You can bet the ranch that we’d be facing the full felony charge of second degree robbery (that was dropped against Mr. Kane). We’d be spending somewhere in the range of five to ten thousand dollars in legal representation in an effort to stay out of jail.  And if we somehow didn’t go to jail, we’d easily get a few years of probation, a hefty fine to go with the legal bills, and several dozen hours of community service.

This prediction was easy, though. It was just assault by a celebrity. We already know from numerous examples that they can get away with murder.

Then there was my prediction on the Chicago Bears going 0-2 to start the season with the dismal play of Jay Cutler having a big influence on that.

Here’s the update: The Bears actually pulled a victory out of their ass against the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in week 2 this past Sunday. So Mr. Cutler, who was already being excused by most of the Chicago media after his pathetic week 1 performance {see: The big, bad Chicago Bears look like teddy bears again}. Now he is completely off the hook for the moment because we won this last game. But I will say this—–the win certainly wasn’t due to any heroic performance by Jay Cutler. As the third quarter ended, the Bears had scored our usual 7 points and were trailing in the game. That’s 7 points in the first 45 minutes of play. At halftime, our biggest WR threat, Devin Hester, had 1 catch for a total of 2 yards. The Bears got lucky on this one and I still stand by my prediction of 8-8 at best. But……..

I was wrong in my prediction of an 0-2 start and at least for this particular “miss”, I’m actually sort of happy about it.

Next, I made a more general prediction after having attended a pretty sloppy Cubs-Sox game in early September out at Wrigley Field. Both teams looked uninspired and I came to the conclusion that the year was over for both teams. {see: Are you ready for some fooootballll ??}

Here’s the update: I believe that I am right again on this one. I went to the Sox game last night with a friend (free tix or I wouldn’t go) and the South Siders looked miserable in a 7-0 shellacking by the Minnesota Twins. Jermaine Dye was booed loudly until manager Ozzie Guillen did the merciful thing and pinch-hit for him in the 9th with DeWayne Wise. That’s right….DeWayne Wise and his .206 batting average. That’s when you know your time in a city is finished in baseball. When DeWayne Wise pinch hits for a guy who is hoping to have a $12 million option picked up for next year, you know you’re done.

So even though Cubs fans are still holding on to that last unrealistic thread of hope to challenge for the wild card over the next two weeks, the season is over for both Chicago clubs. I’m counting this one as accurate.

Finally, I wanted to follow-up on my rant about the new Cook County alcohol/cigarette tax that took effect on September 1 {see: Bottoms Up ! If you can still afford it}

This increase is in addition to the highest sales tax in the country that was already in effect. Let’s all scratch our heads and wonder why the people of the US are being bled dry to the point of poverty and bankruptcy. But here’s a little tidbit to show that not only are Cook County consumers being raped, but the Cook County business owners are paying a steep price as well. 

Most of my friends smoke cigarettes. I do not. Many of my friends are carpenters and construction guys. I think there is a law in the union constitutions that requires them to smoke ciggs or something. I’m not sure. But all of them smoke. Fortunately for them, we live on one of the edges of Cook County right near the border of DuPage County. A quick 15 minute ride to Darien or Downers Grove and you are in DuPage County. So that is where every single cigarette smoker I know now goes to buy their cancer sticks. I don’t know of one person who is still buying them in Cook County. Merchants that sell cigarettes in Cook have to be feeling the pinch.

I thought I would do the same with my liquor purchases. Screw Cook County, Todd Stroger, and all the rest of them. I had some banking to do in Darien this past weekend. So I figured as long as I was out there, I would buy my alcohol for the weekend. I stopped at a Jewel on Cass Avenue in Darien (I also needed some bread and milk). Now Jewel is not exactly known as the cheapest grocery store in the world. But while there, I decided to compare the price of the liquor to (what was my) regular liquor store in Cook County.

The 1.75 of Jim Beam that I usually purchase——-the one that went from 19.99 up to 24.95 in Cook County—–was selling for $18.99 at Jewel !!!!  Of course, I made my purchase there. I saved $6 on a single bottle of booze ! I bought a 12-pak of beer too while I was at it. My old liquor store will not see my face again for months…..perhaps years. If others are making the switch like I did, that poor store could be facing some really rough times in the near future. I’m sure the poor economy was already denting their business bad.

So a shout out to anyone who is still buying their cigarettes or liquor in Cook County—–STOP !!!!!!!!!!!!

Go to DuPage County or Kane County (near Aurora/Naperville), or Will County. Go anywhere but Cook. And my condolences to the poor business owners stuck in Cook County. Band together….get Todd Stroger and his group of misfits out of office.

Just be careful. He’s a minor celebrity in these parts. He might get away with fire-bombing your establishment or assaulting you in your parking lot. He’s already getting away with rape. After all, that’s what celebrities do. Ask Tila Tequila about her recent encounter with San Diego Chargers LB Shawne Merriman. She’ll tell ya. All charges were dropped. After all, he can’t miss a game now, could he?