chicago-cubs-logo.thumbnail.gifWhen the Tribune company went bankrupt becaue Zell had loaded them down with debt, Zell made sure that the Cubs and Wrigley field weren't included in the bankruptcy.  One assumes that's because he thought they had a better chance of making money going forward.  That's where Blagojevich comes in.  One of the largest threads in Fitzgerald's indictment was the pressure which Blagojevich put on the Tribune to stop writing negative editorials against him.

After hearing that Tribune Financial Advisor had assured HARRIS that the ribune would be downsizing or making personnel changes affecting the editorial board, OD BLAGOJEVICH had a series of conversations with representatives of the ChicagoCubs regarding efforts to provide state financing for Wrigley Field. On November 30, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with Sports Consultant, the president of a Chicago-area sports consulting firm, whose remarks during the conversation indicated that he was working with the Cubs on matters involving Wrigley Field. In that conversation, ROD BLAGOJEVICH and Sports Consultant discussed the importance of getting the IFA transaction approved at the IFA's December 2008 or January 2009 meeting, because ROD BLAGOJEVICH was contemplating leaving office in early January 2009 and ROD BLAGOJEVICH's IFA appointees would still be in place to approve the IFA deal. On December 3, 2008, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke again with Sports Consultant and explained that ROD BLAGOJEVICH had control over state funds designated for use in connection with science and technology, and which could be used to pay for improvements at Wrigley Field. Later that same day, ROD BLAGOJEVICH spoke with Cubs Chairman and said that he could make state science and technology funds available to the Cubs without having to go through the legislature, and suggested that the Cubs come up with proposals that would allow the use of such funds.

Certainly is suggestive, isn't it? The Cubs knew that money was coming down the line.  When you're about to get a big cash infusion, well, it's not time to fold your tent.  Unfortunately for Zell and the Cubs, however, Blagojevich was arrested by Fitzgerald before he could come through on his part of the deal.

I expect the Tribune's part of the deal is also going to be thrown overboard and that their editorials are going to be very anti Blagojevich.

(Thanks to Emptywheel for pointing out the connection.)