National Sports Columnist Bob Ryan

Bob Ryan’s weekly audio blog. Bob discusses Clemens, Sam Zell, Myron Cope and more.

New Tribune Co. owner Sam Zell has been out and about this week trying to make friends with the great people of Chicago and all fans of the Cubs.

Poor Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion), bought an “investment” and now would like to make money on that “investment.” Sounds pretty beign correct? The only problem is part of the “investment” includes one of the most storied franchises in sports - the Chicago Cubs and their place of business Wrigley Field.

Poor Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion), seems like a decent guy. He spoke to CNBC earlier this week about the Cubs and selling the naming rights to Wrigley Field.

“Excuse me for being sarcastic, but the idea of a debate occurring over what I should do with my asset leaves me somewhat questioning the integrity of the debate. . . . There’s a lot of people who would like to buy the Cubs and would like to buy the Cubs under their terms and conditions and, unfortunately, have to deal with me.”

Click to watch Video of Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion on CNBC)

Ok Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion), you’re a deal man, a Donald Trump with less hair. Let’s make a deal.

Let’s get everyone together on this - Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion), William Wrigley, Jr. and William Perez, CEO Wrigley Company and the Fans. I am also appointing outside observers Dutchie Cary and Chip Caray.

Here is how this is going to work.

Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion) you agree to sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field to Mr. Wrigley and Mr. Perez and the Wrigley Co. These rights are lifetime rights. You buy Wrigley Field, you get Wrigley Field. Done.

Mr. Wrigley and Mr. Perez you agree to pay one day of sales to Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion) for the naming rights.

The fans, as usual you get the hard work. On the Cubs opening day, March 31, 2008, all Chicago residents and Cubs fans are requested to purchase one pack of Wrigley’s gum.

Total sales of gum for that day are “paid” to Sam Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion) for the naming rights. Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion), you then donate that amount to Ron Santo’s Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Mr. Wrigley and Mr. Perez you transfer the naming rights to an outside holder - Dutchie Caray.

Everybody wins.

Mr. Zell (Net worth $4.5 billion) you help out a great charity, get a huge tax write off and endear yourself to the city of Chicago.

Mr. Wrigley and Mr. Perez your company name is still attached to one of best known buildings in the US.

The fans you get to keep Wrigley Field as Wrigley Field and you get a tasty pack of Wrigley’s gum.

Let’s get this plan rolling. Pass this along to all parties. All I could find was their marketing contacts, but they should be able to forward your emails to the correct parties.

Tribune Company:
Gary Weitman
gweitman@tribune.com

Wrigley Company
Jennifer Jackson-Luth
Manager, Marketing Communications
jennifer.jacksonluth@wrigley.com

Lawrence Journal World and News -Kansas 75, Iowa State 64

“I don’t know if we did or not. Time will tell,” Self said. “But we were a better team tonight than we were the last two or three weeks. I do think this is big. I don’t think we’re back to where we were. I don’t think you go from playing poorly to playing great consistently. I think it is a process. This was a great start.”

Terre Haute Tribune-Star - Northern Iowa 73, Indiana State 58

Sixth place is the final safe spot to avoid the MVC Tournament’s Thursday play-in round and ISU coach Kevin McKenna wasn’t happy with ISU’s effort in what amounted to a playoff game.

“We were out of sync at both ends. I have to question our guys: Why would we play so poorly in a situation where we have a lot of play for? And why we’d come with that kind of game when it’s kind of like a playoff game for us?”

Centre Daily Times - Penn State 65, Iowa 64

“When you get into a groove, you feel like no one can guard you,” said Jamelle Cornley the 6-foot-4 junior, who scored 20 points on Sunday in a loss at Minnesota. “I just wanted to step up for the team and do whatever I had to do. Tonight, it was scoring down low.”

Two games to go and Missouri Valley teams are jockeying for positions in St. Louis.

Tuesday Night Results
Missouri State  86, Drake 83
Southern Illinois 71, Bradley 60
Wichita State 68, Evansville 54

Wednesday Night Results
Illinois State 64, Creighton 58
Northern Iowa 73, Indiana State 538

Here are updated projections for the tourney. Click here to view standings and projected finish.

Apparently the NFL nixed this Super Bowl ad from Budweiser.

National Sports Columnist Bob Ryan

Bob Ryan’s weekly audio blog. Bob discusses college basketball - Memphis / Tennessee, Bruce Pearl, Kelvin Sampson, Clemens / Canseco and more.

 Indianapolis Star - Drake 71, Butler 64

With 56 seconds left and Butler trailing 64-62, Green was called for charging. Then, with the shot clock expiring, Green fouled Young, who was behind the 3-point line. Young’s three free throws put Drake ahead 67-62 with 20 seconds left.

“I did get a piece of him,” Mike Green said. “I went to put my hand in, and he leaned forward and raised up. It was a good play. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the right play at the right time.

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal - Texas Tech 74, Iowa State 64

“The second half there, I was getting fouled and getting to the free-throw line just coming off cuts and stuff,” Voskuil said. “If I just keep moving and running into them, they’re eventually going to hold me. I think it works to our advantage that they bump me and push me.”

Lansing State Journal - Michigan State 66, Iowa 52

“The only disappointing part of the second half, I thought, was Tate ate our guys up inside,” Tom Izzo said. “I don’t know why that happened, but that was the only part that was disappointing.”

Drake carried the day for Iowa basketball Saturday. Playing in historic Hinckle Fieldhouse two of the best student-athlete, “teams” played and Drake pulled out a 71-64 win.

If you want to feel good about college basketball read Pat Forde’s piece on ESPN.com.

This day, the assignment was to cover Drake beating Butler 71-64 in the BracketBusters marquee game. To sum up the experience in a word: Hallelujah.

Here is the link: Drake wins

National Sports Columnist Bob Ryan

Bob Ryan’s weekly audio blog. Bob discusses the NBA, Roger Clemens and spring training.