Blagojevich the fanatic

Besides being an avid runner, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is quite the Chicago sports enthusiast. In recent weeks, he's been seen cheering and even participating at various contests.

Here, he helps Luol Deng track down a loose ball in a game against Detroit. The governor was whistled for a moving pick violation.



When Mark Buehrle tossed a no-hitter against Texas, Blagojevich was on the field to congratulate the White Sox starter. He reportedly poured a half-finished cup of Diet Pepsi on Buehrle later.



Cubs fans were in an uproar when they saw the governor mocking players for missing an easy fly ball. A spokesperson later said the governor was simply pointing out the ball so it wouldn't get lost in the ivy.



At the Wachovia Championship, Blagojevich teamed up with Tiger Woods in showing Michael Jordan where to hit the ball. This was the governor's first stint as a caddy.

Blago TV spot slams Topinka's 8th grade attendance

CHICAGO (ap) -- Governor Rod Blagojevich has another campaign commercial, this time attacking state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka's record of attendance when she was an eighth grader in Riverside.

The new 15-second ad was introduced at a news conference today by Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn. It joins at least five Blagojevich campaign spots already running statewide.

The new commercial accuses Topinka of missing eight days of school because of various illnesses, including chicken pox. She was also tardy three times that year and left school early one day to attend accordion practice, according to the commercial.

"Judy thought her permanent record wouldn't follow her throughout life, but she was wrong," Quinn said, "dead wrong."

Each of the attack ads ends with a voiceover wondering, "What's she drinking?" Future spots in the series will question Topinka's choice of hairdresser, her parking ticket from 1987, a game of "Spin the Bottle" with Future Teachers of America club members when she was a sophomore in high school, and her involvement with the West Suburban Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.

Blagojevich introduces his pizza franchise

SPRINGFIELD (ap) -- The Illinois Bla-governor formally launched his pizza parlor business in the state capital Sunday by promising not to raise prices in a second year and tarring Republicans for wanting to dismantle his secret sauce recipe. He sat down with the Daley Show for a Q&A about this venture.

Where are you getting the funds to open "PIZZA 4 ALL"?
"We inherited a mess [of money]."

Who should order pizza from you?
"The people without lobbyists, the people who have families to nurture, dreams they pursue and meals to cook, homework to do, and car payments to make, those are the people."

Your first attempt at making pizza (back in the 90s) ended in failure. What have you done to improve your recipes?
"I am proud of the progress we've made, of the people whose lives we have made better, and I am committed to do more."

Are you considering moving the business back to Chicago?
"We've made a difference in people's lives. Now is not the time to move back. Now is the time to keep moving forward."

Does that mean you'll raise prices?
"I won't do it. I don't believe in it. I think it's the wrong thing to do."

How do you make such a great pizza?
"We do everything right, and I'm proud of our record of accomplishment."

Aren't there other pizza franchises in town that can deliver an equally good pizza?
"The people who want to divide will never bring us together. The people who put the special interests first can't deliver for the middle class."

In the name of fairness, this blog contacted one of Blagojevich's pizza-making rivals, Chicago Ald. Edwin Eisendrath, to comment. What do you think of the Bla-governor's promises to create the perfect pizza?
"He's failed completely to keep his promise to 'change business as usual.' The governor has adopted business as usual. He's changed the nameplate on the door."

FC1 Western Ave. Stop 11: Welles Park

Another mile, another awesome park. This one has an indoor pool, a cool gazebo, and a horseshoe pit. I was done photographing some of these things, just getting in my car, when I saw a certain head of hair bouncing my way. I quickly turned on my camera and snapped this shot of the most famous neighborhood resident, Gov. Rod Blagojevich. His security guard on the bike gave me a dirty look as they went past.

Just about everyone in the neighborhood has a story of almost running Blago over as he jogs through the streets.

Note: Click on picture to slightly enlarge. Click here to return to The Daley Show homepage.