Ex-Wrigley deal point man surprised by shenanigans

SPRINGFIELD - Former Gov. Jim Thompson, who earlier this year tried to broker a deal to have the state finance Wrigley Field improvements, said Tuesday he was unaware of any covert attempts to influence the firing of Chicago Tribune employees and was never asked to do so by Gov. Rod Blagojevich or his aides.

One of the key allegations in the federal complaint against Blagojevich is that he tried to use the state's financial influence regarding a stadium deal to get Tribune newspaper employees critical of him fired.

The Tribune Company owns the newspaper, Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs and is trying to sell both the team and stadium.

According to transcripts of phone conversations federal authorities recorded, Blagojevich said the message to Tribune leaders should be, "someone should say, 'get rid of those people'" and later, "Fire those (expletive deleted)."

Thompson, also a former federal prosecutor, chairs the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority that financed the new Comiskey Park, now called U.S. Cellular Field. Earlier this year he was the pointman in negotiating with the Tribune Company on a state deal regarding Wrigley Field.

Thompson said he knew nothing of the allegations until he read them Tuesday. Asked if the governor or his aides ever talked to him about seeking the firing of Tribune employees, Thompson said: "No. No. No."

Thompson said his role and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority's role in a Wrigley deal ended when the Tribune sought state tax money to pay for the rehabilitation and wanted to continue controlling the project even though the state would own the stadium.

"I said absolutely not. We broke off negotiations with the Tribune," Thompson said.

According to the federal documents released Tuesday following Blagojevich's arrest, it appears Blagojevich then turned to the Illinois Finance Authority to try to broker a deal with the Tribune and in that context allegedly tried to barter for the dismissal of Tribune writers.