O’Donnell: Jerry Reinsdorf at 90 — wealthy titan or rich buzz kill?
JERRY REINSDORF CELEBRATED his 90th birthday Wednesday.
That would call for expensive bubbly spring water and cigars in some quarters, fresh voodoo-doll pins in others.
He has been controlling overseer of the White Sox — “chairman of general partner,” in his own words — since the winter of 1980-81.
The forever Brooklynite has lorded over the Bulls in a similar capacity since February 1985.
That's 85 ownership seasons — or close to 600 dog years — which, according to many straitjacketed Chicago fans, it's felt like far too frequently on West 35th and West Madison streets.
IN TERMS OF CHAMPIONSHIPS, Reinsdorf's White Sox are 1-for-45 (2.2%).
His Bulls get credit for 6-of-40 (15%).
That breakdown includes 6-of-11 during the full seasons of Michael Jordan under his rules and 0-for-29 when Chair Jer' has had to rely on more grounded schnorrers.
LOVE HIM OR NOT, it's indisputable that he has been a wizard at turning a buck.
The first franchise acquisition was the hardest. To get the White Sox, he and original money mate William Farley had to leapfrog formidable real estate developer Edward DeBartolo Sr. for Bill Veeck's ballclub.
(Eddie Einhorn, a certifiable sports television visionary, replaced Farley before the final papers were signed.)
How they did it should be a CHSN miniseries, hosted by Steve Stone. Especially because DeBartolo had the connections and resources to sue American League owners back toward the dead-ball era when they twice denied his run on closing the purchase.
FOUR YEARS LATER, when Reinsdorf spearheaded the group that took over the Bulls, the art of the deal was much more straightforward.
As the baronial Arthur Wirtz was clearly approaching The Bridge, Reinsdorf presented a plan that would feature a majestic new arena to replace Wirtz's Chicago Stadium and anchor the coming gentrification of the West Loop corridor.
The blueprint was contingent upon a partnership centering on the Wirtz family Blackhawks and a Bulls franchise controlled by Reinsdorf.
Jordan's six-year rookie contract was merely a promising check mark on the inventory list.
EVENTS PROGRESSED and Reinsdorf made some Very Important People some very real money.
The United Center was privately financed. The new White Sox ballpark was gifted from the state of Illinois.
That's what could happen back then when a calculating alumnus of the Richard Nixon/John Mitchell U.S. Department of Justice — Jim Thompson — was selectively freewheeling as governor of Illinois.
SO WHAT IF A WHOLE LOT OF THE PASSIONS OF FANS have been wasted on the way?
That's litter for the voodoo-pin people, the sports talk callers.
Jerry Reinsdorf long ago left the general-admission seats behind.
In the wake of the 90th birthday of a self-made financial master, expensive bubbly spring water and cigars are so much more savory.
STREET-BEATIN':
Quite a national divide when a gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic men's hockey team is criticized and sullied for victory laps in Washington, D.C. As mythic CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow borrowed from Shakespeare at the end of a “See It Now” that helped bring down demagogic Sen. Joe McCarthy (R.-Wis.) way back when, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” …
Chris Boden's exit at WGN-Channel 9 was unfortunate for the veteran sportscaster. But the dismissal of Dean Richards may have been the most shocking trim in the history of the storied radio-TV operation. Richards brought energy, insight and relentless timeliness to his pop-cultural reporting. A decision like that makes many wish parent company Nexstar would just splinter into a reactionary roach bin. …
Reunited and it's understood when Doug Collins, Bob Costas and Mike Fratello call the Spurs-Sixers game Tuesday (7 p.m., NBC). Costas was part of the network's NBA package from 1990-2002; Collins emerged as one of the best TV analysts on the planet after his dark-and-cloudy firing as head coach of the glory-bound Bulls in July 1989. …
Adam Amin gets a temporary furlough from his broadcast sentence with the Bulls to serve as one of Fox's play-by-play men on the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Amin and Kevin Krugler will rotate along with A.J. Pierzynski and Adam Wainwright behind the A-team of Joe Davis and John Smoltz. The 47-game WBC begins Wednesday; the finale is March 17 at loanDepot Park in Miami. …
Beat master Rick Sorci and the Cave Dwellers open for iconic pop rocker Tommy James at the Des Plaines Theatre Sunday. Among his many pursuits, Sorci was a regular contributor to the sports pages of the Daily Herald and an award-winning writer elsewhere. The concert begins at 5 p.m. …
And Charles Barkley, with his down-home wisdom now on ESPN/ABC: “I don't think any NBA team should be able to raise their ticket prices if they're below .500. They should make that a rule in every sport.” Amen, brother. …
Jim O'Donnell's Sports and Media column appears each week on Sunday and Wednesday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com. All communications may be considered for publication.