Saturday Soapbox

He really said that?

Yes. After losing the National League divisional series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, outfielder Alfonso Soriano said fans need to "be patient" with the Cubs. Apparently 100 years isn't enough. Here's a thought: Hey Alfonso, if part of your $136 million paycheck is delayed a few weeks or even a month this winter, remember these words: Be patient. And keep that in mind when you go to the plate next season, OK?

A genuine homecoming

We know there were expected and unexpected delays, but for a high school football team to get to play only one game on its home field just isn't right. The installation of Schaumburg's new field turf got started late and is being completed even later. Now the team, especially the seniors, will be on that field only once this entire regular season. That would be next Friday (Oct. 17), the postponed homecoming game. That is, if all goes well.

Give us a break already!

First the Cook County Board raises sales taxes to the point of national embarrassment and local fury. Somehow that extra $426 million a year isn't enough, so the majority decides to borrow hundreds of millions to pay everyday bills. You know, like taking out a home-equity loan to pay for groceries. Enough? Heck no. Now Commissioner Larry Suffredin, the Evanston Democrat who cast the pivotal vote in favor of hiking sales taxes, wants to help us all feel a bit better about a different tax bill - our property taxes. Knowing that some of us may be jolted when we open up our bills, Suffredin is suggesting the county send out bills three or four times a year, rather than two. Of course, then we'd be paying less, right? Yeah, right. And then there's the estimated $10 million price tag of the plan. Enough is enough! How dare an elected official propose spending millions to make a tax bill seem less than it is? Have some respect for the hardworking taxpayers, already.

Keep it simple

After years of being told taxes increase when property values increase, DuPage County assessors now tell us what we really knew all along: Property taxes rise when governments spend more.

A kernel of truth

That photo illustration we published of film critic Dann Gire sitting in a tub of popcorn to celebrate three decades of work looked cool, but was totally inaccurate. Dann, unlike the rest of us, never eats when he's watching a movie. Not even a kernel. If the rest of us did that, how long would it be before movie prices topped $20 to make up the loss at the concession stand?

Stay strong

Good luck to all the marathoners on Sunday, and especially to those running to raise money for a charitable cause. You are truly inspirational.

Politics 101

Experience is a wonderful thing as our politicians keep preaching to us leading up to Tuesday, Nov. 4. It enables them to recognize a mistake when they make it again.

Tough choice to make

For all those undecided voters out there who haven't made a final decision over John McCain or Barack Obama, here's another tough choice: Kosuke Fukudome of the Cubs or Nick Swisher of the White Sox? If you had to start one of them next season, who gets the nod?