Interesting day today

I met the Marathon Pundit, John Ruberry today and a congressional candidate Joel Pollack who is running for Congress against Jan Schakowsky at the tail end of a tea party rally across the street from City Hall. I got wind of it from Ruberry's blog earlier this week.

The protest was about the government bailout of ShoreBank last month. If you want to know more about the position against ShoreBank here is a flyer for you to check out.

Click on scan for larger resolution!

Then I followed Ruberry and another friend of his, Paul Miller, to another rally near LaSalle and Monroe. This is a rally Alan & Kfir of Protest Warrior would've been happy to see.

Israel supporters shouting down the very vocal free Palestine Group. Not to say that I've heard it all from supporters of the Palestinians, I will said that the Israelies were definitely vocal calling for Hamas to Free Gaza, to stop terrorism and other slogans.

BTW, Ruberry during this time was largely running around getting pictures. For sure you got to move around to get the story. He even asked if I had my camera with me but was still running around at the moment.

I got a couple of pictures with my mobile phone but my regular camera well I made sure I brought it with me and this rally would've been perfect. It's just that I left without batteries. Anyway here are a couple photos I could fire off although due to storage issues I'm largely loathe to take many pictures on my mobile phone anyway. As soon as I get a Blackberry that issue will be rectified.

Only sign I managed to photograph of Israeli activists

Then I got this shot of the Palestinian crowd across the street

Anyway it was a few minutes of observing the scene and chants and for the first time the presence of the Chicago Police Swat Unit in green fatigues before I told Ruberry that I was heading out. Besides I wanted to go to the store so that I can enjoy tonight's Black Hawks game against the Philadelphia Flyers. It's not one to miss since this could be the game that the Hawks will clinch to win the Stanley Cup.

Chicago Football Classic history through past game programs

I've got several programs from past games. The first past game I found dates back to September 11, 1993. It's amazing that I really don't remember going to this game or what exactly happened but I have the program from it. What I choose to focus on is the politicians who extend either greetings or proclamations.

For instance then Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar (Republican) paid repsects to HBCUs Jackson State University & Tennessee State University.

In 2000, a Governor was missing. That's right George Ryan (Republican) never did a greeting or a proclamation in honor of the Chicago Football Classic. Who knows, in spite of placing a moratorium on the death penalty during his tenure or even commuting all death row sentences, it probably could have helped him way back when. Republican or Democrat this is certainly a way to reach out to an important voting block.

As always however Mayor Daley has offered his words in 1993, 2000, and especially 2009.

1993

2000

2009

Not only has he extended greetings to the participating schools in the Chicago Football Classic but he's been named honorary chairman of this event and documented also in the programs from the game in 2000 & 2009.

This first scan lists the organizers of the 2000 Chicago Football Classic. This list includes prominent black businesspeople, media, financial supporters, event coordination and special thanks to the Chicago Public Schools. And look at the end of the list with a mention of Sen. Emil Jones Jr. and John Stroger.

This is merely a letter from 2009 and it specifically names Daley and honorary chair of the 2009 Chicago Football Classic.

Now going back to an Illinois Governor offering his words regarding the Chicago Football Classic Pat Quinn (Democrat) offers his words. Knowing that this event goes back beyond twelve years I thought Pat Quinn got this one wrong although the current incarnation was probably around that long.

Finally let's check out father and son who also have served at Cook County Board President and their comments on this game from 2000 & 2009 respectively.

To note both John and Todd have actually attended HBCUs, in fact they're graduates of Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

To note well you might have seen this in the various greetings/proclamations but this game is used to promote HBCUs and generally is a way to expose them to inner city public school students. Some adults may have attended HBCUs and perhaps this may be their way of supporting them.

Either way last Saturday's game between Mississippi Valley State and Alabama State Universities was won my Mississippi Valley 10 to 3. Watching the bands play at the end was nice as well.

EDIT: I forgot to note Rod Blagojevich. I went to a game in 2005, but I never got a program and that was after maybe a four or so year break due to the reconstruction of Soldier Field. Either way I have no way of knowing of Ousted governor had at all ever wrote a proclamation/greeting in honor of this event.