Puck politics
The penalty box!
Scoopsville: Sneed is told GOP veepmate Sarah Palin will be dropping the puck for the Philadelphia Flyers home opener hockey game in Philly Saturday, and the press is being put in the penalty box!
"That's where they will have to stay if they want to cover it," chirped Palin spokesman Michael Goldfarb.
Sneed hears rumbles political fund-raiser/fixer Tony Rezko, who is now singing sweetly to the feds from his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, has been talking about his "dealings" with a Chicago bank, which has political connections.
Stay tuned.
Tipsville: The investment banking firm Lehman Brothers, which crashed during the economic crisis, may be responsible for approximately $15 million in losses at the city's four pension funds!
"It's outrageous," said Ald. Ed Burke, who, along with Ald. Leslie Hairston, has filed a resolution directing the city corporation counsel to sue Lehman Brothers and its CEO, Richard Fuld Jr., in hopes of retrieving the pension fund loss.
• • Back story: Fuld denied responsibility for hiding information regarding the firm's bad investments during his appearance before Congress.
• • Art smart: Meanwhile, the aldermen want the city corporation counsel to petition the Circuit Court of Cook County for a temporary restraining order preventing the tycoon (Fuld) from selling his modern art collection at a Nov. 12 Christie's auction in New York.
• • Art dart: Noting Fuld owns a master sketch titled "Study for Agony I," Ald. Burke stated: "He has created agony for cops and firemen and city workers whose retirement depended on these funds!"
• • Shop 'em: In addition to his $15 million art collection, Fuld owns a $13.75 million oceanfront house in Jupiter Island, Fla., a $21 million Park Avenue co-op, and homes in Vermont and Sun Valley, Idaho.
Happy times, finally: Scott Fawell, who spent nearly six years in prison on public corruption charges, was spotted at the White Sox game Monday with his true love, Andrea Coutretsis, who was a sensational/romantic factor at his trial.
• • Sox set: Before Fawell headed off to jail, the two were often seen at the Sox games together . . . and were even seen smooching on the Kiss Cam at Sox Park.
Actor Robert Duvall at Rosebud Steakhouse Wednesday night.
It's gotta be one heckuva story, when my sister, Patricia Mayo, calls me from her Vermont loom room to talk about Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart's refusal to evict tenants when the court order is aimed at the landlord.
• • Upside: In the flood of Dart's support mail, one man said he'd nominated Dart for a John F. Kennedy "Profiles In Courage" Award.
• • Downside: But . . . Dart also wants to make clear: He will continue evicting those not paying rent to landlords. In fact, he's doubling up on that, as he's shifting mortgage foreclosure teams to rental teams.
Olympic swimming titan Michael Phelps has reportedly been dating a runner-up in the Miss California contest named Nicole Johnson . . . and took her bowling.
Today's birthdays: Ben Vereen, 62; David Lee Roth, 54; Tanya Tucker, 50; Jessica Harper, 59, Carol Marin, priceless . . . Saturday's birthdays: Daryl Hall, 62; Joan Cusack, 46, and belated wishes to Marty Mullarkey, never useless.