When a Chicago sports team refused to recognize its championship

A Chicago Cardinals football fan from '52 thru '59 till it moved to St. Louis, I long thought they'd only won the '47 NFL title.

But back in '25 they were involved in likely the strangest title season in all of sports.

No NFL championship game back then, much less a Super Bowl. The NFL was still an undisciplined, chaotic league. Schedules were anything but. Teams moved game sites, even scheduled more games to improve their record, the championship going to the best one.

That caused the controversy. The Cardinals somehow arranged for high schoolers to play for their late season opponent Milwaukee Badgers. It worked with the Cardinals cruising 58-0. Didn't help the Cards as the Pittsfield (PA) Maroons dominated the Cardinals 20-7 in Comisky Park, ensuring them the title.

But NFL President Joe Carr rescinded the Maroons title for violating a league rule preventing them from scheduling a game in the Frankfort (PA) Yellow Jackets home territory. In awarding the title to the Cardinals, Carr ruled the Cardinals’ cheating not pertinent as it was engineered by a single player unbeknownst to the owner.

Cards owner Chris O’Brien then did the right thing. He took responsibility for Cards' cheating, refusing the title even tho it stayed on the NFL books.

But when future owner Charles Bidwell, who acquired the Cardinals in 1946, realized the NFL still recognized the Cardinals as the ’25 champs, he placed the ’25 NFL title back in the Cardinals’ historical record.

Tho the Cards won the NFL title outright in '47, they've won none since even in their St. Louis and Arizona versions. Karma? Might be that re-claiming the '25 title put the kibosh on future Cardinal success.

Why are progressive Dems supporting US proxy war against Russia?

Russia’s February 24 invasion was an unnecessary, criminal war.

But so was America’s 14 year campaign to weaken Russia thru proxy war.

How? By encouraging NATO membership for Ukraine since back in 2008. Worse, by helping Ukrainian ultranationalists depose Russian friendly Ukraine president Victor Yanukovych in 2014. The latter crime ignited a civil war in the Donbas against Russian speaking Ukrainians. 14,000 lay dead with thousands of Ukraine’s best soldiers ready to finish off the Donbas this spring before Russia said enough and attacked. Doesn’t justify Russia’s war…just explains it.

After 215 days and upwards of a hundred thousand casualties, there is no end in view. That is because the US and its NATO followers are obsessed with continuing the war till Russia is vanquished, regardless of how many Ukrainians, but nary an American, must die in the quest. $60 billion in US treasure continues the war indefinitely when negotiations between Russia and Ukraine brokered by NATO member Turkey had potential to end the war in the first month. US and UK emissaries hurried to Kyiv in April to disabuse Ukraine president Zelensky of any notion to settle. And he didn’t.

While the current US proxy war against Russia is horrifying, progressive support in Congress to continue the war is perplexing as well as horrifying. The entire Democratic congressional delegation remains in lockstep with Biden to not only weaponize Ukraine, but provide intelligence and logistical support for endless war. Even peace loving Bernie Sanders caved to the war party. The only pushback is from a minority of Republicans whose political interest appears solely to oppose Biden in what should be bipartisan opposition. Republicans cast all 68 votes agasint the recent $40 billion in weapons for Ukraine. Had a Republican president been pushing this senseless proxy war, they would be all in.

Democrats in Congress know the truth but are too weak; indeed cowardly, to break ranks, fearing they might weaken Democratic chances to retain the Congress November 8. But they are out of step with a growing number of Americans who recognize the Russo Ukraine war as possibly the next trillion dollar squandering of US treasure on an unnecessary and unwinnable war.

That brings me to my progressive Democratic colleagues, many of whom swallow whole US pro war propaganda which has falsely pitched the war as do or die for rules based world order versus tyranny. They either refuse to do the research required to know the truth, or simply dismiss it to remain loyal to the Democratic agenda in foreign policy which promotes endless war in the Middle East, Africa and now Europe. Even the specter of nuclear confrontation with Russia does not persuade them to promote a negotiated settlement, the only way this war may end without either or both sides resorting to nukes.

Promoting peace over war in Ukraine is a winning strategy for the upcoming election. Increasing numbers of Americans and Western Europeans want out of endless war jeopardizing their economic future.

More importantly, promoting negotiations over weapons to achieve peace will save Ukrainian and Russian lives…and possibly avert nuclear war. Every progressive Democrat should support this goal in Ukraine and around the world.

Supporting progressive causes and casting progressive votes on domestic issues while promoting peaceful solutions to horrendous wars or potential new wars are not mutually exclusive. When will progressive Democrats learn to do both?

Chicago Tribune commentary on ‘West vs. the rest” reflects Trib’s long overdue Ukraine war pivot

The Chicago Tribune finally acknowledged one inconvenient truth about the Russo Ukraine war. Outside of the US, Canada and Western Europe, the rest of the world either ignores it, or even supports Russian intervention in Ukraine.

Its foreign affairs columnist Daniel DePetris, in his Ukraine war commentary, laments this truth that the Tribune, indeed most US media, has suppressed for all 218 days of this horrific war.

DePetris is careful to repeat the West’s false, and now largely ignored narrative, that “Vladimir Putin, the thin-skinned, bloodthirsty, nuclear-armed dictator is hellbent on a war of conquest. And the international community needs to step up and ensure he doesn’t succeed.”

But DePetris completely ignores the other inconvenient truths about this war. First, the US, NATO and Ukraine have been provoking this war for 14 years, beginning with the 2008 pledge to expand NATO into Ukraine up to Russia’s borders. That provocation dramatically expanded in 2014 when the US supported the coup that toppled democratically elected, Russian leaning Ukraine president Victor Yanukovych, setting off a civil war resulting in secession by Russian speaking Ukrainians in Ukraine’s Donbas region.

Second, DePetris also ignores how the West is choosing to prolong the war funneling over $60 billion in weaponry to Ukraine rather than promote negotiations to end it. Even worse is his suppression of US and UK emissaries’ direct demands to Ukraine president Zelensky to abort the potential peace agreement in the war’s first month.

The Chicago Tribune has a long way to go to catch up with the inconvenient truths about the Russo Ukraine war. But finally admitting what was clear on Day One, that this is ultimately a proxy war between the US and Russia being fought over US client state Ukraine, is a start.

Does the Chicago Tribune have more inconvenient truths instore to provide its readership the full Russo Ukraine war analysis it's entitled to?

DeSantis has selective sensitivity to hurricane victims

Florida governor Ron DeSantis is rightly pleading for federal help for the devastating Florida hurricane ravaging much of his state.

But back in 2013, then Florida congressman had this to proclaim on the House floor about a measly $9.7 billion federal relief bill for NY and NJ victims of Hurricane Sandy:

”I sympathize with the victims of Hurricane Sandy At the same time, allowing the program to increase its debt by another $9.7 billion with no plan to offset the spending with cuts elsewhere is not fiscally responsible.”

'Compassionate Ron' was one of only 67 Republican House and Senate members to vote against the federal hurricane relief that passed easily.

The fact this guy is even considering to seek the presidency of all 50 states is deplorable.

Open letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Dear Governor DeSantis,

Sorry to hear about Hurricane Ian which is ravaging your people, your economy, your entire state.

It’s good to see you’re now functioning as a real governor, spending your time on critically needed hurricane relief.

That sure beats spending it helping to degrade American politics and culture. Whether undermining sensible covid protocols, savaging the LGBT community, promoting anti education measures, denying America’s racist past, restricting voting and women's reproductive freedom, you are the poster governor for the coarsening of American democracy.

Does Hurricane Ian, which you described as a "once in a 500 year storm" have anything to do with your self destructive polices supporting endless fossil fuel use, while inhibiting efforts to convert to renewable energy? The scientists say 'Absolutely.' You're now stuck with helping to clean up the mess your policies are making the 'new normal.

Prior to Hurricane Ian, your latest, despicable stunt to curry favor with your extreme right base, was to spend Florida resources busing unwanted immigrants to Chicago and other cities. Cynically using unfortunate people to further your lust to replace Trump as the Republican standard bearer was a new low in your race to the bottom.

Here’s a suggestion on how to begin salvaging your tarnished governmental legacy. Pay for the return of those migrants. Give them food and shelter. Then hire them to engage in hurricane cleanup and rebuilding. That will not only help repair Florida, it may begin repairing your damaged soul.

One last suggestion. Pay them union scale.

Dan Proft: Prophet of racial division in Illinois

Conservative political operative Dan Proft continues to bombard Illinoisans with millions of dollars in scurrilous political ads featuring an endless loop of crime videos from black and brown Chicago neighborhoods.

The message is relentless: re-elect JB Pritzker and this minority lawlessness is coming to your bucolic suburb.

Vickie Ponciano’s nephew was a murder victim shown in one of Proft’s video ads. She appeared with Rev. Michael Pfleger in a protest outside GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey’s Hancock Center apartment, demanding Bailey disassociate himself from Proft’s ads.

Bailey refuses, as hyping Chicago violence represents his sole, desperate bid to reclaim conservative suburban voters who’ve abandoned him due to his anti abortion, pro gun policies.

Proft distributes the racial violence video ads thru his PAC, People Who Play By The Rules. They are largely financed by GOP billionaire donor Dick Uihlein.

Proft calling his PAC, People Who Play By The Rules, is worse than putting lipstick on a pig. He should be honest with us and call it, People Fomenting Racial Division To Win Elections.

West Suburban Peace Coalition to discuss US China relations at October 18 Educational Forum

While the peace community is focused on ending the Russo Ukraine war thru negotiations instead of weapons, we must also understand and work to prevent war with China over Taiwan.

Join us Tuesday, October 18 at 7:00 PM Chicago time for our Educational Forum on Zoom to break down current developments in the increasingly tense relationship with China that has potential to spiral out of control into war

Our speaker, Michael Wong, is Vice President for Veterans for Peace, San Francisco Chapter, and Co-Chair of Veterans for Peace China Working Group.

Title: No War With China Over Taiwan

Tuesday, October 18, 7:00 to 8:00 PM Chicago time

Zoom link: .

US02WEB.ZOOM.US

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting

Chicago Tribune pitches perpetual proxy war in Ukraine

 

Daniel DePetris’ Tribune commentary ‘Forget about diplomacy. Putin’s annexation guarantees a longer war’ is a masterwork in disinformation and misdirection.

It frames Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, into the Russian Federation, solely as an attempt to achieve victory from current Russian failures in its war against Ukraine. It further claims the annexation will make negotiations to end the war impossible.

But DePetris ignores the US role that looms large in both premises. A more likely case can be made that the annexation became inevitable when the US blew up the tentative 15 point March peace agreement brokered by NATO member Turkey that could have ended the war in its first month. Ukraine president Zelensky even hinted at such an agreement in a speech to his people.

But first, UK PM Boris Johnson, then US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, hurried to Kyiv to disabuse Zelensky of any agreement. It was critical for the US to force Ukraine to stay in the war to prevent Russia from having any role to play in the European political economy, thousands of Ukrainians needlessly being killed in the process be damned. That expands the Russo Ukraine war into a US proxy war against Russia.

DePetris’ second premise, that annexation makes negotiations impossible, is ludicrous. Further, it’s harrowing in its acceptance, indeed justification, that the Russo Ukraine war is now America’ newest perpetual war, the first of which that may go nuclear.

It’s ludicrous because it posits that Zelensky has neither ability nor desire to pursue negotiations. That ignores the fact that Zelensky is totally dependent on US intelligence, logistics and tens of billions in weaponry to continue the war one day longer. Should the US make further assistance dependent on initiating negotiations to end the war, Zelensky would be on the phone to Russian president Putin within hours.

It’s harrowing because DePetris leaves us with no path to peace. By claiming that only Putin and Zelensky can end this war, he obliterates the universal peace process that ends virtually every war save the few in which one side obliterates the other. That is unlikely in Ukraine. What is truly harrowing is that the Chicago Tribune, thru its foreign policy spokesperson DePetris, is pointing the way to eventual nuclear confrontation.