NBC sports chief believes USOC hurting Chicago's bid for 2016 O...

Nobody seems to care that the vast majority of the people here in Chicago DO NOT WANT THE GAMES HERE !!

Next thing we know there will be a TV negotiation tax imposed on the residents of Chicago.

NIUHuskie wrote:

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You and your miserable friends do not constitute "the vast majority of the people here in Chicago". The vast majority of people in Chicago DO want the games but are concerned about how it will be paid for.

Agree most DO want the games. Whenever I volunteer for the games the response is overwhelming in favor. Poll after poll shows that.

People on the internet really do hate everything.

Just because you have concerns about some aspects of it doesn't mean you don't want something.

NIUHuskie wrote:

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The vast majority of people in Chicago DO want the games but are concerned about how it will be paid for.

No, the vast majority do NOT want the games. Talk to homeowners who live in the city. Truth is, it's an overwhelming no.

The majority of support is from the suburbs, whose residents won't see their towns bankrupted by this lunacy the way we stand to here in the city.

Hey, I got an idea! Let's have the suburbs on the hook too! Does that change your mind?

Ebersole showing his egocentric world (or NBC complaining that it doesn't have the exclusive on the money). As indicated above, there are plenty of other reasons not to give Chicago the games, mostly dealing with what Daley wants to guaranty out of some one else's pocket.

AEM wrote:

Nobody seems to care that the vast majority of the people here in Chicago DO NOT WANT THE GAMES HERE !!

Your "vast majority" is actually the vocal minority. And most of the community groups that are against it, are almost certainly going to change their tune if and when they get their slice of the pie (which is their true motivation).

NIUHuskie wrote:

<quoted text>
You and your miserable friends do not constitute "the vast majority of the people here in Chicago". The vast majority of people in Chicago DO want the games but are concerned about how it will be paid for.

Even if no tax dollars go towards payment, area taxpayers will still pick up a large part of the tab. BUT, I believe it will be more than offset by the revenues that will be generated by the additional income and tax dollars earned in the construction, hotel, restaurant and entertainment industries. Long term benefits will be in housing, much needed infrastructure upgrades, and increased tourism from the exposure the Olympics will give to Chicago. And last but not least, The experience my now 4 and 8 year old daughters will have attending the games makes it worth while for me as a parent.

Jim OBrien in Wicker Park wrote:

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No, the vast majority do NOT want the games. Talk to homeowners who live in the city. Truth is, it's an overwhelming no.
The majority of support is from the suburbs, whose residents won't see their towns bankrupted by this lunacy the way we stand to here in the city.
Hey, I got an idea! Let's have the suburbs on the hook too! Does that change your mind?

Is this the Island of Chicago that you speak of?

Jim OBrien in Wicker Park wrote:

<quoted text>
No, the vast majority do NOT want the games. Talk to homeowners who live in the city. Truth is, it's an overwhelming no.
The majority of support is from the suburbs, whose residents won't see their towns bankrupted by this lunacy the way we stand to here in the city.
Hey, I got an idea! Let's have the suburbs on the hook too! Does that change your mind?

Again, just because you've talked to other miserable people like yourself does not mean the vast majority are against it. I know you cannot understand how your very unscientific "poll" does not constitute the opinion of the whole city, but just because you talk to 5 people in your neighborhood about it doesn't mean the millions of people in the city are against it. Did you ever take into account the idea that maybe your neighbors see you coming and say "Oh no, here comes Jim. Tell him whatever he wants to hear so he'll go away". You probably should.

As for your city/suburb argument, what's your point? The state has already voted to provide $250 million in guarantees to the Olympics, and may very likely vote to provide more. So, contrary to the popular argument, the suburbs are already "on the hook", and the city is not just going at this alone.

The Hedgehog wrote:

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Even if no tax dollars go towards payment, area taxpayers will still pick up a large part of the tab.

Should be: Even if no CITY tax dollars go towards payment.

The Hedgehog wrote:

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Your "vast majority" is actually the vocal minority. And most of the community groups that are against it, are almost certainly going to change their tune if and when they get their slice of the pie (which is their true motivation).
<quoted text>
Even if no tax dollars go towards payment, area taxpayers will still pick up a large part of the tab. BUT, I believe it will be more than offset by the revenues that will be generated by the additional income and tax dollars earned in the construction, hotel, restaurant and entertainment industries. Long term benefits will be in housing, much needed infrastructure upgrades, and increased tourism from the exposure the Olympics will give to Chicago. And last but not least, The experience my now 4 and 8 year old daughters will have attending the games makes it worth while for me as a parent.

Though I didn't post that in my reply, I agree with you Hedgehog. The Olympic Games will be a giant revenue source for the city and will spur plenty of infrastructure and other improvements. Things that will not happen should the vote go to another city in October.

NBC has a nerve. It's about time coverage of the Olympics was taken from these idiots. Does no one remember their recent appalling coverage of Beijing?

of course no one cares that the people who live there may actually not want the games. when has this ever stopped meglamaniacs?

Move the games to Gary!

It's interesting that the people posting claiming that Chicagoans want the games are from the suburbs (as shown by their ISP). I live in the city. I do not know a single person in the city who wants the games. I have seen polls that show Chicagoans 2-1 against the games.

I've been hoping for anything to sabotage the Chicago bid. I though Blago or Burris could do it. Blago's chief of staff who recently plead guilty allegedly has been giving info to the feds beyond Blago. Of course, he used to be a right hand man for Daley. Let's hope the IOC or one of our great Illinois politicians, including Daley, can bring down the bid.

Here's the thing: If Daley put forth the effort to improve schools, infrastructure, and transit in the same measure he has for the games, we wouldn't need the games.

There are posters all over the city showing an image of an athlete with the tag line "Imagine." I think most Chicagoans imagine a clean city government that provides good schools and services and cares as much about those things as they do about the Olympics.

It would be nice to see the business community get as excited about good schools as they seem to be about the Olympics. Having good employees over the long haul is much more important than the silly Olympics.

Good! Keep on hurting! We don't want the Olympics.

The Olymics are simply about making money, nothing else. Amazing how they never want to hold it in poorer countries to give them an economic boost. Also, how the IOC wants the host city to completely assume all costs while the IOC receives all the profits.

Hey Rick, the isp does not reflect where the post is from. I live in Ukrainian Village at Chicago and Wstern. Where does my isp list me. Wow!

Rick wrote:

It's interesting that the people posting claiming that Chicagoans want the games are from the suburbs (as shown by their ISP). I live in the city. I do not know a single person in the city who wants the games. I have seen polls that show Chicagoans 2-1 against the games.
I've been hoping for anything to sabotage the Chicago bid. I though Blago or Burris could do it. Blago's chief of staff who recently plead guilty allegedly has been giving info to the feds beyond Blago. Of course, he used to be a right hand man for Daley. Let's hope the IOC or one of our great Illinois politicians, including Daley, can bring down the bid.
Here's the thing: If Daley put forth the effort to improve schools, infrastructure, and transit in the same measure he has for the games, we wouldn't need the games.
There are posters all over the city showing an image of an athlete with the tag line "Imagine." I think most Chicagoans imagine a clean city government that provides good schools and services and cares as much about those things as they do about the Olympics.
It would be nice to see the business community get as excited about good schools as they seem to be about the Olympics. Having good employees over the long haul is much more important than the silly Olympics.

Time for the the Mighty Obuma to come to rescue!

None-the-less, "Mr. Hand", we don't want the games. Someone else posted that the state is on the line for $250 million or something like that, which is even worse. A couple thousand state workers get laid off, social services are getting cut, but we have $250 million for the Olympics?? I believe the city is already on the hook for $500 million and will almost surely have to pony up more money. How many Chicagoans can even afford to attend events? Mr. Daley just wants his star on the city's flag. There is nothing these games can provide that the city couldn't offer without the games if it's political and business leaders were committed.

TIFs, parking meters, leasing the Skyway, and trying to lease Midway are all part of Daley's plan to sock away money for the games. Chicagoans are losing billions of dollars (and services) so Daley can have his games. And he's willing to write a blank check to the IOC to cover shortfalls. The insurance policy that Daley has taken out to cover some of the potential shortfalls is not free.

Chicagoans do not want the games.

People, let us start with facts.

Feb 09 poll of Chicago area residents shows 2/3 support: http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/feb/0...

IOC independent polling shows Chicago a 67% support--10% less than the bid committee claims, ranking third of four candidates in local support: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-17-i...

The fact is that there is majority support, with substantial taxpayer concern about how it is going to be paid for.