OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE: FORMER GOV. TO PURSUE NEW FACILITY

          Former IL Gov. James Thompson, whose "legislative arm-
     twisting kept the White Sox in Chicago," has been hired by
     the Bears to "pursue a stadium deal that has eluded the team
     for decades," according to Fran Spielman of the CHICAGO SUN-
     TIMES.  Thompson reportedly replaces Roger Bickel, the
     "clout-heavy" lobbyist who chairs IL Gov. George Ryan's
     state ethics commission, as the Bears' "first string stadium
     quarterback."  Bickel was hired by the Bears last spring 
     "on the strength of his political ties" to Ryan, and sources
     said that the Bears "have now decided" that it is "more
     important to have a forceful leader than someone close to
     the governor" leading their stadium team (SUN-TIMES, 4/12).