In Chicago, Fran Spielman notes Illinois Gov. PAT QUINN yesterday accused Chicago Mayor RAHM EMANUEL of "blocking the governor's choice" to lead the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to "pave the way for a 'backroom deal' to renovate 98-year-old Wrigley Field." Quinn alleged that Emanuel is "blocking" the appointment of KELLY KRAFT, Quinn's "former assistant budget director-turned-communications chief." Blocking Kraft's appointment would "pave the way to use the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to help the Cubs -- either by issuing tax-exempt bonds to renovate Wrigley or by reviving a failed plan to have the stadium authority acquire and renovate the landmark ballpark" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/9).
PITCH PERFECT: In New Jersey, Richard Cowen notes yesterday marked 56 years to the day that Baseball HOFer DON LARSEN pitched the only perfect game in World Series history, and the reunion "marked the start of a 56-day online auction of the Yankees pinstripe uniform that Larsen wore on the afternoon of Oct. 8, 1956." Larsen said that he "wants to auction off the uniform and give the money to his two grandchildren for college." The auction is being conducted by Steiner Sports, and estimates are that the uniform "could fetch as much as $1 million" (Bergen RECORD, 10/9).
SABER-MAGICIAN? Loyola Univ. of Maryland economics professor STEPHEN WALTERS "is once again working with" Orioles Exec VP/Baseball Operations DAN DUQUETTE as a consultant. What "separates Walters from the usual sabermetrician taking an objective, numbers-based look at baseball is an added set of calculations -- much of his method is proprietary -- to determine a player's value to a particular team." Walters said, "I know I'm just a small, small part" (Baltimore SUN, 10/7).
NAMES: IOC President JACQUES ROGGE yesterday returned to work "for the first time" since having hip replacement surgery in early September (AP, 10/8)....The World Golf HOF & Museum will enshrine former golfer and TV broadcaster KEN VENTURI in the class of '13. Venturi, who won the '64 U.S. Open, was selected through the Lifetime Achievement Category (World Golf HOF)....Comedians KEVIN JAMES and LARRY THE CABLE GUY each attended Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 10/7).
