Well, shit. Did we learn nothing from last year's 2016 Olympic debacle? Let's hope so because a new report in today's Tribune highlights Chicago as "the most viable candidate" should the USOC decide to bid on the 2020 games. Apparently, the failure to land the 2016 Olympics has provided the USOC with plenty of lessons to learn from and while no announcement has been made, we can't help but think, "Not again." Also helping matter for Chicago's chances to be selected by the USOC? The fact that they actually have a plan in place and the timeline for that city selection favors taking that plan and tweaking it: the USOC would have to present a candidate city in 2011 and the IOC would select the 2020 host in 2013. more ›

The fallout from Chicago 2016's first-round failure continues as the USOC announced this weekend that they won't be making another run at the Summer Olympics in 2020. New USOC head Scott Blackmun has been shaking hands and kissing IOC babies in Vancouver during the Winter Olympics in an effort to repair the tarnished image of the USOC that many say cost Chicago any shot at the 2016 Games, which included an attempt to launch their own TV network and fights with the IOC over revenue sharing. Blackmun said over the weekend: more ›

We look forward to seeing everyone tonight at Sheffield's! more ›

It's been three weeks since the Big Letdown but Mayor Daley hasn't been quick to move on from the disappointment of finishing last of the Final Four in 2016 Olympic voting. Speaking last week to the editorial board at Crain's, Daley pointed out the disparity between government support for U.S. candidate cities and support other governments give their candidates. more ›

• So what happened at the IOC vote? Some say blame the USOC though an Australian IOC rep thinks an Asian alliance may have teamed up to help Tokyo and hurting Chicago's bid as a result.
• Obama had a subdued, respectful reaction to the results - did we expect anything else - but the question as to how much this will impact his legacy looms.
• It took three hours after Chicago's first round bounce for Mayor Daley to surface, but he did and he was straight-forward in his thoughts on the bid: "I'm disappointed but you go on with your life."

In a move that they hope will boost Chicago's odds of landing the 2016 Olympics, the USOC has decided to delay the launch of their new Olympic-themed TV network. The launch was seen as a hindrance to Chicago's bid because of bad blood launching the network would cause between the USOC and the IOC (who gets to actually vote on who gets the Olympics). Like everything else in life, the conflict really boils down to two things: money and the American spirit of "Screw you, we're doing it anyway." Per the Tribune's report: more ›

There's plenty going on in Chicago's bid to claim the 2016 Summer Olympics. Here's a few of the stories that caught our eye. more ›

• Speculation abounds that none other than Virgin's Richard Branson may be interested in buying Playboy.
• The Aqua building looks like it's landed itself a hotel tenant.
• The USOC has turned to none other than former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer to help them out.

• 27-year-old Terry Sedlacek has been charged in the murder of Pastor Fred Winters. Sedlacek allegedly stormed into First Baptist Church of Maryville yesterday and shot Winters multiple times. Sedlacek is also charged with injuring two worshippers with a knife when they tried to restrain him after the shooting.
• Blago can't shake U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald; a federal judge has rejected the former gov's request to bump Fitzy off the case.
• Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis appeared in court to day and apologized for refusing the court order to hand over a list of all police officers who have had five or more complaints filed against them since 2000.