JB PRITZKER MUST USE A BULLHORN AND REPEAT THE WORDS: GET LOST, JERRY

Forcing Jerry Reinsdorf to sell the White Sox requires prominent politicians to announce one more time — no public money, sell the team — so he can stop using the lovely skyline at The 78 and leave

     One more time, a month later, the sacred words must come from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. This way, I won’t agree with Stephen Colbert when he says, “Every time he appears on stage, I think his first word is gonna be Yabba Dabba Doo.” Only if Pritzker reverses field with Jerry Reinsdorf would he become a traitor and Fred Flintstone.

     On Sept. 18, Pritzker said he continues to be hostile about giving any public money to Reinsdorf for a new stadium. “Nothing has changed,” he said. Which comes after he commented earlier this year, “The idea of taking taxpayers’ dollars and subsidizing the building of a stadium … does not seem like (it) should have higher priority. These are private businesses.”

     Because on this weekend day, the Chicago Sun-Times is running a photo that reminds us of Reinsdorf’s gall. Only hours ago, he said he was having discussions with former major-league pitcher Dave Stewart and business partner Lonnie Murray about selling the White Sox. If they make a deal, Stewart would move the Sox to Nashville. Which means, a shot of four construction vehicles in “The 78” neighborhood — three cranes and a dump truck — almost smacks of Reinsdorf and developer Related Midwest making a feint play for the city’s heart. Yes, we love the skyline picture behind the proposed outfield. Yes, we love the wraparound that triumphs “78. Chicago’s Next Great Neighborhood.”

     No, we do not want Reinsdorf anywhere near those pictures.

     And if Chicago doesn’t provide him that reality soon, he’ll sell the team to Stewart’s group. This is why Pritzker needs to produce the state’s loudest bullhorn and announce: “Get lost, codger!” He needs to fall in line with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and issue the final nudge to Reinsdorf about public financing.

     “Here’s what I’ve always said: ‘You got to put some skin in the game,’ That’s it,” Johnson said Friday. “Come to the table ready to throw down.”

     Reinsdorf already threw down. The Stewart story was planted in the media and went nationwide. Which brings to mind Reinsdorf’s god-awful remark made years ago about toying with people. This is how he saved the White Sox from moving to Florida: “A savvy negotiator creates leverage. People had to think we were going to leave Chicago.”

     The difference being, back then, Reinsdorf had some power and later had more power as owner of the Michael Jordan-led Bulls. Today, he has zero power beyond a skyline that also doesn’t like him. Chicago wants him out of town and, to believe a Sun-Times poll, more than half of respondents want him to sell the Sox even if the next owners leave the city. Again, Reinsdorf has been talking with Stewart and his Tennessee colleagues for a while and met with Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell last December. This is not a new game. Related Midwest said Friday that it wants stadiums for the Sox and Chicago Fire at The 78 to replace Discovery Partners Institute, which is moving its building base. Why not spread the infrastructure, guys, while you’re at it? And let the public pay for it all!

     He wants a deal with Chicago, now. He already had politicians show up at The 78 for a tour, bringing along Bo Jackson, Harold Baines and Ozzie Guillen. They loved the view, as we all do. They don’t want Reinsdorf in the photo without his multiple billions. “The reality is, we still represent the taxpayers of the state of Illinois,” said Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “How do you pay for it?”

     Sell the damned team and leave, got it? Why don’t the Bears consider The 78 and use the team’s $2 billion-plus private investment? The McCaskeys, with hope in the name of Caleb Williams, are using their own money in re-committing to Chicago. Not Reinsdorf, the loser of 121 games last season. Said Pritzker: “How the taxpayer is going to benefit from this still hasn’t been put forward to us. It’s just what the need is. And of course, I think the pictures that we’ve all seen, the drawings anyway in the newspaper, all look terrific. But again, that’s not enough to make a priority, in my view for Springfield.”

     Anyone doubting Stewart should know he has the blessing of Tony La Russa, one of Reinsdorf’s best friends, and that he appears to have financial backing. According to The Tennessean, he says he has agreements and contracts with at least five investors. “I’m not concerned about the money,” he said, claiming they will build a stadium in Nashville, perhaps near the PSC Metals scrap yard by Titans-based Nissan Stadium.

     Look, I know a suburban media guy who ventured to The 78 weeks ago and said the skyline is impressive. I hear him, but that doesn’t answer the ringing bell in Chicago. Reinsdorf wants a yes from politicians. He keeps hearing a no and a no and a no and another no.

     He is 88. His two franchises run on a UHF station in Hammond, Ind., and have lost all relevance in MLB and the NBA. No one in Chicago has interest in any weasel bluff attempt.

     Sell the White Sox.

     Depart the city limits.

     AND TAKE YOUR CRANES.

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     Jay Mariotti, called “without question the most impacting Chicago sportswriter of the past quarter-century,’’ writes general sports columns for Substack while appearing on some of the 1,678,498 podcasts and shows in production today. He is an accomplished columnist, TV panelist and talk/podcast host. Living in Los Angeles, he gravitated by osmosis to film projects.