Zell Says So Sue Me…

Wednesday, September, 17, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

Forbes lists Sam Zell as the 52nd ‘Richest American’ but that number will surely climb after he sells the Chicago Cubs.  Sell, I mean Zell, you might recall is the guy that sold the successful radio group, Jacor Communications, Inc. and put that money into the purchase of the Tribune Company.  Tribune properties include the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times.  They also own the legendary Chicago Cubs but not for long.  The Cubs are on the market.  And now there’s a new twist in the Sam Zell saga…

Now comes word in The Wall Street Journal of one current and five former Tribune Co. employees accusing the Company and Zell in a lawsuit filed in a Los Angeles federal court.  The charge alleges Tribune and Zell have failed to uphold their fiduciary duty to the company’s employee stock-ownership plan.  The suit also claims Mr. Zell and other Tribune officials have improperly raided worker pension funds - “Zell and his accessories threaten to destroy the Tribune Company and its assets.  They are doing so illegally, without consideration for the employee-owners.”  That was some of the legalese contained in the lawsuit.  In the words of the late O.J. attorney Johnnie Cochran:  “this is a bombshell, this is a blockbuster”…

A Tribune spokesman offered no comment and said the company hasn’t seen the lawsuit yet.  So what do we have here?  Is this a case of a few disgruntled Tribune employees trying to get even?  Get rich?  Or is it some sort of cosmic payback for some dastardly deeds done by Sam Zell???         

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1787] Sign in please: The U.S. Consitution is completed and signed by a majority of delegates attending the constitutional convention in Philadelphia…
2. 1862] Monday, bloody Monday: Union forces repel a Confederate invasion of Maryland in the Civil War Battle of Antietam. Over 23,000 are killed, wounded or captured in the bloodiest day in U.S. military history…
3. 1947] Rookie Number One: Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson is named the first ‘Rookie of The Year’…
4. 1954] Retaining the title: Brockton (MA) native Rocky Marciano KOs Ezzard Charles in the 8th round to retain his heavyweight crown at Yankee Stadium…
5. 1963] Premiered on this date: “The Fugitive” which will air until 1967 and then in rerun for one more year…1964] “Bewitched”, rated #2 in its first season will run until 1967 and then 6 more years in rerun…1965] “Hogan’s Heroes“ will run through 1971…1966] “Mission: Impossible“ will enjoy a phenomenal run until 1990…1972] “M*A*S*H“ airs for 11 seasons, ending in 1983 as a 2 1/2 hour special viewed by the largest TV audience to ever watch a single program. Reruns are still running somewhere…
6. 1986] Clincher: The Mets clinch the NL East title by beating the Cubs 4-2 behind Doc Gooden’s 15th win of the season…
7. 1992] Halt. Who go’s there?: A halt is called in the probe of the Iran-Contra scandal.  At that point the investigation had already lasted 5 1/2 years…
8. 1994] There she is. Walking on air she is: Heather Whitestone, Miss Alabama becomes the first deaf Miss America…
9. 1996] “Happy Trails”: Former VP Spiro Agnew dies from leukemia at 77…
10. 2004] The 700 Club: Barry Bonds hits his 700th home run for the Giants, joining Babe Ruth(714) and Hank Aaron (755) as the only 700 home run hitters…

Music Memories:

• Released on this date: 1964] “Baby Love“ - Supremes…2002] “A Moment Like This“ - Kelly Clarkson…
• Live on “The Ed Sullivan Show”: 1967] The Doors sing “Light My Fire“and “People Are Strange”…
• Number One on this date: 1977] “Rumours” LP - Fleetwood Mac. This was the 19th of 31 weeks on top of the charts and from the LP - “Dreams“…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

Nona (daughter of Marvin) Gaye (34), John Franco (48), Rita Rudner (52), Phil Jackson (63),LaMonte (Fifth Dimension) McLemore(69) and Football Hall of Famer George Blanda (81)…

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until autumn in New York, 11 days until the MLB regular season and 13 days until the playoffs…

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