It was George W. Bush's fault. We had to be punished for inflicting his madness on the world.
It was Barack Obama's fault. His preachy smugness could not be tolerated.
It was Oprah's fault. Who does she think she is?
It was the United States Olympic Committee's fault. They don't play well with others.
It was Pat Ryan's fault. His presentation fell flat.
It was Richard M. Daley's fault. He can't even manage parking meters.
It was the Chicago media's fault. They failed to squelch the few dissenters in their cheerleading ranks.
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Or maybe, just maybe, Chicago had the worst bid.
We're so myopic.
Yes, our lakefront has much to recommend.
And we have a decent skyline.
But more spectactular than Rio's?
Or Tokyo's?
Or Madrid's?
I'm sure it was George W. Bush's fault. And Obama's. And Oprah's. It was a team loss.
And the USOC - no doubt - really sucks.
But the sense of entitlement and unearned arrogance around here is palpable.
Believe it or not, sometimes we truly are only fourth-best.
Steve Rhodes is the proprietor of The Beachwood Reporter, a Chicago-centric news and culture review.
