The Donald Trump Presidential campaign is what what you’d have if a YouTube comments section somehow had sex with alternate reality dystopian 1985 Biff Tannen in “Back to the Future Part 2.” This whole election cycle has basically seen Trump one very long, very bad Andrew Dice Clay routine.
Unfortunately, the Chicago Cubs ownership wants in on this revolting act. The Cubs are owned by the Ricketts family, and their patriarch, Joe Ricketts, plans to donate at least $1 million to a super PAC supporting Trump, The Wall Street Journal reported.
It’s a very startling decision by Ricketts, who founded TD Ameritrade, according to the Washington Post, given the past acrimony between Trump and the Ricketts family.
Going back to late February, it all started with, what else, a Donald Trump Tweet:
I hear the Rickets family, who own the Chicago Cubs, are secretly spending $'s against me. They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2016
Yes, Trump threatened to expose Ricketts family secrets, after Joe Ricketts’ wife, Marlene, gave an initial $3 million earlier this year to the anti-Trump group Our Principles PAC.
At the time, Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said: “It’s a little surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom.”
The Ricketts are the 66th wealthiest family in America, and a group of extreme right-wing zealots. Obviously, the Ricketts tried to use their money and clout to empower an anybody but Trump GOP Presidential nominee; and that effort failed.
Therefore, it looks extremely hypocritical of the Ricketts family to be giving money to Trump now. Giving to Donald Trump is awful enough in itself, but to do it in a way that conveys mendacity is even worse.
How this will dubious move play with their fan base?
Well, on one hand, most of the fans will be focused first and foremost on just baseball; and winning in the postseason.
On the other hand, Wrigley Field resides in one of the most liberal neighborhoods in the country; in a city that’s a Democratic stronghold; in a state bluer than the Cubs alternate jerseys.
Thus, Joe Ricketts giving a million bucks to Donald Trump is about as unpopular a move as the man who owns the Cubs and Wrigley Field could make right now. One of Ricketts’ sons, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, endorsed Trump in May.
“I love Pete, but I think his brother (Todd Ricketts) doesn’t like me as much as he does,” Trump said in Omaha. “I like him so much, I’m starting to like the Chicago Cubs again.”
You can bet that Donald Trump will say his fondness for the Chicago Cubs is increasing again, once he comments publicly on the Joe Ricketts donation.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.