Daley: 'It's called greed'

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Ask Mayor Daley about the Chicago Bears, and he'll rave about their season, their coaches and their chances of winning today's playoff game.

But ask him about the Bears' owners -- who want taxpayers to pay for turf installed at Soldier Field for this game -- and Daley's allegiance swings swiftly to the taxpayers.

"You have to understand, football's a big business. They make a lot of money," Daley said. "Why would you want to foot the taxpayers? . . . Really, after a while, it's called greed."

Daley chastised the McCaskey family, which owns the Bears, for attempts to "nickel and dime the taxpayers" when the team is flush with cash.

At issue is a $70,000 bill for turf installed on the field's edges for the playoffs.

One thing Mayor Daley could to is get out of the public ownership of stadiums.That way,they'll be no subsidies for sports teams.