Jerry Reinsdorf Could Learn a Lot from Joe Biden
President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the White House on July 24, 2024 and explained why he will not be seeking a second term in office. Photo Courtesy of @POTUS Twitter account.
As the President of the United States, Joe Biden, addressed the nation Tuesday night to announce he would not be seeking a second term, the Chicago White Sox (27-77) were in the process of losing their 10th game in a row to the defending champion Texas Rangers. During his address, Biden said:
“I revere this office,” But I love my country more.”
What Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the White Sox and Bulls was doing during Biden’s speech, is anybody’s guess. But I’ll tell you what he should have been doing; Reinsdorf should have been on the phone to his PR people and asking them to start drafting his own resignation speech because he was inspired by what Biden said and did. But I think Reinsdorf loves himself more than he loves the White Sox or Bulls.
Biden, 81, finally came to the realization that running the free world is not an old man’s job. His courageous decision to step aside when his term expires in January, to allow for a new vision from a younger generation to possibly move forward, is something that will cement his legacy.
In the meantime, on the South Side, Reinsdorf, 88, is continuing to tarnish his legacy while holding up progress for both the White Sox and Bulls, of which he is the majority owner of both. Not only are both of his franchises floundering in the abyss, the White Sox are on pace to set a new Major League Baseball record for losses in a single season. The Bulls are stagnated in NBA purgatory with salary cap restrictions after the dumb idea to give underperforming Zach Lavine a max contract deal two years ago.
Biden faced increased public pressure from members of his own party, as well as financial donors to step aside. Members of the public were also encouraging President Biden to embrace retirement. Biden finally got the memo after weeks of being in denial. He has tapped his Vice President Kamala Harris to vie for replacing him because he understands what is at stake, thus putting his ego in check.
“Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy,” Biden said. “And that includes personal ambition.”
Meanwhile at his office in Guaranteed Rate Field, Reinsdorf has been having security officers confiscate signs brought in by fans, who actually attended a White Sox game this year, (bless their hearts) who dare to ask for an ownership change. How un-American is that practice? He has dismissed media reports calling for him to stepdown as chairman, and has canceled for the last two years SoxFest, where he was sure to face the ire of the fans in a townhall-style setting.
At this point, Reinsdorf’s own ego and arrogance that made him a successful businessman, (his net worth is $2.1 billion, according to Forbes) are the things that are potentially driving the value of his sports franchises into the ground and will taint his legacy forever. Not knowing when to say when does not only have dire consequences when driving a vehicle impaired, it also can lead to disappointing results when sober.
Biden will be remembered for steadying a nation in the midst of a pandemic when he took over in 2021. He will be credited for trying to reduce student loans, getting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed, rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, strengthening international alliances and implementing policies that staved off an economic recession that many had predicted was sure to come. While Biden also had his share of failures and his future was dim as a leader, he at least had enough sense, even with declining physical and cognitive skills, to know when it was time to “exit stage left.”
Reinsdorf on the other hand still thinks he can fix the problems with his sports teams, according to his last media statement earlier in 2024. This despite there being any indication that things are getting better. The six NBA championships for the Bulls (91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98) and lone World Series Championship (05) for the White Sox of which he deserves credit, have literally happened a generation ago. Many current fans were not even born then. His recent delusional hires for general manager of both franchises have been utter failures and the excuses being made are an insult to very adept Chicago sports fans and media members who cover the teams. That is what Reinsdorf will be remembered for, not giving a damn about the fans who helped keep him rich.
Had he not dropped out of the race, things could have gotten pretty ugly for Biden, just as they have for Reinsdorf recently. Some White Sox fans, like Twitter (X) user @JimHarterSBN are now wishing death comes soon to Reinsdorf, and Harter describes himself as a Christian! Most fans though are just asking Reinsdorf to sell the team or step away and let his children run the operations. Instead Reinsdorf has had the nerve to ask Chicago, Cook County and Illinois taxpayers to fund a new stadium for his terrible baseball team. He is taking the route of a naive, spoiled brat at the least or an uncaring dictator at the most.
“The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule,” Biden said. “The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America — lies in your hands.”
The fate of the White Sox and Bulls right now lie in Reinsdorf’s hands, even though the fans who line his pockets will have the ultimate final word. He still has the opportunity to do right by them for their longtime loyalty (something he is allegedly big on) and current suffering. Go ahead Jerry, pull a “Joe Biden.”