Rauners need to sacrifice like the rest of us

With the announcement our new First Lady of Illinois has hired a chief of staff at $100,000 a year to taxpayers, the Rauners have shown already that “sacrifice” for the greater good of Illinois only applies to the average citizen. If the governor wants sacrifice from average people, then his office should set the first example. Frankly, we who aren’t millionaires, billionaires and political elite have been sacrificing our pocketbooks for years just to stay in this state.

Brad Drake, Darien

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Fioretti desperate

Talk about grasping at straws. Chicago voters facing a tough decision in the mayoral race just got a gift from candidate Bob Fioretti. In his latest media blitz to prove his relevancy, he trips over his own mouth in his accusations against Rahm (regarding robbery and assault of his 17-year-old son). Not only missing the mark with the facts in the case, in a city known for its ugly politics he levels one of the most pathetic arguments I have ever heard at the mayor. “What was your son doing out at 10 p.m. on the phone?” 10 p.m.? Oh my gosh, ground the poor kid and send him to his room! “Why didn’t you prosecute?” Umm, OK. But there were no arrests. Prosecute who? The mailman? So Chicagoans, you owe a big thanks to Bob, because, endorsement by Da Coach aside, he just made your choice for mayor this year that much easier.

Scot Sinclair, Gurnee

Under-inflated ball hurt both teams

Deliberately or inadvertently, an NFL rule on inflating footballs was broken, allegedly by the Patriots as the host team playing Indiana. The truth about culpability may never be known.

But wait! Both teams played with the same slightly under-inflated footballs, right? If that favored the Patriots, how could it not also favor the Indiana team? So where’s the actual advantage/disadvantage? If proper inflation were made the responsibility of the officials instead of the host team, wouldn’t that eliminate this pitfall in all future games? Just asking.

Ted Z. Manuel, Hyde Park

Ernie Banks’ tremendous reach

The Human Race lost a treasure. Ernie Banks influenced me as a teenager more than any other person. He really was the only black person that I “knew” growing up. (I only knew him through radio and television.) He was so nice that I developed a positive attitude toward all African-Americans. A few years ago, I went to Arizona for Cub spring training, and I was so disappointed that he was not there. I asked Billy Williams about him and he said that his mom had passed away and he would not be there. I wanted to tell him how I spent my life working with black children as a teacher because of his influence. I always wanted to meet him and tell him that. I am broken-hearted that I will never get to meet him now and tell him how he influenced me and many other people in a positive way. May God bless him.

Greg Lopatka, Downers Grove