Come To Think Of It: Don't Blame It On Rio, Chicago Beaten at Its Own Game

So Chicago failed to gain the votes necessary to host the 2016 Olympic games. Instead, Rio will have that honor, that privilege, that...expense.

You see, I have mixed feelings about today's decision from the IOC. Sure, in many ways I would have liked to see the games in the U.S. and my home town of Chicago. It's truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and I would have welcomed the opportunity to show it off to the world.

But this is a city that is hurting financially. And while the Games would have brought additional jobs to the unions, and revenue from tourists, it would have cost a fortune to build the Olympic village and make the improvements that would have been required.

Even the leader of the free world couldn't convince the committee to select Chicago as its host. But instead of blaming anything that Obama did, or any of the Chicago delegates, or the failings of our mass transit system, the blame lies squarely in the lap of a corrupt IOC and a Rio willing to play ball.

You think Chicago politicians are corrupt? Well, you ain't seen nothin', bra.

Sure, scandal has always been synonymous with the City of Big Shoulders. We just had a governor who was busted for trying to sell a senate seat. And we all know that the Daley machine has been a rolling thunder of patronage and corruption for years.

And yes, even going back to the days of gangsta's like Al Capone, Chicago has always had this reputation. Still, for anyone to say that this had anything to do with the Windy City not getting the games is hypocritical to say the least.

The International Olympic Committee makes Chicago look like Sweet Polly Purebread.

The IOC is an organization riddled with bribe-takers. According to Vexnews, "An internal inquiry conducted by a long-time member of the IOC found that no fewer than 20 of 110 IOC members had accepted bribes including lavish holidays, hospitality, expensive gifts, jobs, free university places for relatives, cosmetic surgery, and so on."

In truth, Rio de Janeiro's bid chief, Carlos Nuzman, has his hands so far up the IOC's pocket that he can shake his other hand while stealing their wallet.

For he will turn 100 in 2016 and so he pulled out all the unethical stops in a successful effort to win the vote.

Chicago, for all its notoriety, wasn't willing to play the game.

Even the past shame of resignation over bribe taking couldn't stop Brazil from bribing their way into Olympic bliss. Chicago had the best bid; they were backed by the President of the United States, who would have personally ensured that Chicago had the capital it needed to make this work.

Everyone knew that, which is why they were such a favorite in the process. Ah, but the bribe factor was discounted, and so Obama and the rest of the delegation has to go home with its tail between its collective legs.

But this ain't the Cubbies losing for a century, folks. This was something out of our control, so no need to hang any heads. Instead, those who wanted the games to be held here should be mad as hell and calling for someone's head.

For as ironic as it sounds, Chicago was beaten at its own game, come to think of it.