the starter but was displaced by Knighton for the from corse178's blog
CHICAGO -- The World Series is hardly the only historic contest preoccupying the owners of the Chicago Cubs this fall. Cheap England Jerseys .The wealthy Ricketts family -- Joe and Marlene, and their adult children Pete, Tom, Todd and Laura -- also are big players in the political arena, hosting high-dollar fundraisers and donating millions to influence the presidential election. But while everyone in the family rallies around the beloved ball team, when it comes to political causes and candidates ... well, not so much.Most of the Ricketts are Republicans who support GOP nominee Donald Trump, though during the primary Joe and Marlene spent millions to stop the New York businessman, prompting Trump to lash out at the family on Twitter. Son Pete is the conservative governor of Nebraska, and four years ago the family was pulled into a controversy involving President Barack Obama.Laura Ricketts, meanwhile, is a top Democratic donor who held a high-dollar fundraiser for Hillary Clinton this summer and was a superdelegate who supported her at the Democratic National Convention. After it became known a super PAC founded by her father planned to spend millions to help Trump, she showed up at Wrigley Field sporting a hat with the Clinton campaign logo.The Ricketts family, originally from Omaha, bought the Cubs in 2009 for $845 million. While Joe Ricketts made the family fortune as chairman of TD Ameritrade, son Tom Ricketts -- who mostly avoids politics -- serves as Cubs chairman. His siblings are co-owners and board members.The family deferred comment to a spokesman, who emphasized that many families could relate to the Ricketts divided political loyalties, even those who share their sports passions.The Ricketts family, like the families of many Cubs fans, have diverse political views, spokesman Dennis Culloton said. But they are very close and they love each other and thats been the case before, during and long after their World Series run and election seasons.Joe Ricketts is a GOP mega-donor who founded the super PAC Future 45. The group and a related nonprofit entity are scheduled to spend about $15 million on anti-Clinton and pro-Trump advertisements by Election Day, according Federal Election Commission reports. The groups have so far concentrated on the battleground state of Florida, according to Kantar Medias political ad tracker.Roughly half of the spending has come through the 45 Committee, a nonprofit group that does not have to disclose its donors to the public.FEC documents show Future 45 is getting a big assist from Las Vegas casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson. Through the end of September, he and his wife, Miriam, contributed $10 million to the group.Early on, however, Marlene and Joe Ricketts investments in the presidential race went mostly to their preferred candidate, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who flamed out early in the GOP primary.The couple was so concerned about Trump winning the primary that they pumped $5.5 million into an effort to stop him in the first few months of this year, FEC records show. When Marlene Ricketts first contribution made headlines, Trump warned on Twitter that the family better be careful, they have a lot to hide!Tom Ricketts later told reporters the family isnt hiding anything, adding: Its a little surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom.Shortly after the effort to stop Trump failed, Brian Baker, who directs the familys political activities, said Joe and Marlene Ricketts always intended to support the GOP nominee -- even Trump.Pete Ricketts in Nebraska endorsed Trump shortly after the other candidates for the GOP nomination left the race.Todd Ricketts, who like Tom and Laura lives in suburban Chicago, raised money for Walkers presidential campaign, but also has gotten behind Trump, hosting a fundraiser for him alongside former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka.The familys politics have caused at least one major rift in Chicago, a deeply Democratic city.During the 2012 election, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel reportedly was infuriated by reports that Joe Ricketts was considering a $10 million campaign against Obama that would refer to the racially incendiary sermons delivered by the minister at a church Obama once attended. Joe Ricketts said he had nothing to do with the proposal, which was dropped, but it became one of many bumps in the Cubs efforts to get approval for major ballpark renovations.In a 2013 Chicago magazine profile, Tom Ricketts made clear the Ricketts prefer to be recognized for the Cubs, not politics.To be a part of a family that brings a World Series champion to these fans would be one of the greatest legacies you could imagine, he said.---Associated Press writer Julie Bykowicz in Washington contributed to this report.---Follow Sara Burnett on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/sara-burnett Cheap Iceland Jerseys . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Cheap FC Bayern Munich Jerseys . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. http://www.cheapsoccerjerseysoutlet.com/?tag=cheap-costa-rica-jerseys . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. VANCOUVER -- Rumours became reality Thursday as the Vancouver Whitecaps signed veteran Danish goalkeeper David Ousted. Pending receipt of his international transfer certificate, the former Danish Superliga star will be eligible to play in Major League Soccer on July 9. He cant play sooner because an international transfer window does not open before then. "We just felt that if we didnt (sign him) in this window, he would go elsewhere," said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. "We felt we were in a situation where it was important to lock him up." Ousteds arrival was expected following several recent media reports in Denmark that linked him to the Whitecaps. Ousted, 28, played 10 seasons in Denmark, including four campaigns in the top-flight Superliga. He earned 35 clean sheets in 103 matches for Randers FC over the past three seasons while helping the club finish third in the 2012-13 Superliga and qualify for the UEFA Europa League. The six-foot-three Roskilde native made 39 total appearances in the final season in his homeland, earning 14 clean sheets. Six of his appearances came as he helped Randers reach the Danish Cup final, where it lost 1-0 to Esbjerg fB. He also made six appearances for Randers in the 2010-11 UEFA Europa League. The Whitecaps pursued Ousted after Vancouvers goalkeeping coach Marius Rovde, a Norwegian who is tapped into the Scandinavian market, learned that he was out of contract and available. Given Ousteds age, said Lenarduzzi, the club believes he can help in the short and long terms. "He sets a very commanding presence," said Lenarduzzi, who has seen him on video. "Hes (about) six-four and is a good shot stopper. His size would suggest that hes quite comfortable coming for crosses in the box." Ousteds acquisition raises questions about Brad Knightons status as Vancouvers starting goalkeeper. But Lenarduzzi said Knighton, who sports a 3-1-1 without a clean sheet, remains the clubs starter for the time being. "(Knighton) is the incumbent right now, and how he plays will determine when Ousted gets to start," said Lenarduzzi. Ousted arrived in Vancouver on Thursday and will join his new teammates on the pitch Monday as the team resumes training following a break. But Knighton, 28, who is in his second season with Vancouver, has a chance to retain his job ffor at least the next three games, between June 29 and July 7, until Ousted is eligible to play. Cheap Spain Jerseys. The Whitecaps (6-5-4) had a habit of giving up leads earlier in the season, but have lost only one game with Knighton in net. "(Ousted) needs to come in and earn a spot," said Lenarduzzi. Knighton said recently that the starters job is his to lose and welcomed the extra competition. With Ousteds acquisition, the Whitecaps have four goalkeepers on their roster, with 16-year veteran Joe Cannon, 38, and rookie Simon Thomas, 23, of Victoria also in tow. The club plans to keep all four until the end of the regular season, and will not be required to make a move based on roster numbers. "Carrying four goalkeepers is not that uncommon in MLS," said Lenarduzzi. "Seattle did it last year. Each of the keepers are at different stages of their careers. Simon Thomas is at the start of his career as the third keeper, and (Knighton) is a veteran of MLS and is looking to establish himself as a No. 1, and (Cannon) is in the twilight of his career." Lenarduzzi said the coaching staff sat down with the three holdover goalkeepers as rumours of Ousteds signing emerged to make them aware of what would happen. Ousteds arrival signals the end of Cannons tenure with the Whitecaps, with the departure date pending as he plays out the final year of his contract. Cannon began the season as the starter but was displaced by Knighton for the second consecutive season. "We sat down and talked to (Cannon) and wanted to make sure that we help him into transitioning into the next phase of his career, if thats something that hes looking to do. ... Right now, hes competing for a goalkeeping spot until the end of the season," said Lenarduzzi. With Ousteds acquisition, the Whitecaps have now developed considerable depth at every position, even with three central defenders sidelined with injuries. "We feel like we have a roster that has covered most positions," said Lenarduzzi. The Caps president said the club still could make another move once the international transfer window opens, but it will avoid extensive changes like the ones that "probably impacted the chemistry of the team" last season. 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