Loser No. 1.

No one…least of all me…wants to see the media coddled, cuddled and patronized-but there is such a thing as boorishness in handling and the winner of today’s World Cup has nobly acquitted himself.

Last Monday I bumped into Alderman Bob Fioretti at Gene & Georgetti’s. Asked him very humbly if he would consider being a guest on my WLS-AM show. He said he’d consider it.

The next day-Tuesday–I called him. With deferentiality.

He: “What’re you calling me here for! I’ve got a meeting going on here. Call my scheduling assistant.” He gave me the number. Click. Buzzz.

I called her.

She: “Next Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at 190 N. State? He’s free at that time. I’ll call you back and confirm.”

No call back.

So I call her the next day. Wednesday.

She: “We’re very busy here. Very busy. I haven’t been able to get him to focus on it. No one understands how busy we are here. Very busy”

Me: Never mind, thank you, ma’am.

This is for all of you to know that Bob Fioretti is a very important man and very-very busy. So busy he is discomfited when he gets a call. So busy that his scheduling assistant is also very-very busy.