Take one last look at Abraham Lupus Frohman III, because he’s going into the mothballs. You know what that means: despite Barack Obama’s pandering to the Danish, Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics was finally put to sleep.

In fact, between the four remaining cities [Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, and Madrid were the others], Chicago was the first city to be eliminated in the initial voting. Sorry Chicago, the tribe has spoken.

Also eliminated: Tokyo. Sayonara, amigos…I’m actually pulling for Rio now, since they’re only one hour ahead of North America’s east coast and avoiding the internet during the summer will only be more annoying seven years from now.

I’d like to thank Mr. Frohman for his service to With Leather and wish him a warm and happy retirement, preferably in a well-lubricated locale. Godspeed, sir.

Unlike Barack Obama’s ceremonial first pitch in St. Louis this past summer, America’s 44th president put his pitch for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The International Olympic Committee will announce its decision on Friday. It’s pretty much the standard Obama stump address: we are the world, can’t we all just get along, so on and so forth. And I’m kinda hoping that Chicago actually does get the Olympics, if only so I can keep using this photoshop. Oh, and for the goodwill of the world and all that crap. via.

So Barack Obama had what I’m told was a fencing demonstration, and not a sci-fi convention, on the White House lawn yesterday. I’m tempted to stop short of our sitting president’s apparently rabid enthusiasm for his city hosting the 2016 Olympics, especially after reading this take from Michael Sneed at the Chicago Sun-Times:

The private side: It’s this simple. The bottom-line message to President Obama from Mayor Daley and the 2016 Chicago Olympics contingent at the White House Wednesday: If Obama doesn’t personally pitch Chicago’s bid in Copenhagen next month, we will lose it!

The public side: Chicago 2016 bid champion Pat Ryan tells Sneed: “I am wildly enthusiastic about the fact that the first lady is leading our team in Copenhagen. The bid just left an amazing White House event, hosted by the president and first lady . . . We couldn’t be more excited . . .”

You do the math. via.

I really don’t care about the Olympics, but at the same time, it’d be great if we didn’t have to sit through tape delays to watch basketball and gymnastics. It doesn’t really matter, because once this decision is made by the IOC, it’s the end of this Abe Frohman photoshop either way. That’s too bad, because Ufford really liked rolling in that convertable. Obama img.

The International Olympic Committee has reviewed the four final candidate cities for the 2016 Summer Olympics. And if you were looking for a front-runner to rise from the pack, keep looking.

The IOC evaluation report gives generally high marks to Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. The report was released Wednesday, exactly a month ahead of the Oct. 2 vote in Copenhagen.

Among concerns, the report cites the absence of financial guarantees from Chicago, low public support in Tokyo, a lack of understanding of different roles in Madrid, and need for careful monitoring of urban projects and accommodation in Rio. via.

I really don’t see what the big deal is with having the Olympics in your city. Most urban centers can’t even accommodate the traffic they already have, and the idea that sporting events like these help the overall economy hasn’t been proven conclusively. Plus it seems a little disingenuous to promote yourself as a vehicle of goodwill and humility and then turn around and whore yourself out to the highest bidder. Not that I have a big issue when strippers dressed up as Catholic school girls do it…

So everyone made a big stink over the weekend that the group trying to bring the Olympics to Chicago in 2016 was parceling out $10.5 million to spend on development for an Olympic mascot. Never mind the fact that this mascot wouldn’t become “Olympic” until the city won the bid. But all that is moot now, because we’re unveiling The Greatest Aspiring Olympic Mascot In History right here, using blockquote to make it look more official:

Meet Abraham Frohman Loopus III, “Loopy” for short, the new mascot for the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid. Living in the city’s downtown historical district, Loopy is pure Chicago, from his girthy stature to his Cubs hat to his Dennis Farina tribute mustache. Loopy can’t wait to bring the Olympics back to America!

Yes, that’s a giant dick wearing a baseball cap. And sitting in a convertible. Loopy was really upset that we couldn’t give him a Hummer. The worst part of all is that, as the mascot, Loopy wouldn’t be able to compete in any of the events. He’s a true weekend warrior, so competitive.