Die Allianz T-D-P » are making the 13-hour flight

CHICAGO -- The World Series is hardly the only historic contest preoccupying the owners of the Chicago Cubs this fall.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-burnettDiscount Fake Shoes .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Fake Yeezy . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. 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Wholesale Fake Air Max Plus . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began.CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Devon Halls offense is coming around after a slow start to the season, and on a Virginia team that lacks a go-to scorer, its an important development as the 13th-ranked Cavaliers head into the more challenging part of their schedule.Hall matched his career high with 13 points and the Cavaliers returned from a 10-day layoff for final exams with a 79-39 victory over Robert Morris on Saturday.Devons always an intense player and hes physical so Im glad to see him have a little success, either a drive and a finish or making a 3 or getting to the foul line, Virginia coach Tony Bennett said of the 6-foot-5 redshirt junior. His intensity and his physicality were key tonight.Hall came into the game ninth on the team with a 5.0 scoring average, and became the seventh Cavalier to at least share top scoring honors in a game.We do not have a guy you can say, `Hes going to get you 20 tonight, or even 15 or 18, Bennett said, so the balance is critical.Freshman Kyle Guy also scored 13 points and Jack Salt had a career-best 10 for the Cavaliers (9-1), who overcame a sluggish start and broke the game open with a 38-8 run spanning halftime. It turned a 13-12 deficit into a 50-21 lead early in the second half.Isaiah Still led Robert Morris (3-9) with 16 points and Dachon Burke had seven. The Colonials shot just 23.9 percent (11 of 46) and became the fourth team held to fewer than 40 points by the Cavaliers, who lead the nation in scoring defense (47.6).They wear you down, Colonials coach Andrew Toole said. Once they kind of get that lead, youre in a world of trouble.Jarred Reuter also scored 10 points for Virginia, which outscored the Colonials 48-8 in the paint and 41-14 off the bench.BIG PICTURERobert Morris: The Colonials appear to be in a youth movement with sophomore scoring leader Still (15 ppg) and freshmen Braden Burke and Dachon Burke all ggetting significant minutes.dddddddddddd They won the Northeast Conference two years ago under Toole and have been to postseason play four times in the past five seasons, but seem more likely to suffer through growing pains with their future stars gaining experience than to make much noise this season.Virginia: The Cavaliers were wise to schedule a lesser opponent for their first game in 11 days after a break for finals because they came out looking sluggish and sloppy before finally getting it together and closing the half on a 20-5 run. They will need to be sharper at California on Wednesday night.HOMECOMINGSVirginias game at California is the best Bennett could do in giving London Perrantes, from Los Angeles, a game before his home fans, but the senior point guard wont be the only Cavalier with lots of family in attendance.Salt, who is from New Zealand, said eight family members are making the 13-hour flight to see him play.SHOOTING BLANKSStill was 5 for 10 from the field for Robert Morris. The rest of the team was 6 for 36.PASSING FANCYVirginia forward Isaiah Wilkins and reserve point guard Ty Jerome shared the team lead with six assists each. Jeromes came in just 16 minutes of playing time as Bennett substituted liberally and gave his younger players extended floor time before the schedule toughens.Wilkins finished with seven points, six rebounds, six assists, a block and a steal in 21 minutes.UP NEXTRobert Morris is at home next Wednesday against Buffalo in its final game before beginning Northeast Conference play.Virginia heads west to face California in its last non-conference game before ACC play begins.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org---Follow Hank on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hankkurzjr ' ' '