Finished Sentences: Cubs Chair Crane Kenney

Crane Kenney

Crane Kenney is in charge of the Chicago Cubs—not a simple job. Not only is the baseball team's chairman charged with winning a World Series for a much-beloved franchise that hasn't done so in 100 years, but now both the team and its legendary ballpark, Wrigley Field, are up for sale. Fans who previously worried about winning a pennant now fret over the prospect of watching the Cubs play in a ballpark renamed "SynComTel Field," as the Washington Post teased.

But Kenney, who is pulling double duty as Tribune Co. general counsel until mid-May, when he'll focus on the Cubs full time, seems not at all daunted. Read on for his take on smart hires and commanding leads:

My job in three words is: "strategic, controversial, and rewarding."

As a boss, my biggest strength is: "(I'm told) challenging the status quo."

And my biggest flaw is: "being impatient (though polling might list a dozen others in a dead heat)."

If you want to be successful, you need to read: "at least three newspapers daily (in print or online)."

You couldn't pay me a million dollars to take a job as: "a mother (that is not nearly enough)."

The biggest bunch of advice hogwash I've ever heard is: "Keep your thoughts to yourself."

When I'm hiring, I want to hire someone who is: "smarter than me."

My favorite weekday breakfast is: "a fried egg sandwich."

My stress reliever of choice is: "a six-run lead in the ninth."