Locked-up Blago still able to watch his Cubs

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (WLS) -- The man who prided himself on being Illinois' #1 Cubs fan is now inmate #40892-424. Rod Blagojevich may have lost his freedom, but he is still able to watch his beloved Cubs.

A U.S. Bureau of Prisons spokesperson tells Eyewitness News inmates at the Englewood, Colorado prison where Blagojevich is held have access to basic cable television. That includes TBS, which broadcast the Cubs vs. Cardinals National League Division Series. "Each housing unit has televisions available for unrestricted viewing through the day and evening hours." The prison didn't comment on whether Blagojevich actually watched the game.

Long before his legal troubles started, Blagojevich daydreamed of one day becoming the commissioner of Major League Baseball. That's a dream deferred while Illinois' former governor serves the remainder of his 14-year prison term for corruption.

Blagojevich took office in 2003, the same year the Cubs last advanced to the NLCS. After fan Steve Bartman interefered with a foul ball, causing the Cubs to miss an opportunity for an out, Blagojevich stormed out of Wrigley Field and quipped to reporters that he would never pardon Bartman. Now it's Blagojevich watching the Cubs from prison and Bartman remains in self-imposed exile.