If Bob Kustra’s press conference Tuesday is any indication, his new career as a talk-show host on WLS-AM will be interesting. He told off Channel 5’s Dick Kay, happily refused to release his income tax returns, defended his wife, and more or less accused his questioners of swallowing the spin put out by Dawn Clark Netsch’s campaign. In other words, he said all the stuff pols wish they could, but can’t. And won’t he have fun chatting with Illinois voters every day while he decides whether to run against Sen. Paul Simon in 1996?
Cam-pain `94: After Netsch’s campaign strategists spread the spin that Kustra was forced off the ticket because of a conflict of interest involving his wife, Kathy, the lieutenant governor called the Dem gubernatorial candidate. “She said she never instructed her staff to say anything like that,” Kustra said. . . . The Kustras and Jim and Brenda Edgar shared a private moment after Kustra’s announcement and if body language means anything, they parted as friends.
Babes in Toyland: Every Republican woman who’s still breathing is being mentioned as a possible lite guv candidate. Tops in speculation is Loleta Didrickson. Others include: Judy Baar Topinka, Felicia Norwood, State Rep. Kay Wojcik, and Sally Jackson.
Iron Mike: Mike Ditka, out of Lake Forest Hospital and on the golf course for a few holes Tuesday in 90-degree temperatures, planned to be in Tacoma, Wash., for a Wednesday morning speaking engagement-for the American Heart Association.
More Mike: Ditka told associates Tuesday one thing kept his blood boiling during his hospital stay: In reporting the story, TV stations kept showing the same unflattering clips of him ranting on the sidelines.
Cup-cakes: At the gala dinner after the Placido Domingo concert, a guest asked Rich Daley if Chicago was ready to pitch for the Olympics in 2000. The mayor replied: “2004.”
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Simonized: Sen. Simon produced a hearing in Washington Tuesday starring Steven Spielberg talking about hate crimes. Hollywood’s golden boy, who usually has a baseball cap handy, had one on the table while he testified. Was it emblazoned with the name of one of his megahits? No. It said “Class of `61,” a pilot he produced years ago that never made it. Simon’s staffers were impressed with what a regular person Spielberg is. “He’s the kind of guy you’d like to go on a camping trip with,” said Simon’s press secretary David Carle.
B-movie: John Hughes’ next project: “The Bee,” a movie that’s scheduled to be shot here in the fall. The story has a man’s quiet day at home destroyed by a determined bee. Two especially noteworthy items: It’s Hughes’ first project with Disney Studios and there are only 10 pages of dialogue.
Perking along: Phenomenally successful Starbuck’s coffee, which went from 50 to 425 stores in five years, could be facing a challenge if it goes to Italy with new plans to become international. The Starbuck’s concept is Italian. Company officials say they think European coffee standards have declined in recent years, however.
INC.lings: Plans by Action Packed trading cards in Itasca to do a set showing everyone who’s announced ABC-TV Monday night football games-including O.J. Simpson-have been scrapped. . . . Wednesday birthdays: Elizabeth Dole, 58; Gary Busey, 50; Ruth Warrick, 78; Don Dokken, 41; Fred Grandy, 46; Chuck Schaden, 60. . . . Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s newest member, Mario Zambrano, performs Thursday at the White House as one of 20 artists named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. . . . Prince Felipe de Borbon of Spain, with an entourage of 20 that included three ministers, toured the Museum of Science & Industry’s “Journey Through Spain” exhibit after this week’s World Cup game.
Oops: Faye Dunaway’s now being called “Dun Fadeaway” after Andrew Lloyd Weber decided to close his “Sunset Boulevard” in L.A. rather than have the actress replace Glenn Close.