Gov's pals talking about The Blago probe . . .

Pssst! Disclosures influential lobbyist John Wyma is cooperating with the feds in their probe of Gov. Blagojevich's administration come as no surprise to Sneed.

•   •   Consider this item Sneed wrote on March 11, 2003:

"No more business as usual?

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

•   •   Translation: Sneed hears Gov. Blago's closest cadre of friends and fund-raisers are reportedly out selling their 'skills' in a big way.

•   •   Rumble is the gov's pal, Washington, D.C., lobbyist John Wyma, is reportedly offering his services to Wall Street firms for megabucks, and word is super fund-raiser pals Chris Kelly and Tony Rezko are letting financial, construction and other state service providers know they have access to the governor, don'tchaknow.

•   •   The big question: Does any of this maneuvering have anything to do with the 10 BILLION dollar plus  pension financing that is being considered? Nawwwwwww.

Let's hope everyone is registered in accordance with the state ethics laws. Right?"

Sneed hears Wyma, who was Blago's chief of staff when Blago was in Congress, also has a close relationship with President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, whose congressional seat is up for grabs.

•   •   Hmmm: Sneed is told Blago, who maintains he has done nothing wrong, tells sources he does not believe Wyma made any incriminating recordings. Wyma now opens another door into Blagojevich's inner circle.

Sneed is told state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is so intent on running for governor that he spoke with former Gov. Jim Thompson and former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley, who has also eyed a run for gov. (Sneed hears Daley's interest is now lukewarm).

•   •   Shooting hoops: Giannoulias, who was looking for tips in the political court, is also a member of Obama's inner circle on the basketball court.

$$$$$$: The economy's bad? You'd never know it at Leslie Hindman's jewelry auction house Thursday, where a 6.4-carat diamond ring sold for $120,000. A light yellow diamond ring also sold for $150,400.

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger just made an important executive decision: "I've decided I'm not buying the Tribune any more."

•   •   Translation: Stroger's beef is with the Chicago Tribune editorial board, which publishes an online "sales tax clock" tracking how long it's been since the county board raised sales taxes. He also doesn't like the Trib's countdown to his 2010 re-election bid.

•   •   The buckshot: Stroger told pals, "I'm telling my wife she's going to have find another crossword puzzle."

Rockin' mad! Kid Rock is upset he won't be granted community service hours for his upcoming USO show in the Middle East.

•   •   Explanation: Kid Rock, sentenced to 80 hours of community service for a scuffle at a Georgia waffle house, figured performing for a group of soldiers is community service. There ya go.

Actor Armand Assante, dining Monday at Alex Dana's Rosebud on Rush and talking about the Joliet prison, where he shot scenes for "Chicago Overcoat."

Today's birthdays: Larry Bird, 52; Tom Waits, 59, and Ellen Burstyn, 76. . . Monday's birthdays: Kim Basinger, 55; Ricky Hendon, 55; David Carradine, 72; and Sinead O'Connor, 44.