Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group (HCRG), led by Grant DePorter, has proven to be one of Chicago’s most dynamic and successful restaurant management companies. The enterprise currently operates eight restaurants and an off-premise catering company. HCRG opened its first restaurant, Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in Chicago’s River North neighborhood in 1987. The restaurant has since become a Chicago legend, and now offers additional locations in Rosemont and Lombard. Also located in Lombard, adjacent to Harry Caray’s, is Holy Mackerel!, HCRG’s fresh seafood concept. In 2008, HCRG found a long-awaited home in Wrigleyville, when it opened Harry Caray’s Tavern, a more casual version of the original Harry Caray’s. HCRG expanded its presence in Wrigleyville in 2009 with the opening of the Captain Morgan Club at Wrigley Field. A second Harry Caray's Tavern opened on Navy Pier in March 2010.

The Continental Basketball Association is the grand daddy of pro hoops worldwide. The CBA, founded in 1946, is the oldest professional basketball league in the world, predating the NBA by just a few months. Considered minor league play, the CBA fields ten teams, located primarily in the Midwestern US with names like the Albany (New York) Patroons, Atlanta Krunk, and the Minot (North Dakota) Skyrockets. Most CBA players try to use the league as a launching pad into the NBA, about 600 have succeeded. It also serves as the training ground for officials and coaches who want to make the jump to the big leagues.The CBA is the "World's Oldest League," dating its origins back to April 23, 1946, when it was called the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League (1946-47). The league began with six franchises - five in Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Allentown, Lancaster and Reading) and a sixth team in New York (Binghamton, who later moved in mid-season to Pottsville, Pa.). In 1948, it was renamed the Eastern Professional Basketball League. Over the years, it would later add franchises in several other Pennsylvania cities, including Williamsport, Scranton and Sunbury, as well as place teams in New Jersey (Trenton, Camden, Asbury Park), Connecticut (New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport), Delaware (Wilmington) and Massachusetts (Springfield).

Coyotes Hockey owns and operates the Phoenix Coyotes professional hockey franchise, which plays host at Jobing.com Arena in the suburb of Glendale, Arizona. The team was originally known as the Winnipeg Jets and started playing in the fledgling World Hockey League in 1972. After joining the National Hockey League in 1979, the Jets moved to the Arizona desert in 1996. The NHL purchased the team out of bankruptcy in 2009 from a group led by trucking magnate Jerry Moyes, founder and owner of Swift Transportation, and hockey great Wayne Gretzky.

Casino bars may keep the booze flowing, but Money Centers of America ensures the gamblers stay liquid. Money Centers of America, Inc. develops and manufactures cash management and transaction systems including ATMs and check cashing stations designed for use by casino operators. Money Centers of America, Inc. provides hardware and services to 18 casino operations in a half dozen states. Chairman, president, and CEO Christopher Wolfington owns about 60% of the company.

The Milwaukee Bucks professional basketball franchise joined the National Basketball Association in 1968 and earned a championship title just three years later with the help of Hall of Fame player Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). The team has made one other appearance in the NBA Finals in 1974. Hometown fans support the Bucks at Milwaukee's aging Bradley Center. Local businessmen Wesley Pavalon and Marvin Fishman were originally awarded the basketball franchise. Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl, whose family started the Kohl's department store chain, has owned the Bucks since 1985.

Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box® restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 18 states. Additionally, through a wholly owned subsidiary, the company operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill®, a leader in fast-casual dining, with more than 500 restaurants in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

John Huxley (Casino Equipment) Limited sells a variety of casino equipment, gaming tables, supplies, security systems, and other items including an aroma diffusion system to help casinos cement their brand with scent. Its divisions include live gaming, electronic gaming, gaming systems and security, and automated products that include chip sorters, displays, and a black jack dealing machine. It also offers casino design software. John Huxley (Casino Equipment) Limited, which sells its wares worldwide, has offices and factories in London, Buenos Aires, Toronto, Johannesburg, Sydney, and Macao. Chairman Bertil Knutsson, via his Swedish firm Pata-Pata AB, owns John Huxley.

In 1980, inspired after a trip to the US, a Frenchman named Christian Picart opened an American-style family steakhouse with a Wild West theme south of Paris. Buffalo Grill now has more than 300 restaurants across Europe that serve affordable steaks along with such dishes as bison steaks, chicken wings, and ostrich meat. (Since it's France, there's still a cheese plate.) The restaurants are designed to resemble saloons of the American Old West, complete with oil lamps, totem poles, and wait staff dressed like cowboys. The family-friendly atmosphere even offers a game room for children. Colyzeo, a joint venture between investment firm Eurazeo and US-based Colony Capital took Buffalo Grill private in 2007.

The Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America serves as a collective and unified voice of a collection of member racetracks in order to promote thoroughbred racing. It also advises member tracks on legislative matters and statistics and related racing information. The organization (which is made up of 49 member racing associations operating 43 racetracks in the US and Canada) was formed in 1942.

After many dark and dreary seasons, the Ravens no longer just ponder a Super Bowl victory. Named in honor of the Edgar Allan Poe poem, the Baltimore Ravens Limited Partnership owns and operates Baltimore's National Football League franchise, which won its first Super Bowl following the 2000 season. The team was created in 1996 when former Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell relocated his franchise to Maryland. As part of the deal, Modell agreed to give up all rights to the Browns' name, colors, and history. The team plays host at M&T Bank Stadium. Stephen Bisciotti, a local businessman who founded staffing firm Allegis Group, acquired control of the team from Modell in 2004.

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