Chicago Sun-Times: A top tip . . .

Mayor Daley and his chief financial officer, Walter Knorr, confirmed Sneed's item Tuesday that the city is exploring the possibility of privatizing the Chicago Skyway under a 20-plus-year deal patterned after similar moves involving a Toronto tollway and Detroit's Windsor tunnel.

*But, the cash infusion, if there is one, is at least a year away.

A Mullen memo . . .

Word is hero cop Jim Mullen, who was shot and paralyzed in the line of duty in 1996, is being treated for complications of his injuries at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Mullen, a paraplegic, is suffering from pneumonia and liver problems, which may have been caused by medication.

Casino chat . . .

In case you are interested, Michael Jordan plays two-handed blackjack.

Casino chat II . . .

Sneed hears rumbles Rosemont Mayor Don Stephens not only believes his Rosemont casino deal is this/close to dead . . . he's been looking for ways to recoup the $40 million his town has invested in the land purchase and construction of a mega parking lot built for casino customers.

Deep throat . . .

Gargle. Gargle. John Dean, the former White House counsel who helped bring down the Nixon White House during the Watergate scandal, claims he knows the identity of "Deep Throat" . . . the source who tipped off Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

*To wit: Dean is planning to publish the identity online June 17 on Salon.com, which just happens to be the 30th anniversary of the Watergate Hotel break-in.

Zzzzzzzzzzzz.

I spy . . .

Radio host Steve Dahl dined at Magnum's Prime Steakhouse in Lombard Tuesday night and eschewed dining magnum size. . . . Drowning their sorrows: Blackhawks players Eric Daze, Tony Amonte, Steve Sullivan and Boris Mironov stopped by the White Star Lounge Friday after their loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Le divorce . . .

Brit film producer James Ivory cast stars for his new film "Le Divorce" with typecasting-type backgrounds.

Translation: It features actress Kate Hudson, whose parents Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson are divorced.

Ditto the parents of actress Naomi Watts. The film also stars twice divorced Glenn Close and veteran actress Leslie Caron, who has been split thrice.

By the way, the film is a comedy. Oh, hahahaaaaaaaaa.

Spear 'em . . .

Singer Britney Spears has reportedly taken extra-special security precautions since Sept. 11. ASneed snoop claims that when she meets with record execs, hangers-on and/or winners of promotional contests before her shows, she makes them go through airport metal detectors and will not shake anyone's hand.

She stands there, lets people see her and then walks out.

Sneedlings . . .

Kudos to Cook County Commissioner Pete Silvestri, along with 20 volunteers, who grabbed a bag and spent last weekend cleaning up sections of the Schiller Woods forest preserve. . . . Condolences to the family of PR guru David Gilbert on the death of his beloved mother, May Lucille Gilbert, who died Tuesday at the age of 91. . . . Today's birthdays: Bianca Jagger, 57; Lesley Gore, 56; Larry Gatlin, 54; Christine Baranski, 50; Theodore Bikel, 78; Donatella Versace, 47, and Olympic gold medal figure skater Sarah Hughes, 17.

Watch for "Sneed's People" Wednesdays during WBBM-Channel 2's 4:30 p.m. newscast with Tracy Townsend and Vince Gerasole.