WBEZ | Cubs

City, Cubs push $500 million Wrigley renovation

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:09:00 -0500

The Chicago Cubs and the city have agreed on details of a $500 million facelift for Wrigley Field, including an electronic video screen that is nearly three times as large as the one currently atop the centerfield bleachers of the 99-year-old ballpark.

Under terms of the agreement, the Cubs would also be able to increase the number of night games at Wrigley Field from 30 to 40 — or nearly half the games played there each season. They would give Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts the ability to renovate the second-oldest park in the major leagues, boost business and perhaps make baseball's most infamous losers competitive again.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel hailed what the two sides called a "framework" agreement in a joint statement issued Sunday night, noting that it includes no taxpayer funding. That had been one of the original requests of the Ricketts family in a long-running renovation dispute that at times involved everything from cranky ballpark neighbors to ward politics and even the re-election campaign of President Barack Obama.

"This framework allows the Cubs to restore the Friendly Confines (of Wrigley) and pursue their economic goals, while respecting the rights and quality of life of its neighbors," Emanuel said.

Still uncertain was how the agreement will sit with owners of nearby buildings who provide rooftop views of the ball games under an agreement with the Cubs that goes back years. They have threatened to sue if the renovations obstruct their view, which they claim would drive them out of business.

On Monday, a spokesman for the rooftop owners said the group would have a statement later, but in the meantime referred the AP to the group's statement released earlier this month that says: "Any construction that interrupts the rooftop views will effectually drive them out of business and be challenged in a court of law."

The Cubs said the video screen they are proposing to build is 6,000 square feet, and would be built with "minimal impact on rooftops with whom (the) Cubs have an agreement." The current centerfield scoreboard is slightly more than 2,000 square feet; the Cubs also have plans to add a left-field sign of 1,000 square feet.

"Rooftop views are largely preserved," the team said in its announcement. "The Cubs have agreed to install only two signs in the outfield — a videoboard in left field and a sign in right field. This is far less than our original desire for seven signs to help offset the cost of ballpark restoration."

The signs offer the team a chance to reach new advertising deals and pay for the overhaul, even if it might change the character of the historic park. The city and club said they hope the agreement would allow the Cubs to obtain necessary city approvals for the work by the end of the current season.

The Ricketts family, which bought the Cubs in 2009 for $845 million, initially sought tax funding for renovation plans. With that out in the new agreement, the owners will seek to open new revenue streams outside the stadium. Under the agreement, the Ricketts family would be allowed to build a 175-room hotel, a plaza, and an office building with retail space and a health club, and provide 1,000 "remote" parking spots that will be free and come with shuttle service.

"We are anxious to work with our community as we seek the approvals required to move the project forward," Ricketts said in the statement.

The site of Babe Ruth's "called shot" home run in the 1932 World Series and more heartbreak than Cubs fans would like to remember, Wrigley Field is younger only than Boston's Fenway Park in the majors. It has long been a treasured showplace for baseball purists — night games were only added in 1988 — but team officials for years have desperately wanted a true upgrade, saying it costs as much as $15 million a year just to keep up with basic repairs.

The ballpark has also played no small part in the lore of the team, as fans were reminded April 10 when someone delivered a goat's head in a box addressed to Ricketts. Neither the team nor the Chicago Police Department have talked about a possible motive for the strange delivery, but as every fan knows it was in the 1945 World Series when a tavern owner arrived at the park with his pet goat — which had a ticket.

According to legend, the owner was told the goat smelled and was denied entry. The angry tavern owner then put the "Curse of the Billy Goat" on the Cubs — and the team has not been back to the World Series since. The last World Series championship for the Cubs came in 1908 — six years before Wrigley was built.

After failing to reach an agreement when Mayor Richard Daley was in office, the Ricketts family kept talking after Emanuel took office in 2011. But even presidential politics presented an obstacle for the plans at one point.

During the 2012 election, the patriarch of the Ricketts family, which created the TD Ameritrade brokerage firm, was considering a $10 million campaign against Obama that would refer to the racially incendiary sermons delivered by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright at a Chicago church the president once attended. J. Joseph Ricketts dropped the proposal, but the episode brought a huge dose of unwanted bad press and angered Emanuel, Obama's former White House chief of staff.

In recent weeks, fans also had to deal with the unlikely specter of the Cubs leaving Chicago. With the talks bogged down, the mayor of nearby Rosemont piped up, saying the village located near O'Hare International Airport would be willing to let the Cubs have 25 acres free of charge to build a replica of Wrigley Field.

Baseball honors Jackie Robinson

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:00:00 -0500

Baseball is a game of numbers, but today there is only one that is important: 42. Major League Baseball in 2004 designated April 15 as the annual celebration of Jackie Robinson’s first appearance as a Brooklyn Dodger.

Sixteen years ago, Robinson’s number was officially retired by the MLB. It's one of the most distinctive tributes to what he did for baseball and society. Part of the celebration includes all players, coaches and managers wearing the number 42 on their jerseys as all of baseball honors the man who bravely became the first African-American player in MLB.

Since the Cubs are off today, they will honor Robinson tomorrow night when they host the Texas Rangers. Two Hall of Fame Cubs will be part of pre-game ceremonies: Ernie Banks and Billy Williams. Banks was the first African-American to play for the Northsiders and considered Robinson as a mentor. Williams joined the major leagues shortly after Robinson and Banks.

Hollywood is also spotlighting Robinson with the recently released movie 42: The True Story of an American Legend.

It's not the first cinematic version of the icon's story. In 1950, Robinson starred in the biographical film, The Jackie Robinson Story. There have also been three television versions of his story and a Broadway production about his life and legacy. The timing of the recent biography will help younger generations be aware and informed about the difficulties that Robinson, and to some extent Dodger executive Branch Rickey, went through to break the color barrier in baseball. It was a defining moment not just for sports, but a reflection on the racial divide in America.

Cubs players Dave Sappelt, Scott Hairston and hitting coach James Rowson reflected on Robinson's legacy.

This is Sappelt’s first time celebrating Robinson in the major leagues. He recalled his grandparents telling him stories about the famed player. However, the Cubs outfielder remarked the sport's racial struggles lasted decades beyond that 1947 season. Sappelt believes wearing the 42 jersey will show appreciation to Robinson and the others who followed and played the game the right way under tremendous pressure.

Tomorrow will also be a first for Rowsan. In his first full season as a major league coach, Rowsan says wearing 42 is “a great level of honor.” Even though the league celebrates Jackie Robinson once a year, Rowsan says he and other African Americans celebrate everyday they step on a baseball field. Growing up in New York, he said he learned the lessons of that era from his father.

Hairston comes from a long line of baseball players. He and his brother Jerry Jr. followed in their father Jerry and Uncle John’s footsteps and they were preceded by Sam Hairston, who played in the Negro Leagues with Robinson. Hairston said Robinson may not have been the best player from the Negro League, but he was the best to withstand the challenges of breaking the color barrier. Hairston said it is “mind blowing” to think about Robinson being the only black player that first year.

As a young man, Hairston heard stories from his grandfather about the problems players in the Negro League dealt with on the road. Hotels often turned them away, forcing players to sleep on buses. But Hairston said his grandfather never lost the love for the game. And he says players should never lose that appreciation of what those players went through. With two young sons age 5 and 7, Hairston had murals of Sam Hairston in action painted on their bedroom walls. Tuesday night, Hairston says he will think of his grandfather as he and the rest of baseball honor Jackie Robinson.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame

Wrigley Field-Chicago's gem needs some polish

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 15:22:00 -0500

All the chatter surrounding the future of Wrigley Field is almost smothering Opening Day and the ballpark. Let the politicians, the Ricketts family and the neighborhood slug it out and figure the steps of what will happen to this iconic stadium next.

After this year the face lift will begin in earnest. It is needed and will be welcomed by players, managers and the media. There have been some subtle changes as the park nears its 100^th year, but it is still a place where the Cubs and the fans celebrate the game of baseball.

When the Chicago Tribune bought the team thirty years ago from the Wrigley family, they had a huge obstacle to face with their plans for the park. After a long, losing history, the Cubs made the 1984 playoffs, but the lack of lights became a rallying cry by team ownership. Major league baseball penalized the Cubs post season schedule against the San Diego Padres because they couldn't play night games. After the Illinois legislature finally gave the green light to the team, Wrigley Field finally turned on the lights in August, 1988. The first scheduled lit game was supposed to be August 8, 1988, but Mother Nature had her own idea, and rain postponed the game, so the actual first game under the lights was the next night, August 9th.

The uniqueness of this old ballpark is what makes it special to baseball fans, not just Cub fans. Boston’s Fenway Park is the only baseball stadium that shares similar feelings for its field, structure and surroundings. Having been to both venues, the “Friendly Confines” gets the nod from me. But only to watch the game, the amenities need to be replaced and upgraded. The very small locker room for both the home team and visitors is one of the toughest to navigate. A bad rain can cascade into the dugouts and into the Cubs locker room. The media room for interview sessions behind the dugout is very cramped. It was priceless when former Cub Lou Pinella stepped into the room for his first press conference there, he couldn’t believe it was that small. It was just one of many aspects of the old park he discovered would be an adjustment for him and any manager before and after.

Do you ever wonder why the managers are perched by the steps in the dugout? Their vision of the field is limited because of the deepness of the dugout.

The press box and broadcast booths are the smallest in all of the Major Leagues. It is always fun to hear the New York Yankee contingent come to Wrigley Field and complain about the working conditions and their seats. From their broadcasters to the working media, they gripe from the time they get there until the time they leave. Somehow they fault the Cubs staff for the conditions, and they think they can magically fix it.

These are some of the negative issues about Wrigley and there are more, but let’s not dwell on it.

Here are some of the positives, the big manual scoreboard, the green ivy on the brick wall and the closeness to the field. If you are lucky enough to sit in the first row near the bullpens or near the on-deck circle, you can have conversations with the players and the sometimes the manager. It is Gary Pressey playing the organ and the celebrity-led 7^th inning stretch (In my opinion, should be retired).

The bleachers are a special place in the ballpark and probably the most famous, as well as the favorite place for fans. You can rub elbows with regulars that have sat there for decades. Legendary broadcaster Harry Caray would broadcast from there. That area and the people that inhabited those seats were immortalized in the 1977 play, Bleacher Bums. Chicago native actor Joe Mantegna hatched the idea for the play and starred in the original production with another Chicagoan, Dennis Farina.

The Cub teams that have played year in and year out have not had the ultimate success at Wrigley. The last time they played in a World Series was 1945, and they lost, of course, to the Detroit Tigers. The famed 1969 team thrilled the Cub faithful throughout that year, only to fade at the end. Four members of that team made the Hall of Fame - Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins and Ron Santo. There were several other players that enjoyed great careers at Wrigley, most recently, Ryne Sandberg,Andre Dawson and Sammy Sosa come to mind. There hasn't been much of a post season throughout the last few decades, the 2003 season being the closest the team has come recently. Five outs away and the world stood still as a foul ball changed the complexion of that playoff series. Wrigley Field never felt so down.

Even after losing 100 games last season, the park is still a place for baseball fans to congregate. My dear friend, Sue, lives in England, and when she makes her way “over the pond," Wrigley Field is a coveted stop no matter how the team in playing.

Years ago I brought my favorite uncle to a game. I surprised him with a chance to go on the field and have his picture taken by team photographer Steve Green. Wrigley is one of the only places that can make grown people cry. My uncle certainly did that day.

It's Opening Day at Wrigley, with the Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers facing off this afternoon. I'll be there along with thousands of others.

Chicago White Sox and Cubs start strong, Bulls and Blackhawks wind down

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:00:00 -0500

Sox starters shine

The first week of the season is peppered with mostly day games because of the time of year. The White Sox opening day was a sell-out and the seats were filled despite the frigid temperatures.

The next two games, both played in the afternoon, had sparse crowds. The Sox won the first two games against Kansas City with solid starting pitching (and the long ball) in that series. Yesterday they dropped the series finale 3-1 to the Royals. Sox starter Gavin Floyd gave up three runs. One was unearned. The offense was pretty much handcuffed by Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie and the bullpen.

Sox starters Chris Sale, Jake Peavy and Floyd had good outings. Tyler Flowers boasted the game winning solo homer in the opener and another home run in game 2. Sox fans will be following Flowers progress since he replaced AJ Pierzynski. The Sox defense was a bit shoddy the past two games. The weather may get the blame for now. Tonight the Southsiders host the Seattle Mariners, the first of three games at U.S. Cellular Field.

Cubs’ cold offense

There were a ton of empty seats in Pittsburgh, where the Cubs had success against the Pirates. They took two out of three, including a 3-2 win in yesterday afternoon’s series finale. Cubs lefty Travis Wood had a nice outing for his first start of the year. Wood shut out the Pirates for six innings and gave up just one hit before turning the game over to the bullpen.

The question was on the back end, as Carlos Marmol almost squandered away a 3-0 lead and was aided by a double play to end the game. Just like the weather, the offense was cold for both teams.

After a weekend series in Atlanta, the Cubs will have their home opener Monday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. The Chicago Sun Times is reporting a deal has been worked out for the rehabbing of the ballpark with the city, team and neighborhood. According to the report, the agreement will be announced on Monday. Nothing is for certain until the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed.

Bulls beat Nets

What can you say about the Bulls? They came back to beat the Nets in Brooklyn 92-90? Carlos Boozer put the depleted Bulls team on his back and scored 29 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. It was an incredible effort considering Taj Gibson re-injured his knee and joins the long list of injured players on this Bulls squad.

Tom Thibodeau’s team had to claw and scratch to dig out of a 16 point deficit and held on to beat a team they may meet in the playoffs. After the win, the Bulls climbed up to the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference. The Nets are in the fourth spot. The standings are still fluid with a handful of games left. Tomorrow the Bulls return to the United Center to play the Orlando Magic.

Blackhawks lose to Blues

Last night at the United Center, the Blackhawks lost in a shoot-out to the St. Louis Blues 4-3. The Hawks did pick up a point and remain on top of the NHL with 58 total points this season.

The Hawks may be concerned with giving up a leads in the third period. They had a 2-1 advantage going into the final period and the Blues were able to score twice against Corey Crawford. With less than five minutes left, Viktor Stalberg tied up the game for the Hawks with his seventh goal of the season. However, in the shoot-out the Blues outscored the Hawks 4-3.

There are only a dozen regular season games left on the schedule the Blackhawks. Thoughts of the playoffs are getting closer and at least Marian Hossa returned from his injury and Patrick Sharp is expected back soon. Next up, an away and home series against Nashville this weekend.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame

Baseball's Opening Day is more than a game

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:00:00 -0500

Baseball's Opening Day is a very nostalgic day in sports. Baseball is a sport that you talk about the past almost as much as the present. If you are a White Sox fan, you are excited to see Chris Sale taking the mound this afternoon against the Kansas City Royals at US Cellular. Fans that cheer for the Cubs hope they see a better team on the field as they start on the road in Pittsburgh this year. Many people will take the time today to think about the first time they went to Wrigley Field or Comiskey Park (now US Cellular). Baseball is a sport that embodies memories past and recent; many families make their favorite team a part of their family legacy.

Maybe it was a father, mother, or a grandparent who instilled the love or probably a passion for the game and a team. People get engaged at baseball games. There is someone I know who will be asked today at the Sox game. Weddings have been performed at baseball stadiums. How many times have you heard about a bachelor party starting at either of Chicago's ballparks? U.S. Cellular provided the backdrop for the bachelor party for the movie, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and Cubs owner Tom Rickets met his wife in the Wrigley Field bleachers. People even scatter the cremated remains of their loved ones on the grass of their beloved ballparks. It isn’t an act condoned by teams, but somehow people try, especially when large groups get to march around the park, where Grandma or Grandpa's ashes may be secretly distributed .

Baseball and ballpark experiences have gone through many changes, some have been good and some have you missing the “good ole days” at Cubs and Sox games.

A favorite greeting as you walk into the park is from a vendor yelling, "Get your scorecards" it is the only sport that you buy a scorecard (and a pencil, of course). Sadly, you don't see as many people in the stands scoring at a ball game anymore. It is still done in the press box and the broadcast booth. Now you can go on the internet and have up-to-date scoring information. Years ago, score cards were your proof that you were at a game and if something special happened, such as a no-hitter or 20 K's by Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, that card would be a treasured keepsake. I know several people who love the game so much they score games from home. Once I was preparing to broadcast a Sunday night sports talk show, and I scored a Sox-Baltimore game where Sox lefty Wilson Alvarez threw a no-hitter.

Baseball is one of the best radio sports that fill the airwaves, it is a sport that can be beautifully depicted by some of the best broadcasters. We know the names; Vince Scully, Ernie Harwell, Vince Lloyd, Bob Elson, John Rooney and Pat Hughes just to name a few. There is nothing better than taking a long drive with a baseball game playing on your car radio. In the past, transistor radios were the instrument of choice to listen to a ballgame, even while sitting in the stands. Now televisions are perched throughout ballparks, and people standing in a concession line can still see the action.

There are no longer scheduled double-headers, Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Labor Day were assured a double-dip of baseball. Who could forget Ernie Banks' famous line, "Let's play two." They still can happen because of a rain-out, but parks are now cleared after the first, so a paying crowd enters for the second.

Players salaries used to be unknown, most players had to work in the off-season since they were not making the millions they are in today's game. Now a player's salary gets as much attention as his stats.

Baseball may not be the same as it was ten, twenty or thirty years ago, but it is still a game of hitting, pitching and defense. For the sake of argument, let’s hope the steroid-era has passed. There is no doubt that modern medicine, with job saving procedures and fitness programs have allowed players to play baseball more fit and recover from injuries better.

Today is one of the best days in sports, in my opinion. It begins when the umpire says, “Play ball.”

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame

What does 2013 look like for the Cubs and White Sox?

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 06:00:00 -0500

Both the White Sox and the Cubs have left Arizona and played their final spring training games. Opening Day is Monday with all its splendor and hopes that the day brings for baseball fans. Here are some news and notes about the impending 2013 season.

New Faces for the Cubs

The one major free agent signing by the Cubs was often-traded pitcher Edwin Jackson. The 29-year-old right hand starter inked a 4-year, $54 million contract. Jackson had “a cup of coffee” with the White Sox a few years ago and will pitch plenty of innings for second year manager Dale Sveum.

Veteran Japanese closer Kyuji Fujikawa will be part of the bullpen. The Cubs signed the 32-year old pitcher for need and to possibly replace Carlos Marmol if he is traded. Of course, if the team tanks this year, Fujikawa may have trade value at the deadline.

In right field, the Cubs brought in Nate Schierholtz with a one year deal. He played for Philadelphia and San Francisco.

The Cubs also signed a few veterans to the pitching staff: Scott Baker (former Twin), Carlos Villanueva (former Blue Jay/Brewer) and Scott Feldman (former Ranger). Baker’s surgically repaired elbow flared up in his first spring training appearance. The Cubs are expected to shut him down for at least a month. Feldman was a reliever that converted to a starter six years ago.

Trying to stabilize the young starting catcher Welington Castillo, the Cubs brought in eight-year veteran Dioner Navarro.

Cubs departures

It was sayonara to Bryan LaHair. Last year he was an All-Star player who lost his starting job to Anthony Rizzo. He is now in Japan. The team also parted ways with third base coach Pat Listach.

Front and center for the Cubs

Wrigley Field issues will loom over this team until an agreement is made between the team, neighborhood and the city.
On the field, the Cubs will try to avoid a hundred losses and continue the path to success with young players in the Cubs' minor leagues. Darwin Barney’s play at second earned him a Gold Glove in 2012; shortstop Starlin Castro hopes to improve on his defense too.
The Cubs front office signed many stop gap players to try to have a competitive team.
Despite what his critics think, Alfonso Soriano has proven to be a leader and did produce very solid numbers at the plate.
The star in the making is first baseman Anthony Rizzo. He has all the tools.
Pitcher Matt Garza strained his left side but is expected to improve soon. Garza could be an important to help the club on the mound or a deal.
Opening Day starter Jeff Samardzija needs to remain consistent.
Unfortunately for the Cubs this year, Houston is now in the American League. The NL Central cellar may be where the Cubs may finish.

New Faces for the White Sox

The biggest change came in the front office. Rick Hahn is now the team’s general manager as Ken Williams moves up the ladder. Hahn didn’t make any wholesale moves. He did re-sign Jake Peavy to an extension. To fill a hole left by the departure of Kevin Youkilis (we barely got to know you), Hahn signed former Tampa Bay third baseman Jeff Keppinger to a three-year deal. He is a career .288 hitter. Keppinger makes contact and does not strike out. He is just getting back into action after injuring his shoulder during training camp.

Just before spring training, the Sox acquired 25-year-old third baseman Conor Gillespie from San Francisco. He has been fighting all spring to make the roster.

One more new face with the Southsiders is actually a familiar face: Bobby Thigpen. The former White Sox closer has been working with the minor league teams. He will now handle the bullpen duties after Juan Nieves departed to become the Red Sox pitching coach.

White Sox departures

Catcher and most hated player in baseball, AJ Pierzynski is now a Texas Ranger. Phillip Humber (remember he had a perfect game) pitches for Houston and third baseman Kevin Youkilis signed with the New York Yankees (not a big loss since he really didn’t want to be here).

Front and center for the White Sox

Last year under rookie manager Robin Ventura the team flourished and was competitive all year. The club ran out of gas, they had many young inexperience players that were tired at season’s end. Also a so-so bench hurt them.
Alejandro DeAza developed into a nice lead-off hitter and played well in center field.
The young guns in the bullpen were a real strength: Nate Jones, Hector Santiago and Addison Reed. They learned quickly in the majors. With Matt Thorton, Matt Lindstrom and Jesse Crain (he is dealing with right adductor strain) the bullpen can be one of the best.
John Danks will begin the season on the DL as he continues to recover from his shoulder surgery.
Dylan Axelrod will be given an opportunity in the rotation.

If Jake Peavy, pitching phenom Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Gavin Floyd (and eventually Danks) stay healthy and produce, the Sox have a chance in the competitive AL Central. The bats of Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko and Alex Rios must anchor the offense. AJ’s replacement Tyler Flowers is a better receiver behind the plate, it is yet to be determined if he can produce at the plate.

The White Sox may be bridesmaids to the Detroit Tigers again, but they should be a factor.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame

Cubs may have leverage with the lure to Rosemont-it worked for others

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:00:00 -0500

Rosemont Cubbies.

It doesn't roll off the tongue very well.

But it has to be a consideration as Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens is making a generous offer to the Cubs and its owner, Tom Ricketts, to acquire 25 acres of land.

The team should at the very least feign interest. Because it may bolster ongoing negotiations for Wrigley Field and the rooftop owners.

It is all politics. And all the fans can do is sit back and watch it unfold. It would not be the first time a Chicago team has tried and to some extent succeeded in using the suburbs and other locations to move.

Thirty-eight years ago, Bears owner, George Halas – unhappy with Soldier Field – allegedly had serious talks with Arlington Heights to move the team to the northwest suburbs.

The location near Arlington Park race track was more than appealing. With a train station and Route 53 at the doorstep, it was an idle location. A couple of obstacles killed the effort (high bond rate was one).

There was also the famous rant from Mayor Richard J. Daley, telling Halas the name Chicago would not be allowed for the Bears if they left the city.

It would be curious if the name topic has come up at City Hall about the Cubs. Would Mayor Rahm Emanuel make that same demand on if the Cubs took their bat and ball and move to Rosemont?

Papa Halas would threaten to move to South Bend, Ind., and Evanston before inking a long term leasing deal for Soldier Field.

As the years went by, the team was still not satisfied with their deal or the condition of the stadium. The public didn’t see the huge cracks in the foundation and the other problems of the lake front venue. Picking up with where his grandfather left off, Bears owner President Michael McCaskey had a land option in Roselle and tried again in Arlington Heights.

Other locations included Hoffman Estates, Warrenville and near O’Hare Airport. The zinger by Mayor Richard M. Daley was a good one: “They can go to Alaska.” Not having political allies thwarted those threats for the Bears. The team was rescued by Bears President Ted Phillips after he was able to hammer out a deal with the Chicago political forces that had eluded McCaskey, finally Soldier Field was renovated and reopened in 2003.

The team may well have earned political capital when they back-stepped from seeking city financing for Wrigley renovations.

However, their political fight is with 44th Ward Ald. Tom Tunney — and wrangling with the rooftop owners is now the main event. Tunney suggested on Wednesday to get rid of Wrigley’s scoreboard was one of the lamest ideas to date.

On the South Side of Chicago, the White Sox threat to move to various locations was legendary, Milwaukee, Seattle and Addison. The one location that was minutes from actual coming to fruition was the move to Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida. Many of us were hunkered down in the press box on June 30, 1988, waiting for the Illinois legislature to vote. The deadline was midnight, at 12:03 a.m., Gov. Jim Thompson strong armed enough votes to keep the Sox in Chicago and get a new stadium.

There is no doubt the man that can come to the rescue for the Cubs is Mayor Rahm Emanuel, he could play the same role as Thompson did for the Sox.

Meanwhile, the Cubs should use the threat of a move to shake the reality of the situation to the city and the Wrigleyville neighborhood. Do the Cubs need the city and the nearly one hundred year old stadium to retain popularity? Or would a move to the ‘burbs with a new stadium near a hub of expressways and public transportation with the opportunity to make millions more dollars in revenue be intoxicating to the Ricketts and the Cubs?

The team’s deadline for a deal is coming soon-Opening Day-April 1^st no fooling.

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Is it time to rethink Wrigley's 7th inning stretch routine?

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 06:00:00 -0600

Does anyone really care who is singing the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley anymore? The Cubs think the fans care. But I have yet to hear one person say they are going to Wrigley for the stretch.

When Harry Caray sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" it was part of the experience at Clark and Addison. Now you get the occasional interesting celebrity, former player or coach to belt out the baseball tune. Sometimes a performance gets national attention. W(ho could forget Mike Ditka’s rendition in 2008?) In between, there are many uninteresting performers.

The club says it is going to be more selective about who gets in the booth for the 81 home games. The singer will have connections to the city and be more familiar with the Cubs and the Harry Caray tradition.

Will the possible candidates have to take a test, or maybe a Cubs 101 class? (Not because of the 101 losses). Can you imagine if you don't pass the class or fail the test? That would be full humiliation. But then again, some of the singing that has gone on in the booth can embarrass them too.

What questions should a potential 7th inning stretch candidate answer?

- Can you name the beer that Harry Caray endorsed?

- Can you name the Cubs Opening Day starting line-up for either the 1969 or the 2008 teams?

- Can you produce at least ten ticket stubs or scorecards for games you have attended?

- If you don't have the items from #3, how about getting a sworn affidavit from family or from bars around Wrigley that you are indeed a fan?

- Do you own at least one worn-out Cubs hat, shirt or jacket?

- Do you proof of having a Chicago residency for more than a year?

- What does it mean when the “L” sign is hoisted in the outfield? (Any true Cub fan would know that answer.)

Of course, a shoo-in for a singing spot would be reciting all the present Cub players’ names backwards. That would fulfill the team’s allegiance requirement and prove someone really knows the Caray legacy.

Sitting in the press box over the years, I've seen the various people practice with organist Gary Pressy, autograph various Cubs items and then give a good-bad-or indifferent performance. It seems the indifference is the most bothersome, that is where a Cubs fan may take issue. The faithful are sitting in the stands, year after year, and they care. Cubs fans enjoyed Harry Caray doing the stretch because he related to them and he cared. So when anyone that has the opportunity to be in the spotlight for the 7^th inning fans want them to care too.

I wouldn’t mind if it was just a damn good singer that the crowd wants to hear. Hey, Justin Bieber will be in Chicago during a homestand in July. I’ll go for that.

It would be nice if some of the usual Chicago celebrities would retire from this gig. (John Cusack and Jim Belushi are two that come to mind.) One of my favorite renditions happens during the final home game when the grounds crew sings.

And how about giving some kids a chance? They don’t need to be in the booth for an interview. Just a few minutes to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and have a crowd join them. Maybe that doesn’t sell sponsorships, but it would make some new young fans. Isn’t that what baseball is supposed to be about?

Maybe it is time to retire this tradition altogether. What do you think?

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Should concealed guns be allowed on the CTA?

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:00:00 -0600

'YES, THAT WOULD SOLVE SO MANY PROBLEMS,' SAID NO ONE WHO ACTUALLY RIDES THE CTA. The National Rifle Association wants public transit riders allowed to carry concealed guns on buses and trains. A lobbyist tells the Sun-Times it's only fair for those who can't afford their own cars: "They don’t get the right to self-defense? They’re supposed to roam around defenseless?"
* From WBEZ's Tony Arnold: NRA lobbyist says "There will be no ... local rules about where you can or cannot carry."
* And yet, time's running out for the state to draft a concealed weapons law.
* Emanuel's solution to Chicago's violence includes new $50 million fundraising drive for city's poorest kids.
* The Tribune's John Kass: Why is New York's pro-gun-control Mayor Bloomberg "butting his way into Chicago politics"?
* Vice President Biden: Want to protect yourself? "Get a double-barrel shotgun."
* 10 social media moments that shaped the gun-control debate.

DE-SIGNING DAY. A billboard a residents group found offensive has been removed from a River North neighborhood whose restaurants are popular as family destinations, DNAinfo.com Chicago reports.

* Taste of Chicago lost $1.3 million last year.

THE GUY WHO HACKED BURGER KING? Gizmodo says it's figured out who took over the @BurgerKing account on Twitter.
* @Jeep jacked, too.
* MTV and BET fake their own twitjackings.
* Twitter's blog: "Best practices" for passwords.

'DO NOT VISIT THIS SITE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.' That's ZDNet's advice about the Web address linked to compromise of computers at Facebook and Apple. Here's what it says you should do.
* All Things D: "... And there’s probably more to come."
* Andy Ihnatko: "If any of you is driving a vintage Ford Pinto ... get a Java bumper sticker for it."
* What is a "zero-day attack"?

SEN. McCONNELL, IS YOUR REFRIGERATOR RUNNING? The military's answer to The Onion, The Duffel Blog, fooled the U.S. Senate Republican leader into taking seriously a report that Guantanamo Bay prisoners have been getting post-Sept. 11 GI Bill of Rights benefits.
* Columbia University prof under review after stripping, showing 9/11 video during quantum mechanics class, where student catches it on video.

CUBS STRETCH INTO THE 21st CENTURY. Among the changes coming to Wrigley Field and on-air broadcasts this year, the Tribune reports: During the seventh-inning stretch, more focus on ex-Cubs and Chicago natives; and more songs recorded after the 1980s. And the Cubs want your music suggestions, emailed to in-game programming director Jim Oboikowitch or senior marketing director Alison Miller.
* Website glitches suspend Chicago Marathon online registration until at least Thursday.
* Chicago passes on 2024 Olympics candidacy.

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Any Chicago baseball players getting a call today? Not Sosa

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 06:00:00 -0600

Today is an anxious day for some former Chicago baseball players—will the Hall of Fame ring their phones and give them good news about gaining entrance? There are a few players that played in Chicago, Tim Raines (White Sox) and Lee Smith (Cubs) that are getting some serious consideration.

There is one that is eligible that is likely not getting the call and probably never will: Sammy Sosa.

A silent phone for Sosa:

This is his first year on the ballot and there appears to be no support for the former Cub slugger. Sosa finished his baseball career with 609 home runs (three seasons with 60 or more) and is eighth on the all-time list for that statistic. In the past few years, the players that are considered tainted by the steroids have been filtering into the list of possible candidates—none have made it. This year the list is peppered with several that have been implicated or are considered likely users of the performance enhancing drugs which includes the former Cub right fielder. In 2009, the New York Times reported that Sosa had a positive test in 2003. There was never an admission by him to confirm he had taken any drugs to help the Cub slugger become one of baseball's prolific home run hitters of his era—there were strong physical indicators he likely did. Couple the change of his body with his performance in front of Congress in 2005—remember he forgot he knew English, therefore sidestepping all questions—the conclusion by the media was Sosa "juiced".

Sosa's career zenith:

You can't forget the exciting quest to break the home run record with Mark McGwire in 1998. Sosa smacked 66 home runs that year and the Cardinal first baseman hit 70. Since then both men have been labeled cheaters and their accomplishments considered fraudulent. McGwire finally came out two years ago and admitted his steroid use. In a Fox Sports radio interview this November, McGwire commented on the costs of using the drugs: “It's a mistake that I have to live with for the rest of my life. I have to deal with never, ever getting into the Hall-of-Fame.”

McGwire has been involved with baseball as a hitting coach with St. Louis and now the LA Dodgers. Sosa has remained isolated from the game.

The steroid cloud has become a silver lining for others:

There seems to be a major push to look at players that preceded the cloud of steroids with a new view. Many believe that is why former Cub Andre Dawson was able to gain entrance a few years ago. It seems to me his numbers did merit the vote. Dawson’s success was overlooked for years because he played in obscurity in Montreal and was an MVP for a last place Cubs team. For whatever reason this year, Tim Raines is now getting a closer look by the Hall of Fame voters. Like his best friend, Andre Dawson, Raines had his best years in Montreal. He played twenty three years, had a lifetime batting average of .294, stole 808 bases and won the National League batting title in 1986. With the White Sox, his best season was 1993—the division title year. Raines hit .306 and had 16 home runs that season. In the post season he hit .444 and scored five runs in the series loss to Toronto.

He was one of baseball’s best lead-off hitters and base-stealers. Raines was a seven time All-Star with the Expos. He coached first-base for the White Sox during the 2005 championship season. This is his sixth year on the ballot, last year he received 47 percent of the vote (75 percent is needed).

The other former Chicago player gaining support is Lee Smith. The big-power pitcher began his career with the Cubs in 1980-1987. He would pitch an addition ten years and finished with 478 saves to his credit. Although relief pitchers have been elected to the Hall of Fame in recent years, it has eluded Smith. He was used primarily for one inning—but he usually dominated the batters he faced. Smith has been eligible since 2003 for the Hall of Fame. Last year he earned 50 percent of the vote.

The Class of 2013:

Who knows what the voters will do—the system is in the hands of baseball writers. Once a writer gets to vote, he or she has that right forever. What is interesting is many no longer cover baseball (or had a short stint) and you wonder how much thought is put into it. This is not to impugn the ones active or retired that have followed the game closely and diligently cast their vote. With the print industry struggling, the Hall of Fame may consider revamping the voting process.

As for the next class, it will be announced at 1 p.m. Wednesday and the induction is July 26 in Cooperstown, NY.

Hope the phone rings loud for a couple of former Chicago players.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame