Today's post celebrates the 2008 National League Central Division Champion, Chicago Cubs. Surprising as it is, I couldn't be more proud of the boys from "The friendly confines". Not so much because they made it to this spot two years in a row, but because for the sake of Lou Pianella's heart as well as his sanity, they made it back again. "Uncle Lou" is like a jack-in-the-box on the last click. He just wants to get his team a World Series ring so he can wander off into the sunset to play shuffleboard in Palm Beach. Yeah right. Should the Cubs make it as far and perhaps win it all, Lou is going to stay a fixture at Wrigley field forever, like the old scorebo
ard. However, don't count your chickens before they hatch! There's still time for these beloved Cuns to realize the whole world is watching before they cave under pressure. What's happened in recent weeks has proven that this baseball team isn't just playing a game, but boosting the spirits of everyone expecting them to "finally do it" this time!
ard. However, don't count your chickens before they hatch! There's still time for these beloved Cuns to realize the whole world is watching before they cave under pressure. What's happened in recent weeks has proven that this baseball team isn't just playing a game, but boosting the spirits of everyone expecting them to "finally do it" this time!One of the things that always accompanies a title win of some kind in Chicago, is someone writing a song about the team in the spotlight. Over the years there have been many and most have been of the novelty variety either praising or mocking Chicago sports teams. This time around, it was none other than Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam who phoned in the Cubs front office all the way from Seattle to offer his contribution. Here's the thing... Now if you know Eddie's background, he, like many other famous folks like to admit they're from Chicago only when the city is in the news for something good. Remember about 1990 when America was introduced to the Seattle music genre of "grunge"? Eddie was careful to choose his words when speaking of his roots. Sur
e he was born here, and then he left. We wouldn't learn of his Chicago ties until years later when Pearl Jam lost their fan base and went Artsy with their music. Is Eddie proud to call Chicago home, or is this just an attempt to get back on the map and sell a 99 cent music download? I didn't hear anything about Eddie's new song until last week and then a day later, I heard the song played on the radio. I was told the song was a free download. Not so. It was only available on Pearl Jam's website. Once you were logged on, you have to become a member of their club (free) however, you need a screen name, password, etc... Fine. You then get redirected to another site where I was told this download would cost me a buck. Is it worthy? You be the judge. I have it but didn't pay a dime to anyone for it and that's the best way to get it. A story is attached to the download link which spins a story about how Ernie Banks helped Eddie write the song. Who's crappin' who? For one thing, Ernie isn't a songwriter and secondly, Eddie doesn't spend his free time watching superstation WGN and Cubs baseball. You want it? "All the Way" is at Pearljam.com
e he was born here, and then he left. We wouldn't learn of his Chicago ties until years later when Pearl Jam lost their fan base and went Artsy with their music. Is Eddie proud to call Chicago home, or is this just an attempt to get back on the map and sell a 99 cent music download? I didn't hear anything about Eddie's new song until last week and then a day later, I heard the song played on the radio. I was told the song was a free download. Not so. It was only available on Pearl Jam's website. Once you were logged on, you have to become a member of their club (free) however, you need a screen name, password, etc... Fine. You then get redirected to another site where I was told this download would cost me a buck. Is it worthy? You be the judge. I have it but didn't pay a dime to anyone for it and that's the best way to get it. A story is attached to the download link which spins a story about how Ernie Banks helped Eddie write the song. Who's crappin' who? For one thing, Ernie isn't a songwriter and secondly, Eddie doesn't spend his free time watching superstation WGN and Cubs baseball. You want it? "All the Way" is at Pearljam.com Another thing I have questions about is the relationship of the Cubs as it pertains to Ronnie "Woo Woo", Wrigley's number one cheerleader. As far as I know, Ronnie is a big financial mess and a vegabond who has no permanent place to call home. I've read in the past how the Cubs orginizatio
n has tried unsuccessfully to bar him from the front gate. I've also read that he's a big distraction to fans and players who have no choice to put up with his antics. Someone gave Ronnie access to his own website where he uses it to panhandle and beg for money. Most recently, Ronnie was in search of someone to donate a new set of choppers for his mouthful of missing teeth. While all this is going on, Ronnie is out doing "meet and greets" with fans, wearing an officially licensed MLB uniform, and signing photos and baseballs. All stuff direnctly linked to promoting the Cubs. He is to the Cubs what Ronald is to McDonald's. A goofy, silly, mascot. This past weekend a full page ad for Menard's Grand Opening was in the paper and promised a chance for everyone who attended to meet the famous guy. He was there not as Ronnie "Woo Woo" the home improvement guy, but as Ronnie the Cub. Despite all this, the Cubs front office is still willing to say that he's not am employee. I wonder if Ronnie is aware of that or not?!
n has tried unsuccessfully to bar him from the front gate. I've also read that he's a big distraction to fans and players who have no choice to put up with his antics. Someone gave Ronnie access to his own website where he uses it to panhandle and beg for money. Most recently, Ronnie was in search of someone to donate a new set of choppers for his mouthful of missing teeth. While all this is going on, Ronnie is out doing "meet and greets" with fans, wearing an officially licensed MLB uniform, and signing photos and baseballs. All stuff direnctly linked to promoting the Cubs. He is to the Cubs what Ronald is to McDonald's. A goofy, silly, mascot. This past weekend a full page ad for Menard's Grand Opening was in the paper and promised a chance for everyone who attended to meet the famous guy. He was there not as Ronnie "Woo Woo" the home improvement guy, but as Ronnie the Cub. Despite all this, the Cubs front office is still willing to say that he's not am employee. I wonder if Ronnie is aware of that or not?!Finally, the one thing that got the most hits on the Internet last week in relation to the Cubs wasn't their winning streak, or even any of the guys on the team. It was a billboard perched on a rooftop across from left field. Budweiser had been renting this roof for years now and some might say they were holding all the cards in the game. Well, a new proper
ty owner decided to give the big corporation a dose of it's own medicine and cry "foul" when the suits in St. Louis were late in sending in their payment. So, at the stroke of midnight one day last week when the check hadn't arrived yet, the owner took it upon himself to go to the roof and cover the sign himself until the money problem was resol
ved. Budweiser called the next day as soon as they learned about this and both gro
ups went to court to see who was in the right. While all this was going on, I was loving it! Finally, someone had the grapefruits to stand up to a big corporation over a matter of principle. Well, I
was shocked when the judge ruled on behalf of Budweiser the following day citing the long business relationship the beer maker and the previous owner had as a reason to give them a grace period and remove the tarp. Later, I found out that this wasn't a property owner at all that was fighting over this instead, it was a large investment group made up of about 30 people in the real estate market. That only goes to show that Wrigley is just a pile of bricks and ivy and is about as friendly and neighborly as Yankee Stadium. We all know where that's headed.
was shocked when the judge ruled on behalf of Budweiser the following day citing the long business relationship the beer maker and the previous owner had as a reason to give them a grace period and remove the tarp. Later, I found out that this wasn't a property owner at all that was fighting over this instead, it was a large investment group made up of about 30 people in the real estate market. That only goes to show that Wrigley is just a pile of bricks and ivy and is about as friendly and neighborly as Yankee Stadium. We all know where that's headed.
