Denise Richards sang in honor of her mother

May 6, 2009

I really don’t understand the fuss about Denise Richards’ singing the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley last week. So she didn’t sing the greatest. Big deal. She wasn’t there to sing. Well she was, but she wasn’t there as a singer. They are called “guest conductors” for a reason - most of them can’t sing - even some of the folks who sing for a living. Peter Cetera didn’t sound so hot the next day. That’s not the point. The point is they have the courage to get up there and how much enthusiasm they show while they’re doing it. And on that she was 2 for 2.

I read a post by some guy who said it’s time to stop the tradition. He clearly doesn’t go to Wrigley nor can he be a fan. It’s part of the Wrigley tradition. Not only does it harken back to Harry Carey, it harkens back to Jeff Gordon and Ozzie and Mike Ditka and I suppose, now Denise Richards. It’s a time to stand up and sing with the rest of the crowd…just in case there’s no singing at the end of the game.

It’s not meant as a singing competition. Ron Santo is not blessed with a singing voice but there’s no one who gets a louder ovation. It’s the enthusiasm and it’s that moment of suspense before they sing: a 1, a 2, a 3…when you wonder are they going to sink or swim.

Leave her alone. She was in Chicago for a fundraiser for the Kidney Cancer Association in memory of her mother, who died from it last year. While there, she asked the Cubs folks in attendance if she could set up an information booth at Wrigley - they said yes, would you sing? And she did - in memory of her mother.

And what did she get for it? An internet bashing.

She was there for a good cause. She was there to remember and honor her mother. She had her reality film crew following her. And as someone who grew up a Cubfan, she got to sit in the booth with Pat & Ron and get a glimpse of the great view. They enjoyed her and she them. And while she was there, Ryan Theriot got a grand slam and she was treated to Pat’s call and Ronnie’s scream - something most every Cubfan would sing for.

Pat & Ron: “The Gamer”

May 4, 2009

They showed Ronnie early in the game and he looked like he had been in a sauna despite it being in the 50s at Wrigley. His piece looked wet and spiky and it was sticking straight up. Kinda like a mohawk with sides. I thought maybe he forgot and wore his “gamer”. His third string piece used as a last resort. It took till the top 7th for Pat to mention it.

PAT: You’re sporting a new do tonite.

RON: Yeah. Got a new haircut today. Thought I’d get the spiked look.

PAT: A different look tomorrow?

RON: I’m probably gonna go dry tomorrow.

PAT: The dry look.

RON: The dry look - this is the wet look.

PAT: Have you notice if women have a preference between the wet or the dry?

RON: I don’t know.

[Matt laughing in the background]

PAT: No, with your hair.

RON: It doesn’t matter.

PAT: It doesn’t matter?

RON: My wife is the only one that matters.

PAT: Good answer.

RON: Are you saying I would have a few more looking at the dry look?

PAT: You get a lot of looks anyway. You still have two or three sets you wear.

RON: Yeah.

PAT: Do you give your pieces nicknames like you used to?

RON: I still have a “gamer”. Something I would wear with a hat so if it fell off I would look like –

PAT: You’ve got some hair up there.

RON: Yeah some hair.

PAT: So your gamer would be your last string.

RON: Yeah. If I lose my number one and my number two - like if it caught on fire or something. Wait a minute - that already happened.

[Laughing]

Ron stood up for the National Anthem at his favorite park Shea Stadium and his piece caught on fire from the space heater. He didn’t realize it was burning until he smelled it. One more reason to hate Shea, which thankfully no longer exists.

Here’s the infamous heater (at top) courtesy of Matt Boltz.

Pat & Ron & Fergie, the male model

May 3, 2009

Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux had their numbers retired at Wrigley today. Check out the videos below. Prior to singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Fergie talked with Pat & Ron and as usual the conversation went in an unexpected direction.

Turns out Fergie was a male model in Canada. So Pat wants to know what kind of modeling he did.

PAT: No flexing involved?

FERGIE: I modeled clothes.

RON: He always asking questions like that.

PAT: Ron, have you ever modeled?

RON: They wanted me in Playgirl and I said no.

————–

#31 Retirement Ceremony Fergie Jenkins & Greg Maddux
WGN John Williams intervies Fergie Jenkins

#31 Retirement Ceremony, Fergie Jenkins, Greg Maddux

May 2, 2009

Fergie Jenkins (long overdue) and Greg Maddux were honored today at Wrigley by having their numbers retired. They each got their own #31 flag.

Left Field: Ernie Banks #14, Ron Santo #1o, Fergie Jenkins #31

Right Field: Billie Williams #26, Ryne Sandburg #23, Greg Maddux #31

Both of them were assigned their numbers by Yosh - Fergie wanting 13 - Maddux’s was waiting for him in his locker.

Video courtesy of lEverything

PART 1

PART 2

Both underrated and understated. Their stats a tribute to their hard work, preparation, mental and physical toughness, love of Wrigley and the intangible - love of the game. Both played for the Cubs twice in a non-pitcher’s park and on teams that were not winning machines. They could both hit and field and were “players” not pitchers as Ronnie likes to say. Maddux was never injured, barely missed a start and won 355 games, which will never be eclipsed. Fergie had 6 20-win seasons - 5 in a row - which never be repeated.

And they both won without cheating.

Just a few stats

FERGUSON JENKINS
284 Wins
3.34 ERA
3192 strikeouts
1971 Cy Young Award
1991 Hall of Fame

GREG MADDUX
355 Wins
3.16 ERA
3371 Strikeouts
4 Cy Young Awards

Denise Richards, 7th inning stretch at Wrigley

May 1, 2009

Denise Richards was at Wrigley today fulfilling a fantasy…though not necessarily hers…and probably more than one. Richards, a Chicago native, was at the Park with her father and sister taking in the game as a wrap up to her reality show, which I didn’t know existed. She got to sing the 7th inning stretch, which requires - for the lucky and the brave - a stop in the booth with Pat & Ron. It was a long inning and it was fun to listen to since Pat & Ron were on their best behavior. Though you know Ronnie. And Pat got to actually do a proper interview which is his gratification.

Richards didn’t try to talk over them and actually listened like a true fan. Pat asked about the camera crew filming her every move and one or the other asked if they were going to be in her show. She said yes - that’s the point - if they were willing to sign a release. Her season ender or finale or whatever reality shows are called. She sounded excited about it as well as the view.

In case you non-Cubfans are wondering - she does not sit between them like the TV booth. She sits up behind them behind the crampness of the booth - so they can’t even see her unless they turn completely around or Matt has a mirror rigged somewhere.

And then she got her money shot and money call courtesy of SS Ryan Theriot, who decided to hit his first career grand slam, giving the Cubs a lead, which was never relinquished. Ron did his usual screaming and Pat did his usual call - it went about 2 rows up just to the right of the indentation in left field. And in the background was Richards. I’ll admit I was screaming as welll so I didn’t hear it all but it was a classic moment in the booth.

She couldn’t have asked for a better half inning - nor Pat & Ron for at least two reasons.

And then she went over to the TV booth and wasn’t so hot with Take Me Out To The Ballgame, which really didn’t matter because she was enjoying herself and the fans appreciated it. So what she had to look at the words. They are provided for everyone — even mumblin Ozzie and one breath Ditka - and a lot folks end up needing to look. Her main problem was that her mic seem turned up so her voice really stood out. Nobody in the TV booth cared. It is finny to watch what happens to them when an attractive woman visits in the booth. I don’t think Andy Masur has ever gotten over Shania Twain.

Lemme hear ya now…a 1, a 2, a 3…

Michael Jordan voted into Basketball Hall of Fame

April 6, 2009

Michael Jordan was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on first ballot. No surprise. Also elected: David Robinson, John Stockton and ex-Chicago Bull and Utah Coach, Jerry Sloan, whose #4 is retired by the Bulls.

No need to go into any of their accomplishments.

Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer, 61, was also elected. More info Ruetgers site.

• Coaching for 38 years
• Record of 825-280
• First coach in NCAA history to lead 3 different women's teams to the Final Four:
• Rutgers in 2000 and 2007 (1995-present)
• University of Iowa in 1993 (1983-1995)
• Cheyney State College (now Cheyney University of Pennsylvania) in 1982 (1972-1983)
• Third winningest coach in women's basketball history, behind only Tennessee's Pat Summitt and former University of Texas coach Jody Conradt.
• 1993 Naismith College Coach of the Year for women's basketball
• Member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Induction is Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass., home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. It will mark the 50th Anniversary.

Recently passed Johnny Red Kerr, Coach and voice of the Bulls was denied entry.

Class of 2009

Photo

Michael Jordan & Coach C. Vivian Stringer

***

RON SANTO BELONGS IN THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME.

Joe Morgan, Nolan Ryan and Jim Palmer are cowards - to name a few.

Sign the petition

A-Roid due to tell more lies tomorrow

January 16, 2009

A-Roid is scheduled to have a press conference tomorrow. From CBS:

JOE GIARDI, Manager of the New York Yankees, to speak with Rodriguez before the event "just to look him in the eyes and see how he's doing.":

I don't think it's necessary in my eyes that he answer every detail.

I don't think it's window dressing. I think it's out of their hearts and their feelings for Alex and them wanting to stand behind him and help him through this situation.

It's going to be different, I'm sure, just because of the magnitude of who Alex is. I think the record that he's chasing has something to do with it, too. Would he like to probably put it behind him tomorrow? Yes. But I don't think that's realistic.

His truth telling squad:

• Agent Scott Boras and his staff, manager Guy Oseary.
• William Morris Agency and publicist Richard Rubenstein.
• James E. Sharp, a lawyer who represented Pettitte and Sammy Sosa before Congress.
• Outside Eyes, a media strategy and crisis management company based in Newport Beach, California.

ANDY PETTITTE (admitted using to Human Growth Hormone last year):

It's part of playing here. Everything is somewhat magnified to a certain degree being here, and just some things you've got to deal with.

2003 Texas Ranger teammate of A-Roid's, MARK TEIXEIRA:

When I see him tomorrow, I'm going to give him a big hug and just tell him I'm there for him. I'm going to be a teammate and a friend if he needs one.

A lot of people think that, you know, this is going to tear the team apart. I think it's going to bring the team together.

(2-7) SI broke the story. (2-9) A-roid spoke with ESPN's Peter Gammons (Video & text) where he admitted to using banned drugs while playing for Texas from 2001-03, but did not come clean on the details such as: what he used, how it was administered, how often he used them, who supplied them and whether he used them off season too. Don't exactly expect him too.

A-ROID is a cheater and liar. He may not have done anything in baseball as far as against the rules but obtaining and using the substances with a doctor's prescription is. Will he be punished inside or outside baseball?

AROID: It didn't matter what lawyers said or whatever, I was going to get it all out.

He wasn't going to "get it all out" until he was caught. And what now? He will not lose any endorsements, his salary is guaranteed and there is nothing in place at present to take away his records. And what type of shaming did he get as opposed to Michael Phelps who used a decidedly NON-performance enhancing drug and had already won his gold medals.

Mr HANK AARON worked had for every one of his homers only to see cheaters pass him by while denying they were cheating. ERNIE BANKS, who started out in the Negro league, said "black-eyed peas" gave him the strength to play at his level of excellence. RON SANTO, who played with diabetes and never told anyone until he was out of the game because he didn't want to lose his job or get special treatment, has still not been enshrined in Cooperstown, even though he was the best third baseman of his era (all time greatest 3rd baseman in my mind) and his numbers are right there with Brooks Robinson. JOE MORGAN is a selfish pig as is the rest of the Veteran Committee for not voting anyone in from their eras.

What are the chances that AROID won't be enshrined in the Hall of Fame?

12-7-07 60 Minutes interview denying it

2-9-09 Interview with Peter Gammons (text)
2-9-09 Interview with Gammons (video)
2-9-09 Calls SI writer a liar

2-17-09 Press conference (text)
2-17-09 Press conference (video)

Cubs' buyer chosen: Ricketts family

January 23, 2009

Well it looks like the Cubs have finally been sold - or at least the buyer chosen. Turns out it's the Ricketts family, who founded TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.. Tom Ricketts, the point man, grew up in Omaha listening to WGN, moved to Chicago and went to the games. He is a true Cubfan and lives in Wilmette. Good news. He knows Ronnie and he knows how much Wrigley means to him and all the rest of us Cubfans. I hope that means he won't rip it apart brick by brick.

Chicago Tribune:

After nearly two years of intrigue, the billionaire Ricketts family has emerged as the winning bidder to purchase the Chicago Cubs from Tribune Co. for about $900 million, sources close to the situation said this evening.

The family will now complete negotiations with Tribune Co.

The family edged out Chicago real-estate investor Hersch Klaff and New York private-equity investor Marc Utay, a Chicago native, for the chance to follow Tribune Co., the Chicago-based media conglomerate, as owners of the storied yet hard-luck franchise.

Late today, the Ricketts family released the following statement:

The Tribune Company has informed us today that our family has been selected for exclusive negotiations to buy the Chicago Cubs. We would like to thank the Tribune Company for overseeing a fair and competitive process and we look forward to working with the Tribune and Major League Baseball to close the transaction promptly. We will have more to say publicly when this process is completed. If we succeed in buying the team, our work will just be beginning.

My family and I [Tom Ricketts] are Cubs fans. We share the goal of Cubs fans everywhere to win a World Series and build the consistent championship tradition that the fans deserve.

What would happen to Wrigley and Wrigleyville.

RONNIE FOR THE HALL OF FAME NOW!!

Hi Mattie. A Minnesota judge suspended their suspensions for now. Surprise. Wonder when the elections are. How is it a civil matter anyway. Thanks for the link. I can't even think about what it would do to Ronnie. It would be totally wrong. He can't handle it again and shouldn't have to especially after the way it all ended. Still can't believe it. I feel good about his chances but can't get my hopes up.

In case you didn't know Henry Blanco's brother was murdered. Cubs website: "Carlos Blanco, 39, was being held for a ransom reported at 200 million Venezuelan Bolivares. Henry Blanco had been in negotiations with the kidnappers."

He was kidnapped Sunday and Monday he was found shot dead. Not much time for negotiations and how much money can Blanco have even if he's playing winter ball. He's a free agent. Big Z better have good security and he better not be eating so much. He put on like 20# during the season. But a no-no is a no-no. Maybe he'll lead the league in homers per at bats.

Sorry none of us post anymore. Talk to you next Monday.

RON SANTO FOR THE HALL OF FAME!

December 2, 2008

Hey RonSantoRocks - Crappy ass Bears game, eh? Kevin and Pat Williams were suspended a week too late to help us out. Hopefully their season is over.

On another note - did you see the awesome article on Ronnie on the Hall of Fame website? Almost the entire article consisted of his stats and they didn't even go into great depth. The other players' bios were one paragraph. Kinda says it all. I hope I don't jinx anything. Five more days - Ronnie must be going crazy. Ah what a great gift that would be for him...and for Cubfans and for diabetics and for baseball fans everywhere and for everyone else whose life he's touched. Can't go there. Think positive. Joe Morgan better get his pride in order and do the right thing for once. Ronnie deserves to be enshrined while he's alive. Love the old Cubbie bear.

"Some third basemen are known for their hitting prowess. Others are recognized for their fielding skills. Ron Santo is known for both." -- Jina Song and Craig Muder

And a whole lot more.

Fellow Citizens Against Pro-Obama Media Bias

I know you're all disgusted and probably have had enough but you've abandoned BP and me and the subscribers. Come over from the other blogs and say hello here. Mrs Etta Mae, give us one of your commentaries even if it's about knitting needles or your grandchild's bout of croup. If you take him out in the cold it usually stops all by itself. Forget trying to shove him under under a steaming towel! He's just going to keep trying to bite you. Or how about your recipe for that holiday fruitcake that gets re-gifted year after year? RSR - sorry about the Series. Nobody else cares either. Think of what the economy would be doing if it was the Red Sox and our Cubbies. Let's keep our fingers crossed for the veterans to get past their old boys club and vote Ronnie into the Hall of Fame where he belongs. Joe flapping wing Morgan is a moron...the baseball writers didn't vote Ronnie in then...Well how were they to foresee steroids and the fact that not a lot of good third basemen - none of Ronnie's character - would follow in the next 30 years? Ok. I won't get going on that. Annie's had enough and I'm almost about there. The right wingers have finally gotten off their whatever and picked up on what the non-obamerized have been doing for two years. What in the hell took so long? Maybe I'll just go back to NEWSWEEK to say hello to jonjon my favorite obamerite and wait for crazy ass wright to escape his NOI captors. Why aren't they using the same type of muzzle on Biden?

Back, back, back...Hey! Hey!

Courtesy of skipfortyfour

Ronnie nixes Mets series

Here's the real reason Ronnie didn't want to go to Shea...
Ronnie's new piece is looking mighty fine. Too bad John McDonough isn't in the front office this year. That is just wrong.

Thanks to Matt...here's the infamous heater (at top) that turned Ronnie's piece aflame! I hope he steals it!

Ron Santo for the Hall of Fame

Courtesy of kwb1b

Lou Piniella Videos

Parody of Rihanna's "Umbrella" dedicated to Lou Pinella
Ronnie woo-woo (:31) Barrett vs Pierzynski (:41) Zambrano vs Barrett (:43) LaRussa's mugshot(1:14) Bartman in neck chain (1:40) Ronnie (2:09) Lou restrained by ump (2:20) Lou's beauty treatment (2:31) Bush in locker room (3:00) Cardinal grabbing teammate's crotch (2:55) Sosa's corked bat (3:41)

June 7, 2007 Vintage Lou 3rd base tirade

Ron Santo on Diabetes

Ron Santo & Diabetes