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.