Ultimate 7th Inning Stretch Contest Experience

by TkGoUWGB on Jul 27, 2007 12:44 PM CDT

Not going to lie to anybody, but I'm not a huge fan of American Idol. Sure, if the contestants cover an artist I like, I'll watch hoping that they do the music justice and that the artist will then do a song. I was also a fan of Jack Black singing "Kiss from a Rose" from the "most sensitive Batmans of them all." However, these anti-American Idol notions meant nothing to me as I strolled into Wrigley today for what could be dubbed as "Cubs Idol."

Overall it was a good experience and you could tell they must've had this idea on the backburner for awhile because it was well organized. You were given a packet that was to be given to the judges before you sang. Perfect opportunity to bribe them, but not only was it illegal, all I had was 7 bucks, a Chicago Card, and a 7/11 coupon. They divided up the contestants into what appeared to be around 25 groups. Promptly at 10 o clocks, ushers took the 200 some contestants to different parts of the stadium to sing. I was put into a suite, but there were also judges in the gift shop and I'm sure other places as well.

The judges were overall very nice. I think I lucked out got three extremely nice ladies who were obviously still fresh on the idea of hearing a ton of people sing the same song. They asked you of your paragraph you wrote beforehand and then asked you why you should sing the 7th inning stretch. I'll save you from b.s. on how I know Im not the oldest, youngest, cutest, etc. that would probably enter the contest and my antidote on how important the Cubs and my family are to me and stuff like that.

I sang, even though you couldn't move the microphone like one would plan to during the actual stretch. The judges seemed impressed, but that's what they're being paid to do. I got the arbitrary "stong voice" comment and mandatory "good luck" comment. They took a picture of me on my camera phone in front of the backdrop, and that was that. I was in and out in 45 minutes. If I wasn't going to Green Bay this weekend, I probably would have felt bad taking off of work for 45 minutes, but good lord willing, the 70 bucks I missed out on today will come back in a better form come September 22.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

hope it went well for ya TK

thanks for the report

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jul 27, 2007 2:23 PM CDT reply actions

Same Here

Hope all went well

hey, hey, cubs win.

by cubbyblue137 on Jul 27, 2007 2:52 PM CDT reply actions

Good luck TK!

I love this team!!!!!

by sue369 on Jul 27, 2007 3:59 PM CDT reply actions

My experience was similar

Although it took a little longer than 45 minutes. I left the house at 8:30 this morning, and got home at 8:00 tonight.

My group was scheduled to arrive between noon and 1 p.m., and audition starting at 1. My row was taken to the restaurant at the far third-base side of the main concourse, just inside from the Harry Caray statue. One guy in my row had come in all the way from Kansas just for the audition.

Once inside, they asked me to "tell about myself" and prompted me with questions like, "So you lived outside Illinois for a long time. Did you ever have any interesting interactions with fans of other teams?" "You must have been to a lot of ballgames. What is your favorite Wrigley Field memory?" And then the expected question, "Why should you be selected to sing the seventh inning stretch?"

I had three guys on my "panel" and they said "great job" at the end. It was pleasant talking to the other fans and the Cubs staff did a nice job of welcoming people and being friendly in the audition. I walked all the back around through the main concourse to exit again through Gate K, by the firehouse. It was interesting to stroll through a quiet Wrigley. The only thing that would have been nicer is if they had decided to let us briefly walk across the field. But if they had announced that, they might have had a lot more people apply.

The drive up this morning took 3 hours. After the audition, I went to Pequod's on Clybourn for some great pizza. But traffic was awful on the way out, and it took me almost 5 hours to get home.

I did manage to sneak in "bleed cubbie blue" in my last answer before singing. If I (or TK) is one of the 50 selected for online voting, I expect everyone here to vote the Chicago way...early and often!

The call of the Cub fan, c. 1893: "one long, ravaged, derisive yell...a cyclonic whoop!"

by cubzfan on Jul 27, 2007 8:34 PM CDT reply actions

Any BCB reader...

... who makes the final selection, let us know, and I'll make sure I make a post encouraging everyone here to vote for him (or her).

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 28, 2007 4:28 AM CDT up reply actions

The day for me

was pretty darn cool. It was well organized and pain free. The judges were really nice and offered to take a pic of my sister and me in front of the background. They did their best to make it feel special. There were 8 yr olds to 80 yr olds and everyone in between. I think they got a nice cross section of Cub fans to pick from.

Besides what I had put in my essay, I told them about the nearly 4 hr drive to Wrigley on $3/gal gas, through down pours and toll booths all for a half hour at Wrigley. Even if I don't make it to the next cut, it makes for a great story and is just about the biggest highlight of my Cub-lovin life.

It was also nice to take pics of a completely pristine and empty Wrigley and to get some good pictures in a not so busy Wrigleyville. And everyone we passed on the streets was friendly.

My sister had never been to Wrigley before. I tried to explain to her how awesome the ball park and surrounding area is, but she didn't get it until she walked around it. She is transfering to NIU this fall to become a teacher. Now she wants to live near Wrigley. She loved it! Who wouldn't???

Good luck to everyone else who participated. It would be great if everyone in the top 10 were BCB-ers!

Uh, Lord, hallowed be Thy name. May our feet be swift; may our bats be mighty; may our balls... be plentiful. ~ Jimmy Dugan

by love the ivy on Jul 28, 2007 8:28 AM CDT reply actions