Kids Say The Darndest Things (Alternative 7/2/10 Game Recap)
by ballhawk on Jul 2, 2010 11:32 PM CDT
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Ok, even though I still think Macbeth's words fit today's game perfectly (especially the "dusty death" part), I realize that relying on Shakespeare was kinda lame, especially since I've used that passage before on BCB. Please forgive me for falling into the Jay Mariotti School of Hack Column Writing trap.
So, I'll try to make amends by sharing with you a little vignette that happened near the end of today's game. I tweeted about this but obviously the 140 character max limits things a bit - a fanpost allows me to add more context, not to mention increase the chances dtpollitt will read it. Anyway, it may sum up the Cubs season - or at least today's game - even better than Macbeth.
It was the bottom of the 9th and obviously the game was out of hand. But the heart (ha ha) of the lineup was due up and in blowouts like this, the potential for meaningless home runs is significant, so I was manning my usual post on Waveland, hoping that someone would hit one out.
As I stood there, a father and his son walked by me on their way out of Wrigley. Dad was wearing a SF Giants hat, but the kid - who looked to be about 7-8 years old - was decked out in Cubs t-shirt, hat & blue shorts. I could hear Dad explaining to his son that I was there waiting for a home run ball to be hit. Dad kept walking but the kid stopped in front of me and asked me what the score was.
Not being well-versed on dealing with kids, I didn't want to unnecessarily scare the boy with the actual score, so I just said "lots and lots to not so much." That didn't seem to satisfy him - he just stood there looking up at me. So I threw caution to the wind and told him the score was 12-0, figuring that would send him on his way.
Nope, he still stood there, and I could tell he was formulating his next question. Dad was standing off to the side, wearing a slightly bemused expression on his face. Finally, the boy asked me "Do you want the Cubs to win?"
Of course, I answered in the affirmative. I think I said something profound like "Yep." Didn't satisfy the kid but it definitely gave him something to think about as he stood there, still looking up at me. Finally, after a few more moments of deep pondering, he said...
"Cubs are losers."
...then ran off to catch up with Dad.
Ouch!
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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Haha.
Just beautiful. Even kids know the Cubs play like losers. Sigh.
A LO PROFUNDOOO...NOO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NOO...DIGALE QUE NO A ESA PELOTA!! GANAN LOS CACHORROS DE CHICAGO!!
I am on board with all the people saying the Cubs are going to lose a lot of fans in the coming years.
With the way the media portray the Cubs (hell, and the way the CUBS portray themselves) they are really painted in a negative light. I feel like what that kid said to you is the universal reaction for young kids in Illinois. With way too few games on WGN, our national fan base is going to dwindle when (more of) the boomers croak. Too bad because we’ll lose all the real fans and keep all the LP idiots who just wanna get black out drunk.
With way too few games on WGN, our national fan base is going to dwindle when (more of) the boomers croak. Too bad because we’ll lose all the real fans and keep all the LP idiots who just wanna get black out drunk.
No — in fact, it’ll be just the reverse. The idiots will stop coming, and only the real fans will stick around. That’s what happened in Pittsburgh, for one.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Either way it's a lose, lose scenario for team Ricketts.
If only we had someone who knew how to handle free agency and the gobs of money that was handed him over the last several years, we wouldn’t be in this situation.
Yeah, poor Ricketts.
He had no idea what he was getting into. Now he’s stuck making all sorts of money.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
That's the problem.
He may not be “stuck making all sorts of money” if the current trends continue.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
So you're saying there are only 500 - 1000 real Cub fans?
Because that would appear to the be the average draw in Pittsburgh. That does not bode well for the Cubs long term prospects.
Cubs need both a winning team AND national exposure to maintain the current fan levels. Otherwise the future is bleak.
The Cubs national cable network is a must.
It's 106 miles to Chicago...
No, that's not what I'm saying at all.
I’m saying that could happen if they’re not careful.
You’re right about the winning and the national TV network. The latter is still several years away.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Start a "1954" chant?
“We’ll always have Durocher?”
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
Seeing as how I'm an Indians fan, starting a "1954" chant is about the last thing I'd do...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Thank goodness you didn't pull a W.C. Fields on the kid:
“Go ’way boy, ’ya bother me!”
We have met the enemy and they are us! ~ Walt Kelly, Pogo, 1971
Ricketts isn't stupid. He's in this for the long haul.
He knows if he builds an organization with a solid foundation, he will be successful, and in the end proftable. I have all the faith in the world that he will build a team that competes year in and year out. To think the Cubs are doomed forever because of this season is acting hysterical. Has any team with a new owner had an awful first year and gone on to build a winner? My guess would be yes.
I think you should write a book about your life of ballhawking....
… just make the Cubs win the WS at the end of it.
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
"War and Peace: My Life Staring At the Sky"
We have met the enemy and they are us! ~ Walt Kelly, Pogo, 1971
I want to read about what the city would be like and the reaction of people around the city, country or world.
The drama of The Final Game and what led to it. I want to read about the characters of the team, their strengths and weaknesses. I’d like a short story around every ball that was caught on Waveland that post-season, and all the happy fans that ballhawk talked to during the playoffs. I would like the final game to be played at Wrigley and I would like to be cast as the lucky ballgirl who was picked from a million others that tried out for that job. So just the last chapter would be fiction :)
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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