The Cubs Are People, Too

is made up of some pretty high character guys. I hope this holds true because there is not a week that goes by that some sport figure needs a lawyer to get them off. It could always be worse, we could have Milton back.

And Lance Berkman signed with the Cards for $8 mil

Is that he’s so powerful the man actually gets crushed.

They make me believe that athletes have a greater good than the game. Kerry will and forever be my favorite Cub and one of my favorite persons.

and I think Randy Wells has an event in his hometown every year.
I am sure there are others on the team who are very active in charity fund raising.

It meant a lot to me to see Ted at Santo’s funeral. At that point he had already been delt to LA. As a journeyman pitcher he could have moved on from the organization for good. Most major leagers do. But Ted (and Kerry Wood) made the trip to Chicago to honor Ronnie last December.

Knowing he made the funeral and attended Dempster’s Dec. 2010 charity event as an ex-Cub speaks volumes about his character. I’m glad Ted made some friends on Chicago. I hope we see more of him in the future.

Nice to take a moment to appreciate good guys like this as well as those that serve and protect us.

This team seems to be sticking together and building it’s own energy. There’s some other really good signs.

Our bullpen is emerging, with even a few surprises (Samardzija?!?).
Soriano is hitting like Adam Dunn (even if he’s also striking out like him)
Carlos Zambrano is pitching like Carlos Zambrano
Some young guys are stepping up
There’s emerging talent in the affiliates on the farm.
We have some payroll flexibility coming up, with no expensive long-term contracts.

On Casey Coleman and his mom. Seems pitching coach dad gets too nervous to watch Casey pitch.

Trying to clean up once flood waters recede from this area. The governor declared a state of emergency today, and it looks like a local marathon may be rerouted.

All I can do is just wait and get my chance to help.

That’s a lot of damn reading. The highest I’ve every paid for a book was around $30, and then I had an overdue library book one time that I owed $1.10.

Most here know I’ve done the Hundley Camp a couple of times and have been lucky enough to meet and know the ex-players who participate. Without question, the bond that forms between these guys that have played for the Cubs is unshakeable. Both Kessinger and Beckert, for example, said not only do they truly love each other, but somehow playing together in Chicago helped that along. Matter of fact, most of the ’69 era guys like Hundley, Williams, Santo, Jenkins, Kessinger, Beckert, Fanzone, Banks to Reuschel, Cardenal, Pepitone to Dernier, Biittner, Moreland, Sutcliffe, Davis, Durham, Smith,etc., would do anything for each other. I spent two different nights at dinner with Dernier in 2009, for example, where he got all teary eyed talking about how all these “big brothers” of his came before him showing what it was like to be a Cub and play in Chicago.

That someone can make a living playing this kids game. When I think about retirement, still 10-15 years off, one of the things that I think is that I will go to a whole lot more baseball games. And they get to do it every day.

Not jealous, but I am glad that some are aware of how lucky they are. Cheers for the guys who give so much back.