Unlike John Lackey in 2016, we did come here for a haircut!
The Cubs community has come together once again to support people in need with Joe Maddon’s Respect Bald annual Spring Training event. Players and coaches, along with fans who donated at least $100, shaved their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer on a beautiful morning in Mesa before the Cubs played the Reds on Saturday, March 3. All told, the event raised $93,000:
#Cubs Maddon says another player donated $10,000 to Respect Bald so total raised from event now $93,000 for @Maddonrespect90. Well done, players and fans
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) March 4, 2018
Joe Maddon was moved to tears by the testimonials of the brave children who battle this horrible disease, but there were a lot more smiles than tears on Saturday morning. Joe and his wife Jaye thanked Cubs fans for their continued support of his charitable efforts, before Joe shaved his head alongside Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Cubs conditioning coordinator Tim Buss emceed the event in American flag printed shorts and engaged players and fans alike while our heads were shaved. Baseball has always been a game full of colorful characters and Tim Buss is one of them. I can’t think of another conditioning guy in the Major Leagues as notorious as Tim and he made the perfect host with his funny quips and off-the-cuff remarks.
Former Cubs greats Ryne Sandberg and Rick Sutcliffe were in attendance but didn’t participate. (Shaving his head is likely a violation of Ryne’s contract with Restore). And Cubs players Ben Zobrist, Eddie Butler, Steve Cishek, plus many Cubs minor leaguers all joined in the festivities with me and about 30 other fans. Including one woman and a guy who cut off all his long hair to donate to Locks of Love, which uses donated hair to make hair pieces for kids who have lost their hair through illness.
Personally, I would like to say thank you to all who donated to my fundraising campaign. Together we raised $560 to donate to the cause! The price of five haircuts! So... thank you, thank you, thank you! Cubs fans are the best. I feel it and so does Joe Maddon.
Check out my pics from Respect Bald!