Countdown to Baseball -- Harry Caray

Perhaps the most iconic announcer in Cubs history is Harry Caray. He's certainly the most famous (well, discounting Ronald Reagan). This will perhaps change with time, as most Wrigley attendees these days seem unaware that there were seasons before 2003, and don't know why we sing during the seventh inning stretch.

Shown here is the commemorative statue of Caray at the southeast corner outside Wrigley. On home game days, it's mobbed by shutterbug tourists. It depicts a terrified Caray attempting to escape a mob of ghost children swirling around him and sucking him into the hell of Wrigley Field. I don't know where the ghosts come from; they are perhaps children abandoned at Wrigley, or the lost childhoods of kids raised by the players. Or they represent the wrathful lost innocence of people foolish enough to believe in the Cubs during Caray's announcing days. Or they're just hallucinations brought on by all of Caray's drinking. All I know is the statue is way creepy. The artist did do a good job of capturing his fat, though.

Here's a little piece of Americana. Obviously broadcast shortly after the 1984 season, when, briefly, there was hope. The predictions of Cubs glory look kind of funny and/or sad now.

Urbina sentenced

Today a Venezuelan court handed down a 14 year sentence to former Phillies closer Ugueth Urbina. His crimes include attempted murder and related activities. On October 16, 2005, he participated with others in taking a machete to and pouring gasoline on a group of workers at his Venezuelan ranch. Report vary as to the nature of the dispute; it could have been over a gun, or the workers' misuse of his grounds. [SI] [CBS]

A similar cloud hangs over the White Sox' Juan Uribe, who is accused of shooting a farmer near his Dominican Republic spread. [ESPN]

I'm not sure what the point of it all is. I'm reminded of all the basketball stars who make it big but get involved in bizarre paternity suits or street shootings. Maybe you can't escape your past.

Maybe you just shouldn't hang out with Central American ballplayers whose last name starts with "U". At least for the time being.

Craigslist house ad

When I'm not busy losing money on the stock market, I have a part-time hours-a-week hobby not selling my house. I thought some might be interested in my recently placed Craigslist ad along those lines. It's got a flyer embedded within. If you're interested in a too-large condo with a bad layout and desperate needs for improvements to the floor, windows, kitchen, and bath, this place is for you! Come on by anytime; I'll be the guy on my knees sobbing and begging you to make me an offer, any offer.

What a difference gears make

I bought a used fixed gear bike (above) last September with the intention of using it over winter. But I've loved it so much that it's become my daily bike for getting around Chicago. It's perfect for those conditions, and I can understand why they've become so popular. It's really a lot of fun. It does take a whole different set of skills, though.

Last week I took my road bike in for a spring check-up, and when it came back, I wanted to test it out. Plus the fixie is having a couple minor problems that require a shop visit. So I switched back...

It's interesting. I've done thousands and thousands of miles on a multigear bike. It's the only way most people ever experience bikes. But after a few hundred miles on the fixie, it feels unnatural.

Things I used to take for granted but now have to get used to again:

• I don't have to pedal all the time. It's the weirdest thing that moment that I stop turning the crank. Even though my brain decided to do it, my legs get all gummy.
• The crank won't carry my legs around.
  
• I can turn corners super-tight without having to think about possibly accidentally jamming my feet into the ground. I can just stop pedaling. Similarly, I can make tight turns and not ever bang my front wheel into my feet (which is more of a problem with the dimensions of my fixer than with fixer in general).
  
• I can't brake by slowing or reversing the force on the crank. Similarly, instead of a single front brake on right handlebar, I have a front on the left and a rear on the right.
• When I stop, I tend to turn the crank in to put my lead foot at the top, as anyone would do. But I still do it the fixie way...by holding the front brake and pulling the rear wheel off the ground. It's senseless since the drivetrain is independent of the wheel, but I can't stop myself.

Countdown to Baseball -- the 2003 clinch

It's been forever since I posted anything, meaning it's only two posts back that I was trashing the Cubs. They'd dropped all their spring training games at that point. Well actually with the camp almost wrapped up, the Cubs have had a fantastic spring, performing very well in all categories, and showing off a lot of up and coming talent as well. Starting pitching is a little shaking, but we are firing on all other cylinders. I can't say for sure we're the best in the division, but I'm excited that it's going to be a great season regardless.

I wanted to share a memory: on September 27, 2003, I moved from my apartment, a mile from Wrigley, to my first home, a condo half a mile from Wrigley. That was the same day that the Cubs won both games of a Pirates doubleheader, and Houston lost, clinching the NLC for the Cubs. All day as we moved stuff back and forth between my homes, we could hear the crowd going crazy at Wrigley. It's a vivid and precious memory o my time here in the heart of it all.

Hopefully, I'll be moving soon this summer, and it'll be on a day when the Cubs are on top again.

Just one week until baseball! Here's a video I wanted to share, to say that there are some good memories for Cubs fans:

One Got Fat

I ran across this old bicycle safety video made in 1963. I can't say it's good, but it's kind of interesting. Modern safety is a little more refined. It's sort of an amusing slice of the time. Very "MST3K shorts".

Cubs Stink

Well the Cubs haven't won a game. Today they're well on their way to losing to Seattle, who until now hadn't won a game.

Our batting has has been same as last season...sinks as soon as they're men on base.

Our pitching...well we might as well set up a tee out there.

Remember all that crap we heard about how Mark Prior was all healthy, etc? Today he had an 83mph fastball. He couldn't even make it through 2 innings! Of spring fricking training! They pulled him after 4 hits and 2 walks in 1 1/3 innings.

If things dont turn around and fast, we've got a $300 million goose egg on our hands. The Trib will have to sell the team, and Hendry and Rothschild will be so fired you'll hear the explosion twice.

Go Cubs Go! A Tribute to Steve Goodman

Intra-squad spring training games start today! Is everybody excited! Another year, another chance for the Cubs to eke out some way to screw it all up...I'll be listening anyway. In honor of another season, I wanted to write a little blog love letter to Steve Goodman.

You can't call yourself a Cubs fan unless you know who Steve Goodman (wiki) is. Born and raised in Chicago, Goodman became quickly famous in folk guitar circles right out of high school. He was also diagnosed with leukemia. He's most famous for "City of New Orleans" made famous by Arlo Guthrie (youtube). His was a die-hard Cubs fans, and his contributions include "Go Cubs Go", still played constantly in Chicago, and the following, recorded here from one of the Waveland rooftops:

Steve died at the age of 36, on September 20, 1984, 11 days before the Cubs played their first playoff game since 1945 (meaning they never made the playoffs during his lifetime).

His ashes are buried underneath home plate at Wrigley Field, making him part of the legend. After Ron Santo, who was yesterday denied entry into the Hall of Fame by a mere handful of votes, he is perhaps the most famous and most diehard cubs fan.