Clark & Addison Blog - CubHub.net

Photo of the day: 10,000 Victory Flag. Taken 4/29/2008 Wrigley Field, Home of the Chicago Cubs…

Ok, so the Sam Sianis Goat Curse is well documented in Cubs lore.  But there is another well accepted curse in sports - the Sports Illustrated Cover Curse. 

Now with Kosuke Fukudome cover story in the new Sports Illustrated, I must ask: Do two curses cancel each other out?  The definitive answer comes in October…

Its 25 years since one of the greatest tirades in Chicago sports.  Lee Elia is everywhere this week. You can audio of his rave almost anywhere including at chicagotribune.com.  But I liked this, a PDF of the original article in the Trib from 1983:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2008-04/38183403.pdf

Lee Elia will be at Wrigley tomorrow night but reportedly will not be singing the 7th inning stretch as he should be.  This could be the first of several official Cubs Olive Branch Extensions (could get Home Run Inn or Connie’s to sponsor?) to rid the organization of any residual bad mojo.  Next on this list should be Steve Bartman, a fan who became the unfortunate poster boy for losing out on the ‘03 World Series.  But maybe some others should be considered for official forgiveness?  Who would that be?  Leon Durham let a ball go through his legs in 1989 not unlike Bill Buckner did in Boston. Or how about Alex Gonzalez for booting a routine play to become the real culprit in the “Bartman” game. What about Rick Reuschel?  I don’t know where we wronged him, but his name always seems to be missing from Cubs Convention and 7th inning stretch duties - why is that?  I know Bill Madlock has recently started coming around again after being dumped for wanted to be paid like a batting champion. What about Burt Hooten, the last Cub to throw a no-hitter, I can’t recall him visiting.  Dallas Green & Don Zimmer aren’t around very much. Well, at least we made amends with Greg Maddux…   Who am I missing?

So Lee Elia has a collectible available with some proceeds going to Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities.  Its an autographed ball in a display case that has a (new) custom recording that is supposed to be more relevant than the famous tirade from 25yrs ago. Check it out at LeeUnplugged.com

Saw this video posted on a Mets fan blog “The ’Ropolitans”:

http://theropolitans.com/2008/04/joe-smith-does-not-like-cubs-fans.html

There is a video of Joe Smith (who?) verbally assaulting fans at Wrigley during batting practice. The audio suggests to me that he really wasn’t being ridden pretty hard and keeps turning back looking for more. Is this how a pro athelete should comport himself in public?  Oh yeah, he’s a Met…makes sense now.

Why was I on a Mets fan blog in the first place?  Because someone posted a comment here linking back, and I always screen comments to weed out inappropriate comments, spam, and phishing schemes.  You’re welcome.

I stumbled across this blog posting with a video of swimsuit model Marissa Miller throwing out a ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley.  She definately threw a high-hard-one…

 http://docksquad.blogspot.com/2008/04/great-first-pitch.html

Fukudome fever is growing with each game.  Word is Sports Illustrated, the NY Times, and Washington post have assigned writers to profile the Cubs mysterious rookie outfielder. Now it seems its not just his uniform number is number one - he is also leading sales of Cubs replica jereseys too!  People not only want to support him, but I think they really appreciate his work ethic and plate discipline. He’s quiet, but proving to be a team leader by example.  

Thinking of the short list of PTGHEY (Pitchers That Get Hurt Every Year), who’da thunk Kerry Wood would be rolling right along in the closer role on the Northside. Mike Hampton, Ben Sheets, Jason Schmidt, Randy Johnson, El Duque, and of course Mark Prior are all out of commission. But Kerry Wood seems fine - even thriving - as the Cubs closer. Like it or not, I think Wood’s health is a key ingredient to any hopes for October baseball in Wrigleyville…

I’ve been a Cub fan for many years and remember the mid-70’s teams pretty well.  I recall the ‘77 Cubs held first place from May 28 through August 9th, then faded into oblivion.  I remember the Whitey Lockmans, Herman Franks’, Jim Marshalls, Davey Rosellos, Ray Burris’, George “the Baron” Mitterwalds…but what I don’t remember is the ‘75 club getting off to a start comparable to the 2008 Cubs.  I want to say Bill Madlock was co-MVP of the All-Star game, sharing the honor with Jon Matlak of the (hated-) Mets.  But as I recall, the ‘75 team was as pathethic as the ‘74 team and ‘76 team.  I think they all finished well under .500.  It was the ‘77 Cubs that actually broke even at 81-81 after holding first place all summer.  But lots of talk now about that magical season of 1975???