Ron Santo's in the HOF

Finally!

Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

The last time I had been to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field was 1993.
They're not having a very good year this year, but today, they actually
looked pretty decent and won the game. We took the train from
Northwest Indiana up to downtown Chicago and then caught the
El to the Addison Street station, where we walked the one block to
Wrigley Field. It was COLD! More like Bears football weather than
late spring baseball weather. It was also raining when we first
arrived, but after a 30 minute delay, the game started. It was a lot
of fun and there was lots of action. The Cubs beat the New York
Mets 9-3 and everyone went home happy!

Chicago...From Space

Photo courtesy of NASA

Click on this photo for a larger, more impressive version.

While perusing blogs I read, I found this very cool photo of

Chicago (including Northwest Indiana, where I grew up) taken

from the International Space Station. I've seen photos similar

to this before, but I think it's very interesting that the space

station is shown in the photo as well. Gives it real perspective

and makes you think what it would be like to actually be looking

down to earth from this height, from a man made object.

Goodbye Ron Santo

Ernie Banks...
Ken Holtzman...
Fergie Jenkins...
Randy Hundley...
Don Kessinger...
Jim Hickman...
Billy Williams...
Ron Santo...

These were the Cubs I knew when I first became aware
of baseball...aware of being a Cub Fan. Now we've lost
one of them, as Ron Santo died today of complications
from bladder cancer and diabetes. Recently, he's been
the voice of the Cubs on WGN Radio and to date is
probably the best third baseman to play the game that
ISN'T IN THE HALL OF FAME! Hopefully the Veterans
Committee will come to their senses and vote him in.
As a player, an announcer, and as a person...he will
be missed.

Viva España!

For the first time since June 20th, 1993, I raised my voice while watching
a sporting event on television! On that date, Chicago Bulls guard, John
Paxson hit a late three point shot to give the Bulls the NBA championship
over the Phoenix Suns at America West Arena in Phoenix. Me? I was on
my couch in Naperville, Illinois watching the game. It was one of those
moments that makes a sports fan jubuliant and yell out with excitement.
17 years later, I'm not much of a sports fan, but today I let out that same
yell, as Andres Iniesta scored late in extra time of the FIFA World Cup
final to give Spain it's first title. I'm far from a expert of soccer (football),
but it was exciting as the team I was rooting for in the game (my favorites
going into the tournament were the USA and New Zealand) came away with
a win in a game who's outcome was far from certain. Exciting...yes. A major
milestone in my life...no. I reserve that moment for when the Chicago Cubs
win the World Series. Hopefully I'll still be young enough to get off the couch
to yell and be excited!

World Cup

I guess I'm not much of a soccer (I mean football) fan. I grew
up in an era when kids got together to play baseball and
basketball. Games in which you used your hands instead of
your feet. My nephews and niece of course grew up with the
game and it's totally natural for them to think of the sport on
an even keel with other sports. However, I definitely have a
small portion of my inner self that enjoys the complexity of
the game and the way it can stir the emotions of it's fans.
When I was in the hotel business, back in 1994, lots of
fans of the German national team stayed at our hotel while
first round games were played in Chicago. The fans were
really excited...both before and after a match. I occasionally
look at the scores of the Chicago Fire and was a fan of
the Chicago Sting in the early 80's when they won the first
championship of any kind Chicago had seen since the 1963
Chicago Bears. Even a few months ago I gawked at the
stadium of Real Salt Lake before Lynn chided me and we
almost drove off the road. So now, the US national team has
made it to the final 16 of Soccer's biggest show. I feel like I'm
following "The Beautiful Game" only lately, but I guess in some
ways, I've been following it all along. I hope our team does
well!

Blackhawks Win The Cup!

The Chicago Blackhawks have won the Stanley Cup, ending
a drought that saw their last NHL Championship in 1961.
It's been fun following them and special congrats to all of
the rabid Hawks fans that have been suffering for many years!



Photos courtesy of The Chicago Tribune

Flight 191

31 years ago today, I had just come home from school..
(For some reason, we went to school later in the month
back then) On television, came the news that an American
Airlines jet carrying 271 passengers and crew had crashed
after takeoff, killing all persons on board and two people
on the ground. An engine fell off the wing at takeoff and
the plane was never able to recover. For days, that's all we
saw on the television and in the newspapers. Way before the
days of digital cameras and camera phones, a person in the
parking lot snapped a quick, now famous, photo of the
plane just before the crash that is really haunting. I did
some research and there have been four commercial flights
in history with the designation Flight 191 that have crashed,
all with major losses of life. Probably just a coincidence, but
it would make me have second thoughts about catching a
flight listed as Flight 191. Every May 25th I still think of
the passengers, their families and friends. May they rest
in peace.

Western Conference Champions

We watched the Chicago Blackhawks on television today win
the Western Conference title against the San Jose Sharks and
they will be going to the Stanley Cup Finals. The last time they
were in the finals was 1992 and the last time they won the
Stanley Cup was 1961!

Home Opener

The Cubs won their home opener this afternoon by beating
Milwaukee 9-5. Let's hope they play better this summer than
last summer, and win the Division, and maybe more.

Dawson's in the Hall

Today, former Cub, Andre Dawson was voted into
the Baseball Hall of Fame. He wasn't my favorite
Cub of that era (Sandberg of course was my fav)
but he was right up there. Like another favorite,
Bill Buckner, he played most of his middle and
late career in constant pain. Andre's pain was
caused by way too many games on artificial turf
at the horrible stadium in Montreal. When he
signed with the Cubs as a free agent, he actually
took a pay cut so he could play on natural grass
most of his games. Now, artificial turf is a
rarity in baseball, but imagine what careers guys
like Andre and Buckner would have had if they
hadn't been crippled by this equivalent of concrete
painted green! Always a class act, he made
Wrigley Field his home and the fans loved him.
As Ryno said during his own acceptance speech
about Andre... "he played the game right".
Yes, he did.

Driving to Oklahoma

We left my Mom's pretty early in the morning and set off for
my sister Nancy's house in Altus, Oklahoma. You can make it
in one day, but it's a pretty long drive, so we split it up into two.
We decided to go a bit of a different route from the Chicago area
to southwest Oklahoma via the boot heel of Missouri and through
Arkansas. Instead of crossing the Mississippi River near St. Louis,
we crossed it near Cairo Illinois. We stopped briefly in New Madrid
Missouri and I was very disappointed. New Madrid was the site of
one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded. In the early 1800's
it made the Mississippi River run backwards and rang church bells
in Boston. A pretty big deal. However, no mention of it...not even a
sign near the courthouse could be found!


I was very impressed by the rest stops in Arkansas. The buildings
themselves were nothing to write home about but the grounds were
very nicely landscaped, with tons of flowers everywhere. It was very
pretty.


We spent the night in Little Rock and made it there just in time to
see this really pretty sunset as we rounded a bend in the highway.


Today, when entering Oklahoma, we stopped at a visitor center and
they had this painting on the wall. It's a copy of a famous painting of
the Trail of Tears. The Trail of Tears is a infamous journey made by
the Cherokee as they were forced from their homelands in the east
and sent to Oklahoma. Many died along the way. Descendants of
these same Cherokee live in this area of Oklahoma today.


I am always please that Oklahoma recognizes that it was once
"Indian Territory". This is reflected on it's license plates, state flag,
and even it's rest stops as we enjoyed these picnic areas where we
ate our lunch.

Carrie's Here

We picked up our friend Carrie at the train station north
of Chesterton and have had a nice visit. She's been living
in Chicago and is helping her sister and her family get
ready to move to a new house, but who couldn't pass up
a chance to visit with the Hamann's!!! Today we made the
drive across northern Indiana to go to a craft show at
Amish Acres in Nappanee. It was interesting and we bought
a few things but found the food to be very expensive so we
actually shared a $5 Lemonade! The evening before we
barbecued chicken on the grill and had veggie kabobs with
corn on the cob.

The Sandberg Game

It was 25 years ago today...

"On a Saturday afternoon with Bob Costas calling the game
for NBC, Ryne Sandberg cemented himself in the storied
history of the Chicago Cubs. One of the greatest games in
franchise history has since been nicknamed 'The Sandberg
Game' and for many reasons June 23, 1984 will be forever
etched in the memory of generations of Cubs fans.

Ryne Sandberg went on to win the NL MVP that season and
the Cubs made it to the post-season for the first time since
1945. A new generation of the Faithful was born that wonderful
summer.

Leading up to that Saturday afternoon, the Cubs had put together
a good season but nothing prepared those in attendance, or
watching at home, for what they were about to witness.

The Cubs were primed to make a run at the NL East title. They
were 36-31 entering play (a half game behind the Phillies) and
ten days earlier had acquired Rick Sutcliffe from the Cleveland
Indians for Mel Hall, Joe Carter, Don Schulze and Darryl Banks.

Steve Trout started the game and could not make it out of the
second inning. 'Rainbow' gave up seven runs on five hits in
1 1/3 innings. The Cubs trailed 7-1 as late as the fourth inning
and the game appeared to be over.

The Cubs began chipping away in the fifth, they closed the deficit
to 7-3 with a RBI groundout by Ryne Sandberg that plated Jay
Johnstone. Gary Matthews 'The Sarge' doubled in Bobby Dernier
with two outs for the Cubs third run of the game.

The Cardinals tacked on two in the top of the sixth off of Dickie
Noles. Willie McGee, who was named the player of the game
prematurely, knocked a two-run homer that increased the
Cardinals lead to 9-3. (A little known fact about that game,
Willie McGee hit for the cycle: 4-for-6 with six RBI and three
runs scored)

The Cubs plated five in the bottom of the sixth to make it a game
again. Neal Allen, one of the best relievers in the game at the time,
replaced Ralph Citarella. In fact, the NBC crew had nicknamed the
game 'The Citarella Story' because of his performance leading up
to being removed in the sixth.

Keith Moreland walked and advanced to second after Ron Cey was
hit by a pitch (Cey would leave the game and replaced by Richie
Hebner). Larry Bowa walked to load the bases and pinch hitter
Richie Hebner singled. With the bases still loaded, Bobby Dernier
doubled in Cey and Bowa. Ryne Sandberg followed with a two-run
single that plated Dernier and Hebner.

Both teams went quietly in the seventh and eighth innings. The
Cardinals managed a hit in the ninth but could not add to their lead.

With the Cardinals up by a score of 9-8 and Bruce Sutter on the
mound, Ryne Sandberg led off the ninth. Sandberg tied the game
with one swing of the bat.

The Cardinals took a comfortable two-run lead off of Lee Smith in
the 10th ... and to this day Smith tells the story that if he had not given
up the two runs in the tenth then the 'game' would have never happened.

With the Cubs down by a pair in the bottom of the tenth, Bruce Sutter
retired Larry Bowa on a ground out to second and Richie Hebner on a
ground out to first. Bobby Dernier walked, or did he? It was a very
close call on a check swing that went the Cubs way on that afternoon.

Ryne Sandberg got another chance against Bruce Sutter and delivered.
On a 1-1 pitch from Bruce Sutter, Sandberg launched a ball into the
bleachers into left center that tied the game at 11 in the tenth ... his
second homer of the day.

Leon Durham led off the 11th with a walk, stole second and after
a throwing error by Darrell Porter advanced Durham to third, Whitey
Herzog walked both Keith Moreland and Jody Davis to load the bases.
Dave Owen, the last position player available for Jim Frey, delivered
the game winner, a pinch-hit single to right that plated Leon Durham.

Ryne Sandberg finished the afternoon 5-for-6 with two home runs
and seven RBI. The five hits and seven RBI set career highs at the
time for the future Hall of Famer ... before the ninth inning, Sandberg
was 2-for-12 in his career against Bruce Sutter".

Maurice Lennel Cookies

A childhood memory of mine is Maurice Lenell Cookies. They
were (are) those kind of cookies that look good on a plate
but never quite taste as good as they look. Kind of like
the cookies with odd jelly centers that elderly aunts would
serve to the kids while the grownups would sit around and talk.
If we weren't having homemade cookies, we were more of a
Salerno Butter Cookie family, so if we had Maurice Lenell, it
was rare. Let's just say the packaging was more intriguing
than the cookies themselves. The packaging probably tasted
better too.


When I got to work today, Matt...one of the Load Planners, had
received a bucket of Maurice Lenell Cookies from his Mom in
North Carolina. I didn't even know that they were available
outside of Chicago!!! And what kind of bucket was it? One with
a Nativity Scene with the Three Wise Men riding camels. Our
friend Leza always sends us a Christmas card with walking camels
and 3 wise guys on it so I felt this bucket would be mine....oh yes,
it would be mine! So I negotiated with Matt (amazingly he looked
at me oddly and didn't even haggle!) and when the cookies are gone,
yes...the bucket will be in my hot little hands. OK...I'm even
creeping myself out here in a Gollum-esque kind of way. Regardless,
I'm going to enjoy the bucket...even if it once had old-lady
cookies in it.

One of Four

Today the Cubs (and us fans) held the first of four
celebrations that will be happening over the next few
weeks.

1. Central Division Champs
2. National League Division Series Champs
3. National League Championship Series Champs
4. World Series Champs

It will be an interesting next few weeks at Clark and
Addison!

90 Billion Gallons

The recent rainfall that we experienced in Chicagoland
dumped an estimated 90 billion gallons on the area.
Lake Michigan rose an average of 1 inch from South to
North. That's a LOT of rain!

No-No

Tonight we watched Carlos Zambrano pitch the first no-hitter
for the Cubs since Milt Pappas performed the feat 36 years ago,
in 1972. I was only 6 years old!

Visiting Dad

Lynn and I got off the Ice on the 8th and after 23 hours
in airplanes, made it back to the Chicago area to see my
Mom and Dad. Dad was moved from the hospital on Thursday
to the VNA Horton Hospice Center in Valparaiso.


It's a really nice place that is really comfortable for
Dad and it's almost like he's in a living room. We're
going to bring his two pups up the first day it isn't
raining and I know he's looking forward to that.


I've enjoyed visiting with my sisters and brother as well as
my Aunt Sharon and Uncle Ray and cousin Diane. Diane was nice
enough to pick us up at O'Hare and even though they lost our
bags between LAX and ORD, our travels were super smooth.

Final Four Cities

Today Chicago was chosen as one of the final four cities
as bid finalists for the 2016 cities. Also chosen were
Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro. The cities that didn't
make the cut were Doha Qatar, Prague Czech Republic and
Baku Azerbaijan. Now the International Olympic Committee
will review all four bids and make a final decision on
October 2, 2009.