happy!

I got the invoice for my postseason tickets today.

yeah!
:)

This really needs to be the year I get to use all of them. I don't like having a stash of unused World Series tickets lying around.
:(

above the rest...

Derrick Lee is literally a head above the rest.

:)

RBI

Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities

I have been working this year with the Chicago chapter of RBI, which is now a "proud sponsor" of KPMG. it's been a lot of fun. We started out the year with keeping score for the games. There were two a night, one for the junior league and one for the senior league. Sunday, August 3rd RBI was invited to participate in a clinic held at Wrigley field prior to the game versus Pittsburgh. The program invited the winning senior team and the junior all-stars. Of course they needed some extra chaperons from KPMG. A few of us scorekeepers were invited to help out and spend the day with them. It started out early by meeting at the park at 9:00 in the morning. The same time the Cubs were starting to arrive.

The players started out with workouting on the field lead by three of the Cubs coaches; Larry Rothschild, Alan Trammell, and Ivan DeJesus. I sat and watched the pitchers with Larry. It was very interesting to hear him speak to the boys. Then a few of them took turns pitching. I liked how he found good and bad things to tell each boy as they took their turn. Another group practice snagging fly balls up against the ivy and the third group caught grounders and throwing to first base.

All the boys looked like the were enjoying themselves and taking in all in, even a few of the chaperons had big smiles. After 45 minutes of field work, the team settled in to watch Kerry Wood throw two simulated innings, part of his recovery from the nasty blister plaguing him for the last month. The next stop was moving everyone closer to the on-deck circle for pictures and autographs. This was the most exciting part, not just for the team. They sat us down in aisle 116 right next to the dugout. In groups of 3 to 5, they stepped on the field to the on-deck circle for a picture then into the dugout for another picture. Once the team was done, the KPMGers took our spot in line. One overheard comment... "i think they are smiling bigger than the boys." that just made us smile even more. As we sat and waited a few of the players came over to say Hi! and sign autographs.

Derrick Lee

Mark DeRosa
Jim Edmonds
Ryan Theriot

We were even treated to a game a catch... with a football, lead by former quarterback Mark DeRosa. Even Zambrano got in the middle with a stunning intercetion.

After watching batting practice, stretching, and some running drills, we were ready to go in for lunch. We were lead around the park to the Stadium Club. Inside we had a small room to ourselves. I looked at the person next to me and said, "I am ready for a hotdogs." then a Cubs personal stood up and welcomed us to the Stadium Club, he also announced that you will not find the normal stadium food in the club but that we were being treated to a wonderful all-you-can-eat brunch buffet. I have to admit i was a bit sad. I was looking forward to a hotdog and nachos. It was good food. The boys ate their fill, received t-shirts and caps from KPMG, then we escorted them to the final destination to watch the game. What a game it was! They won, even though for a moment things didn't look good when the game was tied in the late innings. But that's what the Cubs do these days, come back from behind. Go Cubs!

Trade rumors

Today is one of baseball's trade deadlines.

My favorite "straight up" trade... Manny Ramirez (Boston Red Sox) for Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers).





I found a picture...

stretch

Well, once again, I did not make it into the top 50 for the Seventh Inning Stretch competition. Voting is on the Cubs web-site if you want to see the ones that made it.

Tell it to the Cubs

The Cubs are running a program for season ticket holders called "Tell it to the Cubs". They sent out an invitation to the season ticket holders asking them if they wanted to participate in a question and answer lunch at Wrigley. As you can imagine the response was high. The first lunch was held back in June. I was not invited to that one. I was, however, privileged to be invited to the last one held yesterday, Wednesday July 23. It's always fun to be in Wrigley on a non-game day.

It was a beautiful day. We were led into the park and herded towards an open concession stand for lunch. They served a modified menu of hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, malt cups, and drinks. I grabbed a hotdog, chips, and a small Pepsi. They had us sitting in sections 130/131. We were in the shade the speakers were in the sun.

It was an open mic-question and answer session. Cranne Kenney introduced others joining him, then lead the discussion after a short welcome. It was interesting to hear what was on people's minds. There were 5 year ticket holders all the way to 35 year ticket holder. Even the owner of the McDonald's across the way was there as a season ticket holder. As each person stepped up to the mic, they gave their name, number of years as a ticket holders, and their section. They weren't told to do this the first person did, so everyone else did.

So what was on the minds of the ticket holders? History of the ballpark was a hot topic, a hall of fame in the new triangle building answered most of those questions. Future upgrades and improvements to the ball park, the triangle building again was a common response. The triangle building was proposed back in 2004/5. It would hold parking, a hall of fame, offices, restaurants, and shops. it would take some of the current offices out of the park to make room for improvements and expansion in the park. The updating the bathrooms and controlling the flow of the traffic in the bathroom was a very hot topic. A few suggestions for special promotions for season ticket holders and other regular attenders were given, including a swipe card for various uses. These were welcomed suggestions and even received a couple "watch your mail this off-season for details" responses. Questions on landmark status, traffic/police/security around the park, sound system, customer relation service, new owner process, replays on the tvs, and upgrading/swapping season tickets. Several people also started out by giving "props" for the way that they handled the up-grades to the park over the years - bleachers, press boxes, lights, and suites. There were a few questions regarding ticket prices and revenue but they were all answered with bringing in a team to compete and win a world series. One suggestion for more revenue would be showing away post-season games in Wrigley. There were a few on-the-spot poles by a show of hands. One was if a jumbo screen could be put up separate from the scoreboard, would you approve? Another was should the "L" flag be raised at the end of game to announce the Cubs lost that game?

All and all it was a very interesting session lasting just over two hours. On our way out we were given a bag of promotion "leftovers". A min-baseball bat, a insulated mug (looking about 20 years old), a webkinz, a build-a-bear cubby, and a Cubs uniform for an American Girl doll.

Summer in Chicago

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away... ok it wasn't that long ago but it seems like it, Ann-Marie and I got it into our heads that we wanted to go to SuperDawg one day. It was so long ago I don't even remember how the topic of conversation started. Upon her return from the motherland, Sweden, we decided to have a lunch together after church the following Sunday. The possibilities were endless... should we stay in and fix something, pick something up and eat-in, or go somewhere. It didn't take too long and I declared "we should go to SuperDawg." The decision was made and the excitement started to build. Who wouldn't be excited about eating a hotdog under a giant hotdog?
It turned out that Sunday was the perfect day to go. It was warm but not too warm, our timing was great. We pulled right into a spot and decided to order and eat in the car. That's half the fun, right?
Of course we had to take time and read the menu, carefully choosing what we wanted before pressing the button to order. It came quickly. We each enjoyed a SuperDawg with fries and a thick chocolate malt. we did giggly at ourselves a few times for being so excited about the visit but it was well worth it. talks about going back ended our meal.

It's one of those fun Chicago places to go. I highly recommend it.

Hiya! and enjoy!

http://www.superdawg.com/

I sang a wrong word

I sang a wrong word. i have to admit it and it's on film. Ok film that was probably erased a minute after i left but it still happened. Friday morning was my try-out for the second annual 7th Inning stretch competition at Wrigley. it was a warm day and I was lucky to be in the first round of singers for the day. This year I heard they only had one day of try-outs with approximately 1,100 people invited to sing. In two days last year that was about the number of people that showed up even though about twice as many were invited. That's what was passed on to us by the escort we had to lead us around Wrigley. He escorted us down into the bowls of Wrigley. There we sat in the stuffy heat of the hallway while we waited to be called. After the first person went, there were technical problems that had to be solved before the next person could sing. We had about 35 minutes to check out our surroundings and chat with each other.

Across the way from us hung the chains they use in-between the innings to smooth out the dirt on the infield.

To the left of me sat stacks and stacks of the "kitty litter" they use on the field to soak up the puddles after a rain delay.

To the right of me sat sandbags and the rakes they used to tidy up the field.

A rather interesting place to sit and wait. Did i mention that it was warm down there? I was glad to have brought some water even though it went fast. Finally it was time to get going again, good thing because we were starting to melt. the next three people went in and came out, then it was my turn. I was warm and a little nervous. I joked with my escort, as we entered the air conditioned room with some showers, and asked if i could take a quick shower. I entered the next room which I learned was the umpires locker room. It was small but had some nice big comfortable looking recliners. I stood up there and started singing... "take me out to the ball game. take me out with the park..." what? what did i just sing? keep singing. keep singing. "I said a wrong word. I'm so sorry. I've never done that." i blurted that out as soon as i was done. "yah you did but you sounded really good while you did it," was one of the judges response. "I'm sure you've noticed that most people who sing don't get the words right. Don't worry about it." The judge asked a couple of questions and then thanks me for singing and i'm on my way. I can't believe i mess-up. I've never done that before. I was hoping to at least make it to the next 50 this year but doubt that will happen now. Even with the extra waiting time I was done and outside by 10:30.

One piece of sad news was announced on the news Friday morning, the young man that won the 7th inning stretch competition passed away. He was battling cancer last year and lost his battle just as the competition for this year was starting. My prayers go out to his family.