March 28, 2007
Of Cubs,
Grandsons & Perfection

Can there be a perfect day?  Indeed. To be exact, it was 10 years ago yesterday. 

Growing up, decades ago, in a small town 150 miles outside Chicago, I became obsessed in my loyalty to the boys in blue and white, Chicago Cubs.   

Keep in mind the Cubs of the fifties were beyond bad, they bordered on abysmal.  But my faith was strong.  Every afternoon, there were no night games at Wrigley Field the Cubbies home park, I lived and died (mostly died) listening to the WGN radio play by play of the Addison Street Miracles, on the upright Philco radio in the family living room. 

Though the Cubs swooned every June heading straight to the National League basement, I never gave up hope, being absolutely convinced my manifest destiny was to not only play 3^rd base for the Cubs but also lead the Northsiders into the World Series.  Unfortunately, along about early teenage, life introduced me to curve balls.  I was overmatched by “the hook”.  

Every oh so long, bat on the shoulder walk to the dugout that always followed another losing battle with a bender, brought into clearer view the fact third base and the Cubs were a vanishing dream.  But those summer afternoons of ears glued to Cub broadcasts, hearing the voices of Burt Wilson, Jack Quinlan and Vince Lloyd painting a words eye view of Wrigley Field action, brought about a new hope, being the Chicago Cub play by play guy. 

Teen fantasies give way to adult reality.  Eventually life found me in the radio business on the lee side of the Rockies.  Whenever someone inquired how one winds up in broadcasting the explanation was simple enough, it all started desperately wanting to be the voice of Cub baseball. 

Ten years ago yesterday that wish came true.  

My sister, our sales manager, hatched a plan with the folks at KOA in Denver.  They held the radio rights to Rockies broadcasts.  With their blessing I would do the play by play of a Cubs/Rockies spring training game in Tucson.  The game was not being carried on the network.  She came up with the idea of my broadcasting the game back to Grand Junction.  We promised the game advertising proceeds would go to Grand Valley high school baseball programs.  While the high school teams benefited from the bucks, to be honest, the big winner was this kid.  A fantasy came true that March afternoon calling an actual Cubs game from a sold out stadium in Tucson. 

Later, listening to a tape of the game, the announcing was on a par with my ability to hit a curve ball.  Even the most devout of baseball fans must have had trouble keeping track of what was happening in Tucson.  The game play by play became almost incidental once I received word our eldest daughter had given birth earlier that day to our first grandchild, the first male in the family for 57 years.