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    <title>SBNation.com User Blog:  Cribbs463</title>
    <link>http://www.sbnation.com/users/Cribbs463</link>
    <description>Posts made by Cribbs463 on SBNation.com</description>
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      <title>A new Cub on the team!

Sorry it's taken so long, but on November 6 Colton Ryne Cribbs joined the...</title>
      <link>http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/11/25/670703/a-new-cub-on-the-team-sorr</link>
      <author>Cribbs463</author>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:47:13 -0000</pubDate>
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&lt;img alt=&quot;2007831500077917323s425x425q85&quot; src=&quot;http://cdn3.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/22438/2007831500077917323s425x425q85.jpg&quot; /&gt;

&lt;div class=&quot;source source-img&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A new Cub on the team!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Sorry it's taken so long, but on November 6 Colton Ryne Cribbs joined the family. He was 8 lbs. and Bleeds Cubbie Blue. He is our first, and we are very proud. Trivia time! First person that can guess who his middle name is named after wins a FREE WEEK of diaper duty!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

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      <title>OT - Kimbo Slice defeated in 14 seconds</title>
      <link>http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/10/4/628408/ot-kimbo-slice-defeated-in</link>
      <author>Cribbs463</author>
      <pubDate>Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:12:49 -0000</pubDate>
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  &lt;p&gt;Flipping back and forth between the game and the MMA matches. Shamrock was taken off the card before the bout, and a young guy stepped up and agreed to fight Slice. Beat the&amp;nbsp;H-E-double-hockey-sticks&amp;nbsp;out of him in under 20 seconds.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If this can happen here, then it can happen in baseball. When nobody else has your back, time to move your back. Yeah, we are playing bad, but it's not over until the last out.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Flipping back and forth between the game and the MMA matches. Shamrock was taken off the card before the bout, and a young guy stepped up and agreed to fight Slice. Beat the&amp;nbsp;H-E-double-hockey-sticks&amp;nbsp;out of him in under 20 seconds.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If this can happen here, then it can happen in baseball. When nobody else has your back, time to move your back. Yeah, we are playing bad, but it's not over until the last out.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;



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      <title>The infamous BCB shirt, seen at the Cubs game vs. the Brewers on 7/30/08. Now, if we can only fin...</title>
      <link>http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/7/30/583177/the-infamous-bcb-shirt-see</link>
      <author>Cribbs463</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:01:10 -0000</pubDate>
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&lt;object height=&quot;344&quot; width=&quot;425&quot;&gt;&lt;param name=&quot;movie&quot; value=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/v/W014-sWqngk&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;fs=1&quot; /&gt;&lt;param name=&quot;allowFullScreen&quot; value=&quot;true&quot; /&gt;&lt;embed src=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/v/W014-sWqngk&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&quot; type=&quot;application/x-shockwave-flash&quot; allowfullscreen=&quot;true&quot; height=&quot;344&quot; width=&quot;425&quot;&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;

&lt;div class=&quot;source source-img&quot;&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The infamous BCB shirt, seen at the Cubs game vs. the Brewers on 7/30/08. Now, if we can only find out which member it is!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

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      <title>Kudos from a Cubbie</title>
      <link>http://www.draysbay.com/2008/6/19/555286/kudos-from-a-cubbie</link>
      <author>Cribbs463</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:16:03 -0000</pubDate>
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  &lt;p&gt;I mentioned in the Rays-Cubs thread a couple days ago that I thought the Cubs would take 2 of 3, simply because we have been winning games lately we normally would lose. No excuses from me, we got flat outplayed in this series. We had mental breakdowns, our normally steady bullpen got hammered, and the young talent of the Rays brought it all series. My hat is off to the Rays, who are (and have been for years) my favorite AL team. The Rays kicked ass, and the Cubs looked like little-leaguers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;What a talented team you guys have in Tampa, and you should be very proud. As most road games I attend for the Cubs, we seemed to pack the stadium, but I earnestly hope the folks in the Tampa Bay region realize what a gem of a team is playing right there in the Bayand get behind that team to keep growing it and become a powerhouse. God, please beat the brakes off the Yanks and Red Sox, and maybe ESPN will get off their jocks.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As always, I have had a wonderful time here, and the Rays fans have been a lot of fun and incredibly hospitable. Thanks to Jared, Eddie, Ashley, and the other chick (sorry I can't remember the name) for buying me drinks to drown my sorrows after the game at the bar. You guys were great fun and I hope you remembered the name of this site and joined up to read. Thanks for those Jagerbombs, though I think my liver is crying right now.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Best of luck to the Rays, I would love to see you guys again in October and maybe y'all can leave some of the talent at home. :)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I mentioned in the Rays-Cubs thread a couple days ago that I thought the Cubs would take 2 of 3, simply because we have been winning games lately we normally would lose. No excuses from me, we got flat outplayed in this series. We had mental breakdowns, our normally steady bullpen got hammered, and the young talent of the Rays brought it all series. My hat is off to the Rays, who are (and have been for years) my favorite AL team. The Rays kicked ass, and the Cubs looked like little-leaguers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;What a talented team you guys have in Tampa, and you should be very proud. As most road games I attend for the Cubs, we seemed to pack the stadium, but I earnestly hope the folks in the Tampa Bay region realize what a gem of a team is playing right there in the Bayand get behind that team to keep growing it and become a powerhouse. God, please beat the brakes off the Yanks and Red Sox, and maybe ESPN will get off their jocks.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As always, I have had a wonderful time here, and the Rays fans have been a lot of fun and incredibly hospitable. Thanks to Jared, Eddie, Ashley, and the other chick (sorry I can't remember the name) for buying me drinks to drown my sorrows after the game at the bar. You guys were great fun and I hope you remembered the name of this site and joined up to read. Thanks for those Jagerbombs, though I think my liver is crying right now.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Best of luck to the Rays, I would love to see you guys again in October and maybe y'all can leave some of the talent at home. :)&lt;/p&gt;



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      <title>What's your Opening Day ritual?</title>
      <link>http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/3/28/363393/what-s-your-opening-day-ri</link>
      <author>Cribbs463</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:58:31 -0000</pubDate>
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  &lt;p&gt;Well, I am as excited as I can be. Whether the game is rained out or not, I am off work Monday to watch at home. The routine varies, but this year will start differently, in hopes of finding the right mix.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;8:00 Wake up, get coffee&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;8:45 Head to massage appointment&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;10:00 Head home, drink bottle of water, stop and put ice on beer in cooler&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;10:15 Arrive home, turn on WGN for game day festivities and documentaries. Make pitcher of bloody mary.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;12:00 Make hot dogs with chili and cheese, switch from Bloody Mary to Budweisers&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;2:20 Game time! Continue consumption of Budweiser.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;5:00 Try to be relatively sober and happy when Mrs. Cubbie gets home.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;5:30 - ???: Explain the broken TV, curtains pulled down, empty beer cans strewn around living room, and why my step-cat won't come near me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So Cub fans, what's your opening day plans?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Well, I am as excited as I can be. Whether the game is rained out or not, I am off work Monday to watch at home. The routine varies, but this year will start differently, in hopes of finding the right mix.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;8:00 Wake up, get coffee&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;8:45 Head to massage appointment&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;10:00 Head home, drink bottle of water, stop and put ice on beer in cooler&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;10:15 Arrive home, turn on WGN for game day festivities and documentaries. Make pitcher of bloody mary.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;12:00 Make hot dogs with chili and cheese, switch from Bloody Mary to Budweisers&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;2:20 Game time! Continue consumption of Budweiser.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;5:00 Try to be relatively sober and happy when Mrs. Cubbie gets home.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;5:30 - ???: Explain the broken TV, curtains pulled down, empty beer cans strewn around living room, and why my step-cat won't come near me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So Cub fans, what's your opening day plans?&lt;/p&gt;



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      <title>A new Cub signing!
</title>
      <link>http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/3/13/144416/793</link>
      <author>Cribbs463</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:44:16 -0000</pubDate>
      <description type="html">

  








  &lt;p&gt;Cubs Sign New Fan to Loooooong-term deal&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Cubs Sign New Fan to Loooooong-term deal&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Well, sorta.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It's an addition to the team, I guess you could say.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mrs. FloridaCubbie informed me this morning that she was impregnated at some point recently. Likely last week when she went out with the girls and got so drunk she probably drank me pretty, and fumbled her way through a gruesome 6.5 minute sexual encounter with me. Either way, she has a cub in the oven. Our first. I am excited, I think. Still in shock, sort of...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Weird, we just had a thread recently about Cub-related names for children.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Anyhow, we'll see how this goes. Should be quite an experience. Not sure if I am looking for congratulations or support, but sometime come late November/early December she will be downloading a new Cub fan. Hopefully I will be able to buy it a &quot;Chicago Cubs World Series Champions 2008&quot; bib and some St. Louis Cardinal diapers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The bigger issue at hand is ironing out whether offspring will be a Gator or Seminole.&lt;/p&gt;



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      <title>Recommended Coffee Table (or Bathroom) Book
</title>
      <link>http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2007/8/27/19572/8686</link>
      <author>Cribbs463</author>
      <pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2007 23:57:02 -0000</pubDate>
      <description type="html">

  








  &lt;p&gt;Warning, this is long, with lots of rambling, so if you are genuinely interested in the book, scroll to the bottom. :)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Warning, this is long, with lots of rambling, so if you are genuinely interested in the book, scroll to the bottom. :)&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Well, as is no surprise, I am a baseball nut. Genuine, bona fide, authentic, old-fashioned, red-blooded, American baseball nut. I debate this to no end with people I know who insist baseball is a boring sport with absolutely no athletic value.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I hesitate to call them friends, because frankly, I have no friends who don't like baseball -- what's the point? It's like having friends that don't drink (which I do have friends like that) because I like them, they are genuinely nice people, but I always feel a little awkward having a beer around them until I get the first 8 or 10 down, and then it's a non-issue.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I digress though.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I have heard the arguments from these people that NFL players are more athletic, and that the sport of pro football is so much better. I have heard the argument that the NBA has a better product and that the athletes are much more talented. I have even had one co-worker try to tell me that MLS is a better game with much better athletes. I bludgeoned that guy to near-death with a lukewarm squash while singing &quot;Take Me Out to the Ballgame&quot;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I am always up for intellectual debate, and I am not always right. When someone has a better point, I will concede it and state my opinion on it. As Al eloquently signs on each post, it is my opinion and if you don't like it, I have others.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Football players are a special breed. You can be born with the gift of size and make a great living playing football. You may not be athletic or the brightest color in the Crayon box, but if you are naturally 6'6&quot; and 315 pounds and can bench-press a single-wide trailer, then you can likely get a job in the NFL. If you have big hands and enjoy curling full kegs of beer in your spare time, you likely can start for a pro team.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Soccer players are no doubt, very athletic. I am not knocking soccer players, as they have an incredible amount of stamina and cardiovascular health, as do NBA players. The fellas in the NBA possess a certain amount of agility and raw talent to do what they do, and they have a skill unrivaled by other sports. But, most of them have to be tall to be considered. Talent can trump some of that, as evidenced by many short stars of the game past and present. Consider Spud Webb, Mugsy Bogues, John Stockton, and a plethora of others.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But baseball players come in all shapes and sizes. They hone their craft for several years in the farm system before they may even get a shot. There aren't any that come out of high school in the summer and go straight to the big leagues. There are some that could be close to it (Miguel Cabrera at age 20), but generally, baseball players are born with the ability and the talent, but must still refine their skill for a degree of time before they get the chance. Even at the big league level, the best can struggle, and even a smooth defensive player can not go out and consistently go 3-4 at the plate every night. Compound that with playing 5 to 6 games a week or more, and it becomes clear that these guys who play the game are skilled, talented, and physically blessed, and must maintain that for their career.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Again, I am not taking anything from other athletes in other sports, and I don't think any one is better than the other as they all put in a lot of time, sweat, and tears to be the best at their game. Personally, as a person who has been in a few scuffles at some of the best honky-tonks in the area, I have a tremendous amount of respect for boxers. I have been in fights for a few minutes, and felt like I ran a marathon, fought a grizzly bear, and tried to chop-block a slow moving freight train when it was all over. I don't care to do it anymore, and in hindsight, probably wasn't as good as it as I originally thought I was.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Boxers are in shape. Man, they do round after round of jabbing, moving, sticking, bobbing, and weaving, all while taking jabs to the face and body.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Now why am I saying all this when the diary was titled about a book? Well, in addition to creating an unbelievably long diary which no doubt has met the word minimum, I suspect that many of you here are baseball fans like me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So, I told you all that to tell you about a new book I have. It was given to me by a coworker who is a baseball fan. Her and her husband get the season package every year and we talk baseball a lot, although she loves the Yankees. She can hold her own in a baseball conversation, and her and her husband make annual treks a couple hours south for Spring Training games every spring.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;She gave me this book which some of you may have, but if you don't, let me tell you that this book is the perfect example of a coffee table book. You know, the one you throw on the table in your living room just so people will pick it up when they come over and thumb through with a half-interested look.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The book is called &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.amazon.com/Historic-Ballparks-Panoramic-John-Pastier/dp/0785820736&quot;&gt;&quot;Historic Ballparks - A Panoramic Vision&quot;&lt;/a&gt; and it's by John Pastier.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Er6p0sarL._SS500_.jpg&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This book is a baseball lovers dream. It starts out with a look back at the architecture of the old stadiums, and is packed with full two-page panoramic pictures of ballparks past and present. The pages about Wrigley Field are interesting, and has some information I never knew. Of course, I never took the time to learn about a lot of the old stadiums, but this book opens a new dimension of learning to me, which is in itself, odd.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So, in summary, I highly recommend it. At about 12&quot; x 16&quot;, it may not be the most convenient to read in the bathroom, but it sure makes for a nice addition to the coffee table, and people will be more likely to believe you are a baseball fan than anything else you leave on that table, like &quot;The History of Modern Muffin Molding&quot; that your wife leaves there.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I have a friend that subscribes to Cigar Afficionado magazine, and The New Yorker, and he doesn't even smoke cigars and to be honest, I didn't even know that he knew how to read.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So, check it out, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Florida Cubbie&lt;/p&gt;



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      <title>A conversation with Mike Fontenot
</title>
      <link>http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2007/8/24/17650/5798</link>
      <author>Cribbs463</author>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:06:50 -0000</pubDate>
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  &lt;p&gt;Recently, I had the opportunity to catch up with Cubs infielder Mike Fontenot to discuss things about the season, his career, and life in general.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;--------------------&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Florida Cubbie: Mike, first of all, thanks for allowing me to interview you. Taking into consideration my disdain for the word &quot;interview&quot;, I would like to just call this a conversation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mike Fontenot: Anytime, it's a pleasure to talk to fans.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Let's face it though, Font. You would much rather be talking to Erin Andrews or Rosie O'Donnell, am I correct?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Halfway correct.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: There's a lot of talk on certain Cub fan blog sites of things that go on in the minor leagues -- conspiracy theories if you will. Speaking of Rosie, one theory is that Cedeno plays poorly inthe big leagues because he has a &quot;certain someone&quot; back in Iowa he wants to get back to see. &amp;nbsp;Any truth to that rumor?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Well, Ronny has a certain aura about him in Iowa. It's not uncommon to have guys be snazzy dressers, but it's odd to see that in a place like Iowa. The women have winter coats there, kind of an extra layer to keep them warm. It's quite nice really, and nuzzling up beside one brings back mammaries -- err, memories of being in the womb. Maybe he has bonded with that feeling and longs for it in his loins.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Font -- do you mind if I call you Font?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Call me anything you want, man.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: What about Eugene?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Whatever you want.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Okay, Mr. McMilkySkin. You were acquired from the Orioles in a trade that sent Sammy Sosa to the O's. Is that a career highlight, to be involved in a trade with a player with that star power?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Well, I wouldn't call it a highlight. It's pretty demeaning because it took like, 4 or 5 of my caliber players to make the work. You get used to that in baseball, it's a business. I am thinking of naming my child &quot;Player to be Named Later&quot; so that I know he will have a job in this game.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Milk, I mean, Mike...I have to bring this up. You're pretty white. Like, borderline from being the Chris Mullin of baseball. Do you ever feel, you know, really weird standing next to someone much darker, say Felix Pie?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Wow, that's a low blow. Felix is very dark. I mean, one time in Iowa, we had a night practice, and he was fined for being absent, even though he was right by me. In the minors, when we were on the bus, we would put all the guys who wanted to rest and sleep on the back of the bus. All the guys who wanted to play cards would go up front. If the card players needed light, I would go to the front of the bus, and Felix would go to the back. It was our own little traveling solar system.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: So, who would have been, you know...the planets and stuff?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Murton would have definitely been the North Star. Greatest minor leaguer I have ever seen. Soto is a close second, he rakes in the minors.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: There's a rumor of Mark Cuban buying the Cubs. What would you think of that?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: I'm all for it, I like being pampered. We could use a couple of tanning beds in the clubhouse. Maybe a Supercuts or something to keep Hank's Mexi-Mullett trimmed up nice and tight.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Tell me about the dark secrets of the clubhouse and being on the road with these guys for most of the year. Let's start with Dempster, who is regarded as a funny guy himself.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Demspter is addicted to tech stuff. He carries his laptop on the road, and enjoys talking dirty with himself using text-to-speech software on lonely west-coast flights.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: So tech stuff is his hobby?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: No, his hobby is blowing saves. (laughs) Actually, I think he is getting a kickback from medical researchers who use his outings as stress tests for patients. It saves money on the treadmill test, they can just tune in the 9th inning and get it done faster.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Tell me about D-Lee.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: He's tall. He is like the Sears Tower, and I'm like, a strip mall or something. Run down, low-rent, and generally loved by poor people.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Do fans ever yell out to you by your nickname of &quot;Font&quot;?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Umm, yeah, sometimes. It's not a unique name. Not like McMilkFace or whatever you called me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Do you ever worry that when someone yells out &quot;Font&quot; that they may be actually a fan of Times New Roman or Sans Serif?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: I have no idea what that is, is that an Italian wine or something?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: What was your best career day with the Baltimore organization?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: The day I heard I was being sent to the Cubs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Growing up in Louisiana, did you ever eat mud?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: It was a staple of the Slidell diet.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: You and Theriot have played together a lot. Is there a mental connection that you two have grown to share?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: We're not gay, if that's what you are getting at. He's a spaz, man. Riot is a grinder. He gets all the ladies too. He is a poor man's Brad Paisley, but he doesn't sing as good. He tries to win karaoke contests. His sensual and godlike renditions of the Star Spangled Banner made him an instant Iowa celebrity when he was awarded the entire Iowa Lottery. He won like 14 ears of corn. It was crazy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Wow. Enough to feed the team almost.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Almost! He is a mysterious being, often shrouded in secret musings about such odd topics like &quot;If someone owns a piece of land, do they own it all the way to the center of the earth?&quot;. He once sent an email to the UN Ambassador to the country of Botswana asking to change the name of their country to &quot;Autobotswana&quot;. I guess he likes Transformers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: In light of recent troubles with athletes, does it concern you about the role of athletes as role models for children?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Nah, most parents do a good job with their kids, but I try to be positive. After the Michael Vick deal, I started &quot;Bad Bloomz Kennels&quot; andhave begun breeding dandelions for fighting and gambling purposes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Dang, that's ruthless.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: No, I breed them so they don't use pistils. I don't allow weapons and handguns.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Interesting. And that appeals to you?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Well, it helps me stamen out of trouble. I can petal my wares to buyers who are looking for that kind of thing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Let's do a little word association. I'll say a word, you tell me the first thing you think of.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Shoot...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Error.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: My computer.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Pimento Cheese.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Sweet Lou's breath.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Natural Light.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Tony LaRussa's breath.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Noodle&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Either catching catfish back home in Louisiana, or Jacque Jones' arm.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Steve Goodman&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: That movie &quot;The Babe&quot;. Man, he was awesome, looked just like Babe Ruth. I liked him as Dan Connor in Roseanne too.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Umm...okay...how about &quot;lazy&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Stuart Scott's eye.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Mike, I know you have to get ready for the game, so thanks for your time and good luck.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Thanks a lot, it has been fun. Tell all the guys at bleedcubbieblue.com that I read all the time and they can lay off the personal attacks. I have feelings too, you know.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;-------&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;[Note: This interview is fictional, and never happened. This was written as humor and/or satire, and does not represent the opinions, thoughts, or words of Mike Fontenot.]&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This piece was inspired by the minor league players of the Iowa Cubs. Many of the players claim Mike Fontenot is the funniest teammate they have ever had, so I chose to poke some fun with it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Until next time, GO CUBS!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Florida Cubbie&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Recently, I had the opportunity to catch up with Cubs infielder Mike Fontenot to discuss things about the season, his career, and life in general.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;--------------------&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Florida Cubbie: Mike, first of all, thanks for allowing me to interview you. Taking into consideration my disdain for the word &quot;interview&quot;, I would like to just call this a conversation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mike Fontenot: Anytime, it's a pleasure to talk to fans.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Let's face it though, Font. You would much rather be talking to Erin Andrews or Rosie O'Donnell, am I correct?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Halfway correct.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: There's a lot of talk on certain Cub fan blog sites of things that go on in the minor leagues -- conspiracy theories if you will. Speaking of Rosie, one theory is that Cedeno plays poorly inthe big leagues because he has a &quot;certain someone&quot; back in Iowa he wants to get back to see. &amp;nbsp;Any truth to that rumor?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Well, Ronny has a certain aura about him in Iowa. It's not uncommon to have guys be snazzy dressers, but it's odd to see that in a place like Iowa. The women have winter coats there, kind of an extra layer to keep them warm. It's quite nice really, and nuzzling up beside one brings back mammaries -- err, memories of being in the womb. Maybe he has bonded with that feeling and longs for it in his loins.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Font -- do you mind if I call you Font?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Call me anything you want, man.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: What about Eugene?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Whatever you want.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Okay, Mr. McMilkySkin. You were acquired from the Orioles in a trade that sent Sammy Sosa to the O's. Is that a career highlight, to be involved in a trade with a player with that star power?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Well, I wouldn't call it a highlight. It's pretty demeaning because it took like, 4 or 5 of my caliber players to make the work. You get used to that in baseball, it's a business. I am thinking of naming my child &quot;Player to be Named Later&quot; so that I know he will have a job in this game.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Milk, I mean, Mike...I have to bring this up. You're pretty white. Like, borderline from being the Chris Mullin of baseball. Do you ever feel, you know, really weird standing next to someone much darker, say Felix Pie?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Wow, that's a low blow. Felix is very dark. I mean, one time in Iowa, we had a night practice, and he was fined for being absent, even though he was right by me. In the minors, when we were on the bus, we would put all the guys who wanted to rest and sleep on the back of the bus. All the guys who wanted to play cards would go up front. If the card players needed light, I would go to the front of the bus, and Felix would go to the back. It was our own little traveling solar system.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: So, who would have been, you know...the planets and stuff?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Murton would have definitely been the North Star. Greatest minor leaguer I have ever seen. Soto is a close second, he rakes in the minors.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: There's a rumor of Mark Cuban buying the Cubs. What would you think of that?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: I'm all for it, I like being pampered. We could use a couple of tanning beds in the clubhouse. Maybe a Supercuts or something to keep Hank's Mexi-Mullett trimmed up nice and tight.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Tell me about the dark secrets of the clubhouse and being on the road with these guys for most of the year. Let's start with Dempster, who is regarded as a funny guy himself.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Demspter is addicted to tech stuff. He carries his laptop on the road, and enjoys talking dirty with himself using text-to-speech software on lonely west-coast flights.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: So tech stuff is his hobby?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: No, his hobby is blowing saves. (laughs) Actually, I think he is getting a kickback from medical researchers who use his outings as stress tests for patients. It saves money on the treadmill test, they can just tune in the 9th inning and get it done faster.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Tell me about D-Lee.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: He's tall. He is like the Sears Tower, and I'm like, a strip mall or something. Run down, low-rent, and generally loved by poor people.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Do fans ever yell out to you by your nickname of &quot;Font&quot;?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Umm, yeah, sometimes. It's not a unique name. Not like McMilkFace or whatever you called me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Do you ever worry that when someone yells out &quot;Font&quot; that they may be actually a fan of Times New Roman or Sans Serif?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: I have no idea what that is, is that an Italian wine or something?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: What was your best career day with the Baltimore organization?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: The day I heard I was being sent to the Cubs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Growing up in Louisiana, did you ever eat mud?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: It was a staple of the Slidell diet.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: You and Theriot have played together a lot. Is there a mental connection that you two have grown to share?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: We're not gay, if that's what you are getting at. He's a spaz, man. Riot is a grinder. He gets all the ladies too. He is a poor man's Brad Paisley, but he doesn't sing as good. He tries to win karaoke contests. His sensual and godlike renditions of the Star Spangled Banner made him an instant Iowa celebrity when he was awarded the entire Iowa Lottery. He won like 14 ears of corn. It was crazy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Wow. Enough to feed the team almost.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Almost! He is a mysterious being, often shrouded in secret musings about such odd topics like &quot;If someone owns a piece of land, do they own it all the way to the center of the earth?&quot;. He once sent an email to the UN Ambassador to the country of Botswana asking to change the name of their country to &quot;Autobotswana&quot;. I guess he likes Transformers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: In light of recent troubles with athletes, does it concern you about the role of athletes as role models for children?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Nah, most parents do a good job with their kids, but I try to be positive. After the Michael Vick deal, I started &quot;Bad Bloomz Kennels&quot; andhave begun breeding dandelions for fighting and gambling purposes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Dang, that's ruthless.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: No, I breed them so they don't use pistils. I don't allow weapons and handguns.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Interesting. And that appeals to you?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Well, it helps me stamen out of trouble. I can petal my wares to buyers who are looking for that kind of thing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Let's do a little word association. I'll say a word, you tell me the first thing you think of.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Shoot...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Error.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: My computer.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Pimento Cheese.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Sweet Lou's breath.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Natural Light.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Tony LaRussa's breath.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Noodle&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Either catching catfish back home in Louisiana, or Jacque Jones' arm.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Steve Goodman&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: That movie &quot;The Babe&quot;. Man, he was awesome, looked just like Babe Ruth. I liked him as Dan Connor in Roseanne too.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Umm...okay...how about &quot;lazy&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Stuart Scott's eye.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FC: Mike, I know you have to get ready for the game, so thanks for your time and good luck.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MF: Thanks a lot, it has been fun. Tell all the guys at bleedcubbieblue.com that I read all the time and they can lay off the personal attacks. I have feelings too, you know.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;-------&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;[Note: This interview is fictional, and never happened. This was written as humor and/or satire, and does not represent the opinions, thoughts, or words of Mike Fontenot.]&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This piece was inspired by the minor league players of the Iowa Cubs. Many of the players claim Mike Fontenot is the funniest teammate they have ever had, so I chose to poke some fun with it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Until next time, GO CUBS!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Florida Cubbie&lt;/p&gt;





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      <title>Personal Sacrifices and a Cubs Championship
</title>
      <link>http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2007/7/26/111035/926</link>
      <author>Cribbs463</author>
      <pubDate>Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:10:35 -0000</pubDate>
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  &lt;p&gt;It's an oft-said thing, to sacrifice something for something else. But what if it were true? This Cub fan takes the events of the last few days and ponders on whether it is worth giving up or hanging on.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;It's an oft-said thing, to sacrifice something for something else. But what if it were true? This Cub fan takes the events of the last few days and ponders on whether it is worth giving up or hanging on.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;I sat in the emergency room Sunday evening, and thought about the events of that day. Technically, I lay in the emergency room, staring at the ceiling above and listening to the conversation between two women in the &quot;room&quot; next to me, separated by only a musty looking curtain that had to be picked up on consignment. It reminded me of something I could see in my grandma's house as a young child. Their conversation about palmetto bugs, spiders, and the heebie-jeebie factor of each one, coupled with the hydrocodone and natural endorphins in my blood, lulled me into a sedate and tranquil rest.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I began thinking about baseball, and ultimately, the Cubs. I wondered what the result of the game was. I wondered about the Brewers, and Braves, and Padres, and every other team and scenario to help us improve a game. Pick up a game here, a half-game there, and the trade deadline. All of these thoughts ended abruptly when a jolt of pain shot down my arm. I opened my eyes to a nurse, pouring cold saline water on my thumb. She had a sweet smile and a soothing voice, but she was bringing the pain.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Prior to this day, I had never cut off a thumb before. In fact, I had never cut off any part of my body, generally because I have a very good relationship with my body. It allows me to put two feet on the floor every day and stand up, walk, eat, drink, and attempt to have sex with my wife fairly regularly. (For the stat heads, I am under the Mendoza line on my &quot;batting average&quot;)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But this fateful day, when my left thumb and butcher knife got together for a one-on-one confrontation, the knife was the clear winner, and &amp;nbsp;I sat pondering the pain, the throbbing, the fact that I won't be playing guitar for a while. I won't ever be a professional hitchhiker. I may offend someone with a &quot;thumbs up&quot; gesture. I might never throw a perfectly horizontal Frisbee path again. Hell, I might not ever be able to review a movie accurately.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But it wasn't all that bad. When it's all said and done, I will only be short about a 1/2&quot; or so, and let's face it, according to my wife I am quite used to that, so that's no devastating blow.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;And the last two days I have been able to stay home, elevate the hand, and watch Cubs baseball and SportsCenter until I am absolutely convince that Stuart Scott has had a stroke on the left side of his face and no one is man enough to tell him. It's not a lazy eye he has...that damn thing is just sorry.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I digress, however.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As I have reveled in blogging, ESPN, Cubs.com, and of course BleedCubbieBlue, I have found my mind wandering. One of the things I proudly proclaimed to my wife, much to her unbelievably predictable apathy, was the following:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If asked on Sunday if I would cut the end of my thumb off if the Cubs would be guaranteed a World Series victory this year, then the answer would be a resounding YES.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;And my wife looked at me like I had just grabbed an 11-year old boy's ass.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Well, maybe &lt;i&gt;I&lt;/i&gt; wouldn't want to cut it off again, as that is pretty traumatic, but would I &lt;i&gt;give up&lt;/i&gt; the end of my thumb for a WS Championship? Abso-frickin-lutely. Only if Jessica Biel were doing the cutting off. Or that chick from the RGX Body Spray commercials. They are both yummy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This led to some intrigue by Mrs. Florida Cubbie, who took advantage of my newfound honesty to posit some scenarios of her own, which were going nowhere fast:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mrs: &quot;Would you divorce me for a championship?&quot;&lt;br&gt;
Me: &quot;No. Hell no. Never.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mrs: &quot;Would you sacrifice a hand or foot?&quot;&lt;br&gt;
Me: &quot;Possibly. Left foot only. &quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mrs: &quot;For the NL Championship?&quot;&lt;br&gt;
Me: &quot;No way. All or none, baby.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mrs: &quot;Would you sell our house for a World Championship?&quot;&lt;br&gt;
Me: &quot;Yes, way under market value&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mrs: &quot;Would you offer to sell me for sex to rich men several times a week?&quot;&lt;br&gt;
Me: Hell yes, if there were a market.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Damn, she threw me a curve ball. Now I have a black eye to go with my shortened thumb.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Either way, she went along with me on several of the questions, and we have agreed that if the Cubs go to the World Series, we will do whatever it takes, including a 2nd mortgage, to get tickets to a game. Wise? No. The right thing to do? Yes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So, I don't know if this has ever been kicked around here, but it made me wonder...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;What would you do for a World Series Championship? If God, Allah, Buddha, Spaghetti Monster, or whatever deity you may or may not believe in offered you the chance to sacrifice something for a Championship for the Cubbies, would you? And what would it be?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ideally, maybe something bad that has actually happened in your life this year, that you really wish didn't happen (i.e. losing a thumb), but in hindsight maybe you would say, &quot;Hey...I'd take this if I knew we would win it all!&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Yes, I am still bored today, but a big THUMBS UP to all who feel like participating!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Florida Cubbie&lt;br&gt;
GO CUBS GO&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



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