SB Nation User Blog: ballhawk

BCB Emotional Evolution - From Omega to Alpha

ballhawk — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:48:48 -0000

Didn't take long. Within minutes of the last out of the Cubs 2008 season, the first fanpost came. And in the days that followed, a deluge of emotional outpouring came forth. Whenever I came into BCB, I always glanced to the fanpost list on the right side, just to see who was the latest to vent their spleen online. After awhile, I noticed the tenor had changed a bit - though acceptance had started to set in, rage was still in vogue. And of course, there was no shortage of thoughts on what to do for next year. I found it interesting every now and then to just scroll through the fanpost titles, oldest to newest, and essentially get a read on the emotional state of BCB.

Now that most of us appear to be on the road to recovery (though there are probably a few that haven't even begun to pack), I thought I'd share this with everyone. Below I've consolidated all the fanpost titles in paragraph format, starting with the first one after Game 3 of the Dodgers series (Omega) and ending with the last one just before the first pitch of Game 1 of the World Series (Alpha). As much as possible, I tried to keep the titles as is - capitalization, grammar, misspellings and all. And just for reference and perspective, I included Al's main page posts (in bold), but left out the game threads - not much emotion there. 202 titles in total (I think). Pull up a couch, a note pad, and a good cigar and let the pyscho-analyzing begin!

Catharsis.

These weren’t the tears. I Have Nothing To Say. Rage and depression at once. 2009 Chicago cubs. My Immediate Summation: What A Year! Mark Derosa. I have a suggestion... Bad ending to a wonderful season. The Short Series. The umpires sucked. Why, God, Why? The home crowd, Piniella. Al might not have anything to say... I just sit here wondering... We weren’t duped by the Cubs. Should fans take some blame? New Team? New Stadium? New Owner? New Start? The Cold Hard Truth.

Still had great memories in 2008. Harden. Something off the playoff topic. You can buy postseason entry, but no hearts... Al - We need to hear from you. This IS THE REASON why the CUBS LOST. Clubhouse Cancer. I was at the game tonight. 21 runs in 9 games. bad taste in my mouth. What now? What are the missing pieces for 2009? What has to happen next year. Will people stop caring as much now? What if? FACE IT... DODGERS ARE BETTER THAN US. I Know I’m going to hit a nerve but... Possible solution: trade with KC? Numb. A toast.

Chicago-bound.. I’m going to strike an even bigger nerve. Playing Tight and Bad Mojo. This just in from ESPN3 online. The real problem with moving Soriano. Our stars are not really stars. There are worse ways to lose. Is Being A Cub Fan Worth The Price? BLOW IT UP?! Curiousity: How much did you spend on Cubs this year? Elegy To The 2008 Cubs. What about Lou? Merits of the free agency market. Congrats to Scott Eyre! Learning to play for October in April. Who to root for now? Pathetic End... But Hope Remains.

Do we really want to win? Memorial... Mistake Was Made the Last Reg. Season Game. Do we re-sign Dempster? A Long, Bitter, Unhealing Winter Ahead. 2008 mourning period is officially over for me. Alfonso Soriano’s brutal post-season numbers. 1996 Chicago Bulls. Woo Hoo! We’re number 1! Cubs not built for short series. thanks al. Sullivans 10 steps to avoiding a three peat. Cubs: I can’t quit you. Would you take an Antidote? My two cents (Or Why I Can’t Give Up). Curiosity... OT: A Northwestern Call to Arms to Cubs Fans. Nothing more to say...

It was fun! Formation of the Cubs Fans In Recovery support group. Two words: Curtis Granderson. Time to throw away ‘IGH’ banners & burn ‘W’ flags. 2008 Regular Season Hitters Review. Cubs to be players for C.C., Roberts. Everyone else getting condolences? Micah Hoffpauir. Alfonso Soriano. BCB Fantasy Baseball Champions. This team was different than other current... Inflation? 2008 Regular Season Pitchers Review. Why did they stop hitting?

Anyone else notice the movie TNT preempted... Where do the Cubs go from here? Kenney expects payroll to “bump” up for 09. Sometimes you just gotta laugh. Our Hindsight Bias. This was not a choke job. Fukudome! or Fukudont? Marmol in Car Accident - Minor Injuries. My offseason thoughts/predictions. Daily Show makes fun of cubs. We should only offer arbitration to Kerry and Demps and here is why. Cubs 2008 audio documentary - your voices wanted. Fraud sets up Ebay auction of Cubs Loyalty. D-Lee/DP.

Who is your AL team? Building A Cubs Champion: The AC Sign Must Go. Playoff Ticket Refund. I’m Over It (Already)! Harden doesn’t need surgery, option excercised. Contract Status Going Into 2009. Cubs pick up Harden’s Option - No surgery needed. Edgar Renteria. Maybe its time to let Wrigley go gracefully? Paul Sullivan tells fans to avoid all things Cubs - including BCB! We can do this... Building toward Someday... Building A Cubs Champion: Managing Management. 2008 Cubs Regular Season TEAM Review. What fans can do to help the team win!

2008 Chicago Cubs WGN Radio Montage? My Thoughts. OT - The Boys of Winter (Blackhawks). Very Enjoyable Article. Postseason Ticket Refund Information. Griffey would have been the key ingredient. 08 Cubs on Etch-A-Sketch. Sale of Cubs might be further delayed. anyone else finding it really tough to watch the NLCS? I don’t know how to feel about the Phillies win.

What makes BCB stand out. my 2009 wish list ??????? Another 2009 Post. Building A Cubs Champion: Curses! Foiled Again! Embrace the Curse - An Opposing View. Bill Simmons: Manny Being Manipulated. Rate the trade value of current Cubs. bill murray’s take on the ’08 season, from Letterman. Dear Cubs (A Breakup Letter). If I Were Jim Hendry... My Tentative Cubs Top 20 Prospect List. Book Review: "This Bad Day In Yankees History". Would things have been different if...... Back in the Saddle. let’s.

Why did Billy Beane give us Harden? OK, AC sign, curses, what’s next? 2008 Playoffs or Expecting The Worst Sucks. Ryan Dempster. Whoever did this Cubs 08 VDO trib should get an Academy Award. Building A Cubs Champion: Wrigley Field. can we just let it go for a moment. What we’ve got & what we could get: Catcher. New era for the Cubs? Kevin Foster dies at 39. Building A Cubs Champion: "The Chicago Cubs Are On The Air!" Happy 100th Anniversary ;(

Cub fans are stupid: The Daily Show. Carlos Zambrano. Nice/Sympathetic Bartman Article marking 5th year anniversary. Would you extend Hendry - and for how long? It’s been 10 days... Cubs, Cardinals Among Jake Peavy’s Approved Trade Destinations. 2008 Postseason Interlude: Wake Me Up When October Ends. What We’ve Got & What We Could Get: Corner Infield. Something to depress us all... Hardball Times - a dissection of the ’07 / ’08 postseason debacles.

2003 Florida Marlins roster. Playoff Ticket Refund- Round 2, ding ding. For all those people who want Furcal... Sale Of The Cubs... Into Extra Innings. Trade Lee and sign Dunn. Brenly on Brewers short list. What We’ve Got & What We Could Get: Middle Infield. Jim Hendry Extension Coming Soon? A Boo For All Seasons; Why The Cubs Deserved It. Another season. Killing Two Birds With One Stone. Kevin Foster 1969 - 2008.

Game 5 - ALCS What does it mean? The Worst in a Cubs Uniform. BCB Casual Friday. Should the Cubs go after Jake Peavy? Revise the Playoff System. Hendry or Green. Manny to replace Soriano? The Sunday Funnies. Cubs and Hendry reportedly agree to 3 year deal. Will there be a second coming of Rich Hill? Now That TNT/TBS No Longer Have Anything To Do With The MLB Postseason. What We’ve Got & What We Could Get: Outfield. Building A Cubs Champion: Introducing Your 2009 Chicago Cubs. Hendry agrees to 4 year contract. [Should we / how do we] acquire Jake Peavy?

How would a Cubs and Rays WS have gone down? Building A Cubs Champion: Introducing Your 2009 Chicago Cubs, Continued (And A Word About Tank McNamara) Reading through the threads I think one of the Cubs main problems. Look who is available and healthy! Soto Sporting News Rookie of the Year. Cubs and Yankees in talks for Cubs to play opener of new Yankee stadium. MLB on Sirius? World Series Funnies. WWG&WWCG: Starters, with a pitch for a 6-Man Rotation. Bruce Miles says on the radio... Best Wrigley Memory. “Winning” Ballplayers.

So... I really tried.

Wrigley Field - "under the weather"

ballhawk — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:07:00 -0000

Wrigley Field - "under the weather"

Sirens at Wrigley

ballhawk — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:56:28 -0000

Sirens at Wrigley

Tribune makes first cuts in bidding process for Cubs, Wrigley

ballhawk — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:31:28 -0000

Just got wind of this via Tribune news alert...

Tribune Co. informed would-be buyers of the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field today whether they would be invited to continue in the auction based on last week's initial bids.

For the latest developments go to: chicagotribune.com/business

In typical sensationalistic fashion, a heavy favorite has been "cast aside" - apparently Canning & Co. came in with a lowball offer. But I think it's pretty safe to say he'll be back. This is only the first public step in a rather complicated, convulated, and complex selling/political process leading towards a final resolution. Think Elaine Benes dancing while Charles Barkley swings a golf club in the background...

Storm Clouds Over Wrigley...

ballhawk — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:29:58 -0000

Storm Clouds Over Wrigley...

Open Thread: Red Sox vs. A's, Tuesday 3/25, 5:0freakin5 AM CT

ballhawk — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:46:04 -0000

TOKYO, Japan - Attention all you graveyard shifters, senior citizens, up-and-at-em workout freaks, and just plain old-fashioned insomniacs... The 2008 Major League Baseball season is about to begin.

[yes, I took some journalistic license with the opening two words - I'm not really in Tokyo. I just stumbled out of my bed here in sweet home Chicago...]

Here's what ESPN had to say about today's matchup. I say it's too freakin' early.

Today's game is on ESPN2. It's also on MLB.com audio and MLB.TV through the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday

Discuss amongst yourselves while I go back to bed...

Operation Home Run: Help Me Help Our Troops

ballhawk — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:59:15 -0000

As many of you know, I hang out on Waveland (and sometimes Sheffield) waiting to catch home run balls hit out of Wrigley, mostly from batting practice, but quite a few gamers too. I've been doing this since 1990 and after 18 seasons, suffice to say, I have a lot of balls <insert own joke here>. Most I've used to get autographs but I've also given away a fair number to family & friends, little kids I see after the games (especially if I can tell they're left-handed like me), and folks from all over the world that stop and talk a little baseball with me, be they cub fans or just tourists visiting Wrigley for the first time. I've also tossed a few to members of our armed forces over the years - seems like Wrigley is a popular place to go either while on leave or before shipping out.

With that last demographic in mind, I'd like to now go that extra mile - actually, several thousand miles - and do a little something for our troops serving overseas in harm's way.

I'm pretty sure there's gotta be at least a few die hard Cub fans serving over in Iraq or Afghanistan. So with the baseball season just around the corner, I'd like to send them some genuine, whomped-out-of-Wrigley-Field horsehide souvenirs. Hopefully having a little something that actually came out of Wrigley Field would be a morale boost, and give them a connection to the Cubs as they follow along throughout the season. I have no idea what the living conditions are over there, but a baseball is pretty small, so I don't think it would be a hardship to have it sitting around somewhere. Probably not very practical because in order to actually play baseball, you'd need a bunch of extra stuff (gloves, bats, etc.) whereas with a football you can easily play a game or just toss it around. But this isn't about being practical - it's about being a Cub fan!

Here's where you come in. I don't know anyone in the armed forces serving over there, but based on posts I've seen on BCB, I'm guessing you do. It sounds like some of you have actually been there, or have family/friends serving over there. Heck, maybe some of our troops are even able to access BCB themselves during downtime. Can't be easy to get online access all the time, and I'm guessing whatever bandwidth is available would go towards e-mail and video links with family back home, but there may be a few diehards out there who would do whatever it takes (adapt, improvise, and overcome) to get their Cubs fix. Those are the ones i want to help.

This is as far as I've gotten on my own - now I need your help. Please contact me if you know of any Cubs fans serving in Iraq, Afghanistan or any other hotspot that you think would want to have a little horsehide souvenir from Wrigley Field. I'd probably also need a crash course in sending packages to military personnel overseas because I'm sure it's gotten a lot more complicated. Don't know if this is realistic, but my goal is to have at least the first wave of baseballs over there by Opening Day, then others as time and conditions permit throughout the season. Right now, I have some time on my hands, and like I said, I have plenty of balls... ;-)

Let me know if you can help me out. And if you know that while this may sound like a great idea but it will never fly due to some regulation or code, I'll be bummed but I guess let me know that too. Thanks.

Ballhawk Ken

email: vangeloff (at) hotmail.com

One Last Look Back - It Was All My Fault

ballhawk — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:29:59 -0000

And maybe yours too?

As we sit back and reflect on the year past, think about what could've been, what should've been, and what never was, I suppose it's human nature to want to play the blame game. In looking at the Cubs and their season, there are certainly more than enough culprits that we could point our fingers at.

And it's not just the players - management and ownership comes under the microscope too. And I'm sure if you tried hard enough, you could probably find some way to bring the media, the rooftop owners and who knows, maybe even he-who-shall-not-be-named (Lord Voldemort) into all this.

But I'm here to tell you that the Cubs inability to win the World Series in 2007 was not the fault of any of those folks. So forget about clubhouse slugfests and on-the-field tiffs. Forget about pulled hamstrings and hitting into double-plays. Forget contract and ownership distractions and giving up lead-off homers to rookies in the playoffs.

If you want to blame someone, blame me. I confess - it was all my fault. You see, at some point down the stretch, someone gave me one of those "It's Gonna Happen" rubber bracelets and... umm... and I... well... I...

...well, I didn't put it on. I didn't put it on, so naturally, "it" didn't happen. So it's all my fault.

Now it's your turn. The BCB Cubs Confessional is now open. Pull up a keyboard and tell us your sins. Unburden yourself of all the things you did or didn't do this past year that prevented the Cubs from winning it all.

Trust me - you'll feel better.

At last - tonight's the night we've all been waiting for...

ballhawk — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:29:12 -0000

Finally - FrankTV is here! Yes, the long and eagerly awaited television debut of FrankTV takes place this evening on TBS at 11pm Eastern/10pm Central.

What? You don't know what or who FrankTV is??? Good god man, are you daft? Weren't you watching the LDS and LCS post-season games and didn't you see the over 1000 promos for this show? It's the most talked about new show this year!

http://www.tbs.com/shows/franktv/

Ok, I'll turn off the sarcasm now. I truly do apologize for posting this if there is nothing more interesting in your life right now than reading this, but I figured it was my turn to add to the recent "run" (pun intended) of diary-rheas on this site...

I have no idea if this will be a good show or not - from what I've gathered, this guy, Frank Caliendo (no, not the outfielder from Toronto/Texas), is a pretty decent comedian/impressionist, but I was so worn out from the endless promotion during the post-season that I would go out of my way to NOT watch it. Fortunately, that's easy enough for me as it's on TBS, i.e. cable, which I don't have. And aside from saving about $100 every month, this is probably the first time I'm glad I don't have cable.

For my money, the best impressionist I ever saw was Rich Little. His voice, mannerisms, even facial expressions were always spot on. Showing my age here, but I used to love watching him on those Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, especially when he was imitating George Burns. But if we're limiting ourselves to guys named Frank, there was another Frank that IMHO was a much better impressionist. Yes, I'm talking about Frank Gorshin, aka The Riddler, from the original Batman TV series.

Which brings us to today's poll...

Poll

Who was your favorite villian from the ORIGINAL Batman series, i.e. the TV show?

Riddler

20 votes

Catwoman

20 votes

Egghead

2 votes

Mr. Freeze

1 votes

Joker

14 votes

King Tut

1 votes

Penguin

11 votes

69 votes | Poll has closed

Wrigley Field - The Calm Before The Swarm...

ballhawk — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:11:45 -0000

Just a few thoughts as I take a walk around around Wrigley Field before the start of the 2007 NLDS playoff series against Arizona.

I only live a few blocks from Wrigley Field, so I walk by it quite often, especially this week. A little cloudy with a hint of rain yesterday, but beautiful warm sunshine today. Feels more like June than October. At first glance, the activity level in the neighborhood looks pretty normal, a far cry from the chaos and madness that will descend upon it this weekend. But in taking a second look, I can definitely see and sense an undercurrent of excitement.

Souvenir stands open for business on the street corners. People taking pictures of the marquee and posing in front of the Harry Caray statue. Beer trucks double-parked in front of bars unloading their wares. Guys on the rooftops making last minute adjustments, somebody in front of Murphy's with a power-washer hosing down the sidewalks. The fire house for Engine Co. 78 got a facelift recently with a new brick driveway and a picnic table. And not long ago, the fire hydrant at Waveland & Kenmore received a fresh coat of purple paint.

But it wasn't just around the park - it was inside as well. That old brick and concrete house of dreams was definitely getting lots of attention. The beep-beep-beep of forklifts as boxes of food and other assorted sundries are unloaded, workers everywhere sweeping up and wiping down. Some of the grounds crew inspecting the newly laid sod in the outfield while others getting ready to spray paint the NLDS logo on the grass by the dugouts. Even Harry seemed to be clearing his throat, ready to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" again. Everyone stepping lively, moving fast and all in good spirits.

I had to chuckle as I made my way around the park - it kinda reminded me of stories my mom used to tell me about how the high school girls back then would spend all that time primping, prepping and getting all gussied up before their big date...

Then I stopped short as a chill went down my spine, for it was at that moment I realized this marvelous beauty of a baseball cathedral was getting ready for her own big date - a date with Destiny.

Go Cubs! Make Wrigley Field (and us) proud!

http://picasaweb.google.com/kenvangeloff/WrigleyFieldTheCalmBeforeTheSwarm