1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: I'm glad it's over, and I like, I think what 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: was the best part was seeing the reaction online. And 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: I think the timing is weird. None of it. It 4 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 1: doesn't make sense to me. Welcome into North Side Territory, 5 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: Foul Territory Networks Cubs Podcast. I'm Sahad Sharma with my 6 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: partner Patrick Mooney. We are your Cubs beat writers over 7 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: at the Athletic and Patrick, just when we thought things 8 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 1: may slow down for the holidays, the curveball here, Sammy 9 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: Sosa is back in the fold. What does that mean. 10 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 1: It means that he released the statement altmizing. I think 11 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: there was a in the statement there was kind of vague. 12 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: He said he did all he could to make sure 13 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: he could get through one hundred and sixty two game season. 14 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: Never did anything illegal, but probably some things that weren't right. 15 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: I don't have the exact phrasing and front of me, 16 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: but you know, like he didn't come out and say 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: what he I made mistakes and I apologized and never 18 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: broke any laws. But behindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize. 19 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: So I think it's I think we know what he's 20 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: talking about. And Tom Ricketts soon after release the statement 21 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: that basically said he's welcome to come back to Cubs 22 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: convention extending that invite. This is a big moment. It's 23 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: a big moment for Cubs fans. I think that's who 24 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: it's a big moment for. And I think that it's 25 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: just for me that it's as simple as that there 26 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: were a lot of fans from ninety eight to what 27 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: two thousand and three that became Cubs fans because of 28 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: him being invited back. I think this is at minimum 29 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,559 Speaker 1: the first step for what I believe should be more. 30 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: But we'll see what else happens. We can talk about 31 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: that eventually too. 32 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm kind of this is just me speculating. 33 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 3: I still like need to see him actually show up 34 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 3: at the Sheridan Grand Chicago. 35 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 2: Like there has been so many. 36 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 3: Missteps during this whole process and kind of urban legends 37 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,239 Speaker 3: about you know, Sammy doing this interview or that interview, 38 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 3: and I think our buddy John Greenberg at The Athletic 39 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 3: called it the longest, dumbest running story in Chicago, and 40 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 3: that maybe a little extreme, but I get what he's 41 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 3: saying of just like, you know, why couldn't this letter 42 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 3: and I'm pulling it up here released on the letterhead 43 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 3: of Aurora Global Consulting, LLC. Like, why couldn't this have 44 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 3: been done earlier? It seemed a little disjointed in terms of, 45 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 3: you know, kind of cups you are reaching out saying 46 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 3: this letter that's circulating is authentic, and you know the 47 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 3: team will be coming out with a statement momentarily just 48 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 3: like all of it just kind of weird and awkward, 49 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 3: A little bit of a tired story, I would say, 50 00:02:58,520 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 3: from our end. 51 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 2: But now. 52 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 3: You know, I'm sure the Cubs marketing department is very 53 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 3: happy to get Sosa back in the mix to boost 54 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 3: an event that can be very hit. 55 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: Or miss, right that aspect, I you know what, I'm 56 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 1: not sure, Like this is my bad, but how often 57 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: do we see Sammy Sosa up on the big board, 58 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: like we see all those like look backs at the 59 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,839 Speaker 1: like big moments in Cubs history. We don't see him? 60 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:28,079 Speaker 3: Right? 61 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: Am I wrong on that? Or do they just do 62 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: they still do that even though they don't welcome they 63 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: hadn't welcomed him back. I'm not remembering any But that's 64 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: that's one aspect. Yeah, their marketing obviously is going to 65 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: enjoy this. Like so, I mean for those that don't 66 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: know I grew up a Cubs fan that that fandom 67 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: was relinquished fifteen years ago. Maybe, but I mean I 68 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: like I was seventeen in the summer of ninety so 69 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: a little bit older. I'd already become a fan, but 70 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: I was about to enter college. Like, I was watching 71 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: a lot of baseball, and it was hard not to 72 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: fall in love with that, with baseball in general that 73 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: summer and just become a Cubs fan. Like it was 74 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: a fun summer. Obviously, twenty strikeouts for Carrie Wood, the 75 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: Cubs made the playoffs, things that don't happen, and Sammy 76 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 1: Sosa versus Mark maguire was insane, and like just my 77 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: personal experience was I love Sammy Sosa. There were some 78 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: stuff that happened as I got into my twenties that 79 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: I was like, I didn't I think like that love 80 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 1: that fans still have. For Maybe it's because I became 81 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 1: a journalist. I don't know, but I don't have that 82 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: same connection to him that fans that I'm seeing have. 83 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: It just it's not there. I think I remember watching 84 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: him in the home run derby in Milwaukee, and that 85 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: was before like anything kind of came out about him 86 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 1: likely doing steroids and that watching that, I was just like, ugh, 87 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: this this guy's like about to pop out of this 88 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: jersey and he's hitting the ball through like whatever it 89 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,919 Speaker 1: was called Miller Park, Like he's like, I don't know, 90 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: this is natural. And back then, like now, I like, 91 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: literally I'm struggling with what to do with my Hall 92 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: of Fame vote because I've always back then I was 93 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: like anti steroids. Then I went through a phase where 94 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: I'm like, I just don't care, like and put them 95 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: all in the Hall. And now that I actually have 96 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: the boat, I'm trying to like I want to be 97 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: consistent and I want to be one hundred percent sure 98 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: what I'm going to do. So I'm struggling with that. 99 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: I think I'm going to lean towards voting those people in. 100 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: But it bothered me at the time, like it was 101 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: like a did I just watch something that wasn't real? 102 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: Did I fall in love with something that wasn't real? 103 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 1: And at the time it bothered me, So I think 104 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 1: that's why I have this. And then the ending of 105 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: his time in Chicago, everyone remembers that I was again, 106 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 1: I wasn't a reporter. I think that would have been 107 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: even harder to cover, Like what a wild way to leave. 108 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 1: You know that that's not that's not great, But this 109 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: isn't about that. Like I'm seeing reactions of like people 110 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: that were like ten, eleven, twelve back in ninety eight, 111 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 1: and I think that that makes a lot of sense 112 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: to me. And that's when you like truly fell in 113 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:26,119 Speaker 1: love with baseball as like a pre teen, Like yeah, 114 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: like this is a huge moment for you. This is 115 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: like and it's so it's like that thing that's just 116 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: like I don't care, Like we like baseball leveraged all 117 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: that stuff too. It's not like baseball was like tiss 118 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 1: from ninety eight on. They didn't do anything about it. 119 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: They let this stuff happen and turned a blind eye 120 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: to it, and the sport exploded and and like they 121 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: changed the game. They they like it's a it's a 122 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 1: tainted era, but it's I mean, you look back at 123 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 1: those numbers, like I try to look back at those numbers. 124 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: I'm like, this is amazing. Like some of this stuff 125 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: is just crazy. Right, Yes, it's tainted, but it's still 126 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: pretty damn cool. Like what happened and Sosa was right 127 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 1: in the middle of it. Yeah. 128 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 3: The awkward part is how Sosa seemed to be the 129 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 3: only one who had to like wear it to this 130 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 3: extent of you know, Barry Bonds is around the San 131 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 3: Francisco Giants, Mark McGuire, who did come clean and really, 132 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 3: you know, I think show a lot of contrition and 133 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 3: benefit from lots of relationships he built throughout the game. 134 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 3: I mean he had multiple major league coaching jobs. You know, 135 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 3: Roger Clemens, and his son is in the game, Like. 136 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: He bounces, like comes spring training or like comes that's right, yeah, because. 137 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 3: His kid, right, his kids, Yeah, exactly, So like if 138 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 3: he can go to Mesa. 139 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 2: And hang out around the batting cage. 140 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 3: You know, Andy Pettitt, I think he's like in uniform 141 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 3: as a pitching advisor. Like, you know, why why was 142 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 3: Sammy the one who was in exile to such an extent. 143 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 2: I think part of it was, like, you know, he's 144 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 2: just not. 145 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 3: He did not have a lot of allies left in Chicago, 146 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 3: meaning how much the organization had turned over. I do 147 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 3: think some of that stuff in the clubhouse how it ended, 148 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 3: left some ad feelings, but at the same time, it 149 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 3: just dragged on to such a degree that it just 150 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 3: makes you wonder, you know what sort of advice so 151 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:38,679 Speaker 3: so was getting or you know why ownership really seemed 152 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 3: to draw a line in the sand on this one, 153 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 3: because you know, I would say the Riggotts family and 154 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 3: one of the you know, good things they do is 155 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 3: that these team teams has a really good relationship with 156 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 3: its alumni. And like, think of just about any random 157 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 3: fourth outfielder or reliever, and like there's a there's a 158 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 3: decent chance they've been to Cubs convention, or they've taken 159 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 3: their family to spring training, or you know, we're on 160 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 3: the road and we say, hey, who's that guy. That 161 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 3: guy looks very Oh yeah, that's so and so and so. 162 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 3: For a guy who hit six hundred plus home runs 163 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 3: to just be, you know, persona non grata is it's 164 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,319 Speaker 3: just a bizarre, bizarre situation. 165 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, without knowing all the details, you can just look 166 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: at that and it's silly, right, But I'm glad it's over, 167 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: and I like, I think what was the best part 168 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: was seeing the reaction online, normally social media. I've been 169 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: trying to avoid it for a while now, but I did, 170 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: but I did go on there just to see and 171 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: there was a lot of happy Cubs fans, and I 172 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: think what's happened, Like the timing is weird, Like I 173 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: agree with you, and the whole the whole rollout was 174 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: they have a rollout? Yeah, Like I don't understand the 175 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: rollout fully and I'd like to get some details on 176 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: it because why was it not like a like I 177 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: like more coordinated, right yeah? Yeah? Why were they not 178 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: done together? Yeah? None of it. It doesn't make sense 179 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: to me. And like just the releasing of the statement 180 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: like a little askew the paper. It was like a 181 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: bad Like when I take a like a PDF picture 182 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: and I'm and I'm sending in documents for my tax purposes. 183 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: It's like that's like that's what I look like. It 184 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:32,959 Speaker 1: was like, or like. 185 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 3: Filing your expense reports and just doing what I've been thinking, 186 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 3: like off Tilter. Yeah, I sent it into our editing 187 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 3: desk at the Athletic and I was like, could you 188 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 3: show the letter just to so people get a sense 189 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 3: of kind of what this was not just the text 190 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 3: on our site in you know, the New York Times 191 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 3: font and the like, yeah, this is gonna work. And 192 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 3: then another editor found Marquis you know, blewed up into 193 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 3: a nice statement online with the graphic and it's like, 194 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 3: why wasn't that all done on the front hand, or 195 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 3: like why wasn't Tom Ricketts statement like yes, Sammy is coming, 196 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 3: like we look forward to being part of this panel, 197 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 3: of this panel, and not like you know, we know. 198 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 2: It's late notice, but we hope he can make. 199 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:25,439 Speaker 3: It and you know, we'll see you guys there, Like yeah, 200 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 3: I don't know. 201 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: I mean maybe it's the perfect ending to this. Yeah 202 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: that's the only word, right, Yeah, yeah, it's so ridiculous, 203 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: but it is. It is a semi conclusion in a sense. 204 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 1: I agree with you, I guess. I like, let's see 205 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 1: him there before we really say anything. But he's welcome, 206 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,079 Speaker 1: So that's all. I think that's the big part. If 207 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: you can't for some reason he's not there this year, 208 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: I'm sure when he does finally show up, it'll be 209 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 1: a really grandiose event. And I'm kind of curious, like 210 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: is that the extent of it? Is it? He's welcome 211 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: to Cubs convention? But what else? Like what else is coming? 212 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,439 Speaker 1: Will he be at Wrigley Field? Like I haven't seen him, 213 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: Like I haven't seen him since I went and watched 214 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: him play at Wrigley So it's been twenty years since 215 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: I've seen this person in person, and like we're both 216 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: there all the time. You know, he's not he's not 217 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: what he doesn't come to Wrigley Field, and like you said, 218 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: we see everyone there like it like spring training, like 219 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: all these people are back around. Obviously Sammy hasn't been invited. 220 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: I just like, what, what more is coming? Will he 221 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: throw out a first pitch? Will he sing the stretch? 222 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,439 Speaker 1: Years down the road? Are we going to see Sammy's 223 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: number retired? Are we gonna see like I think this 224 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: last one I doubt, but a Sammy statue, Like I. 225 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 2: Don't see that. 226 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: There's a Barry Bond statue, right, there's a very Bond statue. 227 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: I think there's some Mark McGuire statue. Okay, I could 228 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 1: be wrong. I couldn't just be completely like I don't 229 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: I don't go to San Francisco open enough to know. 230 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 2: Well, I was there. 231 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 3: I think it was twenty twenty three, and I believe 232 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:17,839 Speaker 3: it was like Will Clark got his number retired or 233 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 3: something like that. 234 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 2: You know, Barry Bonds was on the field for that. 235 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:24,319 Speaker 3: And like our colleague Andrew Baggerly has done stories over 236 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 3: the years of kind of finding Barry Bonds on the 237 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 3: backfields or by the hitting cages and getting you know, 238 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,559 Speaker 3: some of his thoughts, you know, on the game and 239 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 3: current hitters and just the fact that Sosa has just 240 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 3: been totally out of this orbit. Think back to twenty sixteen, 241 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,440 Speaker 3: right of just the players who showed up, I mean 242 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 3: Carrie Woods celebrating in the clubhouse after Game seven in Cleveland, 243 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 3: you know, during that those playoff years. I'm pretty sure 244 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 3: it was twenty sixteen, but like, oh, hey, is that 245 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 3: Alfonso's story? 246 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 2: I know, like, oh hey, what's up? 247 00:13:57,920 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: Story? 248 00:13:58,320 --> 00:13:58,839 Speaker 2: Like just the. 249 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 3: People who would come out for this and that, you know, 250 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 3: Sammy Sosa, just the machine that Wrigley Field is now. 251 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 3: Sosa played an enormous part in that. And you know, 252 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,679 Speaker 3: you and I did not cover his time there, So 253 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 3: we don't have any sort of you know, animosity towards him. 254 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 2: We don't have any bad stories. We also don't have 255 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 2: a ton of like. 256 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 3: First hand insight, uh you know, with our eyes and 257 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 3: ears of what that kind of circus was like. But 258 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 3: I mean, ultimately to your point side of it, just 259 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 3: weird that we have. I don't think I've ever seen 260 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 3: him in person, and like, I've covered the Cup since 261 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 3: twenty ten and you've done it almost as long. So 262 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 3: combine the number of years we've spent around this team 263 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 3: and you know the amount of people we come across, 264 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 3: and Sosa just vanished. 265 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: Yeah in good health, someone in good health, someone you know. 266 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 1: I can easily make it to the park. Yeah, very 267 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: just a kind of weird. I just looked it up. 268 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: I'm wrong. No, no statue for bonds, No statue for 269 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: McGuire number retired for bonds. Nothing. I'm not seeing it. 270 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: Like this is quick Google searches, so excuse the excuse 271 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: the inaccuracies. But it doesn't seem like McGuire got his 272 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: number retired by Oakland or Saint Louis. I didn't see that. 273 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: But that's, like I said, a quick Google search, but 274 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 1: I I could see the number retiring happening at some point. 275 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: Like a statue is probably a step too far for 276 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: what like just his history, But that's like just based 277 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 1: on what I what I think the thinking is of 278 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: ownership and the people that make those decisions. That that 279 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: would be my guess. I think just get getting imagined 280 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: when he does finally come to Wrigley, whether it's singing, 281 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: the stretcher throwing up. 282 00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's that's the big that's the big one. 283 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: Something that I liked that people were saying is like 284 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: they're celebrating an old right fielder a week after bringing 285 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: in a new right fielder, and there's a chance that 286 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 1: we'll see October baseball. Like imagine that, like for the 287 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: first time in a while, you and I can say 288 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: with without laughing heartily that like the okay, maybe I 289 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: still laugh they maybe we'll see October baseball in the 290 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: upcoming season. Right, if we do, that would be the 291 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: perfect time, Like if you're going to bring out a 292 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: first pitch, that first that first home game, that like 293 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: that would be nice to see. I think the atmosphere 294 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: would be insane. And that's the type of thing that 295 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: generally has been missing, right, Like we've talked about this 296 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: over the years. I mean, like when when has regally 297 00:16:55,640 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: really been buzzing of late, like the first the first ballgame, 298 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: full ball game, full attendance, full capacity, that's the word 299 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: I was looking for, a full capacity And Rizzo hit 300 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 1: that home run like that was electric. There was something 301 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 1: recent I know that there was a game after a 302 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: long winning streak or something like that on the road 303 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: one of these past two years where they were kind 304 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 1: of you know, they've made those two mini comebacks. Outside 305 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 1: of that, it's just not been there and there's no 306 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:35,719 Speaker 1: reason for it to be there. This could finally like that, 307 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: I think takes it up a notch beyond you know, 308 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,119 Speaker 1: actually making the playoffs and going into getting like making 309 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,400 Speaker 1: a run, just like Sandy Sosa throwing out the first 310 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:46,919 Speaker 1: pitch before a playoff game or a big game, whatever 311 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: it may be. Like that's that's the type of thing 312 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: that you can look forward to and be excited for 313 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,679 Speaker 1: as a Cubs fan, and frankly like it brings like 314 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:58,199 Speaker 1: there's an energy that it gives all of us that 315 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: when you're in the ballpark and you feel that, and 316 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:02,919 Speaker 1: that's been lacking it. 317 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 3: Maybe Sammy's been away so long that he will appreciate 318 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 3: Cubs Convention more. But as you know, it's not the 319 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 3: most like glamorous event. It always seems to fall on 320 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 3: the coldest weekend of the winter, or at least or 321 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:18,880 Speaker 3: at least until we leave for spring training. I'm sure 322 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 3: it's cold in Chicago and February we're usually gone though, 323 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:26,199 Speaker 3: but like, you know, it's a hotel River North, you 324 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 3: know whatever. But obviously to get back to Wrigley Field, 325 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 3: forty thousand fans to kind of soak all that in. 326 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 3: I'd imagine that is kind of the big moment that 327 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 3: that he'd been waiting for. I'd have to look it up. 328 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 3: But in order to have your number retired, you have 329 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 3: to be a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. 330 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 3: Is that sort of the loose criteria. But there's a 331 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 3: cover for the club or for the Cubs. 332 00:18:56,520 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 2: I'm not sure. I don't know that. 333 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: I'd imagine because Santo, because Santo, remember, wasn't in the 334 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame. He said he was still alive at 335 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 1: the time. That's right, right, yeah, you. 336 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 2: Got to cut now. 337 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 1: But I think we have the newest member of the 338 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 1: Comes All of Fame, right, I mean, not liked him 339 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: into the Comes Hall of Fame. After this it's just. 340 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 2: You know, awkward is the word that you know. 341 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 3: I sort of get it from Ricket's perspective of like, 342 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 3: look like we didn't on the team, then you're kind 343 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 3: of walking into this of like but also like when 344 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 3: you buy the team, you get all the history and 345 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 3: some of this felt a little sanctimonious, like like this 346 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,679 Speaker 3: is the one kind of like you know, clear bright 347 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 3: line that we're not uh going to cross. And I 348 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 3: always thought the easiest thing was just to bring him 349 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 3: back and just have him do twenty minute session in 350 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 3: the dugout in the old dungeon, the new interview room, 351 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 3: the Dungeon interview room basically utility closet in the pre 352 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 3: renovation era at Wrigley Field, and just you know, give 353 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 3: people heads up. All the TV stations can be there, ESPN, 354 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:27,919 Speaker 3: you know Marquee now you know the Marquees precursors as well, 355 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 3: and just have him to sit there and then you 356 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 3: can answer whatever he wants, whatever he doesn't. Then it's 357 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 3: just done, you know, Like I just like that just 358 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 3: seemed pretty similar to me, and in staid it became 359 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:45,199 Speaker 3: these like you know, behind the scenes negotiations and trying 360 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 3: to you know, get it to a place where everyone 361 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 3: you know, felt comfortable to come out with it, and 362 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:59,440 Speaker 3: then we had yesterday Thursday's awkward rollouts. 363 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 2: So right, it's gonna be interesting, you know what I mean. 364 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 2: Like it's like, all right, like let's let's see what 365 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 2: happens here. 366 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:08,880 Speaker 3: I think I think we could have a couple entertaining 367 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:10,159 Speaker 3: stories come our way aside. 368 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,199 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, I agree. I don't think this is the 369 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: end of things with when it comes to the comes 370 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: in Sammy Sosa And you're right, like those those pressors, 371 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 1: like I'm going back in my mind and I like 372 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: remember that like in succession, like had it, uh, Jason Giambi, 373 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:32,880 Speaker 1: Mark McGuire so awkward, Like it was all awkward when 374 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:35,359 Speaker 1: it happened and we all moved on, and that's. 375 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, like asked and answered, you know, like you can't 376 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:40,159 Speaker 3: go up to someone all the time and ask them 377 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 3: the same exact thing. It's like just you know, address 378 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 3: whatever it is. And you know, it did seem like 379 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 3: he had public sets been on his side. I think 380 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,160 Speaker 3: there was kind of a softening of like, look, enough 381 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 3: time has passed, like this is kind of ridiculous. And 382 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 3: I don't know, as John Greenberg wrote, like this guy 383 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 3: might have made more money for the Cubs than anyone, 384 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 3: more than Harry Carey theoepscene. I'm not sure about that, 385 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 3: but certainly among the just you know figures who made 386 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:22,640 Speaker 3: Wrigley Field what it is now, Yeah, you know, thumping ballpark, 387 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:31,160 Speaker 3: just a thriving neighborhood. You know the scene that WGN 388 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 3: and National TV blasted out to the entire country, Like 389 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 3: you know, Buster Posey said it when he took over 390 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 3: the Giants, like they're in the memory making business, and 391 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 3: Sammy Sosa did that over and over and over again. 392 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:48,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, there are images that you know, are just implanted 393 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: in your brain if you wash Cubs baseball during that era, 394 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 1: like whatever it may be, the hop certain playoff hits 395 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 1: in ninety eight, I believe that. I mean the flag 396 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: fligging out there uh after nine to eleven, like just 397 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff, and just like it just him 398 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 1: always given love to the right field bleachers folks, and like, yeah, 399 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:15,360 Speaker 1: there's there's so many things that it's hard. It's hard 400 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 1: to forget him. And and like it's it's nice that 401 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:21,679 Speaker 1: this this part we can move past this part. Like 402 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 1: you said, it's likely more coming. Whatever it is, we'll 403 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 1: we'll deal with it with it when that comes. But 404 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: I don't think this is the last we hear about 405 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:35,439 Speaker 1: stuff with regarding Sammy Sosa. I'm just very curious to 406 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 1: see how it all comes out. I mean, well know 407 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: about a month from now is comes convention, right, so 408 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,479 Speaker 1: so soon enough, we'll we'll see we'll be getting that 409 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: list of attendees and see who's coming. Uh. Yeah, that's 410 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 1: it for this episode, folks. We'll we'll have more during 411 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: the holiday week. Christmas is coming up and and we'll 412 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: we'll have a couple episodes for you that week. Make 413 00:23:56,119 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 1: sure to rate, review, subscribe to north Side Territory, subscribe 414 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: to the YouTube channel, and subscribe to The Athletic, where 415 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: Patrick and I are on top of all things cubs 416 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 1: this winter. Thanks for listening everyone, We truly appreciate it.