3 min read General Cubs Information

Don’t be SAD, Fergie & Friends and the Film

By Tim Sheridan
January 13, 2008

Here’s something to help ease your Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – Reporting dates for Cubs spring training are now official, we are 4 weeks and 2 days away people, I repeat, only 4 weeks until the Cubs arrive in the valley of the sun!

Pitchers and catchers will report to Fitch Park the Cubs’ Spring Training facility in Mesa, on Feb. 13, with the first workout the following day, Feb. 14. Position players are scheduled to report Feb. 18, the first full-squad workout will be Feb. 19.

Legendary Cubs broadcaster Jack Brickhouse uttered the now famous words “Any team can have a bad century”, I’m sure he was trying to be more humorous than prophetic. No matter what happens on the field, this season is already historically significant, one hundred years since the Cubs last World Series Championship in 1908…100 years, wow! Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly’s namesake was president back in 1908, yes his full name is “Theodore Roosevelt” Lilly…Bully for Ted’s parents. I could go on and on about the historical perspective of 100 years but I won’t, others will write about it ad nauseam as the season progresses. My feeling on the subject, using pop vernacular…”it is what it is”.

In a press conference at the beginning of spring training last year Carlos Zambrano proclaimed that in 2007, he would win the Cy Young Award and the Cubs would win the World Series. Neither happened of course but the Cubs took a step in the right direction. Going back in history one final time I would like to take a quote from that U.S. President of 1908 and perhaps use it as this years Cubs mantra: “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far”. Teddy Roosevelt’s stance on pitching was less clear.

There will be only one night game at Hohokam Stadium this spring and it should be a lot of fun. Write it down on your calendars Cubs fans it’s “Fergie & Friends” Celebrity Baseball Game on Friday March 28th, 2008 at 7 pm. Join Cubs Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins and his “friends” – other Hall of Famers and sports celebrities for an entertaining evening of baseball and fun. Fergie and his friends will compete against a team of Arizona All-Stars – local media personalities and community leaders. There will be also be interactive games, a sports memorabilia show, autograph signings, contests, and prizes.

“Fergie & Friends” Celebrity Baseball Game is a fund-raiser for the Fergie Jenkins Foundation and the Mesa Hohokam Foundation which raise money for many charities.

Tickets for this great evening of fun are only $10. For information and tickets, call (480) 964 4467 or drop by the box office at HoHoKam Stadium. Tickets go on sale January 18th. For sponsorship information, including reserved seating and VIP meet & greets, please call (480) 609 3978 or email [email protected]

After next weekends Cubs Convention we will have a better idea of who all will be joining Fergie, I’ll pass along the names as they are confirmed. I believe Ernie Banks will be there, not playing but taking part in the other festivities.

Speaking of Cubs Convention, the “Boys of Spring” Cubs documentary was to be premiered at the convention but once again forces greater than myself have intervened. The “Boys of Spring” will not be shown at the Cubs Convention, sorry to those of you who were planning on seeing it there. We have been negotiating with a couple companies for a theatrical release and they want exclusive premier rights, so we are trying to finalize a deal and get the film out ASAP. The plan is to premier the film by the opener of the regular season in April if no other issues pop up. I know this film has been delayed several times but when you finally get a chance to see it I think all you Cubs fans will really enjoy it.

After next weekends Cubs Convention and spring training to follow be sure to visit us here at cubsAZ.com. The Cubs coverage you get here is in-depth, behind the scenes, and exclusive…it’s almost like being here in Mesa with the Cubbies. We are expanding our exclusive online CubsAz video program this spring, along with all the original content including more Cubs player interviews and photos. This is your one stop ultimate Cubs Spring Training site.

To get you thinking spring here are some cubsAZ.com photos I shot last March.(click here for more photos)

Timothy

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