Reflections on the Opener

Yesterday’s opening day game was supposed end with a Cubs victory and a Big Z – “W”, of course it didn’t go that way and now an undefeated season is impossible. 161-1 will have to do…all kidding aside, that Cubs fans feeling of dread hit me right when Kerry Wood plunked Rickie Weeks with the ball in the 9th. At that moment the “Cubs are going to lose this game” neon light lit up in my head, and I hate that frickin light. Dome’s heroics brought hope that this game would be different but that sinking feeling inside me hadn’t left, it was for the moment pushed aside by a new shining star from Japan. And then it was over, one of those coulda, woulda, shoulda games, and a loss to the Brewers no less. Perhaps like many fans I got a bit swept up in all the “opening Day” hype. Upon reflection of the days events my brain searched and soon found a little comfort. Yes, the ole baseball cliches rose up out of the fog of defeat and 5 months of dormancy to remind me – “It’s only one game” and “baseball is a long season”…did I say “found a little comfort” I meant “found little comfort”.

As many of you know I don’t blog on a regular every day basis after spring training ends, preferring to let those closer to the action cover the Cubs exploits. I will however try to blog at least once a week from now on until next spring. Not all these will be completely Cubs related as some blogs may consist of the goings on in my life…such as my upcoming trip to Ireland. We are sending out the prizes to the winner of the quiz (Daniel J) about my 25 Cubs spring trainings as Hohokam PA Announcer. Some of the prizes included an autographed Ron Santo baseball card and Wrigley Season Ticket 2008. Daniel had the most correct answers (nobody got them all correct), so here are questions and correct answers to the 9 quiz questions my family came up with from last week.

1. The first Cubs player name Tim ever announced was? Ron Cey

2. How many Cubs Managers have their been since Tim started doing the Cubs spring games? 15

3. True or False. When Tim started they did not play music at old Hohokam Park games. True

4. True or False. At old Hohokam, Tim did the Public Address and played the music. True, did both jobs in the old park until it was torn down in 1996.

5. True or False. Harry Caray used to sing the 7th inning stretch using Tim’s PA microphone? True, and still have that microphone.

6. True or False. Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins was on the Cubs Roster when Tim started?
True he was released by the Cubs March 19th 1984

7. True of False. Tim was paid $20 per game when he first started. False it was $10

8. True or False. Tim’s favorite name to announce has been Mark Grace.
False it was Sammy Sosa, (only because it was fun to say, not based on how well I liked the players)

9. In Tim’s first season of 1984, he announced 3 future Hall of Famers playing in the same game, who were they? Cubs Ryne Sandberg, Angels Rod Carew, and Reggie Jackson.

Go Cubs!