Cubs Win! The Magical ’08 Season Goes On

I was thrilled to watch the Cubs celebrate their Central Division-clinching win on national television today and before a full house at Wrigley. It seems they’re always clinching on enemy territory — the Pirates come to mind (and yes, in my 33 years it’s happened with relative frequency — 1984, 1989, 1998 [wild card], 2003, 2007, and now 2008). But this is the first time the Cubs have won back-to-back division titles since they three-peated in 1906-1908 (winning their last two World Series in 1907 and ’08).

I’m in Las Vegas (the Cubs are 9-5 favorites to win the NL Pennant; 4-1 on the Series) at the Blog World Expo but — my heart was in Wrigley… and the victory cry I heard just now on Channel 9 News at Nine as bellowed by Ron Santo was something else — I’ll have to get audio. I’d like to thank Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella and the greatest Cubs team I’ve been fortunate to cheer on — the 2008 Cubs. For now, video below, and even the hat is pretty cool. Now back to regularly scheduled weekending and BWE08 activities.

LISTEN to the postgame celebration via WGN AM Radio

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CUBS: Carlos Zambrano Returns With No-Hitter; Magic Number is 7

carlos zambrano no hitter cubs

Amazing night at — of all places — Miller Park. Much will be said about this night, and personally, I’m elated at the moment. But in the interest of getting out of the house, I’m going to post the audio highlights c/o WGN Radio, Pat Hughes, and Ron Santo. Yes, The Chicago Cubs, on the back of Carlos Zambrano — who nearly no-hit the Astros in the past — pitched his first career no hitter, the first no hitter by a Cubs since Milt Pappas in 1972.

Listen to the call of the 27th out:


Holy Shit Carlos!

And the Magic Number is 7!

Piniella, Zambrano talk to the media:

Game Highlights (WGN Radio):
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Suggest a New Song to Replace ‘Our Country’ During Every NFL Commercial Break

“The dream is still alive….” At least it has been for the past few NFL seasons for John Mellencamp’s variously-interpreted anti-War on Terror anthem and the Chevy Silverado ad for which it’s served as the audio backdrop.

our country chevy silverado nfl john mellencamp ad

I know Mellencamp has made millions off this campaign, in spite of the fact that it may have hurt sales of recent records (because it’s so annoying and omnipresent?)

But now I’m hoping to hear the voice of freedom to select new songs to synch with car ads this football season. Let’s face it, the “Our Country” ad and its brutal stickiness has in many ways ruined the past couple seasons for us football fans who don’t have TiVo. This year, perhaps we can deal simply with the Brett Favre soap opera as the primary spoiler to the season (and just the story, not his potential to bury my Bears).

What songs would you like to be spoonfed into your many hours of redundant NFL ads this season? M.I.A.? Madonna? Gnarls Barkley? The inevitable Brad Paisley? Metallica? Is an ad gonna break a single this season and then butcher the release of an album (as was the case with “Our Country?”)

Here’s to those pitching new songs for placement in ads likely to air during football games. I sure hope you landed something fresh and not-so-annoying.

Amazing Trade Deadline Day as Brewers-Bashing Cubs Stand Pat

how sweep it is cubs brewers

Manny Ramirez became a Dodger, Ken Griffey, Jr. became a White Sox, and the Chicago Cubs completed a four-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers all within a matter of a long lunch today. The sweep was the perfect punctuation to a few key acquisitions made by Jim Hendry, weeks before today’s trade deadline. Jim Edmonds had 5 RBI including a grand slam, and Rich Harden continued his mastery of the NL, with 9 K’s, allowing just one run (as a Cub, Harden has 39 strikeouts in 24 innings with a 1.11 ERA).

I love it. Hoping to see an appearance from Manny at the game tonight (Dodgers v. Diamondbacks). Tomorrow I’m off to Lollapalooza for the weekend, with an afternoon at Wrigley scheduled for Saturday (Zambrano Lilly on the mound). See you in Chicago?

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