This morning, there are a whole bunch of things you need to see.

First, if you didn’t watch the Home Run Derby last night (blech . .  Fielder), you might have missed this little gem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghITg_eq8Zo&feature=youtu.be

Poor Ian Stewart needs to learn not to feed the trolls. He should come hang out at LOHO. We could protect him.

» Continue reading “Cubs Tuesday Headlines: All-Star Break Fun”

Saturday I got the chance to do something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember: Hang out with all-time Cub great and Hall-of-Famer Andre Dawson. The Hawk was in town (along with White Sox great Ron Kittle) to get Chicago fired up for the second half of the BP Crosstown Cup this coming weekend, and the good folks at BP invited me down to interview him at  the BP Fan Zone at The Taste of Chicago.

As far as interviews go, there aren’t a whole lot of people out there who I get butterflies over, but Andre Dawson is one of them. Interviewing a childhood hero is not easy, but I attempted to maintain a somewhat professional demeanor while the 11-year old inside of me skipped around and circles and wondered if I could get my parents to dig out my  ”Class For All Seasons” poster and get it down to the Taste in time for The Hawk to sign it.

It helped tremendously that The Hawk is one of the nicest guys around; quiet and soft-spoken but kind. In short, exactly the way you think he would be. He’s also enormous and in such phenomenal shape that he looks like he could still play the game. Actually, the Cubs could probably use his arm in RF.

But I disgress.  Here’s the actual interview:

Julie: One of my readers suggested I start this interview out by asking you what it’s like to be so awesome, but I’ll start instead by asking you what it’s like to come back to Chicago as a Hall Of Famer?

Hawk: (laughing) I’ve been back on several occasions. I always enjoy every opportunity I get back. This was a pivotal time in my career. My kids were born here. And as I played with the Chicago Cubs organization, I just fell in love with the city. I always enjoyed it, coming in as the opposition, but Chicago catapulted me to what I think is Hall Of Fame status. Every opportunity I get I look forward to it because it’s just a magnificent city.

» Continue reading “Wherein I Talk Wrigley, Pitching, and Pizza With The Hawk”