What would you do to show the world you are a Cubs fan? For many decades, being a Cubs fan meant keeping the faith, perhaps saying a prayer, and cheering for our lovable losers, despite the endless disappointments. Lately, especially after the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series, being a Cub fan means continuing to strive to be your best,…
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Singing 4 the Cubs – Spring Training
I had been looking forward to this trip for a long time. Not only would it be the first time I attended a Chicago Cubs spring training game, I would also complete my quest to sing the National Anthem at all of the current Cubs ballparks. Growing up in Rockford, Illinois and listening to Cubs games on WGN Radio on…
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Singing for the Cubs: Eugene Emeralds
A week after the long drive and faulty singing for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, I was flying across the country to the West Coast. Looking down from 30,000 feet above the plains of eastern Texas, I saw a landscape outlined by 90-degree man-made roads. These roads intersected around checkerboard squares, large swaths of wind farms, and crop circles of summer…
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Singing 4 the Cubs: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
It took me longer to sing in Myrtle Beach than I expected. I was scheduled to sing the National Anthem in July, 2016 for the Pelicans. My flight was booked on Southwest Airlines, the hotel room was reserved, and I was packed to leave in about five hours, the day before I was to sing. Then I got the text…
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Singing 4 the Cubs: West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx
As part of my preparations to sing the National Anthem at Wrigley Field in two months (in 2004), I needed a live performance to sharpen my performance and calm my nerves. Since the AA affiliate of the Cubs was in Jackson, Tennessee, just a few hours west on I-40, I contacted the club and checked on an opening to sing.…
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Singing 4 the Cubs: South Bend Cubs
When I set out to sing the National Anthem at all of the ballparks in the Chicago Cubs organization, I never thought I would travel to Indiana. I also didn’t think I would have to “redo” two of the Anthems at new ballparks. In the winter of 2014, the Chicago Cubs announced that they were moving three of their minor…
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Singing 4 the Cubs: Iowa Cubs
The trip to Des Moines to sing for the Cubs’ AAA affiliate was extra special with lots of family members joining me, second only to singing at Wrigley Field. The performance coincided with my brother Rick’s visit to the United States from his home near Manchester, England. He traveled to the States with his two lovely daughters Claudia and Eve.…
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Top 30 Game of Thrones episodes (so far)
The Great War is coming July 16 in Season 7 of HBO’s award-winning Game of Thrones. If you are like me, you want to re-watch as many previous episodes from the first six seasons as you can. If you have the time to watch all 60 episodes before season 7, then gather your supplies and get started. But if you don’t…
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Mental gymnastics, i.e Nashville traffic reports
Dear News Directors and Traffic Reporters, As you know, driving around Nashville can be pretty tough and confusing, especially for newcomers who for some weird reason believe that a single street should only have a single name. Silly visitors. Bless their hearts. Seriously, can’t you do something about the mental gymnastics we drivers have to complete when you broadcast…
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His Little Girl
“Kristin, it’s Daddy,” he whispered to his newborn baby girl. She opened her eyes, pedaled proudly on her new pink bicycle, giggled at the curly-haired boy shooting free throws, and smiled sweetly when he laid the last box on her dorm room floor. Kristin whispers through her long, white veil, “Daddy, it’s time.” CF