The Cubs Show Why They Think They're The Most Important.....
Although my previous note from last week cites that I do not believe that
Andre Dawson "The Hawk" is a true hall of famer, the fact is he did get elected. I guess the ninth time was the charm after all for the
"hall of famer." However what I read today just shocked me. Not as a White Sox fan, but as a baseball fan.
This morning, I read the following
post on ChicagoBreakingSports.com about the possibility of the Chicago Cubs retiring "The Hawk's" number eight.
I would like you to read this and see if you had the same reaction I had.
"Besides many more thousands of marketing dollars, Dawson has been promised by the Cubs to have his No. 8 uniform number retired if he goes into the Hall of Fame as a Cub, a source close to Dawson said on Sunday."
That sounds to me like the Cubs are putting pressure on Dawson to make sure he persuades the hall of fame to honor him as a Chicago Cub instead of a Montreal Expo. By making the
promise that Dawson's number eight shall never be worn again by a Chicago Cub, that is putting Dawson in a position where he need not be put.
If this story is indeed true,
shame on the Ricketts family and the Chicago Cubs.
To toy the honor of retiring Dawson's number eight has to be the most immature and degrading thing an organization can do to a former great. It's telling
"The Hawk" to finish his chores before he gets to play video games, or teasing a hungry child with a piece of lunch meat only if he plays nice. This move not only shows the ignorance of the organization but it shows how egotistical the "big bad Chicago Cubs" are.
For Dawson, it was just a honor to be playing baseball for the Chicago Cubs. Where would the Cubs be without "The Hawk" roaming the outfield in the late eighties/early nineties?
Now why is the same organization that gave Dawson the chance he was looking for as a player putting pressure on him to make the hall of fame cater to the Cubs? Why is Dawson being pressured to do the Cubs dirty work when he is the one who's being honored in the first place?
It makes no sense!
Especially when the same organization retired
Greg Maddux's number not even a year after the
"Mad Dog" retired.
Greg Maddux is not eligible for the hall of fame until 2014 and it's a guarantee he is not going into the hall as a Chicago Cub.
So why are the Cubs playing favorites here with
Greg Maddux and
Andre Dawson? Both player numbers should be retired by the club and both are headed to the hall of fame, but why dangle the local honor like a piece of cheese with
"The Hawk?" If I am
Andre Dawson and I know the cap is not up to me, even if the Cubs did indeed offer to retire my number now, I would not accept the honor. The arrogance of the Chicago Cubs organization is shameful during a time where they should be honoring Dawson on his recent achievement.
Is 101 years of failure and torment too much that the organization is begging for a feel good story? Seriously, the Cubs have 41 players who are currently in the hall of fame who played with the organization at one point in their career. This move proves one thing and one thing only.....the Cubs do not care about anyone but themselves. They cannot stand the fact that Andre Dawson is taking some of the spotlight away from the Chicago Cubs franchise.
How dare the Cubs ensure Dawson they will retire his number but only if he enters Cooperstown, NY as a Chicago Cub. Especially when the Cubs could get the #31 retired fast enough for a guy whose best years were as a Atlanta Brave.
I must say that the Ricketts regime has not started off too great. Among ticket prices be raised, no real free agent movement, and now this pee-brained move.
This is not the first impression I imagined and I cannot think that Cub fans are happy with it all so far.
-RoCk
Rock Mamola is the Associate Producer of The Mully And Hanley Morning Show and co-host of The Joe O And Rock Show on WSCR 670AM The Score
You can follow the Mully And Hanley Morning Show at twitter.com/mullyhanley
You can follow the Joe O And Rock Show at twitter.com/joeoandrockshow
8 Comments
Cmmsh said:
You are way off base. If Dawson had any say so, he'd go in as a Marlin. Although he has been mum about it the past couple of years, he has said as much many times before. He actually had a clause in his last player's contract with Florida that he would receive a bonus if he went in as a Marlin if he were to be elected. This, of course, was before the HOF changed their rules on players being able to pick which cap they wore. In other words, your concerns are moot.
Rock Mamola said:
The point is not against Dawson himself....it's against the Cubs. The fact that the Cubs are "considering" retiring his number only if he goes into the hall is stupid. You either do it or not with no pre-conditions. The ego of the Cubs shows because it's a total "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."
-RoCk
Cubhatercrusher said:
The point is that you hate the Cubs and will write anything that casts them in a poor light. This was a stretch even under that premise.
Rock Mamola said:
CHC
Then don't bitch about the Cubs not honoring Dawson by retiring his number when he's an Expo in the hall of fame.
I don't hate the cubs, just the moves they've made off the field and on have not been good the past 2 years.
-RoCk
fab221 said:
Spoken like a true bitter, loser, White Sox fan. It doesn't matter how many times you guys might win the Series, you will always be bitter an envious of us Cubs fans. Andre Dawson does belong in the HOF by his numbers alone, but the fact that most of those numbers where accomplished as a Cubs player bothers you. It does not really matter if he is inducted as an Expo, a Cub, a Red Sox, or a Marlin. He deserves it. Randy, go back to the South Side and cheer your second rate team to another Championship, who cares. That is the whole point, you don't get it and you will never get it.
Rock Mamola said:
FAB,
Envious of cubs fans?
Bitter?
Loser?
My opinion of the hall of fame and who gets in is just an opinion. I think you're missing the point of the blog.
The point is your team is rumored to only retire your hero's number if the hall of fame makes him a cub when they honor him. Meaning if he's inducted as an Expo, the #8 won't fly at wrigley with the #31 and others.
If it doesn't upset you, fine. but the premise is a selfish act and shows that the Cubs think they're bigger than the hall because they'll only flex their muscle if you comply with what they wish.
I am a White Sox fan, but for you to be so blind about your own organization and how they run things shows that in fact....
you don't get it.
-RoCk
rangerjae said:
Let's see...
Raise ticket prices every other year
Allow fans who catch fly balls to be verbally harrassed
Trade a great clubhouse guy for a cancer
Sign a DH to a 7 year deal
A fanbase that throws beer on opposing players
Yeah this sounds great. Where do I sign up?
I guess if you're not a Cub fan, you not allowed an opinion.
That's OK, because if you are one, you are not allowed to talk about the World Series because you haven't won one in 100+ years
GO SOX!!!!!
fab221 said:
I agree with you about the 31, but retiring Dawson's number I see it as a gesture of respect and gratitude. In the end it is totally up to the player how he is inducted.
Oh, by the way, it's you White Sox's fans that will never get it. It is impossible to explain and I truly don't hold it against you. You can't miss what you've never had.
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