Hello Everyone,
One of my friends from college is petitioning the Chicago Cubs and WGN television to allow him to sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley Field this June. Twenty years ago, he was part of the Shawon-O-Meter people, who displayed Shawon Dunston's batting average throughout the season (google 'shawon o meter' or see link below). He is not only a big Cub fan, but also still a fan favorite (The Shawon O Meter is well known among Cub and baseball fans) and would be a great representative of all 'regular fans' who have spent countless hot summer days in the famous Wrigley Field bleachers.
To everyone outside the US who is probably not familiar with the Shawon O Meter, the Cubs and/or baseball: This sport is our national pastime and the Cubs are known nationally as the 'lovable losers' who now have gone 100 years without winning the World Series (or the US championship series). This petition is real, and it may seem a bit out of the ordinary, even somewhat childish, however it is legitimate. Without going into to much detail, a beloved announcer of Cub games, Harry Caray sang the song and since his passing, there has been 'guest singers' for each Cub game since. Usually the guests are celebrities, among whom have been the likes of Eddie Vedder, Bill Murray, Mohammed Ali, Jimmy Buffet, Russell Crowe, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Shania Twain, Jay Leno, Mel Gibson, as well as hundreds of local Chicago athletes and other celebrities. By signing the petition, we will give a regular fan the chance to become part of the phenomenon.
Please, take a couple of minutes to sign. It would be great to see names from all over the world. Thank you!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/commonfansings/
Ty
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If your friend is such a big Cubs fan, how is he ignorant of the "Ultimate 7th-Inning Stretch Competition"? Which, while dumb, is exactly the idea of having a big cubs fan sing the stretch.
ReplyDeleteI am aware of the Stretch Competition and mention it in the inaugural post. This is how the competition worked, from Cubs.com:
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Using the elements of passion, performance, creativity and loyalty as criteria, among others, a set of judges will narrow the initial field to a group of 50 semi-finalists. Aided by on-line voting at www.cubs.com, Cubs will then determine the 10 finalists, who will compete again at Wrigley Field on August 14 before a panel of judges. Fans voting on cubs.com will again help the Cubs choose the ultimate winner.
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So you can see the Cubs have a heavy hand in every step of the process.
I think the Cubbies should start some new tradition. Something no other team does. Like maybe when an opponent hits a home run into the bleachers, the fans should throw it back onto the field, or something.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. Just spitballing here.
He was aware of the competition, which I agree is dumb. The Shawon O Meter was created by Cub fans and became a huge fan favorite, and is recognized to this day by Cub fans. Of all the fan created entities in Cubdom, outside of Ronnie Woo Woo, it is the most recognizable work of any Cub fan.
ReplyDeletePeople would get a kick out of seeing the Shawon O Meter again, much more than some guy named Joe from Schaumburg.
Great idea! The Cubbies should totally let Ronnie Woo Woo hold the Shawon-O-Meter while doing the stretch! I know those are the first two things I think of when I think of the Cubs. I'm going to suggest that to Carrie Muskat right now.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I couldn't agree more about "Joe from Schaumburg." I don't think people from the suburbs should even be allowed to root for the TEAM, much less go to the GAMES!
" Twenty years ago, he was part of the Shawon-O-Meter people"
ReplyDeleteJust a part? He wasn't even the guy who came up with the idea? I think it's a great idea to have anyone who's ever helped hold up a sign sing the stretch.
My father was actually a scoreboard operator during Shawon's time in Chicago. That sign put him out of a job.
ReplyDeleteHe's a FAN FAVORITE? I've never heard of him.
ReplyDeleteDepends on what "part" he was, RV. I mean, maybe he was a foot.
ReplyDeleteFeet are very important, you know, if often taken for granted.
Know what would be awesome? Having mimes sing the Stretch.
ReplyDeleteI once had a meter for Korey Patterson that tallied how many times he struck out. it got large enough i used to have to go to lowes before games to pay immigrants to help me out. do you think I can sing the stretch as well? or my immigrants?
ReplyDeleteI enjoy this blog immensely. And while I would suport just one person singing a stretch, I think I'd like to hear some audio before I go vote on this. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteUm, there were a whopping three "people" who did the Shawon O Meter, so yeah, he was part of those three people. I guess I should have contacted my legal expert to get the proper wording to describe him before posting so as not to confuse anyone out there. My bad.
ReplyDeletemorgan g of branson? thats farther away than schaumburg! you DON'T LIVE IN CHICAGO! GET THE HELL AWAY FAUX CUBS FAN!
ReplyDeleteMy father was actually a bus driver during Shawon's time in Chicago. When Papa Kermit was fired and left the stadium, he blocked my dad's view with the novelty-sized scoreboard numbers he received as a severance package. The bus veered out of control ran over an orphan on a bicycle.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest that you start a petition for that orphan to sing the stretch, but he's dead.
Hey friend, Branson, MO is RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD! Seriously, though, I'll go away. I'm not trying to make waves. I do enough of that in the bathtub after chili supper night at the firehouse. I'm just really stiff when I get home because the chairs are a metal that doesn't react well to my body. Then I just sort of "plop" myself in the bathtub and WHOOSH! Waves and water everywhere! LOL I do like the chili though and I think we could have a grand old time if you ever DID come to Branson, MO. Let me know if you need a Brochure!
ReplyDeleteBut which part was he, TyGuy?
ReplyDeleteif you think of the shawon-o-meter crew as one body, he sounds a bit like the sphincter
ReplyDeleteI want to write about how this is a great idea, but I just can't. I have to be honest with you pal, this idea isn't great. IT'S FUCKING FANTASTICALLY SUPER DUPER AWESOME!!!!! I mean, a regular joe like you, singing at a Cubbies game?!?!?!? Can you imagine the possibilites? I can't. I want to, but I'm not creative enough. I can't even imagine my own masturbating fantasies. I try, but I always turn to the internet. I'd like to buy you a beer or diet cola at Cubbie Bear before the game please. LOL. It'll be so money.
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