Friday night felt great for many reasons.
Dempster delivered from the mound. The bats were swinging. No annoying slide ride from Bernie the Brewer. I raised a W flag {in my mind} at the end of the evening’s efforts.
But it was hearing Ron Santo’s return to the airwaves that really lit up my spirits. Ronny skipped last week’s bleak trip to New York City dealing with health issues. And I hadn’t listened in on a spring game with him in the booth yet.
Ron Santo’s booming cheers, unrestrained laments and spirited hurrahs capture the true emotion of Cubs fans from coast to coast: enthusiastic optimism.
Yes, he is legend from his dedicated years of play on the Northside. Yes, I believe he deserves to be in the Hall (c’mon veterans). Yes, he’s a hero on behalf of the cause he supports (JDRF).
But I love Ronny for his passion. The true joy and agony communicated with each play. Much more than a color guy, he operates in Technicolor. And no matter what, he loves the Cubs.
Welcome back Ron. And Cubbies, let’s give him reason to belt out his unabashed cheers.
Honored at Wrigley for being the heart and soul of the Cubs.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Ronnie is one of the reasons why I love to listen to baseball. I’ll take his relentless root-for-the-home-team attitude over national broadcasters constant coastal bias any day of the week.
A great announcer can at times really make any game a great experience. Each time Neihaus takes over the tv booth broadcast, M’s games take on a new persona (although replacing Dave Sims isn’t much of a challenge).
Glad to see the blog is back! And thankfully Soto has decided to hit this year!