Clark & Addison
Episode XX - “SPOTTED COWS COMING TO WAVELAND“
AS THE SEASON WEARS DOWN AND CUB FANS CROWD INTO WEAGH MAN’S PARK, CHICAGO’S 20 SOMETHING WISCONSIN THEME PLACE TO BE AT, A PUDGY MAN NAMED WEAGHMAN COMES BACK IN ON A BUSY FRIDAY NIGHT - CARRYING ON HIS CONVERSATION WITH A GHOST - BELIEVED TO BE WRIGLEY HIMSELF. NO ONE CAN SEE THE GHOST, AND MANY NOW ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIALOGUE OF WEAGHMAN IS PROBABLY A DISTANT RELATIVE OF THE REAL WEAGHMAN, WHO BUILT WRIGLEY FIELD FOR THE WHALES OF THE FEDERAL LEAGUE. CONFUSED? YES - THE 20 SOMETHINGS ARE STARTING TO ACTUALLY THINK THAT WEAGHMAN TALKING FOR WRIGLEY’S GHOST ALSO IS MENTALLY ILL, BLUFFING, OR HAS CONNECTIONS THAT MOST OF US DON’T UNDERSTAND. THERE ARE HOWEVER SOME CUB HISTORIANS WITHIN THE CROWD AT WEAGHMAN’S PARK WHO RECOGNIZE THE REAL HISTORY OF THE CUBS; AND ARE TOTALLY BEWILDERED AT THE CONVERSATION’S ACCURACY. WEAGHMAN’S PARK RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM WRIGLEY FIELD AT THE CORNER OF CLARK AND ADDISON WILL BRING IN SOME ACTIVE CUB TALK MIXED WITH CHICAGO SPORTS AND HAPPENINGS AMIDST THE HISTORICAL DIALOGUE OF WRIGLEY’S GHOST AND WEAGHMAN HIMSELF.
WEAGHMAN I REALLY LIKE IT HERE AT WEAGHMAN’S PARK WRIGLEY. MAYBE WE SHOULD COME HERE MORE OFTEN? WRIGLEY’S GHOST YES, NOW YOU CANNOT SAY THEY HAVE NOT NAMED SOMETHING AFTER YOU. YOU’VE GOT IT ALL NOW WEAGHMAN. WEAGHMAN I’LL TAKE IT. CLEARLY THE HOTTEST PLACE IN CHICAGO. IT WOKE ME UP AND I MAY EVEN GET AN APARTMENT NEAR THE STADIUM INSTEAD OF TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH TO ROCKFORD ON I90. WRIGLEY’S GHOST DON’T YOU JUST TAKE THE BUS? WEAGHMAN YES, MUCH OF THE TIME I DO. BUT IT CAN BE SLOW SINCE THEY WANT TO STOP EVERYWHERE. IT’S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL NOW THAT I’M RETIRED. WRIGLEY’S GHOST RETIRED? NO WEAGHMAN YOU ARE DEAD. I DON’T HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY WALK AROUND HERE AND BE VISIBLE. I THINK IT IS YOUR GHOST.
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WEAGHMAN NO I’M ACTING OUT YOUR GHOST WRIGLEY. I’M FOR REAL. CUB FANS SEE ME. WEAGHMAN’S PARK RIGHT HERE IS ACTUALLY NAMED AFTER ME. MAYBE I CAME BACK AS AN OFFSPRING. DEATH DOESN’T NECESSARILY STOP EVERYONE. DO YOU THINK IT WILL STOP BRETT FAVRE? ANYWAY NO ONE WOULD REALLY KNOW ME AFTER THE ROARING 20S WHEN I WAS CHASED OUT OF CHICAGO. WRIGLEY’S GHOST GOOD POINT WEAGHMAN. YOU DESERVED TO GET CHASED OUT OF THE WINDY CITY. THE WHALES WERE A FAILURE IN THE FEDERAL LEAGUE – ONLY LASTING ONE PITIFUL YEAR, YOU CHEATED ON YOUR WIFE, BELONGED TO THE KKK, AND MADE POOR BUSINESS DECISIONS. WEAGHMAN YES, YOU HAVE TOLD ME THAT MANY TIMES. RUB IT IN. DON’T FORGET WE WERE ONCE BUSINESS PARTNERS. AND I BUILT THE STADIUM, AND NOW IT IS NAMED AFTER YOU. I HAD DINERS, AND YOU HAD CHEAP CHEWING GUM. DOES THAT SEEM FAIR? WRIGLEY’S GHOST THE NAME WRIGLEY DIDN’T ATTACH UNTIL 1926. CUBS PARK WOULD HAVE WORKED, AND I WOULD NOT HAVE LOST ANY SLEEP OVER THIS. HECK I WAS TO DIE IN 6 YEARS. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE THAT THEY CALL IT WRIGLEY FIELD? WEAGHMAN IT SIGNIFIES THAT YOU WON WRIGLEY AND I DIDN’T. I GUESS I HAVE FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO YOU WITH THIS FANTASTIC 20 SOMETHING HANGOUT AT CLARK AND ADDISON, BUT I STILL DON’T HAVE A BALL PARK NAMED AFTER ME - AT LEAST NOT NOW. WRIGLEY’S GHOST I THINK MOST SPORTS HISTORIANS WOULD REALIZE THAT THE REAL WEAGHMAN’S PARK IS THAT FIELD RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, NOT THIS WISCONSIN BASED 20 SOMETHING HANGOUT WITH REAL ZUERCHER CHEESE AND LEINENKUGEL BEER FROM CHIPPEWA FALLS. WEAGHMAN THAT’S A STRETCH. I’D LIKE TO CHANGE THE NAME BACK TO WEAGHMAN’S PARK. WRIGLEY’S GHOST YOU’D HAVE TO TALK TO THE RICKETT’S FAMILY ABOUT A NAME CHANGE. THEY BOUGHT THE TEAM, NAME, AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES WITH THE CUBS FOR ZILLIONS. WEAGHMAN WELL THE NEXT TIME IT COMES UP FOR DISCUSSION WE SHOULD REALLY CALL IT AT LEAST WEAGHMAN - WRIGLEY FIELD. 3
WRIGLEY’S GHOST OK I’LL GIVE YOU THAT. IF THE WHALES AND THE FEDERAL LEAGUE ACTUALLY MAKE IT, I’M CERTAIN IT WOULD STILL BE WEAGHMAN’S PARK. LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE WE DIED. WEAGHMAN IT IS CRAZY. LIGHTS INSTALLED IN 1988 - PLAYING BASEBALL AT NIGHT. MY GOD THERE ARE TOO MANY OTHER THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT. WE SET UP OUR GAMES AT THE STADIUM ACROSS THE STREET FOR DAYTIME FUN. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. SADLY MLB FORCED THE CUBS TO HAVE LIGHTS. WRIGLEY’S GHOST YES, THAT REALLY SUCKS. I WOULDN’T HAVE ALLOWED IT IF I WAS STILL THE TRUE OWNER. AND THEY PLANTED THIS IVY IN THE OUTFIELD. WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT? WEAGHMAN’S PARK OR CUBS PARK – WHAT EVER IT WAS BEFORE YOU TOOK OVER WRIGLEY, DIDN’T HAVE PLANTS IN THE OUTFIELD. WEAGHMAN IT IS UNIQUE - THERE ARE A FEW OTHER PARKS LIKE THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES PARK IN OMAHA, ROSENBLATT STADIUM, HAS SOME IVY. I GUESS IT BRINGS IN CUSTOMERS, FANS, MONEY, AND LOTS OF HYPE. WRIGLEY’S GHOST MY GOD, LOOK AT THAT NET IN THE OUTFIELD. DO THEY REALLY THINK FOLKS WILL CLIMB OVER? WEAGHMAN YES, THE NETS WERE VERY CONTROVERSIAL, BUT WITH ALL THE BEER FLOWING, ONE COULD IMAGINE SOMEONE DIVING FROM THE OUTFIELD AND KILLING HIMSELF. WRIGLEY’S GHOST I REALLY LIKE THE FANS TOSSING HOMER BASEBALLS FROM THE OPPOSING TEAMS BACK ONTO THE FIELD. THIS HAS TURNED INTO A CHICAGO CUB CUSTOM. WEAGHMAN AND ALL THE APARTMENTS AND HOUSES WITH BLEACHERS IN THE OUTFIELD. WE COULDN’T HAVE IMAGINED THAT ONE. WAVELAND GETS A TON OF EXPOSURE. I GUESS THEY SHARE IN THE PROFITS FROM THOSE FANS IN THE SEATS BY THE HOUSES. WRIGLEY’S GHOST THAT’S COOL. IF WE DID THAT WEAGHMAN IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE GONE TO COURT INSTEAD OF A SETTLEMENT.
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WEAGHMAN YES, THOSE SEATS AREN’T BAD. I USUALLY SIT BEHIND THE PLATE, BUT MAYBE I’LL GET CHEAP AND GO TO THE OUTFIELD AND SIT ON WAVELAND - WHERE KING KONG HIT ALL THOSE HOMERS. WRIGLEY’S GHOST KING KONG? DO YOU MEAN DAVE KINGMAN? WEAGHMAN YOU BET. IN FACT KINGMAN HIT A LADY’S PORCH ON KENMORE - 550 FEET. WRIGLEY’S GHOST THAT IS WITH A 2X JUICED BASEBALL, BECAUSE NONE OF THESE YOUNGER GUYS CAN FLAT OUT HIT. WEAGHMAN KINGMAN COULD HAVE HIT A BOWLING BALL OUT OF THE STADIUM. THE GUY ATE BRICKS FOR BREAKFAST. BEST LONG BALL HITTER I’VE EVER SEEN. MAYBE I WASN’T ALIVE, BUT SOMEHOW I REMEMBER THE TALES OF CUB FANS TALKING IN GIGANTIC TERMS ABOUT KING KONG. WRIGLEY’S GHOST YES, I SEE THIS GUY SOSA HIT A FEW OVER THERE. WEAGHMAN BUT SAMMY WAS FULL OF STEROIDS. WRIGLEY’S GHOST STILL HAD TO HIT’EM. YES I HEARD ALL THAT ABOUT CORKED BATS AND DRUGS, BUT SAMMY WAS A DAMN GOOD HITTER. LOOK AT RUTH AND ALL THOSE GUYS BACK IN OUR TIME. WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY TOOK? I REMEMBER MANY OF THE GUYS GETTING CREATINE BACK THEN AS A FOOD SOURCE AND SUPPLEMENT. WEAGHMAN YES, THOSE SCIENTISTS AT HARVARD DISCOVERED CREATINE AND FOUND IT CAUSED MUSCLE GROWTH - SO WHO KNOWS WITH ALL THE LAWS NOWADAYS, THE DRUG THING MAY HAVE BEEN WORSE BACK IN THE 20S. WRIGLEY’S GHOST AGAIN ONE STILL HAD TO HIT THE BASEBALL. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT GO INTO HITTING A BASEBALL FROM ABILITY, MOOD, HORMONE LEVELS, POWER, TIMING, STRENGTH, AND EYESIGHT. ONE CANNOT SAY THAT A FOOD SUPPLEMENT OR HORMONE PUTS YOU OVER THE EDGE. MY GOD MOST OF THE LEAGUE TAKES SUPPLEMENTS OF SOME SORT. MAYBE EVEN JUST VITAMINS.
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WEAGHMAN ALL I KNOW THERE IS NO GREATER FEELING OR SIGHT IN SPORTS THAN A BASEBALL HEADED TOWARDS WAVELAND. KING KONG BROKE A TON OF WINDOWS ON WAVELAND. THOSE WERE THE DAYS. WRIGLEY’S GHOST WHAT ABOUT RIGHT FIELD - YOU KNOW WHERE BILLY WILLIAMS AND A FEW OTHER CUBS ON THE FLAG EXISTS. WEAGHMAN YES THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW - EVEN HIT OVER NEAR SHEFFIELD BY MURPHY’S BLEACHERS - THE TRENDY PLACE FOR BLEACHER BUMS. WRIGLEY’S GHOST WOW! LAKEVIEW HAS REALLY CHANGED. WEAGHMAN NO IT IS WRIGLEYVILLE NOW WRIGLEY. YES THE AREA IS ALSO NAMED AFTER YOU. COULD HAVE BEEN WEAGHMANVILLE, BUT OH NO; I WAS TOO MUCH OF A PUREBRED SKUNK TO HAVE ANYTHING BUT HONORABLE MENTION IN A CHICAGO HISTORY TEXT. WRIGLEY’S GHOST I NEVER HAD CROWDS LIKE THIS IN WRIGLEY LIKE YOU HAVE IN YOUR LITTLE HANGOUT. IN FACT THESE BROTS FROM ABOVE THE BORDER ARE DAMN GOOD. I’LL HAVE ANOTHER. WEAGHMAN AND THE BEER. WHERE IN CHICAGO CAN YOU GET LEINE’S ON TAP? ONLY HERE. IN FACT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT ADDING SPOTTED COW AND POINT. WRIGLEY’S GHOST I’VE HEARD OF POINT. THAT’S FROM STEVENS POINT AND WHO KNOWS WHERE SPOTTED COW IS FROM? WEAGHMAN NEW GLARUS. THEY SERVE IT ALL OVER WISCONSIN NOW. IT IS THE GREATEST BEER. WRIGLEY’S GHOST YES WEAGHMAN, YOU ARE NOW A GREAT BUSINESSMAN. TOO BAD YOU ARE DEAD. MY GOD WE COULD HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS TOGETHER. WEAGHMAN ANYWAY, WE ARE MOVING THIS BUSINESS MODEL ALONG. THE FOLKS UP IN GREEN COUNTY HAVE HELPED A TON GETTING ZUERCHER CHEESE IN HERE WHEN THEY WERE OVERWHELMED IN SKOKIE. THAT IS OUR BIGGEST SELLER - ESPECIALLY THE ASSORTED VARIETY PLATE. WE MAINLY HAVE MUENSTER, SWISS, AND COLBY. 6
WRIGLEY’S GHOST MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE GONE INTO THIS BUSINESS; OR BETTER YET I SHOULD HAVE HAD YOU RUN THE FOOD IN WRIGLEY. RIGHT NOW OUR SELECTION IS PRETTY GOOD - BUT ALL THIS WISCONSIN FOOD IS GREAT. YES WE COULD HAVE BEEN GREAT BUSINESS PARTNERS. WEAGHMAN SINCE YOU FEEL WE ARE BOTH NOW DEAD. WE CAN ONLY REMINISCE. I ONCE HAD 35 ACTIVE DINERS AND SERVED MORE PEOPLE IN CHICAGO IN SINGLE SITTINGS THAN ANYONE ELSE. WRIGLEY’S GHOST SHUCKS. IF YOU HAD NOT DUMPED YOUR WIFE AND MARRIED YOUR GIRLFRIEND EARNING A FREE TRIP TO SAINT LOUIS, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT BUSINESS PARTNERS. WE WOULD BE SINGING “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME” STARTED BY HAREY CAREY IN 1982 . LET’S MOVE ON. YOU’RE IN ROCKFORD, AND I’M BURIED ON CATALINA ISLAND OR LAKE GENEVA OR CHICAGO OR I DON’T KNOW. WEAGHMAN YOU ARE IN GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA. THEY MOVED YOU FROM CATALINA DURING WORLD WAR II. WRIGLEY’S GHOST YES, I REMEMBER IT BEING A BIT UNSETTLING A FEW YEARS AGO. I’M GLAD I RAN INTO YOU WEAGHMAN. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS ONE VERY THING. WHAT IS THAT?
WEAGHMAN
WRIGLEY’S GHOST OUR SCOREBOARD AT WRIGLEY - OR WEAGHMAN WRIGLEY IS STILL HAND OPERATED. ONLY GETS 26 TEAMS AT ONCE BUT IS STILL FUNCTIONAL – REMEMBER US CLIMBING UP THERE TO INSTALL THOSE BOARDS? THEY HAVEN’T REPLACED THAT WITH SOME BIG LIGHTED STRUCTURE, FANFARE, AND A BIG TV - LIKE THE COWBOY STADIUM. I STILL LIKE OUR LITTLE HISTORIC CONFINES – GOVERNMENT PROTECTED BY THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK ACT. WEAGHMAN MAYBE WE SHOULD GO OVER TO MURPHY’S AFTER ONE OF THE GAMES AND MINGLE WITH THE BLEACHER FOLKS. WRIGLEY’S GHOST YES I WILL GO IF I’M STILL AROUND. IT DOESN’T MATTER. NO ONE SEES ME, BUT THEY SEE YOU AND KIND OF KNOW WHO YOU ARE. I DON’T GET IT, BUT I’M TIRED OF TRYING HARD TO FIGURE IT OUT.
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WEAGHMAN I JUST HOPE WE CAN REGROUP AFTER THIS YEAR - WITH LOU GONE AND NOW WE’VE GOT QUADE - I GUESS THEY CALL HIM Q. HE WAS AWESOME THE LATER PART OF THE YEAR WINNING 2/3 OF THE GAMES AFTER LOU LEFT. WHO KNOWS? WHAT IF WE HAD Q MID SEASON? WRIGLEY’S GHOST I DON’T LIKE SEEING RYNO LEAVE THE ORGANIZATION - ESPECIALLY AFTER HE’S PAID HIS DUES AND WAS MANAGER OF THE YEAR IN AAA BALL IN DES MOINES. WEAGHMAN NOTHING IS EVER PERFECT. WE HAD TO SURRENDER A HOMER TO RUTH BACK IN THE 20S WHEN HE POINTED AT THE OUTFIELD AND PROCEEDED TO KNOCK IT OVER THE FENCE. WE HAVEN’T HAD A WORLD SERIES SINCE 45 AND NOT A SERIES WIN SINCE 1908. WE HAVE A GREATER CURSE THAN THE RED SOX. WRIGLEY’S GHOST YES MAYBE Q IS THE GUY. HE’S GOT SOME GREAT PLAYERS COMING UP. LIKE VITTERS WHO IS PLAYING FALL BALL IN ARIZONA. WEAGHMAN YES VITTERS MAY PLAY A BIG ROLE FOR THE CUBS NEXT YEAR. WAIT UNTIL SPRING TRAINING - OH THAT IS RIGHT. DIDN’T YOU INVENT SPRING TRAINING WRIGLEY? WRIGLEY’S GHOST YES I DID. AND LOOK WHAT IT IS TURNING INTO. MESA IS BUILDING A BIG NEW $100 MILLION FACILITY WITH A CUBS SHOPPING AREA IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. WEAGHMAN I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT OF SPRING TRAINING. MAYBE I’LL GO DOWN THERE THIS YEAR BECAUSE ROCKFORD IS SO DAMN COLD IN THE SPRING. WRIGLEY’S GHOST I STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND ROCKFORD? WEAGHMAN YES, MOST DON’T - BUT WE HAVE A GREAT HOCKEY TEAM - THE ICE HOGS ARE REALLY GOOD. I HAVE SEASON TICKETS. SOME OF THE BEST ICE FIGHTS YOU’LL EVER SEE. WRIGLEY’S GHOST MAYBE WE COULD GO OUT AND GET SOME SEASON TICKETS TO SPRING TRAINING AS RAMIREZ OPTS OUT OF HIS OPTION, AND VITTERS TAKES OVER AT THIRD BASE.
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WEAGHMAN YES, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THE WRECKING CREW AT THE TOP OF THE CUB’S BATTING ORDER WON’T LAST. OUR PITCHING AND HITTING DIDN’T WORK TOGETHER AT ALL LAST YEAR UNTIL Q HAD THE REINS. WRIGLEY’S GHOST OK, SO WHERE DOES RYNO GO? ATLANTA? WEAGHMAN MAYBE. I THINK THE CUBS HAD NO CHOICE HOWEVER BECAUSE Q GOT MORE THAN LOU OUT OF THESE PLAYERS. WRIGLEY’S GHOST I HATE TO SEE SANDBERG GO. HE’S DONE EVERYTHING TO BECOME A BIG LEAGUE MANAGER. IT WOULD BE A BIG STEP FOR RYNO TO GO FROM PRINCIPAL FIELD IN IOWA TO WRIGLEY. WEAGHMAN YOU MEAN WEAGHMAN - WRIGLEY FIELD. WEAGHMAN’S PARK EXISTED UNTIL 1920. NO ONE GETS THAT. IT WAS REALLY MY DEAL. WRIGLEY’S GHOST I GUESS SO. IF WE KEEP TALKING LIKE THIS THE FANS AT WEAGHMAN’S PARK MAY PICK UP ON THIS, AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE THEY’LL PUT IT ON A REFERENDUM TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE STADIUM BACK TO WHAT IT ONCE WAS – WEAGHMAN’S PARK. WEAGHMAN HANG ON - WE’LL JUST KEEP IT WRIGLEY. WE DON’T NEED TO DIG UP MY UGLY PAST. I LIVED WITHOUT CATALINA ISLAND, THE LAKE GENEVA COTTAGE, LA, AND ALL THE REST. IT WAS OK TO HAVE DOUBLEMINT GUM SIGNS IN TANDEM IN THE OUTFIELD. I CAN HANDLE ALL THAT. I WAS JUST A DINER GUY FEEDING A FEW THOUSAND PEOPLE DAILY. WRIGLEY’S GHOST BUT YOU BUILT THE ACTUAL STADIUM! AND NOW I’VE GOT ALL THE CREDIT. PEOPLE AROUND HERE THINK IT WAS ME – THE HOT SHOT. I TOOK YOUR MONEY WHEN YOU WERE GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE. HOW BAD OF ME. WEAGHMAN YES THOSE WERE TOUGH TIMES. IF YOU HADN’T STOLEN THE NAME, MY FORMER WIFE WOULD HAVE NAMED IT AFTER HERSELF. WRIGLEY’S GHOST OUR FAMILY TRIED TO RUN THE CUB OPERATION. WE JUST RAN OUT OF GAS. WHEN LIGHTS AND NIGHT GAMES CAME, COMPLEX CABLE CONTRACTS STOOD UP, AN OWNER’S NIGHTMARE IN CURT FLOOD LEGAL RULINGS, AND OUT OF SIGHT PLAYER SALARIES, WE DECIDED TO GET OUT. THERE IS TERRIBLE RISK IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL THESE DAYS. 9
WHERE DOES IT ALL GO? $10 BEERS AND $8 FOR A HOT DOG AT WRIGLEY.
WEAGHMAN I THINK WHAT WE HAVE AT WEAGHMAN’S PARK IS THE ANSWER. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD THE SEAT AND FOOD INSIDE YOU GET GREAT FOOD, BEER, AND CHEESE RIGHT HERE AT DECENT PRICES. PLUS ONE CAN USUALLY MEET PEOPLE YOU DIDN’T KNOW. PEOPLE ACT DIFFERENTLY HERE. IT’S NOT LIKE THE CROWD AT MURPHY’S OR BERNIE’S DON’T GET ME WRONG THEY HAVE GREAT CROWDS AND CUB FANS COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK. IT IS JUST DIFFERENT HERE. WRIGLEY’S GHOST SO WHERE DID JOSH, YOUR OVER QUALIFIED MANAGER GO? WEAGHMAN I THINK HIS MOM IS PUTTING THE SCREWS TO HIM TO ACTUALLY SETTLE DOWN – LOOK AT NORTH END BUSINESS AND LEGAL JOBS. AND THAT GIRL KERI?
WRIGLEY’S GHOST
WEAGHMAN SHE IS THE ONE CHASING JOSH. THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD LIVE THIS 20 SOMETHING LIFE STYLE FOREVER AND EVER. THEY PROBABLY COULD - HOWEVER THEY VOWED TO BE HERE UNTIL THE CUBS WON THE SERIES. I’LL JUST TAKE THE PLAYOFFS. THEY’RE STILL AROUND. WRIGLEY’S GHOST YOU NEVER KNOW WITH Q LEADING THE WAY. LOOK HE’S GOT VITTERS GOING FROM DAYTONA TO TENNESSEE TO MAYBE A STARTING ROLE/UTILITY GUY ON THE CLUB RIGHT HERE IN WRIGLEY NEXT YEAR. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUR MINORS AND GROW OUR OWN TALENT THROUGH THE DRAFT. WE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY AND IT DIDN’T WORK THIS PAST YEAR. I BELIEVE WE’LL BE MORE FRUGAL NEXT YEAR AND REALLY LOOK AT THESE CONTRACTS BEFORE WE SIGN THEM. THE YANKEES SPENT OH SO MUCH MONEY, AND IT DIDN’T WORK OUT - AT LEAST NOT THIS YEAR. WEAGHMAN THERE IS A POINT OF WHERE THE ENDLESS SPENDING MONEY ON BORDERLINE PLAYERS DOESN’T PAY. EVEN A SUPERSTAR THAT BATS 260 OR A PITCHER THAT WINS ONLY 12 - I’M NOT CERTAIN SOME OF THE FARM COULDN’T DO THIS NOW. SOME OF THE STUDIES ON PLAYERS AFTER BIG LEAGUE CONTRACTS ARE SIGNED IS DEPRESSING. BASICALLY THE ONLY PRODUCTION I’VE SEEN GO UP IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AFTER LARGE CONTRACTS HAS BEEN WITH GUYS LIKE BIRD, MAGIC, AND MICHAEL.
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WRIGLEY’S GHOST ONE ONLY HAS TO LOOK AT THE CUBS AND SEE WHAT BIG CONTRACTS DO REGARDING MEANINGFUL PRODUCTION. I’M ALL FOR BIG CONTRACTS, BUT TIE PLAYOFFS AND PRODUCTION INCENTIVE STATS TO THEM. INTANGIBLES ARE FINE - SUCH AS GAME WINNING HITS, ETC. WEAGHMAN I’M REALLY NOT WORRIED. THE CUBS HAVE 7 PLAYERS IN THE ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE THAT COULD MAKE THIS TEAM NEXT YEAR. IT’S NOT JUST VITTERS. IT’S GUYS FROM THE MESA SOLAR SOX THAT WILL MAKE THIS TEAM NEXT YEAR. GUYS LIKE JACKSON - WHO CAN HIT THE BALL VERY HARD, CALES, CARPENTER, MUYCO, SMIT, AND FLAHERTY. WRIGLEY’S GHOST I’VE GOT TO LEAVE. SINCE I’M DEAD I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHERE I’LL GO. I GUESS BACK TO GLENDALE. I’LL HAVE A ZUERCHER’S CHEESE PLATE TO GO. I’LL TEST THE POINT BEER AND SPOTTED COW AND GET BACK TO YOU REGARDING ESTABLISHING THESE IN WEAGHMAN’S PARK. SEE YOU AROUND WEAGHMAN. WEAGHMAN I GUESS I WENT FOR LUST, AND YOU WENT FOR FAME. FUNNY HOW WE MET UP AGAIN. LEAVE THE NAME WRIGLEY FIELD ALONE. WE’RE BOTH DEAD. WHAT DOES IT MATTER? I KNOW YOU ARE A GHOST; AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT I AM - BUT I’LL FIGURE IT OUT SOON.
END - CLARK AND ADDISON XX
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