Can't Love 'Em If We Can't See 'Em

Patrick: Hello, fellas. So, it’s been about a year-and-a-half since the time we wrote about the Cubs and Marquee Sports Network (MSN). Mr. Hagan here—via the request of our lovable-old-G-on-the-floor sales manager Mr. Ron Madere—put it down solidly on our one-on-one interview.

John: And, Patrick, for those who may want to revisit it, it was the Madam C.J. Walker issue that hit the streets March 22, 2021, and is Vol 29 No. 12.

Patrick: Oh, wow. Good deal, my man. Now, today, we have our entire team on the scene to discuss this topic. It could end up being a huge issue down the line. So, what do you guys think? John, go ahead and kick it off. Transition us, if you will.

John: Thanks. All right, so… history is repeating itself. This is just like when the White Sox made the move from WGN- TV to ONTV paid subscription in 1982. Now, since 2020, the Cubs have gone from WGN-TV and the move to the MSN is beginning to affect their fanbase.

Russ: John, before you go on and knowledgize us, let me squeeze on in and say it’s absolutely horrible that if you don’t have cable, you won’t be able to see the Cubs play.

Donald: Shoot, and cable is expensive!

Russ: It is. That’s the type of thing that’ll have folks stealing cable—not me of course!— but, still, our local teams should be able to be seen by us locals as often as we’d like—without paying extra.

John: If you guys remember, the Cubs won the championship in 2016, then a few years later—in 2020—they jumped ship from WGN and went on to Marquee Sports Network.

Patrick: You’re kinda saying if they had remained our lovable losers, we might still get to see them for free?

John: Sad, but true.

Donald: Yeah, that’s really messed up. If they lose, we get to watch them; once they turn a corner into becoming a better team, those that followed them loyally get left in the dust. Wow, so that’s what’s really going on, huh?

Russ: Apparently.

Patrick: Fellas, I remember running in and out the house watching the Cubs game on a little grainy, black-and-white TV that was perched on three crates just inside our front door. Me and my younger brother would watch and marvel at the Daily Double—Ryne Sandberg and Bob Dernier—whip around the bases and play hellified defense. We’d chant “Jody…Jody…Jody” until Jody Davis would hear us and launch one into the left-center field seats. Ron Cey, Shawon Dunston, Keith Moreland, Lee Smith…

Russ: Ooowee, Patrick, you got me on 10 over here thinking about them days. The Cubs were on fire…even though they won very little. It’s amazing. I remember also watching never really went anywhere in regard to playoffs.

John: We watched because we loved—shoot, love—our Cubs. I know there are some in our city who can’t love both; if they love the White Sox, they won’t love the Cubs, and vice-versa…and that’s okay, I guess…but I tell you, I believe a better business solution would have been to have the Cubs still jump to the Marquee Sports Network; however, schedule the Cubs to have selective games on WGN as well. Coincidentally, the White Sox are the ones making noise now… and now is the time we need to FEEL the Cubs again. We need to experience them. We need to get behind them once again…but we have to see them.

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