Sep 30 2008
The Post Season Rally
The Cubs hosted their 2008 Post Season Rally today at Daley Plaza. There was a lot going on during this hour long tribute to the Cubs’ 2008 season. Actor Jim Belushi was the emcee and he introduced such guests as the Chairman of the Chicago Cubs: Crane Kenney, legends Ron Santo, Ernie Banks, and Billy Williams, and politicians: Governor Rod Blagojevich and Mayor Richard Daley.
The rally started with some clips of past Cubs teams clinching a playoff berth. They showed the 1984 and 1989 Cubs in their clinching games along with the 2008 Cubs clinching at Wrigley Field last week. The voice of the Cubs, Wayne Messmer, started out the festivities with a singing of the National Anthem.
Then came the legends. Ron Santo only had four words to say, “This is the year!” While Ernie Banks and Billy Williams said a little bit more. Ultimately, these guys didn’t speak nearly as much as the rest of the guests.
Mayor Daley started out the second half of the festivities as he donned a Cubs hat. Daley is very open about being a White Sox fan, but for today, he rooted on the Cubs to do well in the playoffs. Daley was followed up by the Cubs’ Chairman, Crane Kenney. Kenney gave a nice little speech with some highlights on the season. Just as he was saying how the team had no MVP, his hat flew off into the Chicago winds. Everyone laughed. Then came Rod Blagojevich, who was booed at first, but received a nice applause after a pretty nice speech about the Cubs and Lou Piniella.
Things continued as a few players from the team came out to show their support. Derrek Lee, Sean Marshall and Micha Hoffpauir. Lee spoke briefly about how hard the Cubs are going to work to try and bring a championship to the North Side.
The festivities ended with a singing of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by Harry Caray. There was also a music highlight reel provided by WGN. Finally, Belushi tried to pump up the crowd with his own version of “Go Cubs, Go!” but it was kind of lame. The only part that he changed was “the Cubs are gonna go all the way.“
Red and blue confetti blasted out of the stage and the real version of “Go Cubs, Go” was played. Fans exited and went on their way with the hopes that this would be the year the Cubs go to the promised land.
Go Cubs!
