Observing The Anniversary

I'm back again from another lengthy visit to Health Care Land, a place that really should be make-believe. If I ever hear another beeping IV monitor, it will be too soon.

There has been much hoopla regarding the 100-Day observance of the new Obama administration. The media buildup to this day has been considerable and would have truly reached critical mass except for the emerging Swine Flu hysteria that has swept across the national consciousness.

So yesterday was a day for proper reflection and remembrance, but not for the 100 Days and the problems of the nation. No, I refer, instead, to the 26th anniversary of the remarkable tirade by then-manager of the Chicago Cubs, Lee Elia.

Tirade is really too soft a word to describe the verbal blowout and mental meltdown that has placed Elia in the pantheon of spectacular self-immolators.

Much hope had been placed on the tough-talking Elia, who had been brought in to instill a rugged discipline to a perennially under-achieving team.

I recall how the Cubs created a pre-season TV ad campaign around Elia, featuring the grizzled guy talking directly to the viewer, describing his plans for an intense boot-camp-like spring training regimen. After reciting an exhaustive array of drills and exercises, he paused and said, "and then we take a lunch break..." and winked at the camera. As his visage was supplanted by the Cubs Logo and season ticket information, the soundtrack was that of a martial drum corps, pounding away in precise, thunderous rhythm.

And so when Elia's Cubs had lost another game on April 29, 1983, their record stood at a woeful 5 - 15. Cub Fan-dom was not happy. Many boos were released that day, reflecting a fan consensus that Elia's makeover plan had not taken root. Pressure was building on the manager, and on that day, this nut cracked. Here is a clip of his press conference following the game. Sensitive ears should not listen:

YouTube - Lee Elia Tirade - Chicago Cubs - 4/29/83

Wow. The hefty swath of grandmothers and Iowa families that constituted such a significant portion of Cubbie Fan-Dom were mortified. (Bear in mind that Harry Carey had just begun his reign of inebriation there after having been shown the door by White Sox management. His Cubbie cult of personality had just begun. And there were no lights at Wrigley yet. The emergence of Cub Fan as drunken Frat Boy hadn't taken hold.)

The die was cast. Elia had instantly alienated whatever niche of fans remained that believed in his "we're going to make these overpaid pussies perform!" schtick. Elia was removed as manager later that year. But his legendary rant lives on.

And as a bit of counter-balance, here is the always composed, ever-thoughtful White Sox manager, Ozzie Guillen, expanding on why his club was not performing to his expectations:

YouTube - Ozzie Guillen: Eessnadabeegdeal....to heeen

I love baseball.

Quote of the Day:

"I have discovered in 20 years of moving around a ballpark, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats." -- Former White Sox owner Bill Veeck