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Nestled at the obtusely angled intersection of N Clark and W Addison Streets in Chicago, Wrigley Field has represented Chicago Cubs baseball, 'family', fan loyalty, and long-suffering endurance to generations of Americans.


Forever Loyal: A Salute to the Cubs Fans and Their Field combines three separate takes on the modern day phenomenon of Chicago Cubs Baseball and Wrigley Field.



Inside Chicago: Wrigley Field
"It's(sic) got acres of Kentucky Bluegrass, miles of Boston Ivy, and gallons of Mississippi Mud. But Wrigley Field is 100% Chicago, and it's a national treasure."

This fast-paced half-hour TV-magazine show looks at the game day activities at Wrigley Field. It won a 2002 Chicago Emmy in the Magazine series category for television station WTTW.

Opening with a 1930s(?) newsreel welcoming the viewer to Wrigley Field Inside Chicago: Wrigley Field quickly moves to scenes of today's Wrigley Field. Over the next half hour (actually 24 minutes) the viewer is given a quick tour of various pre-game activities at Wrigley Field. It appears to be Opening Day, 2001 from comments and references in the film.

We are first introduced to the Cubs clubhouse manager and given a quick tour of the clubhouse, trainer's room, break and lunch room for the players and then it is time for a quick walk through the tunnel, into the Cubs dugout, and onto Wrigley Field itself. Very interesting if you have never been in a major league clubhouse. I think we have all dreamed of walking out of the dugout onto a major league baseball field.

Other quick segments give the viewer an idea of the duties of the umpire clubhouse manager, the heads groundskeeper, the director of ticket operations, the security director and force at Wrigley, the game PA announcers, message board operator, organist, and on and on. It is very interesting that most of this was filmed while the park is being prepared for an actual game.

One of the more interesting segments is watching just a bit of the late Arne Harris as he directs the TV production of the game in progress.

With numerous long and short shots interspersed with talking-head shots, an energetic voice-over narration, and an up-tempo soundtrack, Inside Chicago: Wrigley Field is a fast-paced, kinetic, 'up-close and personal' look at the game-day operations at Wrigley Field.



The Cub Fan
"Baseball is, in large part, about faith and so too is the Cub fan."—Bob Costas

Narrated by long time sportscaster Bob Costas and seasoned by the introspective thoughts of baseball doyen George Will, The Cub Fan is an hour long exploration of what it means to be a Cubs fan.

It stands in sharp contrast to the first piece. Almost mournful and resigned, it features interviews with many different fans with ties to the Chicago Cubs. Norma and Ed Cohen, founders of 'Cubs Anonymous'; Dutchie Caray, widow of long-time TV announcer Harry Caray; Ronnie Woo, one of the more . . .'unusual' Cubs fans; Jerry Pritikin, the Bleacher Preacher; and many more.

There is a good mix of scenes filmed during Cubs ball games and inside and outside looks at the park. We follow two friends as they recreate the journey they took as youths from home to the ball park by the 'L'. We see the fans that stand on Waveland Avenue and try to catch/run down home-run balls. We visit with more than a few of the 'bleacher bums'.

There is one telling moment when a fan is being interviewed at a game. We hear the crack of the bat, he instantly straightens in his seat, leans forward, eyes focused intently on the play on the field . . .and then he slumps back into his seat. The shot ends there.

Beautiful. Perfect. What better way to capture the frustration of any baseball fan, let alone the long-suffering Cubs fan.


Every Cubs fan featured tries to convince himself/herself that this addiction to the Cubs is healthy. That the Cubs are important to their lives. To their families. It is interesting for any baseball fan to see how deep this 'Cubs-addiction' runs and its effect on those who are infected.



Fandemonium: 2003 in Wrigleyville
October 14, 2003. The Chicago Cubs grabbed the National League World Series spot by the throat and only had five outs left to end nearly sixty years of postseason frustration. And then the world collapsed.

Fandemonium: 2003 in Wrigleyville is 8 minutes of pre-game fan hysteria before Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series. The fans were decorated in their team colors, pumped with adrenaline and anticipation, sure of victory, ready to end the curse, to win one for Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray. The mood was festive and celebratory on the streets surrounding Wrigley Field.

Unfortunately . . .somehow, the Cubs on the field could not find the toughness to fulfill their fans' desire: a victory and a World Series spot.

The background for this short piece is ' When the Cubs Win the World Series ' by The Cleaning Ladys. A fast-paced rocking song that perfectly captures the euphoria of the Cubs fans that night. It is notable that no 'after-game' reaction is shared. I am sure the fans' attitudes would have been much worse.



The Bottom Line
Any Chicago Cubs fan will love Forever Loyal: A Salute to the Cubs Fans and Their Field. It is a fast-paced and in-depth look at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field and the long-suffering fans who have sold their souls to the dark side of baseball fandom.




Reference web sites

Official Chicago Cubs MLB website:
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/ mlb/chc/ballpark/index.jsp

Cub Anonymous website
http://cubsanonymous.com/

Article about the 'Bleacher Preacher'
http://www.newcitychicago.com/chicago/3370.html

Interview with the 'Bleacher Preacher'
http://www .chicagopublicradio.org/audio_library/ram/848/848_020405b.ram

When the Cubs Win the World Series song
http://www.cleaningladys.com/mp3s/Cubs.mp3
 
 

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD