I have just arrived at the 2012 Cubs Convention, and, like, whoa. So many Cubs fans all geeked out with smiles from ear to ear. Awesome.
Getting here was – as air travel too frequently is – a pain. The weather has been crap, so you expect a little delay. An hour? OK, fine. More than I’d like, but, I can deal. What you don’t expect? The jet bridge at your landing gate to break as your plane starts to deboard. Not only did the jet bridge break – it irreparably broke. In the pilot’s words: “This has never happened to me before.”
Here’s hoping that becomes the theme (in a good way) for the weekend.
I’m guessing I’ll keep updating this post as the day goes on, until/unless there’s actually news, which will require a new post. Hard to say, because I can already tell that there’s so much going on here, it might be hard to step away and write up a full post.
Also, Darwin Barney says hello:
Update 1: Wow, my first reader recognition. Thanks to Jason from NW Indiana (who’s here with his friends, including one in sweet Cubs PJs) for making my weekend. And for being a generally cool dude.
Update 2: I totally just thought I saw Dale Sveum. But it was just a bald guy. Oops.
Update 3: It was an early morning for us, so the Wife needed a power nap. Like a doofus, I didn’t realize the exhibition halls aren’t open until 3pm anyway. People are really starting to stream in now.
Update 4: Met some more folks, including Mike from Wrigleyville who’s taking his mom to the Convention, which is pretty cool. Hanging in the exceedingly crowded grand ballroom right now awaiting the kickoff. Pictures on Twitter and Facebook.
Update 5: Just got done with the Opening Ceremonies. Very cool to see all the Cubs old and new, and, of course, the front office. Headed down to Kitty O’Shea’s for a bit, and then to see Theo and Jed, and then back to the bar.
Ahh, the Hilton. I miss the Cubs Convention. I’ll be living vicariously through you this year, Brett, as I couldn’t get out of Denver for the weekend.
Question – where are you from that you had to fly into Chicago?
Denmark.
christopher,
im in denver too. with te-bag hysteria infecting the city, we both should have caught that flight to chicago. anyway, we should have our own local cubs convention down at wymanns sometime. ill bring my fathead of derrick lee, we’ll stand in line for beer, it will be exactly the same thing. hit me up on the message board if you want to grab a beef sandwich or something and talk saber-tooth-metrics and discuss how tyler colvin will probably hit .304 with 30 hrs here in denver
brett, when you get back to ohio, will your city be gone?
Wyman’s, the best pizza West of the Chicago!
Hey……It’s Friday the 13th!!!!!………….somethins’ gotta’ keep the day meaning somethin’!!
Have a good day no matter what!
I only went once, but it was a good time. I know you will enjoy yourself.
And here I assumed you lived in Chicago and probably on the northside near Clark and Addison. So, like the other inquisitive BN follower above has asked.. where do you live where you had to fly into Chitown?
Weird, right? I made the same assumption in the past. The poor soul is an Ohioan.
Yeah, I’m from Columbus. Family is close, wife has a good job he loves, so that’s where we are. I make it in to Chicago whenever I can.
Brett, being a fellow Columbus-ite, I’ll hold the city down for you. Definitely not your website, which I stumbled across fairly recently and now obsessively refresh many, many times a day (possibly my greatest Web find ever), but I’ll be Pretending that I’m hosting CubsCon East. At least that’s what I’m calling my home office for the weekend.
Seriously though – have a great time, keep doing what you do for your fellow die-hards on this awesome site, and safe travels headed back. Your city will, in fact, not be gone.
Glad to see it was a fellow Region resident who was the first to welcome you! NW Indiana isn’t actually part of Indiana, thats probably why we’re so awesome :p
As someone from South Bend, we in the rest of Indiana fully endorse the Region not being lumped in with us all…
Some awesome Region Humor: (#2 might be the truest thing ever written) http://www.angelfire.com/hi4/ashleyspoems2/regionrat.html
I think the comedy in that is that angelfire.com still exists.
Brett, Just want to commend you on the information you provide on a timely basis. I know you were snubbed on any awards this year, but if it is any consolation, your site was given kudos by one of the late morning hosts on WSCR670 this morning. (In case you don’t know, that is the #1 sports talk station in Chicago). Keep up the great work!!!
Really? That’s awesome. Thanks for your compliment, and for passing along the Score mention (and idea what the context was or what time it was? (I’m vain and want to see if I can find it online)).
It was Matt Spiegel(Sp?) around 10 am this morning. He was referencing something HE read on Bleacher Nation (another avid reader I’m sure), and said the site is full of very good information. Based on things he has said at times, I suspected he read your blog. This confirms it…
It was a reference to the Rookie Development Program the Cubs are starting. He pretty much just stole Theo’s quotes from your site, but at least you got the credit. Called it a great site for Cubs news, or something along those lines.
Right on, Brett’s empire continues to grow!
It’s eerily quiet on the Kid-K front. Lips are tighter than drums as the team plans to announce his signing at CubsCon?!
That’s my bet.
Hey Brett, I noticed on twitter just now that Zach Cates follows you. Wonder what his thoughts were on the piece you did the other day. I wonder how many players/prospects might be hiding behind unsuspecting BN names.
Yeah, I saw that, too (and thought it was cool). Some day I’d love to wade through my followers and see who else is in there. The official Cubs’ twitter is in there…
James Pugliese too, a pitcher we drafted last year.
It’ll be announced tonight. Good way to kick of the convention and Kerry’s charity event at Navy Pier.
Man I wish I was there with you sir but I’m now a resident of tx but hey at least I can get great bbq but ill be damned if I could get a good pizza or italian beef. Hope you enjoy yourself brett and keep up the great work
Mmm brisket and ribs. I wish there was decent BBQ here in Wichita.
Ya love some chopped beef if your ever in houston area rudys has th best brisket/chopped beef it was even on the food channel advertised
Actually the best BBQ is in Euless at North Main BBQ. Rudy’s is good though. They have great breakfast tacos too.
One of these days I want to go on a BBQ trip to KC and Texas. Haha
Where in Wichita Kansas Cubs Fan? North, South, East, West?
Greg…I feel your pain. I too am a transplant to Texas. Big state but if you live in the Arlington area there is a place called Chicago Corner. Owned by a Chicago family that relocated here. They bring in Beef, Maxwell Street Polish and make the best pizza I have found in Texas.
If you are in the area give them a try!!
Hey Brett, I’m sure I’ll run into you at the bar. Dont have CubCon ticket but figured im stop by the bar fir a bit Heading over there around 5:00. Come meet the “legs” in the BN logo. I’ll be easy to find. Green BN shirt, bald head and long goatee.
Sweet. I should be there with the wife around 5:45/6. Wearing a dark blue and red Cubs jacket that says “CHICAGO” across the front. We’ll look for you.
future BN logo – your legs sitting at the bar…maybe we could get you to take pictures of your legs whenever you are at wrigley, Cubs related things, etc…
As long as the events are only Cubs related…
Because from the waist up you will probably only get pictures of me drinking a Guinness
HAHA, yes can only be Cub events and has to feature you sitting in the same pose.
Have fun and again, do the world a favor and punch Ronnie woo woo in the face.
just punching him in the face wont do anyone any favors… you have to do some damage to have a global impact. id be careful though brett, woo woo man has spent some chicago winters on the street: he’s probably tougher than he looks. of course you are probably tougher than you look too… you’d have to be, cause you dont look very tough
At least have someone put a sock in his mouth.
I appreciate Ronnie’s spirit but if you are near him when he’s chanting, it’s obnoxious as hell!
My dream is that one year Ronnie Woo Woo just disappears. My nightmare is that someday his likeness makes it into the “Fans of the Game” exhibit in Cooperstown.
Punch WOO in WOO the WOO face WOO!!!
although it would cost you financially and some embarassment, once the story got out, it would do wonders for this site’s popularity.
Darwin Barney is nothing but a two dimensional player.
He’s not a long term answer but at least Barney has a roster spot. It’s more than Ryan “The Klank” Theriot can say who was non-tendered last month by the Cards.
Yeah but Theriot has a ring…unfortunately.
Yes, true and it makes me sick that he got it while holding onto coat tails!
Two dimensional. LOL! He has no depth.
i got your joke tommy
That doesn’t bode well for our hopes of him being used for future depth.
Thank goodness someone gets me!
Well played …
Brett you need to Al’s for Italian beef. Get it dipped and lots of napkins.
Ditto that. Mr. Beef is also very good!
luke’s on jackson is close to the hotel (maybe a mile-ish) and also very good.
oh god, why didnt i get on that plane?!? i would kill for an italian beef right now. oh wait, make mine a combo, wet with sweet! dammit!
Being a transplanted Chicagoan, I crave the foods indigenous to Chicago. Although I get up there 1-2 times per year, there are times I need to satisfy the cravings so I learned to make my own Italian Beef sandwiches (combo optional), Chicago Style Hot Dogs, Deep Dish Pizza (Lou Malnatis). A taste of home was essential for survival. Damn, now I need a fix!
Brett – you should definitely try to get to Lou Malnati’s while you’re in town – the half clogged artery that you get from eating the deep dish is well worth it!
Gino’s East >ALL
I love Luke’s. You order small fries and it comes in something that can only be described as a grocery bag
Sorry to disagree….Johnnie’s Beef in Elmwood Park is the best beef in Chicagoland.
Just sayin.
i don’t think she claimed it was the best, but there are some who will. Al’s #1 certainly was iconic. but a beef sandwich debate among Chicagoans is a tiring and fruitless endeavor. I should know, I’ve been part of at least 200 such arguments and, in the end, no one ever changes their position. Johnnies is good!
Exactly. No minds are ever changed in such arguments. It’s like the never ending debate about NY style pizza vs Chicago deep dish.
Um… there’s a debate?
Not to me.
Deep dish is amateur hour.
Thinner crust = Room for 2+ extra slices. I came to party, not get stuffed with bread.
Chicago style thin crust is the greatest pizza on the face of the planet.
Is this worth mentioning? Cubs sign Alfredo Amezaga to a minor league contract. He plays a number if infield and outfield positions, but isn’t there enough back-up of that type already?
Absolutely, but they need bodies for the minor league spring training in Mesa and maybe even Iowa.
Never hurts to have injury filler either
Thanks for the chat in the lobby Brett. After today’s events, we will be in the lobby til the wee hours, so if you have time, make sure to stop by for a drink or four.
Right on, man. Likewise. And where there are drinks, so too will I be.
Very jealous, Brett. Appreciate the updates on the convention so i can live vicariously through you this weekend. Enjoy!
pretty good posts / pics on Twitter #Cubscon
Of course they wait for Cubscon to announce Woody signing. Nice
Hey Brett, who did you fly in on to Chicago? As a pilot myself I am interested to hear which jet bridge broke beyond repair. Especially considering I have to go into O’hare tomorrow. I get a nice little tease because I have to sit there for almost 3 hours. So close to the convention yet so far away. Have fun and GO CUBS!!!
Yeah, as an Aircraft Engineer, I would like to know this also. Flying into Chicago, my guess would be United Airlines. O’hare is so busy though, you never know.
Diesel, who do you fly for.
I fly for a regional airline doing united express flying. I fly into ORD often which is great during the summer because I can listen to Cubs games when I can’t watch them.
It was American Airlines. Sorry about the tease…