HOUSTON – Since the Cubs finally won an NL Pennant, the stories have flown like a ball driven by the wind at Wrigley. I sat in the press box several times and was on the field more than a few times. Every time I did set foot on hallowed ground the Cubs stunk up the joint.
I was reminded of one classic tirade that will go down in Cubs history as the worst or the best ever. My friend Ed Curtis emailed me the rant by Cubs manager Lee Elia. Ed is a Cardinals fan so he has a stockpile of anti-Cubs material. Lee Elia was the Cubs manager in 1983 and made it through 123 games in 1984 when he was replaced by Charlie Fox. Lee is one of the few Albanian-Americans to ever play and manage in the majors. I am not suggesting Albanians are unusual.
His 1983 team had just lost their 14th of the young season against only five wins. Elia took on the media at his postgame news conference and let fly the loudest F-bomb driven tirade in the history of Major League Baseball or any other sport known to man. I would recreate it, but I wouldn't get two words in before I got slam dunked. Lee let it be known he didn't appreciate his guys being given a rough time by the few people paying to see the team. Wrigley Field wasn't much of an attraction in those days. Elia suggested in not so subtle terms the only fans who showed up must be bums out of work.
I guess his point was if more fans showed up the Cubs would win more often. That was certainly not the case for more years than we can remember. As luck would have it Elia was fired and in 1984. The Cubs with manager Jim Frey won 96 games. However, even with a packed house they lost the NLCS to the Padres. I suggest you check out the tirade on YouTube but don't hit the start button in church.