Wednesday, June 15, 1994- The Michigan Daily - 15 i The Sporting Views: Hate to see you go, Sandberg By Scott Burton DAILY SPORTS WRITER As a longtime fan of the Chicago Cubs - a franchise that proudly owns the distinction of not winning a cham- pionship since 1908 -I thought I had gotten used to the pain. When aroutine groundball eked its way through Leon Durham's legs cost- ing the Cubs a trip to the 1984 World Series, I stoically laughed. When they traded Lee Smith, the best closer in the history of baseball, to Boston for Hall of Scrubs Calvin SchraldiandAlNipper,Ibarely sniffled. When Greg Maddux, the best Cubs pitcher since Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, signed with Atlanta, I ex- haled a resounding "Ho-humm." So why was it that on Monday, when Cub second baseman Ryne Sandberg announced his retirement, my jaws dropped lower than the abyss and I just about broke down in tears? Let me take you back to June 24, 1984 to help explain. That afternoon, I was innocently watching the Cubs play theCardinalsonNBC's Saturday Game of the Week (remember those?). And, in typical fashion, the Cubs were los- ing. Butup stepped Ryne Sandberg -a henceforth unaccomplished ballplayer - to hit not one but two, late-inning, game-tying homeruns off Cardinal closer Bruce Sutter and miraculously lead the Cubs to victory. That day a legend was born. So was an idol. Soon after, I got a Ryno poster, I got a Ryno rookie baseball card and I put his number on the back of my little- league jersey. I even swore to my par- ents thatI was going to name my first- born Ryne (I'm not kidding). Ryne's career took off much as my love for the Cubsdid. He won the MVP in 1984, and earned 10 straight Gold Gloves and nine All-Star berths. But what made Ryne so special wasn't just his individual accomplish- ments.Muchlike Mr.Cub ErnieBanks, what made him so endearing was the way he perfectly embodied what a Cub is supposed to be about-indeed, what any baseball player should be about. You see, Ryne never went to the World Series, and was only on three winning Cubs' teams in his 12-year career. But throughout all that medioc- rity that surrounded him, he simply continued to play for all he was worth. Even when other less-talented sec- ond basemen throughout the years - the Tomm Herrs and the Wally Backmans - went on to earn rings for more talented teams, Ryne didn't de- mand a trade or whine about incompe- tent managers or talentless teammates. He just watched those players go by into oblivion, while he played and played, occasionally stopping to ac- knowledge how much he appreciated the loyal support of the fans. And now, when Ryne felthe wasn't earning hiskeep(the fourth-largestkeep in baseball, by the way), he decided to leave the game in dignity, on his terms, before he became another legend- turned-washout a la Steve Carlton. So, yes, I am having a hard time accepting that I'll never see him make another routine 4-3, or hit a grounder to the right side of the infield to advance a runner on second, or sock a game-tying homerun into the left-field bleachers. But as hard as it is to say goodbye to someone like Ryne, I know there is something not quite as painful that will come out of his retirement ... See you in Cooperstown, Ryno. Ryne Sandberg was legendary for his accomplishments at the plate as well as for his steady glove at second base. Sandberg drove in 100 runs twice, and led National League in homeruns in 1990 with 40. He also is the career leader fielding percentage for second baseman with a .990 clip. haven't lost at home since May 1, but For starters, it would be nice to see 3TADIUlV their fans were in the stands well them put an organ in the new park, a ontinued from page 14 before they started their streak. minor detail the Indians seem to have ield's charm. The hand-operated The Tigers aren't in such a bad missed. Andif there'sone thing Tiger coreboard and ivy-covered outfield spot. They've got a team that's com- Stadiumhas over Jacobs and Wrigley, ence are throwbacks and not annoy- petitive and fun to watch, along with it's the number of upper-deck seats it nces, like Tiger Stadium's odd out- a loyal group of supporters. The club has, and the view from them. Id dimensions and infinite ob- is also able to pick out exactly what's Sadly, that's about all Detroit has tructed view seats. good and what isn't in the new stadi- on Cleveland and Chicago, at least And while the Cubs have forgotten ums, as well as what to keep and what until they can put together a respect- how to play winning baseball the past to pitch from the old ones. able ballyard. half-century, they still know what re- ally counts in the fan's mind. They stille ally at 12 i n the same old roofless ballyard, Think You're Pregnant? usually at 1:20 in the afternoon. Of course, a good location doesn't " Free Pregnancy Test hurt, and Wrigley Field certainly has * Information about pregnancy t. The park sits on the lakefront in and options e heart of Chicago, seemingly a " COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL world away from the tough south side Pregnanc Counseling Cne of town and Comiskey Park, home to H Cente the White Sox. Women Helping Women Detroit could learn a thing or two (313) 434-3088 (24 hours) from the Sox, who have a three-year- 2950 Packard, Ypsilanti, MI (I Block East of Golfside) old park and are the defending Ameri- can League West champs, yet trail the Cubs in attendance. Dong the Wing Thing Luckily for the Tigers, their old al Cleveland has proven how to do A IN T t enew stadium thingright. TheIndi- ans have been the laughing stock of the major leagues throughout their existence. Enter Jacobs Field. Cleveland opted not to go for such ballpark 'ad- vancements' as retractable roofs and 20C.......a wing Astroturf. Instead, the Indians built $3.25....p..pitcher Coors Light an open-air stadium with grass. $5.00........pitcher Long Island hat's more, everyone with a seat at I cobs Field has a view of the action, Ice Tea a far cry from the made-for-football NO COVER Cleveland Stadium, their old park. 1220 S. University It doesn't hurt that the Indians Cal, 665-7777 for deliveries INDEPENUN I LY VERIFIED national grad test score improvements. The Princeton Review is affiliated with neither The Educational Testing Service nor Princeton University. THE PRINCETON REVIEW we score more 1313-663-21 63j is hiring *Cover assignments for news, sports, and arts staffs *Digital darkroom *Staff currently in transition to color JUNE 28 at 6:00 PM bring your portfolio to the Student Publications Building 420 Maynard call Doug at 764-0563 or 764-0552 for more info.