Ricketts Family Annoyance Thread

[J. Walter Weatherman]

http://deadspin.com/comcast-sportsnet-airs-our-version-of-cubs-mascot-with-1501633812

[J. Walter Weatherman]

https://twitter.com/ivychat/status/423489367747731456

If the mascot story is no big deal, why is Julian Green on the radio talking about it?

[Tinker to Evers to Chance]

I've heard a lot of people making fun of the new mascot because it looks like it's for kids. Aren't mascots supposed to be for kids? It's not a new logo. I don't understand why this is even a story.

Seriously. It's for kids. It really is that simple.

And irrationally hating it means you're agreeing with Chuck.

I don't irrationally hate it. I understand what they are doing.  I just think the design, execution and roll out was well done for a bunch of hack amateurs. You know, the kind of people who would be so stupid as to ask for public financing while running a PAC against government spending.

I'm probably going to hate myself for asking this, but what precisely are your problems with the "the design, execution and roll out"?

I don't see anything in the design that makes it that much better or worse than any other mascot.

And I also don't get the roll out thing.  Was there a better way to roll out the mascot other than posting a story on their website and having it go visit a children's hospital?

What would constitute a successful execution and roll out?

[Slaky]

I've heard a lot of people making fun of the new mascot because it looks like it's for kids. Aren't mascots supposed to be for kids? It's not a new logo. I don't understand why this is even a story.

Seriously. It's for kids. It really is that simple.

And irrationally hating it means you're agreeing with Chuck.

I don't irrationally hate it. I understand what they are doing.  I just think the design, execution and roll out was well done for a bunch of hack amateurs. You know, the kind of people who would be so stupid as to ask for public financing while running a PAC against government spending.

I'm probably going to hate myself for asking this, but what precisely are your problems with the "the design, execution and roll out"?

I don't see anything in the design that makes it that much better or worse than any other mascot.

And I also don't get the roll out thing.  Was there a better way to roll out the mascot other than posting a story on their website and having it go visit a children's hospital?

What would constitute a successful execution and roll out?

Don't forget having the Cubs PR guy promote the new mascot.

Apparently in Chuck's world the Cubs PR guy should not talk about the mascot.

[Saul Goodman]

I've heard a lot of people making fun of the new mascot because it looks like it's for kids. Aren't mascots supposed to be for kids? It's not a new logo. I don't understand why this is even a story.

Seriously. It's for kids. It really is that simple.

And irrationally hating it means you're agreeing with Chuck.

I don't irrationally hate it. I understand what they are doing.  I just think the design, execution and roll out was well done for a bunch of hack amateurs. You know, the kind of people who would be so stupid as to ask for public financing while running a PAC against government spending.

I'm probably going to hate myself for asking this, but what precisely are your problems with the "the design, execution and roll out"?

I don't see anything in the design that makes it that much better or worse than any other mascot.

And I also don't get the roll out thing.  Was there a better way to roll out the mascot other than posting a story on their website and having it go visit a children's hospital?

What would constitute a successful execution and roll out?

Don't forget having the Cubs PR guy promote the new mascot.

Apparently in Chuck's world the Cubs PR guy should not talk about the mascot.

The PR guy should focus exclusively on Ron Santo stuff being thrown in dumpsters.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Chuck may not be able to articulate just what the whole mascot "screw up" was, exactly, but he can tell you who to blame and what bad things it portends...

https://twitter.com/ivychat/status/423499458983124992

This whole mascot screw up just reeks of Crane Kenney. Up next, Clark starts spreading holy water.

https://twitter.com/ivychat/status/423548939657166848

If the Cubs front office can't manage the rollout of a mascot, are we confident they can manage a billion dollar media deal?

Upon careful consideration of this whole something something something, Chuck finds himself forced to reluctantly ask some tough questions about the competence of the Cubs front office.

[Doc]

Apparently in Chuck's world the Cubs PR guy should not talk about the mascot.

When the mascot is not around, the young Cubs fans should ask, where's Poochie Clark?

This whole kerfuffle needs a catchy title in the media like "Clark-gate" or "Mascot Mayhem."

Some observations:
1) Who is the sap in the suit? Is it one guy like Benny the Bull, or is it a revolving cast of performers who have clown college degrees to wordlessly interact with kids.
2) If it shows up at Wrigley and roams the stands / aisles, how long before a drunk grabs the head and tosses it to the lower stands? The over-under starts at May 1.
3) Why does the hat have to be on backwards? Is that to appeal to a demographic or just to impart Clark's "plays by his own rules" rakish nature?

[Brownie]

Some observations:
1) Who is the sap in the suit? Is it one guy like Benny the Bull, or is it a revolving cast of performers who have clown college degrees to wordlessly interact with kids.

Let's look at the Wisconsin model.

Q: You write that one of the myths about successful athletic programs at universities is that they make a lot of money for the school. You used Wisconsin's trip to the 1999 Rose Bowl as an example.

A: Wisconsin's payout for playing was like $1.8 million and they spent $2.1 million. A former student of mine was a reporter in Madison and he sent a list of the official traveling party: 832 persons, from the president's office and all their spouses and the faculty athletic committee and all their spouses, and so on. Of course, they stayed in a fancy Beverly Hills hotel. And then people wonder why those who nominally have control over athletics don't do anything. They're on the gravy train and totally complicit.

But the part that got me was this: I'm reading down the list and near the bottom there's three Bucky Badgers (Wisconsin's mascot). I couldn't figure out why they needed three, because only one runs out on the field. Then I saw that for the New Year's Eve party they spent something like $39,000 and it occurred to me that, if the first two Buckys got wasted, they could always suit up the third for the game.

[Eli]

Chuck may not be able to articulate just what the whole mascot "screw up" was, exactly, but he can tell you who to blame and what bad things it portends...

https://twitter.com/ivychat/status/423499458983124992

This whole mascot screw up just reeks of Crane Kenney. Up next, Clark starts spreading holy water.

https://twitter.com/ivychat/status/423548939657166848

If the Cubs front office can't manage the rollout of a mascot, are we confident they can manage a billion dollar media deal?

Upon careful consideration of this whole something something something, Chuck finds himself forced to reluctantly ask some tough questions about the competence of the Cubs front office.

No one begs the question quite like Chuck.

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

Doc edited his post, haha.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

http://997now.cbslocal.com/2014/01/14/jim-harbaughs-wife-calls-fg-putting-hubby-on-blast-01-14-14/

Jim Harbaugh's wife Sarah surprises Fernando and Greg by calling in and putting her husband's pleated pants on blast! Listen as she asks the guys to help her hubby out and give him a makeover!

...

"I will not take the blame for his outfits," Sarah said.

"I've thrown them away many of times. I've asked him 'Please, pleats are gone. Wear the flat front.'" she explained to Fernando and Greg, "He has a flattering body."

...

"I threw them out and when he went to the combine, he found a Walmart. They were $8. $8!"

...

UPDATE 01.15.2014:

God bless the internet. We now have visual proof of one of Jim Harbaugh's excursions to Walmart for his patented pleated khakis.

[Doc]

Doc edited his post, haha.

Doc fat-fingered the Enter key when he hit the colon button. It's hard to type with a pistol in your left hand and a lung-rattling cough.

By the way: you just made The List.

[InternetApex]

Doc edited his post, haha.

Doc fat-fingered the Enter key when he hit the colon button. It's hard to type with a pistol in your left hand and a lung-rattling cough.

By the way: you just made The List.

Huey: Too big for anal
Doc: Too big for colon

I see what you did there.

[CBStew]

Doc edited his post, haha.

Doc fat-fingered the Enter key when he hit the colon button. It's hard to type with a pistol in your left hand and a lung-rattling cough.

By the way: you just made The List.

Huey: Too big for anal
Doc: Too big for colon

I see what you did there.

Too big because it is a semi colon?

[Slaky]

Not sure guys. I think I'm done.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/25113883-418/wrigley-field-deal-fell-apart-at-stormy-session-with-cubs-rooftop-owners.html