Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 (AM) reported that the Cubs will keep Kerry Wood's locker empty, but this can't be true. Can it?
And if they do, it has to be because of some type of maintenance problem or logistics problem in the locker room, right?
Apparently not. The man responsible for this decision reportedly is Tom "Otis" Heilman, who is the Cubs' clubhouse man.
Two questions come to mind:
1. Why is Otis making these decisions?
2. Why did Otis make this decision?
Kerry Wood didn't leave the Cubs as a failure, but he did leave as someone who never regained the 20-strikeout form he flashed as a Rookie of the Year.
He always was hurt, and he played a role in that 2003 playoff collapse.
Leave his locker empty? Maybe out of superstition so nobody else suffers as many injuries.
The Bulls left Michael Jordan's locker empty as an homage. Jay Williams decided to break that tie to the past by setting up shop in MJ's stall. It didn't endear Jay to his teammates.
Obviously, Jay had a horrific motorcycle accident that had nothing to do with what locker he used.
Still, just use the lockers. There are other ways to honor former players.
I don't know Wood, but I would guess even he would rather someone inhabit his old cubicle. He knows he didn't have the career with the Cubs he anticipated. It wasn't a bad one, but it wasn't one worthy of a shrine.
At times like this, it is best to say nothing at all.
Maybe Otis has some inside info that the Cubs intend to sign Woody back to the team after his 2 year contract with Cleveland is up? Otherwise, I agree, just use the locker already.
Sad.
Sounds like a serious man crush out of control.
Maybe Otis thought that Wood was Leonardo DiCaprio all this time.
Burger Barn Otis!
Burger Barn!
This is a tough subject for me, cause I am right up there with Otis for Man Wood over Kerry. I know, call it what you will, but I always thought he was going to "find that flash" again like you said Roman. Man..its a real sore spot for me that he is gone. He is up there with Mark Grace for all time Cubs in my personal hall of fame. ....
with that being said...even I think this is weird!
I was going to post something witty about "Otis" and "Mayberry" and cubicles but then I wouldn't want to insult either Otis Campbell or Mayberry with a comparison to this idiocy. This guy definitely has only one bullet in his gun. Someone take it from him before he hurts himslf.