Cubs Lovable Losers
1 p.m. April 11----
The funny thing about the April 9 maiden voyage of the monthly Lovable Losers Literary Revue was how the Chicago Cubs--the evening’s timeless subject---framed the event by blowing two leads against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates.
The game, which the Cubs eventually won in 15 innings, was on television sets throughout El Jardin ("The Garden"), the site of the reading. The Mexican restaurant opened in 1967 in the southern shadows of Wrigley Field. El Jardin is known for concoting one of the best homemade margaritas in Chicago. Former Cubs Dusty Baker, Frank Castillo and Sammy Sosa have all visited El Jardin.
Presumably after a game.
The evening was organized and hosted by long time Cubs fan/Chicago author Donald Evans. The restaurant's back room was packed with more than 50 Cubs fans and literary devotees. Cub die hards like The Bleacher Preacher (Jerry Pritikin), my long time pal Nick Novich of "Nick's" fame and Scratch Crib contributor Mike Reischl were in the house. So was my friend, former Cubs Vine Line editor Jim McArdle. He recently retired from the Cubs publication department and is working on a book about the Cubs 2008 season for Triumph Books. He already has a lot of material.
Evans offered a tender toast to launch the 90-minute revue. Two members from the Chicago punk band Dummy played a fast acoustic version of the ‘69 Cubs theme “Hey Hey Holy Mackeral,” although it sounded more hard bluegrassy to me.
For a Sun-Times video recap of the evening click this link:
Lovable Losers Literary Revue April 9
That group line dancing to Steve Goodman's "Go Cubs Go" are led by Heather Handeman, who wrote the 2007 book "Big Wigs: Stories of a Straight Girl in a Drag Queen's World" (State Street Publishing, $19.95). But her dancers didn't want to appear at this event in drag. That's like Phil Regan not putting spit on the baseball!
Evans plans to conduct the free literary revue readings on a monthly basis through October................
.....Evans also has a fine website http://www.lovablelosersliteraryrevue.com/ which will be bookmarked for the next 100 years in my FAVORITE LINKS.
On May 7 at El Jardin, 3335 N. Clark [(773) 528-6775] the revue will commemorate the month in which the Cubs franchise suffered its first loss, in which Hippo Vaughn pitched a nine-inning no-hitter, only to lose the game; in which Sammy Sosa strained his back sneezing; in which the Cubs score 22 wind-assisted runs at Wrigley Field--only to lose 23-22 to the Phillies; in which Aramis Ramirez plays a game-deciding popup into an error off his head.
Featured guest will be Tammy Lechner, author of the book “Our Team, Our Dream (Triumph, Oct. 2007, foreword by Cubs great Billy Williams). Its a photo documentary highlighting Cubs seasons 1993-2007.
Christine Sneed, who teaches writing classes at DePaul University and Loyola University, will read a remembrance. She has published short stories and poems in various literary journals including Chicago's “Other Voices,” “New England Review,” “Greensboro Review” and a story of hers selected by Salman Rushdie will appear in “Best American Short Stories 2008.” due for a fall release.
Poet Sid Yiddish, Chicago Coordinator of the Bathroom Poetry Project (http://bathroompoet.net/Chicago%20Bios.htm) will be throat singing “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” and he will also read from his work. Sid’s recital will be in the restaurant and not the bathroom.
As featured guest I was asked to close the April 9 revue debut with a prayer:
THE CUBS PRAYER '2008
OUR PINIELLA WHO ART IN WRIGLEY
HALLOWED BE THY NAME
THY KINGMAN COME
THY WILL BE DONE
ON EARTH AS IT IS THE 7TH INNING STRETCH
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY OLD STYLE
AND FORGIVE US FOR OUR HIT AND RUNS
AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO HIT AND RUN AGAINST US
AND LEAD US NOT INTO THE BLEACHERS
BUT DELIVER US FROM ZELL
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE LACK OF POWER IN APRIL and THE GLORY OF FUKADOME
FOR EVER AND EVER
AT LEAST UNTIL OCTOBER
AMEN.
Comments
hey Dave,
I was up late last night feeding the baby when I turned on VH1 which was playing the "The Last Waltz." Just before Dylan broke into "Forever Young" a guy I didn't recognize recited a "prayer." Sort of reminded me of your "prayer" at the Loveable Loser Literary Review. I like your rendition better. By the way, who was the bass player in the Band. Can't remember his name. Doesn't the drummer from the Band look just like Burton Cummings who was with the Guess Who right?
Remember when Second City TV did a take-off on the "Last Waltz." John Candy was a retiring polka player who was hosting the "Last Polka!" Very clever and funny!
Mike Reischl
Posted by: Mike Reischl | May 11, 2008 04:14 PM