The Tom Ricketts Drinking Game

It looks like Cubs.com is going to show the press conference.

My God, Rob G... I love you. Hilarious post.

Ameritrade mention should be worth -2 drinks since it is a sobering thought a)how many have been laid off, and 2)anything Wall street has zero sum game written all over it.

2nd consideration is what brand, since most brands collude with other Central division teams. I guess there's still time to hit a local micro brewery, with a stop for vinegar and lime chips to balance the bitterness.

That being said, I want to thank the Tribune for selling my team, finally, and I tip one each to Jack, Harry and the Good Kid: Wish you were here for the unshackling.

Go Cubs!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/10/chicag...

here's soundbites from his 1st interview...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?story...

and a recap of it...

NPR: Cubs' New Owner: 'There is no curse.'

*drink*

Awesome.

I will have passed out after the 6th bullet point.

Please summarize the Press Conference for my benefit.

There's actually too many rules for a good drinking game. It would be fun to do in Parachat though, with a extra drink for every time you have to ask why you're drinking.

Online link to presser @ WSCR 670.

"I'd just like to throw out there that Jim knows better than to do that..."

... awwwkkk-ward!

Laura Ricketts looks exactly like Boy George with long hair. (I posted that before I learned she is a lesbian. Not making fun of her looks, just being observant. She's actually attractive if you don't think of the Boy George thing)

They're nerds in suits. Not a bad or good thing necessarily, just an observation.

The other three are fine, but the oldest one, Pete (bald guy), I think is his name, seems like a prick. Glad he's not the main man and I hope he doesn't have a lot of pull.

Summary of what I saw until my internet finally gave up the ghost:

Named all four siblings as "directors"
We know it's an honor to own a baseball team, and we intend to respect it (to the other owners)
Drink (thank the fans)
gonna win the world series
striving to be the best franchise - invest in world class facilities - best personel, hold them to highest standards
Do everything they can to improve the Wrigley Field experience, and preserve the magic
Drink? (we love Chicago) intend to give back
Here for long term, and here to win

Questions:
How will we differ from Trib?
1. One goal (no multiple agendas) to win
2. Intend to reinvest
3. Think long term, not focused on quarterly reports - our shareholders are our fans

Renovations?
Short Term: Improve a day at the game by next year - clear concourse, better restrooms, cleaner, better food, cleaner environment
Long Term: 12 month strategizing to save Wrigley, then 4 to 7 year scope

Long Term changes to Wrigley?
The triangle parcel - key to making wrigley how we want it

Compare to Coangelo's 8 year plan
- Saying and winning WS are two different things
No magic bullet, no one player, Short Term solutions are 'just fools gold'
Drafting, developing, coaching the right players, be consistent - Give Jim the players
Key is to get to the playoffs every year

Mesa?
World Class spring training facilities, about games but also about players
Going to be open minded - Naples, Mesa, best solution for the team - what helps us win - best facilities best situation for the team

Sister takes Mic:
Winning for the Cubs is also going to be something that we want for the fans as well as family pride

Payroll and Ticket Prices:
Nothing finalized - slight increases on payroll and ticket prices

Minor League System - player development:
We believe that is the key - all the projections of budgetting increase minor league budgets yearly

How did you like the 2009 season?
August was painful on the field and in the deal.
Long, lots of ups and downs, hung together and perservered, got to the finish line
On the field was difficult, high expectations - performance did not match - turn around in 2010

PSL?
We've had no discussions on PSL's

What's it like for a lifelong Cubsfan to buy the team?
It's interesting.

(disconnect)

something about being moved by a full field and rooftops (maybe motivation to buy?)
the magical vibe that is wrigleyville

Will you be in the stands with the Fans or in the skybox?
You will see all of us around the stadium.
If you come to a lot of games, you will see us

Lou Piniealla - Talked to him- Emotionally invested?
Hasn't spent time with Lou. Hope he comes back and one of the best managers in baseball
Needs the right guys

Ready for Criticism?
Part of the job, when people say things he hopes it's not personal, but in spirit of creating a dialogue
Media is an important part of what we do. We want fans talking about the team, trades etc

Mumbles?
We're not going to leave the stadium for any period of time

Business Plan? Are you going to hire business people?
Team is understaffed, going to round out executive team with one or two people. Existing team is "world class".

(disconnect)

Ryne Sandberg - desire to be a MLB manager
Haven't talked to him. Too busy closing the deal, little baseball discussion.

Have you compared Cubs to other organizations - how they've done things?
Yes, in small part. Talked to Red Sox about stadium improvement.
Dramatic improvements over a series of years without closing the stadium.
We intend to talk to whoever we think may help and are willing, for best policies and strategies

Will you eat salary?
That's Jim's job to give us those kind of options. Not going to speculate on hypothetical.
If that's his recommendation, then we will look at it.

Brother - Jim knows way better than to do that.
Hendry - I do.

(Missed quetion)
Talked to six or eight owners, bankers advisors, working hard to close the deal.
Next step is planning.

Sister (We always listen to Mom's advise)

Bonafides for each sibling?
Baldy - Went to U of Chicago '82, and became immersed
Hair - Went to loyola in late 80's, here for '89 team, got sucked in. Always sat in bleachers
Sister - Moved to south side, went to more sox games. She stayed with Tom and Pete in Wrigleyville for a summer, loved the feel of it
Cubs are bigger than just the owners. Enjoys the 'emergent character', had no choice but to become a Cubs fan - was overwhelmed, late 80's

Tom - Pete used to camp out to get bleacher tickets - all of family was in bleacher when they met wife

Payroll - how much?
We're already spending a lot. Ticket prices "a few percentage points".

Brother - we want families to be able to afford to go to Wrigley field

What's the reason for 101 years of failure?
Probably not payroll. Not an issue last few years.

Curses?
There is no curse. We're not going to put up with players who think they're cursed.

Why sit in the bleachers?
(Brother) We were not rich in college, moron.
Tom- that's not the whole story

(disconnect)

Interesting, Pete Ricketts ran for U.S. Senator from Nebraska as a Republican in 2006, getting endorsements from Bush and Cheney and campaigning against gay marriage, abortion, etc. He spent over $11 million of his own money, outspending his opponents by a 10-1 margin but lost in the November election by 27.9 percent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Ricketts

Sister - Moved to south side, went to more sox games. She stayed with Tom and Pete in Wrigleyville for a summer, loved the feel of it
----
Learning now that she's a lesbian, that explains a lot.

Nerds in suits, bald prick... well at least you gave them a chance

I'd give him a B for the day - he gave solid answers about dealing with the park (other than of course dodging the PSLs). I didn't know they'd already consulted the Red Sox about a large but long-term renovation. It wouldn't hurt to talk to the White Sox, either.

I thought the funniest part was when they said that Hendry knew better than to give teams cash to take on bad contracts. Hendry's ignorant doppleganger must have been sitting in for him.

they didn't play it on XM radio instead choosing to air Cal and Billy Ripken with the same drab playoff analysis you can find anywhere...

so what was this eating contracts question, jim knows better response? the 2 mentions above weren't very clear....