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I met up with my buddy Gilbert at the Grand Sheraton downtown around 2 PM yesterday. On my way down there, he asked if I could pick up a case of beer for the festivities. I’d like to think the two of us are pretty economical guys because as the rest of the Cubs fans were paying $6.25 for a beer, the two of us walked around the convention with 24 cans of awesomeness.
Once we cleared the seventh gate of hell (also known as registration) we started walking around checking out all the vendors that brought their merchandise up for display. It’s funny to note here, I told Gilbert that there’s no way that I’m going to spend money on anything because the prices were too high in my opinion.
This was before the case of beer disappeared.
The one vendor that stuck out to me was a guy named Justyn Farano. Justyn is a painter and was painting a picture of NL MVP Kris Bryant. I’m probably the least artistic guy on Earth so I sat there for a good 20 minutes and watched this guy paint. I really don’t care how weird that sounds because the guy was incredible.
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The MVP treatment #KB #CubsCon @sportsmockery pic.twitter.com/6QY5tz2IN8
— Adam Nissen (@nissen54) January 13, 2017
As we got ready for opening ceremonies, we caught the last 20 minutes of Comcast’s opening ceremony show. We lucked out and got a spot right behind the stage and got a chance to meet Ryne Sandberg, Kerry Wood, and the War Bear himself, Kyle Schwarber.
Once Schwarber gave his insight on the 2016 season, the show’s host, David Kaplan, brought on Cubs beat writer Jesse Rogers from ESPN. After trying to get on the stage three or four times, security just decided to stand next to us to make sure we didn’t make a run for it once the cameras flipped on. Both Rogers and Kaplan stopped over to chat quick before they had to go on-air.
The opening ceremony started by bringing out the Cubs of yesteryear. It was both exciting and depressing to see how much some of my favorite Cubs of the past have aged which led me to realize that I’m old as hell. This really hit home when the 8-year-old in front of me turned and asked me who Glendon Rush was.
One by one, the 2016 Cubs were introduced to a raucous ovation. The highlight video from the season is something I can see myself watching about 20 or 30 times this winter. Grown men began crying again just like it was the end of Game 7. I kept my tears in this time most likely due to drinking an entire case of beer throughout the day.
The ceremony finished and we started to make our way out of the building. Of course we have to walk through the vendor area where just three hours before I swore that I wasn’t going to buy anything because the prices were too high.
I woke up this morning and saw a bag with two t-shirts, a CD, a DVD, and a damn baseball bat.
I blame you Bud Light.
As we waited outside, the best broadcaster in the business, Len Kasper, was walking out and stopped to chat as he waited for his taxi.
We decided to go back inside and buy one six-dollar beer and call it a night. As we walked to the bar, I saw one of my favorite people associated with the Chicago Cubs.
Pat Hughes.
To steal from “Step Brothers, ” the man’s voice is a combination of Fergie and Jesus. We got a chance talk to him for about 10 minutes before the rest of the fans realized who he was. I’m pretty sure I asked him to give me a shout out on a radio broadcast six or seven times and bless his heart, he humored me.
The night ended at the Billy Goat downtown as Gilbert and myself sat and planned our strategy for day 2.
If it’s anything like day 1, I think we will be just fine.
