I was in Lincoln Park yesterday afternoon, shooting an interview at Chicago's Dog House, a new hot dog stand opened by a young DePaul University alum. My phone went off, I took a call, and I was running out the door to get down to U.S. Cellular Field. White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle had thrown a perfect game, just the 18th time it had happened in Major League Baseball history. Pretty rare feat.
I was assigned to get some reaction from folks who were at the game. To my surprise,
fans were still sticking around outside the ballpark hours after it was over. It was raining, but a little water wouldn't stop them from celebrating. Many of
them looked like they were in shock, amazed they had actually witnessed
such an odd occurrence. I got a sense that they'll be telling the same
stories they told me for generations to come. Where they were, who they
were with, the complete stranger they hugged when DeWayne Wise pulled that fly ball back from over the fence.
Those who follow me on Twitter know that I'm a Cubs fan, but any self-respecting baseball follower can stand up and cheer when a player pulls something like that off. And if it has to be somebody on a non-Cubs roster, Mark Buehrle is the best player I can think of. This is a guy who has contemplated retiring at a young age so he can be a major part of his newborn child's life. I'll root for him any day he's not playing the Cubs.
Unless, of course, his dream comes true and he becomes a St. Louis Cardinal. But what's the old phrase? Oh, right - nobody's perfect. Not even the pitcher who throws the perfect game.
Congratulations to Mark Buehrle and all the fans who held on to their Thursday afternoon tickets. You're all a part of history, and you'll never forget it.
Those who follow me on Twitter know that I'm a Cubs fan, but any self-respecting baseball follower can stand up and cheer when a player pulls something like that off. And if it has to be somebody on a non-Cubs roster, Mark Buehrle is the best player I can think of. This is a guy who has contemplated retiring at a young age so he can be a major part of his newborn child's life. I'll root for him any day he's not playing the Cubs.
Unless, of course, his dream comes true and he becomes a St. Louis Cardinal. But what's the old phrase? Oh, right - nobody's perfect. Not even the pitcher who throws the perfect game.
Congratulations to Mark Buehrle and all the fans who held on to their Thursday afternoon tickets. You're all a part of history, and you'll never forget it.
