Gym Cracks By Jim May 30, 2002 DANGERFIELD OF NEBRASKA No respect for Cubs fans in Nebraska By Jim (Babe) Berryman MissingNebraska.com Western Nebraska When Father Gerald Harr wishes to banter with me, he will drop the names Wayne "Twig" Terwillliger, and Roy "I catch most of them" Smalley. Not household names, you say? You're a serious baseball fan, and you've never heard the above two names? Tell me it isn't so. What if I would add Frank "Frankie" Conrad Baumholtz to the list? Even Joe Garagiola finished his "illustrious" career with this team in 1954. Now you know right? You don't? You give up? I know! Any true "older" Cub fan (not those sitting on building tops outside Wrigley Field) entering senility would know the above trio played for the Chicago Cubs in the 1950's. I'm the Rodney Dangerfield of western Nebraska. I don't get any respect because I have been a Cub fan for my lifetime. I was a Cub fan before television came to the hinterlands of this country. Really! Our family had one small radio at home, but could not receive the Cubs games on it. Many an afternoon, I would sit on the porch of the town's radio shop with sweat running down my forehead listening to Bert Wilson make my Cubs come alive. I can even remember one of the sponsors--Old Gold Cigarettes--"For a treat instead of a treatment, smoke Old Gold Cigarettes." I can recall a high school pal asking "What team do you want to win the National League?" I responded, "The Cubs." He said, "No dummy, I didn't ask for your favorite team, but who do you want to win the pennant?" Of course, he was implying the Cubs did not have a chance of winning the National League pennant. The Cubs haven't won the National League pennant since 1945. The Detroit Tigers defeated the Cubs in seven games that year to win the World Series. The Cubs have been in the World Series in 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, and 1938. The Cubs did win the World Series in 1908 with the double play combination of Tinkers to Evers to Chance. Ninety-four years ago! People have accused me of having "a wanting to be punished" complex. Why would you stay with losers for a lifetime, even if they are called the "loveable" losers? Rick Reilly writes in the May 13 issue of Sports Illustrated, "Don't you dare feel sorry for Ron Santo just because in the last three years he had eight operations on his right foot, a quadruple bypass, his right leg amputated and his heart stop cold while he was in a hospital bed. No, feel sorry for him because he has to watch every Chicago Cubs game." Santo played for the Cubs from 1960-73 and has been the color analyst for WGN Cubs radio broadcasts since 1990. True Cub fans are subjected to comments made by Mr. Reilly and other humorists on a daily basis. I've always wished for a genie to appear before me and ask for my three wishes. Instead of a 6'foot blonde young lady with 5'ft legs, a Dodge Viper, and a mansion located near a gambling casino, all I would ask for would be an efficiency apartment within walking distance of Wrigley Field, season tickets to the Cubs games (probably with the Bleacher Bums), and a Wrigley Field area bar frequented by true Cubs fans. That would be heaven for a true Cubs fan. Since a genie is not likely to appear, maybe I can hit the lottery. Anyway, back to reality. Sitting in Coors Field this summer and when Aribe and Ortiz turn a neat double play, Father Gerald will look at me with this mischievous grin and say, "Just the way Smalley and Terwig would do it, right Babe?" I will give him my weak smile and say under my breath, "You too Father Gerald. You really know how to hurt a true Cubs fan." Look for Gym Cracks by Jim every Thursday on MissingNebraska.com Previous Gym Cracks: 05-16-02: Baseball Sneak Aways More Feedback