Gym Cracks By Jim June 23, 2005 NEXT STOP: WRIGLEY MOUND Contest offers chance for this Nebraska Cubs fan to throw out first pitch at Wrigley Field By Jim (Babe) Berryman MissingNebraska.com I received e-mail from the official Chicago Cubs website. In a recent e-mail this website announced a contest for Cub fans to write a short essay--of less than 250 words--as to why they follow the Cubs. It could be one incident or happening or a accumulation of events over a period of time. What you read below is my attempt at winning this prize. What's the prize? To throw the ceremonial first ball at the Cubs July 15 game at where else--WRIGLEY FIELD. -- Beads of sweat trickled into the youngster's eyes as he lounged on the radio shop's front steps. Despite the hot, humid rural Nebraska summer of the 1940s, he listened intently to Cub baseball games. Not wanting to be a nuisance to the store's owner, he positioned himself on the store steps and fantasized about pitching at Wrigley Field. Usually in his day dreams he'd end up winning game seven of the World Series by whiffing "Joltin'" Joe DiMaggio with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win! Fast forward to January 2004. The same youngster, a half-century later, was participating with the Cubs, but in Randy Hundley's Cubs Fantasy Baseball Camp in Mesa, AZ. He drilled a single to right, well, truthfully, a pop-up that fell between Dernier, Cardenal, and Pepitone. In a state of euphoria, he heard first baseman Leon "Bull" Durham say something like, "Nice poke, guy." Still this Cubs camp was not Wrigley Field, and he wasn't pitching, but playing right field. This youngster's field of dreams lives on, but now as a senior citizen. With his Cub uniform, he takes his place on the mound at his beloved Wrigley. The 6'5" man with his sidearm delivery from near third base would make many in the audience wonder why it took him so long to make it to Wrigley. Feedback PREVIOUS GYM CRACKS: Click Here For Past Gym Cracks By Jim