Blogger bios

Since a failed attempt to persuade his first-grade class at St. Francis Xavier School in Chicago to watch a Cubs baseball game instead of “Sesame Street,” copy editor Tony Garcia has been dedicated to the North Siders. Not only has he seen the Cubs numerous times at Clark and Addison, he also has rooted them on in such exotic locales as San Diego, Phoenix, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Bridgeport, Ill.

Assistant Sports Editor Matt Trowbridge is a former Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWA) member who has covered more than 100 Cubs games over the years. He grew up in Minnesota and is a Twins fan, but follows the Cubs with close interest, both because Register Star readers care intensely about the Cubs and also because the Cubs are one of baseball’s most fascinating teams. His favorite one-on-one quote with a Cub came the day after Reds reliever Rob Dibble purposely plunked Doug Dascenzo as he ran to first. Asked if it was scary to have a guy who throws 100 mph taking aim at Cubs’ baserunners, a normally quiet but now ticked off Ryne Sandberg replied: “No. He should be scared of us.”

Editorial Page Editor Wally Haas still has a Ernie Banks figurine in his bedroom. Not one of those lame bobble head things, but one of those Hartland statues that was sold at ballparks in the 1960s. Haas grew up within walking distance of Wrigley Field, covered the team briefly when he worked for the now-defunct Champaign-Urbana Morning Courier, goes to Wrigley for a couple of games a year and listens or watches as many games as humanly possible when you’re trapped in an ivory tower.

Gareth Sleger, copy assistant, credits Joe Carter’s 1993 World Series-winning homer for beginning his baseball infatuation. But what turned Gareth’s blood Cubbie blue (much to the dismay of his Brewers-supporting family) was following Mark Grace’s 1996 MVP-esque season. Gareth’s most memorable/terrifying moment as a Cubs fan (optimistic, but realistic) came last year while interviewing Lou Piniella and almost knocking over the temperamental manager’s “beverage.”