Posted on 10/29/2004 5:04:58 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever
It's the only battle Cubs players won in 2004, chasing popular broadcaster Steve Stone away from the team he loves.
Stone shocked Cubs fans Thursday by announcing his resignation as the team's color analyst, leaving two huge voids in the club's TV broadcast booth. Play-by-play man Chip Caray had already left to take a job with the Atlanta Braves.
''It was a very, very difficult decision -- something I agonized over,'' Stone said Thursday night from his home in Arizona. ''The toughest part of the decision is it severs a tie with Chicago. I've been there all or parts of the last 27 years.''
Before the World Series, WGN-TV executive producer Bob Vorwald and Cubs vice president of marketing and broadcasting John McDonough called Stone to inform him his option for 2005 was being picked up by the Cubs. Despite a contentious relationship with some players this season, Stone seemed to be leaning toward returning, but said he would announce his decision after the World Series
He went on WGN Radio shortly after the 6 p.m. newscast to reveal his shocking news.
''When they called to say they were going to pick up my option, I was very pleased,'' Stone told the Sun-Times. ''And I knew I had to make a decision.
''I've been around [Cubs president] Andy MacPhail a long time and he always said, 'You don't make a decision until you absolutely have to make one.' It was a very, very difficult decision to make.''
Cubs officials were scrambling to fill the two high-profile jobs in their broadcast booth.
''It's the end of an era,'' McDonough said. ''He is a class act, a great talent and a tremendous asset to the Chicago Cubs.''
Sources said the Cubs have no immediately successors lined up.
As for Stone, 57, he has never hid his desire to be a general manager or team president. With the Montreal Expos moving to Washington and seeking a general manager, Stone immediately becomes a top contender for that job -- though he has no front office experience.
''Washington is one of those jobs that seems to have no end of candidates,'' Stone said. ''I've always made a concerted effort to let people know that is something I would like to entertain. I will explore all possibilities.''
Caray, Stone's broadcast partner for five of the last seven seasons, expressed sadness but not shock at Stone's decision.
''I'm very disappointed for the fans of the Chicago Cubs. They're losing the voice of the Cubs. He's the last link to the Jack Rosenberg, Harry Caray, Jack Brickhouse, Arne Harris era,'' Caray said of the former WGN television and radio voices and producers who pioneered the Cubs broadcast empire.
Caray, who chose to return to the Braves and join his father, Skip, acknowledged the past season was difficult for both he and Stone off the field, revealing that Cubs management met with and tried to chastise the several players who were at the core of contentious feelings with Stone. Reliever Kent Mercker was a vocal opponent of Stone's, confronting him on the team charter jet and in the team hotel.
''Steve and I talked to John McDonough, Andy MacPhail, [general manager] Jim Hendry and [manager] Dusty Baker about the treatment of a small group of players,'' Caray said. ''And Andy MacPhail, Jim Hendry, John McDonough and Dusty Baker met several times with those players, and the behavior didn't change.
''That kind of behavior should never be tolerated. If the Cubs or any team want to be successful and win, then everyone from the broadcasters to the assistant trainer should be treated in a first-class way, and as an observer. Steve wasn't treated in a first-class way by two or three players.
''It left a sour taste in everyone's mouths.''
Baker was upset Stone questioned some of his strategy during a postgame analysis Sept. 30. Baker griped to the media and Hendry later said Stone had crossed a line.
Stone wrapped up a letter to Cubs fans, saying: ''The phrase I used that angered certain people was 'I regret nothing.' Well, folks, I was wrong about that and want to set the record straight. I regret I won't be calling another Cubs game on WGN-TV for the greatest fans in baseball -- the fans of the Chicago Cubs.''
Stone, who stressed in his resignation letter to fans that he wanted to arrive and exit Chicago on the high road, refused to discuss whether that Oct. 1 meeting involving Baker and Hendry ultimately led to his resignation.
''I prefer to look back over a 27-year body of work as a broadcaster and a player and look at the good times,'' Stone said. ''I can say there was not one particular thing that influenced the decision.''
Though the Cubs made it public on Oct. 19 that Stone had been invited back for 2005, the team actually informed him in mid-September, before the Baker controversy, that his option would be picked up.
So sure that he would be returning to Chicago in 2005, Stone renewed the option on his downtown apartment for another year.
''So I have an apartment in Chicago,'' Stone said with a laugh, ''I just don't have a job in Chicago.''
Contributing: Toni Ginnetti
It really says something when two broadcasters walk away from arguably the best job in baseball. Stoney is the best color analyst I've ever seen. No one can pick apart strategy and make it digestable to viewers like he can.
Here's hoping he gets a GM position somewhere. ESPN must be licking their chops...
You're not kidding. Thanks a lot, Epstein.
Here's to another century of falling short.
calling rush limbaugh!
I didn't get to hear him that often, but I thought Stone was a fine announcer. I think not just the Cubs, but all teams, want a cheerleader in the booth, and Stone did not fit that mold.
Now the Cubs have Sammy AND Nomar. Jettison both.
A staff of Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Clement, and Maddux is too good to be saddled with that baggage.
After a Cub come back:"They are cheering like the French on the day Hitler marched into Paris." - Steve Stone
After 25 years the Dodgers cut loose Ross Porter last week.
Stone may have a new home soon.
Unlike many of the current announcers, Stone was also more of a player than most of the current Cubs, except maybe Sosa (back in the day), Maddux, and uh...uh...nobody else.
I remember it was a big joke back in the 70s when Stone, up to that point a mediocre pitcher his whole career, had a clause in his contract for some big bonus if he should win the Cy Young Award. Of course, the following season he went out and did just that!!
Good! As a Reds fan, all Stone would do is fawn over the Cubs it seemed. Im not sure where the Cubs players get off saying he was too ctritical, everytime I heard him it was the Cubs can do no wrong.
I remember specifically the Wilson/Farnsworth fight. Wilson was brushed with a pitch my Farnsworth and Wilson said something (stupidly, Farnsy is a monster), Farnsworth didn't like it so he started towards Wilson. Wilson got popped in the nose but Stone said Wilson started the physical fight which is counter to the actual event. Did Wilson start the verbal fight? Yes. Did Wilson run to the mound? No. THe fight was just left and slightly up the 3rd base line.
Words apparently break Farsy's bones more than sticks. That fight still peeves me off. To this day, I think Farnsworth is an a-hole testosterone inflamed punk.
I wish these players could watch a British soccer broadcast with the British announcers. If a player fouls up,from either side, they mentions it in well stated,negative terms.
Speedy,
I'm not saying he was a great pitcher---that Cy Young Award notwithstanding---it's more of a commentary on that vaunted pitching staff and the rest of the team.
Other of course, than Sosa in the past and Maddux...and maybe Zambrano or Ramirez in a couple of years.
As a Cubs and Reds fan (you maybe can tell from the screen name), I thought he was fair on the Cubs, particularly toward the end of the season. They just stunk, and he said it. Everybody has injuries, but very few of them seemed as if they wanted to heal or play.
All I can say is I hope he goes to FOX, so they will break up that awful group they had for the post-season this year. It made it hard to watch the games. Worst of all, FOX put a 2 second delay on the games in NYC, so you couldn't even turn down the sound and turn up John Sterling on the radio.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.