Quade is right guy for Cubs
It's time to let go, Cubs fans.
Time to let go of the Ryne Sandberg ghost.
Yes, the managerial search was a sham and Sandberg was strung along to the point where it probably cost him a big-league coaching job.
But as a part of Jim Hendry's inner circle, it was Mike Quade's position all along and there's no reason to hold that against Quade.
The 53-year-old manager has earned the chance and there's every reason to think he'll do a good job.
He was terrific after taking over for Lou Piniella the last six weeks and managed more in that short time than Piniella did his last two years in Chicago.
Quade, like any engaged manager, handled the clubhouse, the bench and the game like a veteran, anticipating situations and difficulties.
He was proactive and professional.
This notion isn't based at all on the Cubs' record under Quade (24-13), because that's fool's gold, and the team would have welcomed any change at that point. Minus the grumpy Piniella, relaxed and firmly out of the race, a better effort was expected.
Nevertheless, Quade was the antithesis of Piniella, working with veterans and teaching the kids.
Quade also handled the media with ease, something Piniella stopped trying to do back in 2009.
It may not sound like a big deal, but that's the organization's chance to speak to the fans, and Quade had an answer for every question and an explanation for every move.
It was a comforting change from the Piniella era, and not surprising from a man in Quade who's won more than 1,200 games and managed 17 minor-league seasons.
He's certainly put in his time and deserved this chance, and he's a guy you want to root for after the decades he's invested in the game.
Most important, he was the right choice for this team at this time. Hendry picked the guy he wanted and no one should begrudge him that.
It's a recipe for disaster when GM and manager don't get along or don't communicate, so Hendry wanted Quade — an old friend of assistant GM Randy Bush — and by the end of the season, the deal was done.
The Ricketts family would have done everyone a favor had they let Hendry announce it then, and I doubt many would have held it against Hendry or blamed him for the choice.
Instead, it looked like a put-up job and Hendry will spend a lot of time this weekend at the Cubs Convention defending his decision.
He'll have his close friend and personal marketing agent, Ryan Dempster, say at least five times this weekend that Quade is the perfect man for the job, and if he needs cover Hendry will invoke the name of Greg Maddux as a human shield against tough questions, insisting Maddux approves of every single move Hendry makes, so it must be OK.
And by consistently changing the subject, Hendry won't have to answer for his farcical “search.”
That lengthy process, only for the sake of appearances, was costly for Sandberg, but Cubs fans shouldn't let that cloud their thinking as it concerns Quade.
This would have been the wrong job for Sandberg at the wrong time, and he's better off out of the organization where he can get a fresh start and stand on his own two feet.
In Philadelphia, he's not considered a Hall of Famer looking for a handout. He's taken seriously, thought of as a coach and teacher who just happens to be a Hall of Famer.
It's better for the Cubs and Sandberg that he's not here looking over anyone's shoulder, or thought of as a burden by management.
So what's done is done and it's time to move on as yet another Cubs Convention beckons.
The bottom line is Hendry ultimately made the right choice and he should be applauded for that even if the manner in which he went about it was less than palatable.
Mike Quade's going to do a fine job, and after all they've been through, Cubs fans should be glad about that.
Just coaching
Speaking of good guys who have waited a long time, Ron Rivera has put in his time and earned the chance to be an NFL head coach.
Too bad it happened in Carolina.
The villain
LeBron James is still being portrayed around the country as the most hated player in the NBA.
And it's laughable.
While he continues to say odd things and definitely made a fool of himself over the summer, he's still the best player in the league and all the manufactured dislike borders on the absurd.
There isn't a sane fan in the NBA, including the ones who boo him, that wouldn't take James in a heartbeat.
The good cause
The Wolves have dedicated three games this weekend to the fight against cancer and will be raising funds, awareness and support for those affected by cancer with special jerseys, auctions and raffles. For more info, visit chicagowolves.com.
Cartoon characters
NBC's Jimmy Fallon: “As Nickelodeon announced the ninth season of ‘SpongeBob SquarePants,' the NFL announced that this was the last season of ‘BrettFavre NoPants.'”
Best headline
Sportspickle.com: “Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl successfully ends hunger by creating nausea.”
And finally …
Comedian Alex Kaseberg: “New York City has 50,000 tons of uncollected garbage — even more if you count the Mets.”
brozner@dailyherald.com