Costner may have an edge over Ricketts
We seemed to be getting punked when reports broke last winter that Kevin Costner was buying into a Northern League baseball team in Lake County.
Upon further review, doesn't the Costner caper make more sense than the Ricketts family purchasing the Cubs? If you're accounting for taste, I mean?
Tom Ricketts officially began running the Cubs this week and will formally introduce himself to the public in a Wrigley Field news conference Friday morning. We met him earlier this month and he came across as pleasant, personable and intelligent.
But, do you really want somebody to own the Cubs if he is irrational enough to want to own the Cubs?
Costner did take the lead role in the regrettable "Waterworld" but indications still are that he's more sensible than anybody, Ricketts or otherwise, who would even consider becoming the king sitting on one of those Wrigley Field restroom thrones.
As toys go, Costner's team is something a kid finds under the tree on Christmas morning and Ricketts' is something the kid has broken by Christmas evening.
Seriously, Costner paid a pittance to buy into an expansion franchise that will begin play in Zion in 2010 with a clean slate and spiffy new ballpark.
Meanwhile, the Ricketts family paid $845 million for a franchise that hasn't won a World Series in 101 years and plays in an outdated ballpark nearly that old.
The only possible defense Ricketts could have is that he lost out to Costner's group for the team named the Fielders and settled for the one named the Cubs.
Otherwise, why would anyone agree to pay $136 million for a left fielder that doesn't hit, is reluctant to field and appears to be dogging it? You know, when for something like $13,600 you could have a left fielder willing to run through outfield fences for you?
Oh, and then there's that certain alleged No. 1 pitcher who thinks the Cubs are paying him $91 million to put a Big Z in zany.
Don't even begin to mention the $30 million right fielder that seems to think his purpose was to make everybody else in baseball look normal.
Welcome to your walk on the wild side, Mr. Ricketts. Be careful not to step on a crack in the sidewalk because bad luck is the last thing you'll need.
Costner's involvement in Zion conjures all sorts of possibilities that Ricketts won't enjoy in Wrigleyville.
Like maybe eventually there'll be a suburban celebrity smackdown if, say, George Clooney buys into the Schaumburg Flyers and Madonna adopts the Kane County Cougars.
Costner can draw from "Bull Durham" to name Tim "Nuke LaLoosh" Robbins the Fielders' closer and Susan "Annie Savoy" Sarandon their official groupie.
From "Field of Dreams," Costner can recruit James Earl "Terry Mann" Jones to be the public-address announcer, and Ray "Shoeless Joe" Liotta to be the designated hitter.
What's Ricketts get? A bunch of celebrity mopes desecrating "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"?
In summary, Tom Ricketts spent $845 million to grieve in Wrigleyville while Kevin Costner spent a fraction of that to laugh it up in Lake County.
Heck, the Fielders might even win a World Series before the Cubs even play in one.
mimrem@dailyherald.com