Murray joins Cubs' road show

MIAMI -- Actor Bill Murray stopped by the Cubs' clubhouse and dugout Thursday.

So what kind of advice or pep talk did Murray give?

"We talked about Gregorian chants," said Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa.

Seriously.

The TV cameras caught Murray in the stands of Wednesday night's game, but on Thursday, Murray was the Cubs' special guest, as manager Lou Piniella invited him to watch the pregame activities up close.

Murray, a longtime Cubs fan, seemed convinced that, at long last, this is his team's year.

"Oh, yeah, I really feel this is going to happen," Murray said before the Cubs' 6-4 loss as he launched into a deadpan routine. "I think the Marlins have been very brave and noble. When they lose today, they're going to die with respect. They'll be humiliated today, but they will have earned everlasting honor for what they did these last two days (beating the Cubs) and the previous three games (beating the Cubs in Chicago earlier).

"But I feel very good about this. I have all year."

Murray said this was about the fourth Cubs game he's attended this year.

"I've been following them through the miracle of DirecTV all year," he said. "You have other people who need your time, but when I'm not watching, I'm watching."

Decked out in burnt red Bermuda shorts (in honor, Murray said, of the St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the Brewers on Wednesday night), a dark blue floppy hat and a tropical shirt, Murray said he was throwing caution to the wind with the Cubs.

"There is no time for being cautiously optimistic," he said. "That's really for losers. I don't buy that. I'm very, very optimistic. This is game 159. Why would I be cautious now? Look at the way I'm dressed. Do I look cautious?"

He also sent a zinger Cincinnati's way when asked if he'd be at the Great American Ball Park this weekend to watch the Cubs.

"I've never been to Cincinnati; I was trying to keep that record intact," he said. "But I may have to go."

Murray sidestepped questions on whether he'd be interested in owning a piece of the Cubs.

"I've heard from some people, but I'm not that organized," he said. "Well, I got some money on me. I got money in my pocket right here."

After a little of that banter, he was off.

"I got to go get a kosher hot dog," he said. "These players may want to use this dugout."