Santo opens great divide with readers

Most Cubs fans might love Ron Santo, but nothing sets readers off -- both pro and con -- more than expressing the same thought in print.

So after my gushing appraisal last week of the Cubs' Pat Hughes and Santo on WGN 720-AM, others have their say this week. But permit me to start with the favorable ones.

"Just read your article today regarding Hughes and Santo. It was right on point and finally put to rest the mixed emotions I have regarding Cubs broadcasts. I have always loved listening to Pat Hughes and agree that he is the best in the business. … Initially I was frustrated with Ron Santo as the color. … As time has progressed, I have learned to accept and appreciate the 'homer' in Ronny and enjoy someone who is so devoted and passionate about the Cubs. It reminds me of (Dick) Butkus' days as color on the Bears. I never knew what was going on in the game but I loved the passion he brought to the booth.

"I know when Ronny's broadcast days are over we'll have some good times remembering his, 'Oh no,' 'Goodness gracious' and other heartfelt calls."

Don Rigali, Libertyville

"Enjoyed your column today, as always. Fifty-plus-year Cub fan. I do have to somewhat disagree with your column, but not entirely. I agree that Pat Hughes is terrific, the best in the business. … I also agree that there is great chemistry between Santo and Hughes, and that Santo is very enthusiastic and emotional. And there is certainly a place for that. …

"I just don't think Santo is much of an analyst. Bob Brenly is way better, and Steve Stone was the best. Santo is not in the same league with those two guys."

Gary Koca, Streamwood

"Your credibility is gone. Out the window. Gone. Ron Santo was a very good ballplayer. And maybe he was one of your favorite players. But he's an absolute embarrassment as an announcer with zero professionalism. The fact that you rave about him just means every one of your articles means nothing about every announcer you rate. You, in turn, are an embarrassment to the Daily Herald, a fine newspaper. Take off your Cubby blue hat, put down your Old Style and be objective."

Jeff Pischke, Cary

"Your column about the 'great announcing team' of Ronny and Pat Hughes made me assume that its' (sic) another broadcast team that you're confused with.

"These guys STINK, Ted Cox! You are living in a fantasy world if you really believe what you wrote.

"Do you know what the word 'redundancy' means? These guys are full of redundant statements. Examples:

"'The Cubs winning streak has reached four in a row.'

"'Stay tuned for the postgame show after the game.'

"What a good place for a postgame show! We can assume that if it's a streak, wins are in a row.

"How about when Pat Hughes tells us the Cubs are wearing their home uniforms when they are playing at Wrigley Field? How about telling us that the Cubs are wearing their away uniforms when they are playing out of town? This is insulting, banal and very small market stuff.

"Ron Santo is nothing but a Hall of Fame wannabe. He is uneducated and adds absolutely nothing to the broadcast. He doesn't finish sentences. … His attention span is seconds, on a good day.

"Now you have plenty of material for a column that will have some meat to it. Please do not waste your papers (sic) space with your fluff and coddling as you did in your 9/28/07 column. The readers deserve more. The readers deserve objectivity and professionalism."

Gordon Speake, Palatine

"P.S. … One more example of a redundancy: 'The batter is wearing batting gloves on both hands.' Do you think that we are smart enough to conclude that he has a glove on each hand if he says gloves -- a plural?"

Ted: Woof. Well, I'd add something to that, but I'm afraid of being redundant.

In the air

Remotely interesting: Chris Boden is moving back to TV. Comcast SportsNet Chicago has hired him as a "SportsNite" anchor-reporter. Boden jumps over from WMVP 1000-AM. CSNC saw its Cubs ratings rise 45 percent this year to a local Nielsen of 4.2, meaning about 145,000 Chicago-area households tuning in. That's the highest Cubs ratings ever for CSNC. Last year, the Cubs pulled a 2.9. CSNC is doing a live postgame show after every Cubs game and also plans to do a pregame at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. … Comcast Cable has added TBS' high-definition feed for the baseball playoffs at Channel 219.

The Cubs' Ryan Theriot is doing a daily blog for WBBM Channel 2's Web site at www.cbs2chicago.com. Channel 2 will carry the Chicago Marathon on Sunday morning with the wheelchair start set for 7:55 and the formal start at 8. … RCN and WideOpenWest cable have both added the Big Ten Network.

End of the dial: WSCR 670-AM has the radio coverage of the marathon with Josh Liss moving over from WBBM 780-AM to play host.

Best line of the week has to be Tom Waddle telling his WMVP 1000-AM co-host Marc Silverman that he's Exhibit A for why some people should be sterilized after Silverman suggested Waddle give his kids energy drinks and sugar snacks to keep them up to watch the Cubs.

-- Ted Cox