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Not much 'zazz' at Wrigley since McDonough left

Doesn't it seem like there's been something missing around Wrigley Field for quite a while?

And I'm not talking wins.

Or even the bleachers.

It's just the organization as a whole ... it lacks personality, or zazz, as the kids like to call it (kids from the 1930s, that is).

I'm OK, you're OK:

The baseball ops guys are fine, Ricketts seems OK, the players are nice enough, but something's missing.

Might it be a marketing guy with an actual plan?

Might it be ... :

A guy like John McDonough, who somehow, some way managed to keep the turnstiles spinning and made going to Wrigley an event all those years - regardless of performance on the field?

A marketing guy who would have figured out a way to turn this renovation project into an everyday event?

A marketing guy who at this very moment would be working with all the Cubs' young studs, molding them into players-salesmen a la the current crop of Blackhawks stars?

I kinda think so.

Speaking of baseball:

Go Royals!

Or Giants!

Like 'em both.

Turn around, bright eyes:

Clouds cleared just enough for a quick view of the partial eclipse of the sun Thursday.

Big deal.

In the battle of eclipses, give me lunar over solar any day.

The main reason being you can actually look at a lunar eclipse without searing a retina!

Also, it's prettier.

These ex-Bears:

Are pretty good at piling on, aren't they?

Remember, just one Super Bowl win ... and that was 30 years ago.

Those are the guys who are allowed to talk.

The countdown:

We're just a week away from the Breeders' Cup, and I am woefully ill-prepared.

That bums me out.

But, hey, there's still time!

Just asking:

When you see someone driving the exact same car as you, do you secretly hope they're "cool" to somehow justify your purchase?

Thanks Gabe:

The most awesome moment of the week for me was getting to watch 12-year-old Gabe Colon of Algonquin hit the practice ice with the Blackhawks at the United Center,

He was loving life. I don't think he ever stopped smiling.

And why not? All the Hawks stars he idolizes made a special point of skating over to spend some time with him as he participated in shooting drills with the team.

And then afterward, there he was sitting next to his favorite player, Patrick Kane, in the locker room just shooting the breeze as the two took off their skates.

Heartwarming.

And fantastic.

More to come:

Gabe will perform the ceremonial puck drop before Sunday's game against Ottawa as part of the Hawks hosting "Hockey Fights Cancer Night."

Can't wait.

Bring back Ditka!!

To all those who constantly say the Bears need a coach like Mike Ditka, two questions:

Are you saying you'd actually want the 75-year-old Coach back on the sidelines?

And if not, just who exactly would fill your criteria as Ditka-like of all the coaches available?

Other than Bill Cowher, who seems happy where he's at.

Yeah, I'll say it:

These Bears, just when you think you have a complete read on them, they have a way of shocking.

Shocker on Sunday in New England?

I'm leaning that way.

If not:

Just go ahead and play for a high draft pick, right?

Soak it in:

Only two more weeks until the election.

I don't know if I'm going to be able to handle watching a regular commercial again ... unless it's followed by a fuzzy gray / brown attack ad from a competitor.

  Blackhawks president John McDonough would be creating a marketing sensation with the young Cubs if he was still with the team, according to Mike Spellman. George LeClaire/gleclaire@dailyherald.com
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