Next up, Bill Madlock
Former Cubs player Bill Madlock will be the keynote speaker at the 2008 Kane County Cougars Winter Banquet and Silent Auction scheduled for Feb. 1.
He joins the ever-growing list of high profile speakers headlining the Cougars winter banquets, which includes the likes of Goose Gossage (2002), Fergie Jenkins (2003), and Ron Santo (2004).
The banquet, sponsored by Provena Mercy Medical Center, will be held this year at Riverside Receptions, 35 N. River Lane in Geneva. Cocktails will be served from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with a silent auction running from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Dinner lasts from 7 to 8 p.m. followed by the speaker program at 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets are $55 per person ($40 for season ticket holders and $45 for ticket package holders). Fans can order tickets by calling (630) 232-8811 or through the Web site www.kccougars.com.
Madlock's career spanned 15 seasons (1973-87), including three years with the Cubs when he batted a combined .336 and won two of his four National League batting titles. The three-time All-Star had a career batting average of .305, hit 163 home runs and collected 2,008 hits. Cougars assistant general manager Jeff Ney said Madlock impressed the staff last season when he participated in a meet and greet event at one of their customer's outdoor picnics. Madlock jumped at the opportunity to speak at the banquet when asked.
"Folks will be pleasantly surprised when they hear some of his stories," Ney said. "He's really a personable kind of guy."
Kane County manager Aaron Niekula also will speak along with Cougars outfielder Jermaine Mitchell, a top Oakland Athletics prospect and Midwest League All-Star in 2007.
"Every year we have at least one guy, if not a couple of guys from the year before," Ney said. "(Mitchell) was one of the better prospects in the mix for the A's for us."
Ney noted that Cougars prospects have done quite well since their inaugural season in 1991. With 95 former Cougars making it to a Major League roster they are anticipating their 100th player to be called up some time this season.
The auction proceeds will benefit Ozzie's Outreach, the charity of the Cougars. Proceeds over the past few years have been hovering just above the $20,000 mark, and Ney sees no reason why that should not continue. This certainly helps sustain the Cougars paw print in the local community.
"We turn around and donate money out of Ozzie's Outreach to local food pantries, homeless shelters, college scholarships -- a whole cast of charities," Ney said. "We focus on kids. Most all of those donations have a child aspect to them. We try to keep it pretty broad."
Attendance at the Winter Banquet usually approaches 500 people and the exciting list of auction items promises to once again hold their interest. Baseball memorabilia such as jerseys from Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez and Midwest League manager and former Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg will be on hand. As the Oakland Athletics Class A affiliate there will be several A's items up for bid along with other sports items, including a ride on the Zamboni at an upcoming Blackhawks game. Non-sports items such as dinner and hotel packages also will be available.
On Feb. 2, the Cougars will conduct their 7th annual Coaches Clinic from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Fox Valley Strikers Soccer Training Facility in Geneva. The facility is off Kirk Road just south of Elfstrom Stadium.
The clinic is free and open to the public but is intended for youth coaches and parents rather than youth players. Several instructors from the Cougars and the Athletics organization will be on hand to discuss coaching philosophy, training, on-field execution, and provide coaching tips.
Participants are broken into small groups and will visit various stations throughout the morning. Note taking and video taping are encouraged.
A complimentary continental breakfast is provided so interested attendees are asked to RSVP to the Cougars at (630) 232-8811, ext. 6271. Last year more than 100 coaches and parents took advantage of the clinic.