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Sunday, March 30, 2003

By Pete Aldrich, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Jeff Swanson believes in his Chicago Cubs. How much? In an eBay Internet auction that ended March 14, he offered a guarantee that the Cubs would be in the 2003 World Series.

Swanson obviously isn't fazed by the fact that the Cubbies haven't been to the Fall Classic since 1945 -- and haven't won one since 1908.

In fact, Swanson, a Dewitt, Iowa, resident, is so certain of a World Series berth this season that he has put together a most attractive consolation prize for the auction winner -- Kevin Cathelyn of Plano, Ill.

If the Cubs get to the Series, Swanson will throw a large party that Cathelyn can attend. But if the Cubs don't win the National League pennant, Cathelyn will be able to get season tickets for the team of his choice for 2004, not to exceed $2,500, and a party for himself and 50 friends at the Cubby Bear lounge, across the street from Wrigley Field, that Swanson said should cost around $2,000 but not to exceed $3,000.

Swanson also agreed to make a donation to Cubs Care charities equal to the winning bid, no matter what.

The bidding began at $1. After 56 bids, Cathelyn won at $1,250. The next bidder, self-professed Cubs hater Eric Behrmann of Belleville, Ill., was at $1,225.

"I'm just a Cubs fan and think they're going to do it this year," Swanson, who grew up in Joliet, Ill., told the East Valley Tribune in Mesa, Ariz. "I just wanted to give them some hype, stir things up and get people talking."

Said Cathelyn: "I really do want them to win and get to the Series. If the Cubs get to the Series, I lose my portion of $1,250, go to a party and I won't be upset. If they don't get there, I get a party for me and my friends and Cubs season tickets."

Put down the kid and get us a drink

On paper, Andy Graves is the team manager for Chip Ganassi Racing.

But Graves actually holds several jobs under one title.

"It's my job to keep everyone's environment right," Graves said. "I kind of think of it as a part-time baby sitter, part-time bartender. I have to listen to everyone's problems and make sure everyone gets along."

Pump up the volume

Jennifer Capriati requested the 1999 Outkast song "Bombs Over Baghdad" to be played on the stadium public-address system before one of her matches at the Nasdaq-100 Open in Key Biscayne, Fla.

"I like the song, and I wanted to support the troops," Capriati said.

Stadium court producer Bob Ruf said he previewed the rap song and was reluctant to play it. However, Ruf then listened to the song with a tour official, and they found a one-minute segment that they decided wouldn't offend anyone.

The chorus to the song goes: "Don't pull the thang out unless you plan to bang, bombs over Baghdad. ... Don't even bang unless you plan to hit something, bombs over Baghdad."

A Nasdaq official said the tournament received no complaints about the song.

American Andy Roddick also went with a patriotic theme, requesting the Bruce Springsteen song "Born in the USA" for one of his matches.

Red-hot Cherry

Outspoken Canadian broadcaster Don Cherry scolded the Montreal Canadiens fans who booed the "Star-Spangled Banner" before a recent game against the New York Islanders.

Cherry said "years of pride went down the drain" when some fans chose to boo.

"We have a country that comes to our rescue, and we're just riding their coattails," said Cherry, wearing a tie resembling the American flag.

Fashionable fan

During a recent NBA game at Madison Square Garden, a fan walked out of his front-row seat, approached the Knicks' Latrell Sprewell and grabbed him by the arm.

But the fan wasn't tossed out onto the streets of Manhattan.

Instead, he was escorted back to his seat by two security guards.

Turns out the curious fan was designer Calvin Klein.

Perhaps he didn't approve of what Sprewell was wearing.

Home not so sweet

A group of Canadian psychologists claim that too much importance is put on home-ice advantage in the NHL playoffs.

"It makes me laugh when I hear sports commentators say, 'This team has the home-ice advantage,' " said Dan Voyer, a psychology professor at the University of New Brunswick. "I know that in the playoffs, it means nothing."

The reason?

"When it is a critical game and people have the possibility of redefining themselves as champions or winners, then they become more self-conscious and start making more mistakes," Voyer said.

In other words, they choke. But can't the road team do the same?

Not a subscriber to Managing 101

Minnesota Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire believes drawing walks and a high on-base percentage is overrated.

"I think when you start telling your kids, 'Let's be more patient at the plate,' you're going to screw them up," he said.

Gardenhire also isn't one to always manage by the book.

"All year long, I get numbers -- this guy is 0 for 8 against this pitcher, so I shouldn't play him today," he said. "How do you know a guy doesn't have seven line-drive outs?"

Caught on ESPN Classic

Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Alex English, a former NBA star, didn't always practice what he is now preaching.

That's what Hawks guard Jason Terry surmised after watching English hooping it up for the Denver Nuggets on ESPN Classic.

"Coach English always talks about defense, rebounding, making the extra pass," Terry said. "But from what I saw, all he was doing was shooting."

A name that rocks

The Brazilian soccer team Guarani has a reserve forward named Creedence Clearwater Couto.

Wrote Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: "What, was this guy born on a bayou with a bad moon rising?"