I think the one infuriating thing about Cub coverage since the time the Tribune purchased the team is the lack of independent, disinterested coverage of the team on the local level. Tribune editors devoted time to assuring us that some kind of Chinese wall had been created around its sports department to ensure independence, yet the results were noticeably slanted favoring the Cubs in density and tone. It was particularly glaring given in years when the Cubs were bad. There are sports reporters like Levine who were both employed by the Cubs and by another party to cover the Cubs. The team and its fan base had been so conditioned to positivity that when there was a hint of independent thought in the booth it was the messenger who lost his job rather than the underperforming players. Now you will have an entire station devoted to nothing more than positive Cub news.

I know people will respond "Hawk" just as south side irish anglophile sox fan Mully did today when the topic was broached. I'd estimate Hawk was hated by 50% of the fan base, maybe more. JR loved him and so the team always tried to portray him as some beloved figure by fans but that was simply not the case.

In the fake news era this station is setting you up to receive the fakest of news. I ask do you look at the new station as problematic in you receiving truth in your coverage? Do you even want truth in coverage?

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Regardless of team I think a couple of factors lead to bad biased coverage. News papers and local tv to a lesser extent have been downsized. Many times like with the Cubs radio in a town has a business link. They also are downsized. Fewer eyes on the product mean less are critical.

The thing has spun around completely from when MLB started. Back then they needed media and now they really don't.

Reports and talking heads can deny all they want their days are numbered. As we now know it anyway.

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Elections have consequences.

All sorts of unbiased analysis on a national level and that is enough for me.

Joe Cowley has covered JR teams for the better part of two decades in this town. You think JR feels the media is favorable to him and his product?

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I believe this is part of the issue from when the station used to be the voice of the fan. What was coverage like when 670 had the White Sox? Rongey's post-games were quite the tough listen. You are correct in your assessment of independent thought going back to when Stone was doing color commentary for the Cubs. The discussion in the DiCaro thread is looking at whether she could lose her job based on her thoughts of the organization...be it Russell to the cash cow. A truly independent source should be able to look at these situations and not fear retribution for unpopular opinion.

I'd like truth in coverage, let me know what's going on and where concerns may be. I wonder if the Polly-Anna approach to the Cubs was a result of the years of, "Wait till next year..." doing a pendulum swing to over-positiveness.

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An unjust law is no law at all--St. Augustine of Hippo

Cause tried and true
I see the light in you
Oh, can you dig in my soul?
Could you smell my whole...
life?--Gener and Deaner

the board has all the analysis i need.

I think Cub fans are naturally hopeful. Nothing wrong with that.

I think the Tribune/WGN conglomerate years conditioned them to receiving news filtered through the lens that we are all one big partnership. Mild criticism seems to be taken as an assault.

I don't think the Tribune or WGN has retreated from this position post sale as it is so ingrained in its employees. I think the modern example of what I mean with Tribune/WGN can be seen at the Score since the time the became corporate partners.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

the cheerleading across the media landscape only really started with the hiring of Theo.

post-2008 Hendry run and Ricketts first years were unkind.

For the most part, yes. Its gotten way out of control lately though. For example, just earlier this week Jesse Rogers was on with Kap still talking about how the 40 games in 41 days "derailed" the Cubs for the postseason. GTFO with that nonsense.

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They fired their announcer because of that criticism but dickhead Dempster has become an icon

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Frank, as a Cubs fan I agree. Last season is done, that Series has been won. Crap happens and unless all teams play in a dome these things can and do occur and teams need to adjust.

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An unjust law is no law at all--St. Augustine of Hippo

Cause tried and true
I see the light in you
Oh, can you dig in my soul?
Could you smell my whole...
life?--Gener and Deaner

I watch or listen to most of the games, so I don’t need a lot of third party analysis. The beat reporter stuff is fine with me.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

FUCK U KIRKWOOD

It's a BULLY Hendry run!

Dont u ever refer to Hendry as just Hendry! It is BULLY Hendry u fuckhead!!!

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I've got a 500$ bounty on Whistler n Dicaro.

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