Ron Santo Dead at 70

[erik316wttn]

What sucks most, or is a tribute to his ability, is that we'll never see another analyst like him again.

 

Only those who heard him at any point during his 20 years on the radio can appreciate his contributions.

 

A lot of fans were turned off by his homerism, but to me that made him all the more endearing.

[Sammy Sofa]

Annnnnnnnnnnnnd there's Ronnie Woo Woo to ruin everything.

[daske17]

What sucks most, or is a tribute to his ability, is that we'll never see another analyst like him again.

 

Only those who heard him at any point during his 20 years on the radio can appreciate his contributions.

 

A lot of fans were turned off by his homerism, but to me that made him all the more endearing.

 

That's certainly true, which made him even more unique in the broadcasting world.

[ConstableRabbit]

Annnnnnnnnnnnnd there's Ronnie Woo Woo to ruin everything.

He's a 'tard, but he's our 'tard.

[Garwilly]

For those of you watching on WGN; Robert Feder via Twitter is implying that Allison Payne is impared (ie. drunk) on-air.

 

Thats what she has sounded like everyday since her strokes.

[Southpaw191679666239]

For those of you watching on WGN; Robert Feder via Twitter is implying that Allison Payne is impared (ie. drunk) on-air.

 

Thats what she has sounded like everyday since her strokes.

 

Isn't Feder a Chicago guy? Wouldn't he know that?

[Sammy Sofa]

That's what happened to her? I figured she was sick and all doped up on medicine.

 

Apparently WGN stole all of the music bumpers from Dracula: The Musical.

[Southpaw191679666239]

That's what happened to her? I figured she was sick and all doped up on medicine.

 

Apparently WGN stole all of the music bumpers from Dracula: The Musical.

 

Well, according to her Wiki page, she did suffer mini-strokes in 2008, but is also a recovering alcoholic.

[daske17]

For those of you watching on WGN; Robert Feder via Twitter is implying that Allison Payne is impared (ie. drunk) on-air.

 

Thats what she has sounded like everyday since her strokes.

 

Isn't Feder a Chicago guy? Wouldn't he know that?

 

He's been pushing the "Allison Payne is a drunk" angle for a few years now. Even though there's no proof to back it up and she's admitted to her treatments at the Mayo Clinic as a result of his reporting. He's a good reporter, but when he has an axe to grind, he doesn't let up.

[jersey cubs fan]

Twitter says:

Officials say Robert Feder, of Huntington Station, blew a stop sign and a red light and plowed into 61-year-old Joseph Carney's car in Westbury last May

[Pool]

Dont know how much I can add here. My radio station here in Kansas added the Cubs as a radio affiliate in February of this year so I tuned in & got a full season of Pat & Ron. I tried to tune in to every game and absorb the Cubs. I`ll be grateful for getting to hear Santo's final season. Very moving to hear Pat's words today.

[erik316wttn]

Dont know how much I can add here. My radio station here in Kansas added the Cubs as a radio affiliate in February of this year so I tuned in & got a full season of Pat & Ron. I tried to tune in to every game and absorb the Cubs. I`ll be grateful for getting to hear Santo's final season. Very moving to hear Pat's words today.

 

Welcome aboard.

 

Little did I know when I listened to the last game of the season and heard Sam Fuld ground out, that it would be the last time I'd ever hear Ron Santo in the booth. Had I known, I'd have appreciated it more. He was just through so much with his health and overcame so much that you took for granted that he'd be there.

[jersey cubs fan]

Dont know how much I can add here. My radio station here in Kansas added the Cubs as a radio affiliate in February of this year so I tuned in & got a full season of Pat & Ron. I tried to tune in to every game and absorb the Cubs. I`ll be grateful for getting to hear Santo's final season. Very moving to hear Pat's words today.

 

I think it was clearly his worst. Not sure if that was because of how pathetic the Cubs were, but people commented all the time how bad Ron sounded. If you like what he did he was at his best in the late 90's/early 2000s, when the Cubs were in contention and he had more energy. He would get confused, but not as badly as he did this year. I really feared he'd die on air this past season.

[Pool]

Had a feeling things were getting worse with Ron when he wasnt on games the 2nd half of season plus reading on WGN website that he'd be missing games next season.

 

I`ve got both parents and my brother as diabetics so I figured that illness would take him before cancer. People think its easy to live with nowdays with better insulin and pills but its a mess to go through. Blood sugar levels get real low after you medicate and you have to take sugar to bring them up. It really wears down the body.

[erik316wttn]

Dont know how much I can add here. My radio station here in Kansas added the Cubs as a radio affiliate in February of this year so I tuned in & got a full season of Pat & Ron. I tried to tune in to every game and absorb the Cubs. I`ll be grateful for getting to hear Santo's final season. Very moving to hear Pat's words today.

 

I think it was clearly his worst. Not sure if that was because of how pathetic the Cubs were, but people commented all the time how bad Ron sounded. If you like what he did he was at his best in the late 90's/early 2000s, when the Cubs were in contention and he had more energy. He would get confused, but not as badly as he did this year. I really feared he'd die on air this past season.

 

He did sound worn down and tired when he was on the air, and didn't really have the energy he once did. I don't know if that was the illness or if he just didn't have that much to get excited about. I think it was a combination of both.

 

However, if I live to see the Cubs win a World Series, Ron Santo will be the first guy I think of, even if it's 50 years from now.

[Old Style]

What sucks most, or is a tribute to his ability, is that we'll never see another analyst like him again.

 

Only those who heard him at any point during his 20 years on the radio can appreciate his contributions.

 

A lot of fans were turned off by his homerism, but to me that made him all the more endearing.

Exactly. I don't understand why people would get upset at that. He is a Cubs announcer, he should be a Cubs homer. He was one of us, a fan who just happened to be in the booth.

[javy knows my name]

What sucks most, or is a tribute to his ability, is that we'll never see another analyst like him again.

 

Only those who heard him at any point during his 20 years on the radio can appreciate his contributions.

 

A lot of fans were turned off by his homerism, but to me that made him all the more endearing.

Exactly. I don't understand why people would get upset at that. He is a Cubs announcer, he should be a Cubs homer. He was one of us, a fan who just happened to be in the booth.

And Sox fans feel the same way about Hawk. It's all a matter of perspective.

 

I don't care, I love him and will miss him

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-12/58200980.jpg

[UMFan83]

What sucks most, or is a tribute to his ability, is that we'll never see another analyst like him again.

 

Only those who heard him at any point during his 20 years on the radio can appreciate his contributions.

 

A lot of fans were turned off by his homerism, but to me that made him all the more endearing.

Exactly. I don't understand why people would get upset at that. He is a Cubs announcer, he should be a Cubs homer. He was one of us, a fan who just happened to be in the booth.

And Sox fans feel the same way about Hawk. It's all a matter of perspective.

 

I don't care, I love him and will miss him

 

I can't really put a finger on it. I feel like there's a difference between Santo's homerism and Hawk's.

[BCVM22]

I'm trying to tell myself that Ronnie isn't gone.. just his body is. That he'll still be at Wrigley every day, just in spirit. That's not helping right now.

 

He'll be calling games with Jack, Lou and Harry now. Not a bad broadcast booth.

Edited December 10, 2010 by BCVM22

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't really put a finger on it. I feel like there's a difference between Santo's homerism and Hawk's.

 

Santo's was more childish enthusiasm, whereas Hawk is a jerk. His proclamations are tough guy smack talk and then he complains about bad calls when things go wrong. Ron would just seem to question the baseball gods about why the Cubs sucked.

[Wheelimus]

Not to look for silver linings, but on the 1 in 100 billion chance that there really is a pissed off Billy Goat Ghost and/or Billy Goat Ghost Owner keeping the Cubbies from winning a World Series we just got one more hero to help run it off. See, they've been able to keep ol' Harry drunk and off their back but good luck now. I'm talking Rambo stuff here. \:D/

 

Sigh, rest in peace Ron. We'll never forget you.

[Pool]

Ron Santo will be cremated, and his ashes will be spread throughout Wrigley Field.

[mul21]

Pretty good article on the ceremonies and some Santo memories. I didn't get to hear any of it today, so if anybody has a link to any of it, I'd appreciate it.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101210/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbn_cubs_santo;_ylt=AsJHvNFoJznIFA1.Lz1lCX.s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFkdTR0cjZzBHBvcwMxODMEc2VjA2FjY29yZGlvbl9zcG9ydHMEc2xrA2ZyaWVuZHNmYW1pbA--

[Old Style]

I can't really put a finger on it. I feel like there's a difference between Santo's homerism and Hawk's.

 

Santo's was more childish enthusiasm, whereas Hawk is a jerk. His proclamations are tough guy smack talk and then he complains about bad calls when things go wrong. Ron would just seem to question the baseball gods about why the Cubs sucked.

Nail meet head.