Joe Maddon brought a flamingo to his press conference because he can
Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is known for keeping things loose in the clubhouse. Sometimes, this manifests itself in the form of wearing costumes on road trips. Other times, it leads to a magic show.
One of Maddon’s go-to gimmicks in these situations is animals. On Tuesday, he went back to that well.
Though the thought is entertaining, Maddon wasn’t just walking around with a random flamingo. Instead, he was celebrating “zoo day” at Wrigley Field.
It appears Maddon worked with the Shedd Aquarium and the Columbus Zoo in order to bring animals to the park for Cubs players and their families.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo was one of the many players who seemed to enjoy himself at the event.
Aside from Warren the flamingo, there was a snow leopard, sloth and a penguin at the park. There may have been other animals present as well.
As for why Warren was allowed to attend the press conference, Maddon offered a simple explanation.
That’s good enough for us!
The whole event is a pretty cool gesture by Maddon. He’s not only raising awareness for these animals, but he’s giving his players, and their families, a fun experience. That’s pretty neat.
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Next time, though, we would love to see the Cubs hang out with some cubs. Clark is a fine mascot and all, but we can’t think of a cuter sight than seeing a baby bear wearing a Cubs’ hat while sitting in Maddon’s chair during a press conference.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
