Joe Maddon’s Animal House: Cubs players hang out with a cheetah
If you thought Wrigley Field was going to be the proverbial zoo once the Cubs clinched a playoff berth, Joe Maddon has one thing to say: Why wait?
The quirky Cubs skipper has already turned the famed ballpark into a zoo, quite literally, by inviting some of his animal friends to hang with his players.
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Before the Cubs played the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night, a small petting zoo was set up in the left-field corner for players to enjoy with their families and especially their children. Among the animals in attendance was a sloth, a penguin, a snow leopard and even a flamingo, which appeared with Maddon during his pregame media briefing.
As it turns out, that was only just the beginning. On Wednesday, the Cubs had a cheetah roaming the field before batting practice hanging out and even posing for the occasional selfie.
You know that’s likely NL Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant, right? At least pretend to be impressed.
Of course, this is nothing new for Maddon. During his time with the Tampa Bay Rays he brought several animals right into his office, including snakes and penguins. It’s his way of changing up the routine, keeping players loose, and in this case especially, giving the families of players something to do at the ballpark.
Joe Maddon’s Animal House really could be a thing. Someone needs to look into that possibility.
Oh, and about a potential Curse of the Cheetah. Forget about that. These Cubs are locked and loaded with a magic number of three to reach the postseason. They’re as good as in. The only questions worth asking now are whether or not they’ll be hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL wild-card game, and whether or not Pittsburgh can solve the great Jake Arrieta.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
