Stone Quits Cubs Broadcast Booth



from the Chicago Sun-Times' Chris De Luca :

It's the only battle Cubs players won in 2004, chasing popular broadcaster Steve Stone away from the team he loves.

Stone shocked Cubs fans Thursday by announcing his resignation as the team's color analyst, leaving two huge voids in the club's TV broadcast booth. Play-by-play man Chip Caray had already left to take a job with the Atlanta Braves.

''It was a very, very difficult decision -- something I agonized over,'' Stone said Thursday night from his home in Arizona. ''The toughest part of the decision is it severs a tie with Chicago. I've been there all or parts of the last 27 years.''




Before the World Series, WGN-TV executive producer Bob Vorwald and Cubs vice president of marketing and broadcasting John McDonough called Stone to inform him his option for 2005 was being picked up by the Cubs. Despite a contentious relationship with some players this season, Stone seemed to be leaning toward returning, but said he would announce his decision after the World Series.

Sources said the Cubs have no immediately successors lined up.

As for Stone, 57, he has never hid his desire to be a general manager or team president. With the Montreal Expos moving to Washington and seeking a general manager, Stone immediately becomes a top contender for that job -- though he has no front office experience.

''Washington is one of those jobs that seems to have no end of candidates,'' Stone said. ''I've always made a concerted effort to let people know that is something I would like to entertain. I will explore all possibilities.''

Caray, Stone's broadcast partner for five of the last seven seasons, expressed sadness but not shock at Stone's decision.

''I'm very disappointed for the fans of the Chicago Cubs. They're losing the voice of the Cubs. He's the last link to the Jack Rosenberg, Harry Caray, Jack Brickhouse, Arne Harris era,'' Caray said of the former WGN television and radio voices and producers who pioneered the Cubs broadcast empire.

Caray, who chose to return to the Braves and join his father, Skip, acknowledged the past season was difficult for both he and Stone off the field, revealing that Cubs management met with and tried to chastise the several players who were at the core of contentious feelings with Stone. Reliever Kent Mercker was a vocal opponent of Stone's, confronting him on the team charter jet and in the team hotel.

''Steve and I talked to John McDonough, Andy MacPhail, [general manager] Jim Hendry and [manager] Dusty Baker about the treatment of a small group of players,'' Caray said. ''And Andy MacPhail, Jim Hendry, John McDonough and Dusty Baker met several times with those players, and the behavior didn't change.

''That kind of behavior should never be tolerated. If the Cubs or any team want to be successful and win, then everyone from the broadcasters to the assistant trainer should be treated in a first-class way, and as an observer. Steve wasn't treated in a first-class way by two or three players.

''It left a sour taste in everyone's mouths.''

Posted: Fri - October 29, 2004 at 02:22 PM      

©