You can learn a lot about a baseball player from their walk-up song. The tune – which plays over the loudspeakers as a player makes his way to the batter’s box – often gives fans a peak at what kind of music the player listens to and what music gets them in the right mindset for competition.
So what does Anthony Rizzo’s choice of “Good Vibrations” by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch say about the Cubs’ first baseman, who was weeks away from turning two years old when Mark Wahlberg’s hit song was released in 1991? Probably that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Or that he is an admirer of cheesy 90’s pop.
“I had no idea what to pick,” said Rizzo Thursday at the third annual Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation Cook-Off For Cancer at Revel Downtown, which featured Cubs players helping serve food and drinks. “And then two days before, I was messing around with my buddies and we’re just going through songs and I was like, ‘Yup, that’s it.’ I love Mark Wahlberg – Marky Mark. It seems to be working right now.”
Good point.
Rizzo — whose benefit featured upscale versions of ballpark food, created by notable Chicago chefs — is hitting .349 this season. The former National League All-Star hit .286 last season when his at-bat song was “Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Teammate Kris Bryant took a more serious approach with his walk-up song. The Cubs’ third baseman opted for the brash “We Own It” by rappers 2 Chainz and Wiz Khalifa.
“It’s something that gets me pumped up,” said Bryant while working the Piccolo Sogno table, where he spent more time taking photos with guests than serving food. “I’m not really a big rap music guy, but that’s a song that I like. It’s just cool and gets you in the mood to go up to the plate.”
The soldout Cook-Off was one of Bryant’s first charity events as a member of the Cubs organization and raised $270,000 for Rizzo’s foundation, which funds cancer research and assists families battling the disease.
“It’s fun,” Bryant said. “I think it’s good to have a personality besides on the field. And to be able to do this for a good cause and to help Anthony’s foundation out, it’s just a great time for us.”
Heads up: The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade and the Chicago Sky will host a basketball and cheerleading academy July 8 and 9 at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, IL. The Sky’s Elena Delle Donne and Cappie Pondexter are scheduled to make an appearance at the camp July 9. … The Cubs’ Jake Arrieta is expected to host Catch in the Confines at Wrigley Field June 13 before the Cubs-Cincinnati Reds game. The 50-minute session allows you to play catch in the outfield (cool, right?) and benefits Cubs Charities Cubs Scholars.
On the record: “Hey @NBAonTNT & @SHAQ – I heard that Charles was talking about me on the show last night. Is that true? If so, It’s about time! #underrated” – Former Bull Horace Grant, via Twitter
By the numbers:
20,000. Paul Konerko replica statues that will be passed out to the first 20,000 fans at Saturday’s White Sox-Minnesota Twins game at US Cellular Field. Konerko will have his jersey retired before the game.
$112. Price of standing room only ticket on Stubhub.com for game 3 of the Blackhawks-Anaheim Ducks playoff series at the United Center, making it the cheapest ticket on the site to the game as of Sunday morning. That’s about triple the regular season price for standing room only tickets.
Sightings: Rizzo, Bryant, Arrieta and teammates Jon Lester, Jason Hammel and Jason Motte had dinner Thursday at Chicago Cut Steakhouse. Maybe they didn’t get a chance to eat at the Cook-Off? Also spotted, separately, at Chicago Cut Thursday: The Blackhawks’ Teuvo Teravainen, former Bull Bill Cartwright, who attended the Michigan Avenue magazine party at Dylan’s Candy Bar beforehand, and former Los Angeles Dodger Eric Gagne. … Delle Donne had lunch Friday at Chicago Cut Steakhouse. … Wade was honored at the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation Gala Saturday at the Hilton Chicago hotel. The Bears’ Matt Forte was on hand for the event. … Duke men’s basketball star Justise Winslow and Kentucky men’s basketball star Willie Cauley-Stein had dinner Thursday at Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse-Chicago. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Timothy Mosgov dined May 7 at Gibson’s and former Bull Ron Harper was there May 10. … New York Knicks’ president Phil Jackson and Knicks assistant Kurt Rambis had dinner Friday at the newly opened C Chicago. White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams was there, separately, with his wife and NBC Chicago news anchor Zoraida Sambolin. The Blackhawks’ Niklas Hjalmarsson had lunch Thursday at C Chicago. … Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf dined Saturday at Japonais by Morimoto.
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