Cubs Fans, Jeff Gordon Wants a Wrigley Do Over
NASCAR driver admits he blew 2005 performance
By PEGGY KUSINSKI
Updated 4:26 PM CST, Fri, Jul 10, 2009
Jeff Gordon is a likable guy. He is 2nd in the Sprint Cup Series point standings. He is going for multiple wins at Chicagoland Speedway. Yet, he is not very well liked by Chicago Cub fans.
"I probably got more negative reaction to that than anything I did, " the driver of the DuPont/National Guard No. 24 car said, referring to his singing of the 7th inning stretch in May 2005.
Remember? Gordon had won at Chicagoland Speedway and was welcomed to the Windy City with an appearance in front of the Wrigley faithful. He wanted to throw out the first pitch. They wanted him to sing. He admits he wasn't a baseball fan.
And then it happened. For a packed Wrigley -- and a national cable TV audience to hear.
"Welcome to Wrigley Stadium," Gordon shouted while smiling to a stunned Wrigley Field crowd. They didn't. They booed. And booed. And booed.
When asked about it at his return to the Joliet track for Saturday's LifeLock.com 400, Gordon took a deep breath and exhaled.
"I didn't even want to sing," he explained. He can still laugh at the attention he got for such a simple little song.
"We need to redeem ourselves in Chicago. I'm hoping for a sweep this weekend, just in case I get invited back to sing the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley. I should, I guess."
First Published: Jul 9, 2009 5:46 PM CST
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