Cubs Manager Joe Maddon Reveals Interesting Winter Reading Choices
Maddon is entering the final year of a five-year pact he signed with the Cubs in 2014
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Joe Maddon will be managing by the book next year, and the book is "Managing Millennials for Dummies."
The Chicago Cubs manager will head to spring training just after his 65th birthday, a generation or two removed from his players and entering the final season of his contract.
"You always think this 'for dummies' thing is really rudimentary written — it's really well written and it's really well researched," he said Tuesday at the winter meetings. "I'm learning about traditionalists, baby boomers, the Xers and then millennials. I'm really starting to understand this a little bit better."
Maddon has spent more than four decades as a baseball manager, coach and scout. After brief managing stints with the California Angels in 1996 and '99, he led the Tampa Bay Rays from 2006-14 and then the Cubs since 2015. In his second season, he helped Chicago to its first World Series title since 1908.
"Whether anybody here agrees or disagrees with the generation and how they process things doesn't matter, because that's the way it is," he said. "And if that's the way it is, just like my dad, that generation thought we were a bunch of babies, the boomers. The traditionalists thought they're all soft. And then you think the Xers are soft. The Xers think the millennials are soft. It doesn't matter. You have to figure out how to communicate and extract the best out of this group and make sure that you're always on the same page."
James Neveau
The Blackhawks "Hockey House" is a pop-up store located on Michigan Avenue, just south of the team's flagship store.
There are plenty of interactive elements at the store, including locker stalls featuring jerseys and gear from some of the team's biggest stars.
Fans can also take pictures at the team's photo booth, which is placed directly in front of a large "One Goal" display at the back of the space.
There are plenty of other interesting touches as well, including a mural designed by a local artist to capture the flavor of the city and the history of the team.
These may look like decorative boards, but they are actually from the United Center!
Fans can grab a wide variety of Winter Classic gear, including jerseys, hats, t-shirts, scarves, stocking caps (or in hockey lingo, toques), and much more.
The store will be open through the Winter Classic, which will take place on Jan. 1 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.
The store will close on Jan. 4, but the team's flagship store down the street is open year-round.
In addition to the "Managing Millennials" book by Hannah L. Ubl, Lisa X. Walden and Debra Arbit, Maddon has been studying "Antisocial Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy," written by Siva Vaidhyanathan.
"You have to make your adjustments. And that's what I'm working on right now is to understand better how I could better serve these guys," Maddon said.
Maddon claimed he doesn't mind Cubs president Theo Epstein has not given him a new deal.
"Theo and I have had some really good conversations. I totally understand where he's coming from. I am not offended," Maddon said. "If you have a lot of self-confidence, things like that should do not bother you — and I do. I'm going to do my job like you've always seen me do my job. I might alter it a little bit regarding getting out on the field a little bit more often. What we've done over the last four years I feel pretty good about, feel strongly about. Let's just win the World Series and see how that all plays out."
Bradley Sowell #79 of the Chicago Bears reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Roy Robertson-Harris #95 and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 15-6 at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 09: Fireworks explode at the start of the game between the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 09: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams is tackled by Adrian Amos #38 of the Chicago Bears in the first quarter at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 09: Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky #10 of the Chicago Bears runs for a first down ahead of Samson Ebukam #50 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Matt Nagy of the Chicago Bears stands on the sidelines in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 09: Roquan Smith #58 of the Chicago Bears returns an interception in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 09: Bradley Sowell #79 of the Chicago Bears completes the pass for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 09: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears attempts to recover the fumble against quarterback Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 09: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears celebrates with fans after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 15-6 at Soldier Field on December 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Maddon hopes to remain as Cubs manager beyond 2019.
"The concept that Theo and I have any kind of a disengagement or a lack of philosophical sameness is untrue," he said. "We have great conversations. And we're definitely almost a 100 percent on the same page all the time."
