By Diane Stanley
February 7 2003

I am 17 years old, and a senior at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, Illinois. I like to watch/play sports, hang out with my friends, read, listen to music, and work on my scrapbook in my spare time.

I know you are a huge Cubs fan. How long have you supported the team?
About 14-15 years. I have been a Cubs fan since I knew what baseball was, and that was probably since I was about 2 or 3 years old.

Do you ever attend Cubs games?
Yes, I try to get to as many Cubs games as I can. This season, I have been to about 20 games.

Have you ever visited any other stadiums apart from Wrigley?
Yes, I have visited Camden Yards in Baltimore, Comiskey Park in Chicago, Tropicana Field in Tampa, Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Cinergy Field in Cincinnati, and Turner Field in Atlanta.

Which was your favorite and why?
I would say Camden Yards. It is such a beautiful ballpark. They designed it to look like an older stadium(like many others built these days) and they did a wonderful job with it.

Who is your all time favorite baseball player?
I would have to say Ryne Sandberg.

Have you ever got to meet this player? If so was it all you dreamed it would be or did you feel let down?
Yes, I have met him before. It was the thrill of my life! He was very nice. I got my picture taken with him, got an autograph, and talked with him for a minute.

What is your favorite baseball memory?
I would say seeing Sammy Sosa's 400th career homerun.

What makes this one memory so special?
It was special because you don't get to see something like that everyday. Not many players hit 400 homeruns in their career.

What is your worst baseball memory and why?
My worst baseball memory would have to be a Sox game I went to against the Yankees. I was sitting down by first base, and Tino Martinez was up to bat. He hit a foul ball, it skipped off the top of the dugout, and into my hands. Then, the guy in front of me(who was a Cubs fan nonethless!) took it right out of my hand and wouldn't give it back. I haven't gotten a ball since.

Do you collect baseball memorabilia? If so what do you collect?
I collect pretty much anything related to baseball. I mostly collect cards and autographs, but I have things like foam fingers of different teams, bobble heads, and other things like that.

If you could meet any player past or present who would it be and why?
Probably Derek Jeter. He does so much for the community with all of his charity work, and it is good to see athletes do that sort of thing. Especially when you have the status of superstar, like Jeter does.

How do you feel about the local rivalry between the Cubs and the White Sox?
I think that it is the greatest rivalry outside of the Yankees and Mets. Everyone in the city is rooting for one or the other, so it's a lot of fun. You go to the ballpark, walk the streets or anywhere else, and you are able to argue the two teams with someone. It's great.

Are there any White Sox fans in your home? If so does this ever cause any squabbles?
My stepmom is a Sox fan, but not a die-hard fan. She's actually more of a Chicago fan. Whoever is winning, she wants them to win. Once in a while there will be a little arguing over it, but for the most part, she doesn't watch.

So far everyone has said that Jackie Robinson has made more changes to the face of baseball than any other player which is probably true. Who else do you think has had a big impact on the game and why?
I think that players like Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire have made a big impact on the game because they have done so much the last four or five years, and it has really brought the fans back to baseball after the strike of '94.

The Cubs were so close to making the playoffs yet again this season. What do you think is needed to give them that little extra boost to get them there next season?
I think that they need another bat in the lineup. It's not just the Sammy show, or the Fred McGriff show. If Rondell White could stay healthy, he could be a major component on this team. Also, at least one other starting pitcher will be needed, as Kevin Tapani will most likely be gone next year.

We all know the chance of a player strike could happen after the playoffs are over. Do you think this will happen?
It is always a possibility, but I honestly don't think it will happen. I think that too much has happened the last few years, with McGwire and Sosa, with the domination of the Yankees, and with the Mariners and Barry Bonds this year.

If it did what effect do you think it would have not only on the game, but the fans as well?
I think it would just be devastating to everyone. I think that baseball was lucky to get the fans back after the 1994 strike, and I think that if there is another strike, many of the fans would feel betrayed and not come back.

Who do you think will win the CY Young and MVP titles in both the AL and NL this year?
In the American League, Roger Clemens will win the Cy Young (for the 6th time) and I think Bret Boone will win the MVP award. He has had such a magnificent season, leading the Mariners to the best record in baseball this year. In the National League, Randy Johnson will most likely win the Cy Young, although there are a handful of 20+ game winners, including Jon Lieber, Curt Schilling, and Matt Morris. As for the MVP award, I am leaning towards Sammy Sosa unless the San Francisco Giants make the playoffs. Then it would go to Barry Bonds.

Who do you think will win the World Series and why?
I think the Yankees will win it yet again. You have to go with the defending champs until they are no longer defending the title.

Thanks Jackie for telling us a little about yourself and for sharing your insights on the Cubbies and baseball in general.