ST. LOUIS – Is it possible the Cubs are already in the Cardinals’ heads barely two weeks into the season?
“I did not say that,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.
More than anything, Maddon seemed amused by some of the perceived mind games going on at Busch Stadium since the Cubs arrived Monday for their first showdown of the season against the rivals and defending division champions.
The latest is the series-long flap over fans wearing Maddon’s “Try Not to Suck” T-shirts and being hassled by stadium ushers over the so-called offensive nature of the shirts.
Maddon said a Cub fan, who was wearing the shirt, approached him while he was out one night this week and told him he wasn’t allowed in the stadium wearing it. Others have reported being told by ushers the shirts weren’t allowed because of the language.
“I find it humorous, actually,” Maddon said. “I didn’t think it was unilaterally done by each usher, determining that this shirt was offensive.
“It’s got to be an edict among the powers that be here. Is it the mayor of St. Louis?”
The shirt is part of a line of items sporting various Maddonisms, with a logo depicting an image of Maddon’s distinctive glasses. Maddon’s share of proceeds all goes to Cubs Charities and the manager’s Respect 90 Foundation.
“I’d love to know the definition of why they’re offensive in any way, shape or form,” he said. “And whoever thinks they’re offensive has a dirty mind.
“If you look it up in the dictionary I think it’s very appropriate to utilize that word in a lot of different moments in our daily adventures.”
According to the Cardinals’ written “Ground Rules for Guests,” banned items at games include “obscene or indecent clothing.”
That has specifically included the word “suck” in recent years, according to the Cardinals — including banning “Cancer Sucks” T-shirts. But team officials met Wednesday after learning of the T-shirt flap and are expected to reverse their policy stance on that word.
“I give them credit for just stepping back and saying, `Maybe we made a mistake with this whole thing,’ “ Maddon said. “It’s not that important in the grand scheme of things. And it’s really not offensive to anyone. It’s a self-deprecating slogan, so why would be you be upset with it?”
Maddon said he considered wearing the shirt on the field for batting practice as a protest move
“But then I decided to let it fly,” he said. “If the fans are responding, that’s the best way to indicate how foolish it is.
“It’s one of those things that I think if people actually say things negatively about it, it can really sell more shirts, which benefits the foundation, and it’s going to benefit a lot of people.”
Maddon turned pitchman while talking before Wednesday’s game, pointing out that women’s V-neck and tank top versions of the shirts were to be made available Wednesday, and said he and the company are looking into making the shirts available in every MLB team’s colors.
“That would be kind of interesting to absolutely inundate the market with ‘Try Not to Suck’ T-shirts,” he said.
After the game he said the Cardinal-red version already was available on the web site (korkedbaseball.com).