Craig Sager bumped into Cubs manager Joe Maddon while he was having lunch with his wife Wednesday afternoon at a downtown hotel.
“I stepped in between them and asked if any tickets were available for tonight’s game,” the Turner Sports broadcaster said with a laugh.
Sager, a lifelong Cubs fan, didn’t need tickets to the game. The Chicago native threw out the ceremonial first pitch and sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch of the Conquer Cancer game.
Growing up, Sager made it a tradition to attend a Cubs game every year on his birthday, June 29. Though it wasn’t his birthday yet , Sager enjoyed an early celebration.
“Wrigley always remains a special place for me,” Sager said. “Even though I’m getting special treatment coming here now, the atmosphere of the city and stadium is just electric.”
Sager recalled having to fight to get closer to the field as a kid and needing to beg for autographs. Making his return to Wrigley on Wednesday, Sager was instead the one on the grass, fielding autographs and taking pictures with fans.
Time is invaluable to Sager, who is going through constant sessions of chemotherapy as he battles leukemia. He’ll be traveling to Houston on Thursday to continue treatment.
“I realize it’s not about me,” Sager said. “It’s about what I represent. Everybody can relate to a family member or a friend who is fighting cancer. My goal is to fight until we find an ultimate cure.”
Sager returned to NBA sidelines last season after sitting out the 2014-15 season. He has graced audiences with his iconic clown-like suits and affectionate personality, leaving a mark on the entire sports community.
“His fight, I mean, my God, the guy is teaching us all a lesson,” Maddon said. “My interaction with him this morning just indicates the guy operates on a different level.”
It has been almost three months since doctors told Sager in March he has only “three to six months to live.”
Despite having an estimated remaining timeframe, Sager is proud to have one more reason to keep on fighting.
“The most important thing in Chicago sports right now is for the Cubs to win the World Series,” Sager said. “It didn’t happen in my father’s lifetime, it hasn’t happened in mine. My kids tell me, ‘The Cubs have got to win a world series and win it this year.’ ”
Despite boasting the league’s best record at 36-15, Maddon respects the real battle being fought by Sager.
“We knew he was coming out tonight, we know what he’s doing and how he’s doing it, it’s just hard to imagine,” Maddon said. “The Cubs are with him.”
