This is a blog explaining how the Cubs meet those needs in order of importance.
Summarily, I’ve organized it into 9 key talking points.
Central Time Zone
4.
The Michael Jordan statue
5.
Day games and their personal benefits
6.
Big Cat moved home
- International community
8.
Rock n Roll McDonalds
9.
Kyle Orton’s Legacy
Money- The most important medium of exchange in human history.
Shohei wants to be paid, but it’s not the most important factor.
The cash is there.
Happiness- The Cubs have enough money to keep Shohei happy, which is very important.
That stuff’s for pussies.
Give him a truckload of money and simply let the happiness follow.
Can’t make it any easier.
Central Time Zone- Central time zone rocks, especially the eastern border.
That’s the best morning slot in the books.
Michael Jordan (Statue) -Michael Jordan is arguably one of the greatest athletes of all time.
He played in Chicago for most of his career, building the Bulls into an internationally recognized brand.
It’s an astonishing monument and a nice tour stop to demonstrate our collective appreciation for athletic achievement.
The most obvious is that Shohei can play during the day, then watch more baseball at night.
He loves watching baseball and this is very important.
So much that you probably don’t believe me.
But I’m dead serious.
Also consider the general productivity of the Japanese populace in conjunction with a 4:20am 1st pitch.
9 innings of Shohei before a full day’s work?
That’s two birds in one day.
That’s a huge pull for the whole country.
Big Cat’s Championship Pedigree- Big Cat just moved home to Chicago and that means championships.
Every year Big Cat predominantly domiciles in Chicago leads to a Championship.
Wisconsin Final 4 in ‘14.
Based on my conversations with Shohei’s camp, that’s supposed to be very important.
He’s never won before, but said it looks enjoyable.
And I mean that.
Sensible public policy considerations aside, that’s gotta be worth something at the bargaining table.
We’re good to everyone before ourselves.
That’s howRock n RollMcDonald’s works into the Shohei pitch.
Kyle Orton’s Legacy- This one might sound crazy, but just think with me for a second.
Kyle Orton can’t walk into a Naperville Hooters without a crowd following him.
Think of how much the city loves and embraces mediocrity then apply it to international stardom.
That’s how I’d frame the upside to Shohei’s legacy.
Find me a worse professional athlete with a bigger approval rating than Kyle Orton in Chicago.
That’s the sticking point.
Our standards are so low that there’s no such thing as worst case scenario.
We hit on a couple of these talking points and I got news for you guys.
That’s a guarantee.
