as many people, i'm sure, one of my favorite times ever was the summer following my senior year of high school, the great summer of '98. one of the highlights of that summer involved driving around aimlessly with my friend chuck, listening to either pat hughes and ron santo on wgn or to guided by voices.

one of my favorite evenings of this summer came one night when the cubs were playing in cincinnati, and there was a rain delay. pat hughes began discussing, among other things, the type of shirt worn by the grounds crew.

we then proceeded to grecian kitchen delights, on crawford st. in evanston, for the first time. and thus was a legend born. (the restaurant, i mean. i hope it's still there.)

while inside, they had the cubs broadcast on t.v. but, due to the rain delay, they showed old highlights. and this meant bringing out the outstanding 1989 game in which the cubs came from nine down to defeat the astros, 10-9 at wrigley field. (it was the talk of soccer practice that afternoon.)

the reason all of this came back to me today is because i was talking to the president of the bandits fan club today, and we were discussing the broadcasts. and he said "the thing i really like is how you've added fashion analysis to your broadcasts this season." and i said "huh?" and he said "like this: 'trainer cory andrews trots out to tend to the fallen player. cory's wearing khaki shorts and a twins windbreaker, navy blue with red sleeves. cory's wearing white low-top shoes with white socks.' " and i said "oh yeah," and then thought of that night when pat hughes, the great one, taught me that it's okay, nay encouraged, to describe everything.