Sun-Times back page throws Theo Epstein for a loop
BY GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com April 5, 2012 11:10PM
Updated: May 7, 2012 8:21AM
Pressure on Theo Epstein? What pressure?
“Well, there was this photo of him walking on water this morning,’’ Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Thursday. “If you call that pressure, if you call that expectations. But, no, I think he’s up for it. I think he understands what Cubs fans are expecting out of him.’’
Ricketts was referring to the back page of the Sun-Times on Thursday, depicting the persistently deified Epstein walking on Lake Michigan with the city in the background.
Epstein’s reaction?
“I about spit up my Fruit Loops,’’ he said, smiling.
Like it or not, it does appear to be the prevailing sentiment in Chicago (on the North Side, anyway) regarding his team presidency, making him the focal point of fan excitement.
“Yeah, well, that’s nice,’’ he said. “That’s a compliment. But I’m realistic enough to know that if that’s the case, it’s just because … they look at me symbolically as the new direction. But it’s not me. There are dozens and dozens and dozens of people — the players first and foremost — working extremely hard to try to push this organization forward.’’
From ownership to front office personnel to field staff, scouts and player-development people, he said.
“It’s hard to sit there and put all those people on the back page of the [Sun-Times], but they really should,’’ he said. “I’m one small person in a very big machine that’s hopefully going to get this thing right over time.’’
