MESA, Ariz. -- Wearing a faded Jack Daniels T-shirt, Kevin Millar strolled into the Cubs clubhouse Friday and met the media for the first time.
As one of the leaders of the 2004 Red Sox's self-described "Idiots," will Millar come up with a suitable nickname for the 2010 Cubs?
"We might have to think of something around here," he said. "But I've got to make the team first before I start coming up with some nicknames. I've got a nickname back at the house."
Those '04 "Idiots" ended the so-called "Curse of the Bambino," and drank shots of Jack Daniels before postseason games as a bonding ritual.
Millar signed a minor-league deal with no guaranteed money for a shot at making the team as a reserve. He has a lot of competition, but Millar's outgoing personality is a trait general manager Jim Hendry was seeking after the failed experiment of Milton Bradley.
"There's things that are missing on certain teams, and he felt like this was a good spot," Millar said. "Being that I've played in a place like Boston, and (they) do a lot of the same things. There was a huge curse there, and the 86-years (without a championship), and it was almost like every year, 'This is the year.'
"But you get a group of guys believing, and a group of guys that don't worry about a lot of stuff that's said but winning games... We'll see what happens. The main thing is to play baseball, and have fun. Guys forget that sometimes. There's such pressure, and such a (feeling) you've got to act like somebody you're not. Be yourself, man. This is a game."
"Being me -- you've got to have passion," he said. "I love what I do. I enjoy coming to the field every day. I enjoy the guys, I enjoy my teammates. That's who I am. I don't have a whole lot of tools. Never have. I don't even think I have a toolbox.
"That's not what made me. What made me is I've always loved it more than anybody else, and so I think that was the big thing."
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I got a name for this Cubs team. How about the Indifferents or the Indifferent gang. These Cubs players are only motivated by the money they make.
Hendry overpaid these clowns and we Cub fans will watch our fat cats finish 3rd if we're lucky.
I watched Millar come up through the minors. This guy can hit. That's what we need on the bench, a veteran who can hit. Having our best Tripple A player on the bench hoping he can hit won't get us a Championship. I hope he makes the team.
I already hate this guy. We don't need guys who drink before games, and think it's important to have nicknames. Remember when Todd whatshisname, the Crybaby Cajun who was complaining that the Cub's announcers were too mean and should have fun nicknames for the players. NO! We didn't need a second basemen who is better at nicknames than hitting. We need guys who hit .320 and can field their position. Send Millar home now.
Hey Curses, what you just described is the "Curse Of The Cubs"......Poor draft picks, bad management & even worse free agents signings...As long as suckers line-up around the block at Wrigley, for an inferior product there will be no changes made..Why should they? They will rake in the money and laugh all the way to the bank...
It's not even March and a ridiculous curse article has already made it on the Trib. Come on, this is journalism for idiots. The Cubs don't lose because of curses, they lose because of bad management which equals bad executives which equals bad players. Grow up already...