It's no secret that Wheaton's very own Belushi Brothers, John and Jim, were big fans of the Chicago Cubs. Jim still comes to the ballpark every year to watch the beloved and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."
But he's also brought references to the Cubs to his work. In 1990's "Taking Care of Business" he takes it to new heights--the Cubs go to the World Series. His character, Jimmy Dworski, gets out of prison to watch it.
Here's a little sample of the dialogue...
Jimmy Dworski: It's the Cubs in the World Series - it's a dream of mine, sir.
Warden Toolman: I know, I know,I know, I know, all right. I am not gonna stand in the way of anybody's dream, Jimmy. I'll tell you what:
Jimmy Dworski: What?
Warden Toolman: If I sink this put, you can go. What do you think of that? Hmmm?
Jimmy Dworski: I think you should keep your head down, arms straight, drop your shoulder, concentrate, focus, think of the hole, GET the ball in the hole!
Warden Toolman: Smell the hot dogs now, Jimmy. The crack of the bat; the roar of the crowd; you can order your tickets now, Jim.
Jim has made no secret of his love for the Cubs. When the Cubs win the division, he comes to the Daley Center and MCs the rallies. Even though the Cubs were playing his new hometown team in 2008 (the Dodgers), he never wavered over which team to root for. (The LA Times had a great article about a bet he made with columnist and former Chicagoan--now a turncoat Dodgers fan--TJ Simers)
His older brother John also infused his work with references to the Cubs. On Saturday Night Live, he flipped "Cheesborgers" in a place eerily similar to the place that allegedly brought us the our World Series curse...the Billy Goat Tavern.
Even more famously, in the classic film "The Blues Brothers," Jake and Elwood say that their address is 1060 West Addison Street. When the band of moronic Nazis turn up at the brothers’ official address, they are none to pleased to discover what is really there...Wrigley Field.
Just a few months before John died in 1982, the Tribune bought the Cubs. John called them "the fascist paper from Chicago." A few months later, Harry Caray was named to replace the retiring Jack Brickhouse in the broadcast booth. Sporting News writer Bill Conlin wrote: "Harry Caray taking over for Brickhouse will have about the same shock value as John Belushi taking over the network news."
John Belushi never heard Harry broadcast a single Cubs game. He died on March 5, 1982 at the age of 33. In his lifetime the Cubs never appeared in the playoffs a single time. Jim has lived to see the 1984, 1989, 1998, 2003, 2007, and 2008 playoff teams, but still hasn't lived the dream of his character Jimmy Dworski. He's never seen them in the World Series.
(The entire Blues Brothers film is an homage to Chicago, a city that both Belushi Brothers always considered home. This video has clips from the film, to the tune of the Blues Brothers recording of "Sweet Home Chicago.")
(Photo credits: Blues Brothers movie/Universal Pictures, Jim Belushi/AP photo by Joseph Oliver)
