David Cassidy on the Web
70´s Night at Wrigley Field Brings Back Great Memories
BUZZ - Chicago Sports & Entertainment
August 10, 2006
The Katz´ Meow
By Kim Katz
www.buzznews.net
It was a blazing hot and muggy day with temperatures climbing to 99 degrees, but the bright sunshine has faded away into the west only made the summer day at Wrigley Field all the more perfect to celebrate 70´s night with guest star David Cassidy singing the national anthem and seventh inning stretch. I have always enjoyed the atmosphere of Wrigley Field on their annual seventie´s night. The great sight of fully outfitted Elvis impersonators and kids wearing afro wigs and love beads gave the stadium a fun and rockin´ atmosphere that created more laughter and food memories than your usual game - wether the Cubs were to win or lose. On this specific night the Cubs did win by six runs, 9-3, which couldn´t have made for a more perfect summer eve.
Singing sensation David Cassidy and his sixteen-year-old son, Beau, came onto the field before the game and hung out with the players, sharing a laugh with Dusty Baker in the dugout. David threw out the first pitch and then he and Beau sang a wonderful version of the national anthem as a duet.
Everyone knows it is a very difficult song to sing, but the father and son team did it beautifully. I have met the Cassidy´s a few times over the years as I once painted a family portrait to raise money for David´s favorite charity, Kidscharities.org. As David and Beau left the field I was rewarded with a hot and very sweaty handshake and kiss from David as I told them how beautiful they sang.
I watched from the press box as David, dripping with sweat, lead the crowed with a Broadway worthy rendition of "Take me out to the ballgame". The Cubs announcers, Bob Brenley and Len Casper seemed to enjoy his company and banter so much, they kept David in the booth with them for an additional segment. As David moved through the crowed accompanied by his son, and an assistant wearing a funny Afro so big it could have housed several families of birds, the crowd eagerly but politely approached him for photos and autographs, exclaiming over how young he still looks.
My night was complete when I received a lovely interview with one of my favorite Cubs of all the time, Marc Grace, during the game. You can check out this interview on page 19 of this issue. I was only a kid during the seventies´and many of the young people in attendance dressed up in fantastic and hysterical double-knit polyester in flaming red and orange sostumes that night were not even born yet. It just goes to show that we all enjoy and identify with celebrating the Spirit of the Seventies´ - when rock and roll, rainbows, puca shells and flower power were all the rage. Forget beanie babies, 70´s night is where it´s at. The swinger has landed, yeah baby.
David Cassidy is all smiles as he makes the scene a Wrigles Field´s nostalgic 70´s night
Photo by Kim Katz
