LITTLE ROCK — 'Mr. Cub' hangs on to dream
Ernie Banks has a recurring dream, and he just can't shake it.
The 76-year-old "Mr. Cub" never played in a World Series in hiscareer with Chicago, but that's not what his subconscious tells him.
"I follow the World Series," Banks said. "I really miss the Cubs not being in it and most of all me playing in it at Wrigley Field.
I still dream about it.
I don't know why.
"Somehow, I'm playing against Willie Mays. Remember, it's a dream. And it's the seventh game of the World Series at Wrigley."
Banks doesn't have a final score.
"I always wake up," he said. "In a cold sweat."
Banks, who has a home in Marina del Rey, Calif., spent his entire 19-year career with the Cubs. He hit 512 home runs, was an 11-time All-Star and was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.
Banks speaks regularly with former Cubs Billy Williams and Ron Santo, and he threw out the first pitch this season when the Cubs hosted Arizona at Wrigley Field in Game 3 of the Diamondbacks' first-round playoff sweep. Banks said he wished he could have done more.
"One of the owners told me to get a bat and get in the lineup," Banks said. "I started jumping around and said I sure would like to.
"Next year, my goal is to be in Wrigley Field and become the oldest player to play in the World Series.
I'm just kind of tied into that. It's my life." Guard around
Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas knew exactly what to do when he checked hishome-surveillance cameras and spotted prankster rookies Nick Young and Dominic McGuire, armed with paintball guns, sneaking around outside. He hightailed it out the far door.
"They were in the house looking forme," he wrote on his NBA.com blog.
Where was Arenas?
"I was across the street flattening their tires." Late hit
Among the top 10 reasonsJoe Torre quit as New York Yankees manager, from CBS' David Letterman:
"Wants to go someplace more peaceful - like Fallujah.
"$5 million a year ... how's the man supposed to live?
"Even Yogi Berra told him, 'It's over.' "Quick quotes
Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg, on U.S. intelligence claims that al-Qaida is on the decline: "In a desperate marketing ploy to attract more supporters, al-Qaida is changing its name to the Los Angeles al-Qaidas of Anaheim."
San Antonio guard Brent Barry, to ESPN.com, on repeatedly being asked if the Spurs can win another NBA championship: "The whole subject of repeating is already getting repetitive."
Dan Daly of The Washington Times, on the Colorado Rockies trying to trademark the term "Rocktober" to commemorate their late-season run to the World Series: "Still waiting for the Mets to trademark 'Sleptember.' "
Comedian Argus Hamilton, on why evacuees flock to Notre Dame Stadium during tornado warnings in Indiana: "Nobody believes there'll be a touchdown there."
Former Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly, on his move to ESPN's multimedia conglomeration: "I'm thrilled. ... I feel like Kirstie Alley lost in the Sara Lee factory."Quote of the day "He probably thinks Earl
'The Pearl' is my uncle." Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl, comparing senior guard Chris Lofton to former NBA great Earl Monroe
Sports, Pages 24 on 10/27/2007