WEST BEVERLY — Comedian Pat McGann will have to wait to fulfill his lifelong dream of signing a contract with the Chicago White Sox.
The comic from West Beverly merely has a "handshake deal" for now to produce a weekly podcast for the Pale Hose. "The Cycle" debuted Monday, featuring McGann's interviews with Sox greats Frank Thomas, Ron Kittle and Tom "Wimpy" Paciorek.
The introductory podcast features McGann explaining his rules for adult men who wear baseball jerseys, as well as Thomas being ribbed for the massive burger on the menu at his Big Hurt Brew House in suburban Berwyn.
A new, hour-long episode will be unveiled every Monday morning throughout the Sox 2016 season and beyond depending on how well the podcast is embraced, McGann said Tuesday.
"Being a lifelong Sox fan, it is fun. It is really cool," said McGann, who grew up playing baseball in Kennedy Park on the Far Southwest Side.
The first episode also features fellow comedians Jim Flannigan and Kevin Bozeman. The pair will take turns co-hosting the show that McGann describes as being less about the finer points of baseball and more of a casual conversation.
"I want to talk about things they are not talking about at press conferences," he said.
The next episode of the podcast will include Sox radio announcer and former player Darrin Jackson along with center fielder Adam Eaton. Also in the pipeline are conversations with Chicago Bulls radio play-by-play announcer Chuck Swirsky and Sox MLB.com beat writer Scott Merkin.
McGann also envisions branching away from the team a bit to talk about the Sox and other things with well-known Chicagoans. He pointed to Bulls great Scottie Pippen and Rich Melman, founder of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants by way of example.
The comedian who appeared on twice on "The Late Show with David Letterman" said podcasts aren't uncommon in his business. But he believes teaming with the Sox gives him a ready-made audience as well as a topic aligned with his interests.
"If I was doing this on my own, I would really have to hustle with it," said McGann, who graduated from St. Cajetan Elementary School in Morgan Park and Marist High School in Mount Greenwood.
McGann has endeared himself to many South Siders in part by hosting comedy night fundraisers at various parishes throughout the area. He hopes to someday bring the podcast to the area as well, possibly hosting the show at restaurants, taverns or school gymnasiums in the heart of Sox territory.
"This was a great opportunity," he said.
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