WEST TOWN — After the Cubs won the World Series Wednesday night — its first in 108 years — a Nike commercial, "Chicago Cubs: Someday," starred a young baseball player in West Town's Eckhart Park in the midst of a spirited and solo game.
As the player performs and narrates an imaginary game in the park at 1330 W. Chicago Ave., he says "pitcher takes the mound" to the crowds, and, to himself, "you got this."
Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips By" plays softly in the background, another imagined moment with its own call and response. Why hello there, my, it's been a long, long time.
Behind the mound, there is St. Boniface Church at 1358 W. Chestnut St., which was saved from the wrecking ball in late Sept. after a long struggle, around the same time the Cubs made the postseason.
As the boy hits a home run to right field and runs the bases, departed announcer Harry Carey's voice comes back at the very end: "Holy cow, the Cubs win!"
As it turns out, the commercial was not made by a Chicago ad firm: it was created by Wieden + Kennedy of Portland, Oregon, according to Adweek.com.
Daniel Wolfe of Somesuch/Anonymous Content is listed as the director.
"Kudos to W + K and Nike for a great merging of creative and media celebrating a historic moment in sports," said Adweek.
"Nike makes some great commercials, but this one touches anyone who's ever played ball by themselves and dared to dream," wrote sbnation.com's Richard Johnson.
The Cubs and Wrigley Field are 95 percent owned by an entity controlled by a trust established for the benefit of the family of Joe Ricketts, owner and CEO of DNAinfo.com. Joe Ricketts has no direct involvement in the management of the iconic team.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here.
