The “two claps and a Ric Flair” post-game celebration has caught on with the Cubs.
The way the popular sports meme works is one player will shout “Let me get two claps and a Ric Flair” in the locker room after a win. His teammates will respond in unison with two claps and a “Wooo!” like the ones Flair — a wrestling legend and 16-time World Champion — is known for. The Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts have done it. So have the men’s basketball teams at Arizona and Hampton. And now so do the Cubs after every win.
“I think Anthony Rizzo or David Ross started it (here),” said Jon Lester of his Cubs’ teammates over the phone Thursday while promoting his NVRQT Night fundraiser at Metro August 13. “It’s kind of like the MVP of the game. It’s a celebration of the game. We like to have fun and it’s a way to enjoy (the wins).”
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Ross and teammate Addison Russell both used the hashtag #2claps when congratulating Rizzo and fellow Cub Kris Bryant on Twitter for making the National League All-Star team. During Cubs president Theo Epstein’s Hot Stove Cool Music benefit concert at Metro earlier this month, a confused Eddie Vedder awkwardly attempted “two claps and a Ric Flair” in between songs because the Pearl Jam singer and Cubs fan said he was told to do so. Clearly, he was unfamiliar with the post-game tradition.
“If I would have explained it to (Vedder), he would have understood it,” Lester said. “But we tried to relay it to him through other people. When we all went out for the last song, it ended up working out because I got to explain it. It was fun to introduce him to what we do in the clubhouse.”
Lester’s charity event will have a much different feel than Hot Stove Cool Music, despite taking place in the same location. NVRQT Night raises money and awareness for pediatric cancer research and features a 3 Up, 3 Down game show similar to “Hollywood Squares,” with Lester, who was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer in 2006 but has since fully recovered, and his wife Farrah serving as the two contestants.
“We get to be stupid and make stuff up,” Lester said. “It gets people to laugh.”
The gameshow is scheduled to be hosted by John O’Hurley (“Seinfeld”) and include participants such as Rizzo and Ross, former Cub Ryan Dempster, comedian Sarah Colonna and WWE Superstar-turned-MMA fighter CM Punk. Is Lester by chance a wrestling fan?
“Kind of, not really,” Lester said. “I think everybody was at one time. I grew out of that phase. But it’s just cool guy to have (Punk) come and offer a different personality.”
On the record: “Everybody else was calm, so I figured if they were cool I should keep my cool too. … If I saw someone spitting pea soup and her head started spinning, and kids are running around freaking out and screaming then yeah, I probably would have been freaking out too.” – Former Bear Charles Tillman, whose plane from Chicago to South Carolina for Carolina Panthers training camp stopped in Indianapolis due to a fuel leak, via charlotteobserver.com
“Gotta be the first and only person ever to hit the whip on Wrigley Fields pitchers mound.” – The Fire’s Eric Gehrig boasts on Instagram about his Whip dance after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before Tuesday’s Cubs game at Wrigley Field.
By the numbers: 61,351. Attendance for the Manchester United-Paris Saint-Germain exhibition Wednesday at Soldier Field.
20,000. Scott Podsednik bobbleheads that will be given away at Saturday’s White Sox-New York Yankees game at U.S. Cellular Field.
Heads up: Comedian Kevin Hart and Nike+ Run Club are teaming up for a 5K Friday which kicks off at the Field Museum at 7:36 a.m. Click here to reserve your spot. … Former Los Angeles King Dustin Penner will DJ Thursday at Hub 51’s lower level club, Sub 51, under his pseudonym, DJ Pendemic.
Sightings: UFC president Dana White had dinner Friday at Gibson’s Bar and Steakhouse. ESPN football analyst Merril Hoge was spotted at Gibson’s July 13 and Gonzaga men’s basketball coach Mark Few was there July 14 … The Bears’ Kyle Long and Cubs hitting consultant Manny Ramirez attended Bar Siena’s grand opening party Friday. … The Philadelphia Phillies’ Ryan Howard dined July 22 at Chicago Cut Steakhouse with teammates Chase Utley, Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Papelbon (before he got traded) and July 23 at RPM Italian with Jeff Francoeur. The Cubs’ Justin Grimm was there Friday and Bryant was there Saturday. … NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen dined Saturday at Ramen-san. … Former Cub Kerry Wood took in Second City’s screening of Spike TV’s “I Am Chris Farley” documentary Monday at Up Comedy Club. … The White Sox’s Gordon Beckham dined Friday at RPM Steak. … The St. Louis Cardinals’ Stephen Piscotty had lunch July 21 at Rockit Bar and Grill.
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