About us

About the Authors

Dan Biederman

Born and raised in the Chicago-area, Dan is a long-suffering Cubs fan.

After graduating from DePaul University with a BA in Communication in 2007, Dan returned to DePaul, where he is currently pursing a MA in Journalism.

After receiving his MA, Dan is considering attending law school.

Dan is constantly building his clip file. To date, Dan has been published in DePaul University’s campus weekly, The DePaulia. He was also featured in the RedEye, a Chicago Tribune publication. Published clips, as well as pieces from his classes, are available upon request.

Having been a sports junkie for the better part of 23 years, Dan knows all things sports, especially all things Cubs. If Dan doesn’t know something, his inquisitive nature and intense curiosity forces him to research until he finds the answer.

Favorite Current Cub:Mark DeRosa

Favorite ballpark food:“Beernadog” Really, it’s just a hot dog (Best Kosher, Chicago-style) and a beer (Bud Light or Olde Style), but it must be said together in a single syllable, if possible. Instead of a regular dog, the footlongs available in the bleachers (behind the scoreboard) are acceptable. Peanuts and/or sunflower seeds are also a nice touch.

All-time favorite Cubs: Mark Grace, Jack Brickma (OK, Brickma was the goofy pitching coach from “Rookie of the Year.”)

Favorite Cubs memory: 2007 Cubs-Sox at Wrigley: Derrek Lee hit a grand slam to untie the game in the fifth. Cubs went on to win.

First Cubs memory: Attending the Sunday game of the Air & Water Show series with my Dad in the early ’90s. (I think I was about 5-years-old.)

Least-favorite Cubs memories:Most of the 2004 season, Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS (not JUST because of The Bartman Affair), Sammy Sosa’s sad departure from the Cubs

Favorite Chicago sports memories (non-Cubs): MJ’s years with the Bulls, The ROAR at the Madhouse on Madison for Blackhawks games, Super Bowl XLI (despite the loss).

Favorite non-Cubs team:The Chicago Blackhawks. I really love ALL the Chicago teams (EXCEPT THE WHITE SOX), but I’m a huge Blackhawks fan. Red Rising!

Dan can be reached directly via e-mail here.

Ken Oda

I am a 24 year old Chicagoan who chose DePaul University because it is the closest school to Wrigley Field (2 stops on the Red Line). Those who know me best would say that I took advantage of that proximity a little too much during his time there. Besides sports I enjoy cigars, whiskey, and the company of friends. I live in Lincoln Park and love the food and fun that can be had in that part of the city.

Baseball has always been my favorite sport and Harry Caray and Steve Stone were like a drug for my childhood mind. I remember being angry that Mark Grace was the DH in the ’93 All-Star game when he was clearly the better defender than John Kruk. I remember crying when the players went on strike in ’94. The summer of ’98 was the most fun of my baseball life; especially given the pain of the 14 game losing streak to open the ’97 season. 2003 provided the highest high and the lowest low, of my life as a Cubs fan. Other than baseball I love almost all sports, especially the Chicago teams the: Blackhawks, Bears, and Bulls.  That said nothing would make me happier than AC000000 (but the Blackhawks hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup would be close).

Favorite Cub: Mark Grace

Favorite Cubs’ Memory: The Cubs winning game 5 at Turner Field in 2003.

Favorite Cubs’ Game Attended: Going to see the Cubs play the Giants in S.F. It was August of the magical 1998 season and the Cubs and Giants were battling for the Wild Card. The two teams had split the first two games of the series and the Giants fans were heckling the then 14 year old version of me from the time I walked into “The Stick.” The Cubs fell behind 1-0 in the second but put up 5 in the fifth and another 5 in the seventh. Half way through the first offensive explosion I was the one doing the heckling; by the time the Giants came to bat in the 7^thCubs fans outnumbered Giants fans. The final was 10-2 Cubs on the strength of a pair of Henry Rodriguez homers and 7 strong innings from Steve Trachsel.

Favorite Wrigley Meal:Connies Pizza, Cracker Jack, and a soda.

Least Favorite Cubs Memory:Losing game 7 of the 2003 NLCS, and the way that Sammy Sosa left town.

Favorite Non-Cub: Ichiro/Ken Griffy Jr. (I’m Japanese and my name is Ken)

Favorite Non-Cub Baseball Moment: Boston wins it all in 2005

Favorite Sport Other Than Baseball:Chicago Blackhawk Hockey

Favorite Non-Baseball Sports Memory: Jordan’s flu game, among all of the other Jordan memories.

Favorite Non-Chicago Athlete:Ray Borque

Chris Salzman    

Salz is part of DePaul University’s class of 2008.  The lifetime sports fanatic graduated with a BA in Communication and scored a minor in Sales.  Salz has been interested in journalism since high school and one day looks to become a professional sports analyst and reporter.

You will see mostly feature articles from Salz, usually concerning what he considers relevant fantasy baseball issues.  Salz has played fantasy sports for the past 10 years, focusing his efforts primarily on baseball and football.  He has won several fantasy championships in both sports and currently boasts the number one slot in his Yahoo rotisserie league. 

Salz was a 3-year varsity pitcher and outfielder in high school, with a .404 career average and All-Area and All-Northwest honors his senior year.  Currently, Salz has shifted his focus to 16inch Chicago softball, where he and DePaul’s Sweet Dude Team took home the college championship.  He loves the game.

Favorite Current Cub: Derrek Lee

Favorite ballpark meal: Dog with a ton of mustard and relish if they got it and cotton candy for dessert.  And of course a ton of beer.  I like getting Amstel cuz its the same price as Bud Light and no one knows it.

All-time Favorite Cubs: Andre Dawson and Sammy Sosa.  Sosa was unreal on the Northside.

Favorite Cubs Memory: Kerry Wood’s 20K gem when I was in middle school.  Sick.  And the days where we would ditch school, go to the Cubs game early for BP, and catch homers.  Still love getting to the bleachers early.

Least Favorite Cubs Memory: After Bartman interfered with the play, the Cubs rolled over and died.  Yeah, Bartman is a fool but the Cubs didn’t step up.

First Cubs Memory: When I was very little, this guy sitting next to me and my dad kept yelling at Pirate Centerfielder Andy Van Slyke to throw us a ball.  After warm ups one inning, he finally did and I caught it.  It was my first ball I got at a pro baseball game.  Maybe that’s why I love Pirates centerfielders.

Favorite Non-Cubs player:  Nate McLouth.  See articles 1 and 4.

Favorite Non-baseball Sports Team: da Bears.

Favorite Pre-Cubgame Activity: Beer Pong or Bags at the Vice.  Then stealing CB’s jager and smuggling it into Wrigley.

 

About the Site

CubbySwagger offers CHICAGO CUBS news and views from a fan’s perspective. Because CS is written by fans, for fans, you won’t get any of the mealy-mouthed, non-committal pablum you may find in major newspapers, or on ESPN. You’ll get straight talk about your CHICAGO CUBS.

About the name

Just after Lou Piniella was hired to manage the Cubs during the 2007 offseason, he spoke to the media and said this:

“What I’d like to do more than anything else, too, is that by the time we leave here, we have a little Cubby swagger,” Piniella said. “That’s something that we’ll be talking about as Spring Training goes on. By that I want a nice, quiet confidence that we’re going to go out and compete every day and play good baseball games and win a majority of them….

“I like the word ’swagger’ so we’ll call it a swagger,” Piniella said. “It’s not cockiness or anything else. It’s a confident demeanor — you go out and compete and play hard and play to win. If you get beat, you tip your cap but you come back and do the same thing. If you do that with the talent level we have here, you’ll have a very successful season.”