Cubs: Five things to do without baseball; Coronavirus edition

Amid the Cubs and coronavirus COVID-19- one of the most culture-shocking and potentially dangerous pandemics in most of our lifetimes, Cubs baseball seems a bit trite and unimportant. Still, you’ve got some time on your hands, so…

For all of the people out there who are pissed off about no sports and specifically, no Cubs baseball- get a grip. At some point, life will return to some state of normalcy, and games will no doubt bring us relief, distraction, entertainment, and maybe even some healing as they have done in the past.

Whether it was 9/11, the Bay Area earthquake in 1989, JFK’s assassination, Hurricane Katrina, or WWII, sports have taken a back seat to major natural disasters and human-made ones on several occasions. In every case, sports helped bring America back, as they will no doubt do in 2020.

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has disrupted nearly all aspects of American life in the past few weeks, with more to come in the future, no doubt. Sports, and baseball specifically, are no exception.

With the call to postpone Opening Day and the season at large before it even got underway, MLB got this one right. As we’ve already seen in the NBA, high-profile celebrities and athletes aren’t immune to the virus, and can seemingly transmit and pass it on to others just as readily as any other segment of the population.

Ultimately, what does this mean for baseball as a whole and the Chicago Cubs specifically? What does it mean for the fans who have been waiting (what seems like an eternity, again) impatiently through another offseason? It means they’re going to have to find something to distract and entertain until we’ve “flattened this curve,” and baseball decides to start back up again.

When that is, no one knows, but a good gambler would probably be wise not to place any bets on it happening in the next month. For those of us who don’t have a rock or stamp collection to tend to, it means finding something to fill that time and silence that fanaticism- here are some suggestions if you’re in desperate need of a Cubs baseball substitute.

Chicago Cubs: Not as good as live Cubs baseball, but close

Whether you have to watch The Sopranos for the 17th time or try out something new you haven’t even seen yet, there’s plenty out there for you to sink your teeth into. Whether you have streaming services or not, there are always shows to be watched online, through your local library, or even a friend’s DVD collection. Here are some places to start:

Westworld. The HBO show is precisely that- a show set in a world that’s western. Except, it’s more dystopian, science fiction, and existential than it is western. There are currently two full seasons with Season 3 premiering Sunday night. Anthony Hopkins is phenomenal. Thandie Newton is better. Evan Rachel Wood is best.

I haven’t even mentioned Jeffrey Wright, who plays what could be the most complex and simultaneously confused character in recent TV history. With a formidable ensemble cast, a great storyline, and anxiety about the present and future, you’ve got all the pieces for a good ol’ fashioned dystopian-western thriller. Oh, and Season 3 is supposedly going to highlight the dangers of human technological advancement- buckle up.

If you thoroughly enjoy the dystopian genre, Black Mirror might be right up your alley as well. While there are some thorns amongst the roses, there are plenty of compelling episodes to keep you interested. There are 22 episodes in this Netflix (originally Chanel 4 in England) oeuvre created by Charlie Brooker, and the first three in Season 1 is a great place to start. If you want more, some of the highlights include: Be Right Back, Nosedive, White Christmas, Shut up and Dance, and USS Callister. Many seem to like the (supposed) optimism of San Junipero, but it wasn’t for me.

The Wire. Another HBO masterpiece, this is a cultural phenomenon that must be seen by pretty much everyone. If you’ve ever wondered about how the inner workings of drug trafficking, politics, the media, or education slog along, check out this periscope into life on the streets in Baltimore, circa 2003, I still haven’t figured out exactly what I’m supposed to think about Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West). Nevertheless, you’ll come to your conclusions soon after watching it.

Honorable mentions:  Spartacus, The Punisher, Game of Thrones (minus the last episode or two), Stranger Things, Star Trek (every incarnation), Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis, White Collar, Rome, Smallville, Breaking Bad, Star Wars collection, James Bond collection. Shows on my bucket list: Picard, The Mandalorian, 24, and Supernatural.

Chicago Cubs: Twitter still works amidst coronavirus pandemic

If you don’t follow Yu Darvish on Twitter, it’s time. While you may have to translate many of his tweets, he’s quite the personality. Same goes for a now-division rival, Trevor Bauer, who is a bit more controversial, but still an entertaining follow most of the time. Heck, he even set up a Wiffle ball game for charity amidst all the cancellations and angst surrounding this pandemic.

If you haven’t set yourself up on Twitter, get an account, follow some people (like all of your favorite CubbiesCrib writers, for instance) and take full advantage of one of the most potent social mediums out there. @Jomboy_ has been a baseball sensation over the past year, going from a guy getting blurbs from players last spring training to one of the biggest follows throughout the Astros sign-stealing debacle.

Follow all of the Cubs players (Darvish, Ian Happ, Javy Baez, all of the Cubs writers, (Jesse Rogers, Patrick Mooney, Carrie Muskat, and Sahadev Sharma to name a few) and keep up to date on videos, information, and tweets directly from the Cubs and MLB. People, including celebrities and ballplayers alike, might just get back to you in the coming weeks with all the time on their hands and no baseball to be played.

While it’s undoubtedly a runner-up to following real games, reports on real games, and the beginning of the regular season, perhaps the players and sport can still keep you entertained on social media. And, if all else fails, you can foray into the realm of politics and conspiracy theory with a slew of others in the Twitterverse.

Chicago Cubs: Books and Magazines, and Newspapers, oh my.

If you’ve been slacking on your baseball reading of late, you might want to consider a few good books while you’re practicing social isolation and distancing- Ready Player One is on my list. Whether you’re a fan of real-life or fantasy, there are plenty of options out there for you to keep your love of the game going. There are also a few to snap you back to reality and hit you over the head regarding problems in our game over the past few decades.

First and foremost, read the articles on Cubbies Crib. Read them all! Shameless plugs aside, there are a ton of great stories out there by all of our writers, and some of them are timeless. Whether you’re looking for evergreen pieces that always make sense or more introspective looks at the Cubs and fandom itself, you’ll find what you’re looking for.

Check out the Top Six Cubs uniforms, Top Five Clutch Cubs, or Top Cubs Duos to start your journey. Once you’re done with ours, go check out some of the good stuff on The Athletic (you have to pay for that, though).

If you’re a sabermetrician, chances are you’ve already read Moneyball. If you haven’t, however, it’s an excellent place to start. If you’ve been a fan of the game for the past twenty years and are fond of how it’s played, how players are valued, and trying to mesh old school and new- check this one out. The Bill James Handbook is also a favorite of most modern fans.

Chicago Cubs: Ross might know a thing or two about the game

For Cubs fans, first on the list should be Teammate: My Journey in Baseball and a World Series for the Ages, by David Ross with Don Yaeger. Theo Epstein even wrote the foreword, so there’s plenty to digest for die-hard Cubs fans.

If you want to get a sneak peek into the mind of David Ross, what better place to start than the book he wrote about his journey in baseball, specifically with the Cubs. This way, when he goes out to the mound to take out Jon Lester in the third inning of a 4-3 game, you’ll know exactly what’s going through his mind; Lester- well, that’s a different story perhaps.

If you’re not feeling happy stuff and want to get into something a little dirtier, why not go with Game of Shadows or Juiced. While Juiced is a bit more of a silly read, who better to take us on a Willy Wonka boat-ride through the steroid era? Jose Canseco and Barry Bonds are two of the biggest names during the Steroid Era, so starting with the books about them and their involvement are exciting places to start.

And, if you’re not into reading about baseball at the moment, but you’re a fan of The Princess Bride, check out As You Wish. As told by Westley himself (Cary Elwes), this fun romp through the making of the movie gives you a backstage pass to the characters, actors, director, and original writer, William Goldman. Plus, you get to hear about the ATV accident with Andre the Giant.

Chicago Cubs: Nobody goes first to home like KB

Forget those Peleton commercials that have been inundating your screens on every channel, video, and a website you go to. A regular bike works just fine if you live in an area where you can safely ride around. Go for a walk outside and get some Vitamin D and fresh air- they’re usually good for keeping healthy and fighting off sickness in general, so that could be an added benefit as well.

More from Chicago Cubs News

• Cubs: Adrian Sampson is forcing his way into the conversation
• Projecting the Chicago Cubs bullpen to open the 2023 season
• Cubs fans are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel
• Justin Steele has evolved into a frontline starter for the Cubs
• The future of first base is murky right now for the Cubs

If you’re not so much of a cardio fan, go set up your home gym in the basement and get to pumping that iron. Go dust off those free weights you’ve put in a closet somewhere. You may never look like Aaron Judge or even Kris Bryant, but working out will make you feel better and get you ready for the months of sitting in your recliner and curling a PBR or Old Style as your only source of exercise.

Find a tree to cut down, chop some wood, and trim some bushes. Getting out and doing some work around the house will keep you busy, get you moving, and make you feel better about neglecting all of your duties once baseball is back in full swing.

If there’s any sport that usurps all of your time and makes it difficult for you to do yardwork or easy household chores and tasks- it’s baseball. Go get your work done now so that when Cubs baseball resumes, you’re ready to take full advantage of the new Marquee Network and MLB At Bat.