%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201092.7%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201092.7%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23293576%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23C82C2D%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%2256.8%2C78.5%2073.1%2C78.5%2085.5%2C78.5%2085.5%2C36.3%2085.5%2C0%2068.8%2C0%2064.9%2C6.2%2063.3%2C8.7%2052%2C0%2025.5%2C0%2021.8%2C3.8%20%0A%09%092%2C23.8%202%2C176.2%2025%2C200%2061.5%2C200%2085.5%2C176.2%2085.5%2C121.5%2056.8%2C121.5%2056.8%2C176.2%2039.5%2C176.2%2039.5%2C32.4%2039.5%2C23.8%2056.8%2C23.8%2056.8%2C57.2%20%0A%09%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22143.9%2C104.2%20143.9%2C48.1%20143.9%2C24.2%20152.1%2C24.2%20153.2%2C24.2%20153.2%2C0%20152.1%2C0%20106.8%2C0%2093.9%2C0%2093.9%2C24.2%20%0A%09%09106.7%2C24.2%20106.7%2C63.4%20106.7%2C116.9%20106.7%2C175.8%20130.4%2C200%20169.2%2C200%20183%2C184.8%20191.2%2C175.8%20191.2%2C146.2%20191.2%2C96.1%20191.2%2C24.2%20%0A%09%09201.4%2C24.2%20201.4%2C0%20163.7%2C0%20158.7%2C0%20158.7%2C24.2%20163.7%2C24.2%20169.2%2C24.2%20169.2%2C75.2%20169.2%2C127.8%20169.2%2C174.1%20169.2%2C175.8%20%0A%09%09143.9%2C175.8%20143.9%2C152.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M220.3%2C168v8.3h-10.5V200h62.1h12.7l28.5-23.8v-66l-5.2-5.1l-7.8-7.6l7.8-7.8l2.5-2.5V60V25.7%0A%09%09c0%2C0.7-8.6-7.9-25.7-25.7h-43H230h-20.2v23.8h10.5v96.7V168z%20M257.5%2C23.8h22.2v60.5h-22.2V23.8z%20M257.5%2C110.3h22.2v50.2v15.8h-22.2%0A%09%09v-29.4V110.3z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M331.9%2C176.2h-10.5v6V200h42.8h21.4h10.5l1-0.9l27.4-22.9v-56.9v-9.1l-13-12.8l10.3-10.2V25.7%0A%09%09c0%2C0.7-8.6-7.9-25.7-25.7h-74.8v23.8h10.5V45V176.2z%20M391.4%2C176.2h-5.8h-16.5v-66h22.2v17.9V176.2z%20M369.2%2C23.8h22.2v60.5H376h-6.9%0A%09%09v-5.6V23.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22443.3%2C175.8%20433%2C175.8%20433%2C200%20463.5%2C200%20475%2C200%20489.5%2C200%20489.5%2C175.8%20480%2C175.8%20480%2C147.6%20%0A%09%09480%2C25.5%20489.5%2C25.5%20489.5%2C0%20433%2C0%20433%2C25.5%20443.3%2C25.5%20443.3%2C130.4%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22505.6%2C175.8%20497.9%2C175.8%20497.9%2C200%20541.3%2C200%20552.9%2C200%20583.6%2C200%20595.1%2C187.7%20595.1%2C153.9%20%0A%09%09595.1%2C140.7%20566.9%2C140.7%20566.9%2C159.5%20566.9%2C175.8%20542.6%2C175.8%20542.6%2C160.5%20542.6%2C115.8%20556.6%2C115.8%20556.6%2C133%20580.1%2C133%20%0A%09%09580.1%2C67.7%20556.6%2C67.7%20556.6%2C85%20542.6%2C85%20542.6%2C25.5%20566.9%2C25.5%20566.9%2C60.8%20595.1%2C60.8%20595.1%2C0%20497.9%2C0%20497.9%2C25.5%20505.6%2C25.5%20%0A%09%09505.6%2C155.6%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22682.8%2C73.5%20682.8%2C0%20669.5%2C0%20659%2C5.5%20652.7%2C0%20627.3%2C0%20603.5%2C24.2%20603.5%2C91.7%20628.1%2C116.2%20654.3%2C116.2%20%0A%09%09654.3%2C128.5%20654.3%2C176.2%20630.8%2C176.2%20630.8%2C140.6%20630.8%2C128.7%20604.5%2C128.7%20604.5%2C151%20604.5%2C200%20619.1%2C200%20625%2C200%20629.8%2C195.2%20%0A%09%09630.7%2C195.9%20637%2C200%20666.3%2C200%20687.5%2C176.2%20687.5%2C107.3%20687.5%2C106.8%20667%2C83%20635.5%2C83%20635.5%2C24.2%20656.8%2C24.2%20656.8%2C73.5%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22774%2C78.5%20774.8%2C78.5%20786.4%2C78.5%20802.8%2C78.5%20802.8%2C0.7%20802.8%2C0%20786%2C0%20780.5%2C8.7%20769.3%2C0%20742.8%2C0%20%0A%09%09719.3%2C23.8%20719.3%2C83.3%20719.3%2C176.2%20739%2C196.6%20742.3%2C200%20778.8%2C200%20802.8%2C176.2%20802.8%2C167%20802.8%2C121.5%20786.4%2C121.5%20774.8%2C121.5%20%0A%09%09774%2C121.5%20774%2C176.2%20756.8%2C176.2%20756.8%2C50.3%20756.8%2C23.8%20774%2C23.8%20774%2C33.1%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M821.4%2C176.2h-10.2V200h11.2h45.8v-23.8h-6.5h-3v-65h5.5h11.7v7.6v47.7v9.7l14.7%2C23.3l0.3%2C0.4h25.2v-19v-4.8%0A%09%09h-5.5V140v-25.6l-13.3-13.3l-0.2-0.2l2.2-1.5l11.3-7.8v-2.5V24.2L882.4%2C0h-18.2h-11.6h-41.5v24.2h10.2v132.1V176.2z%20M858.7%2C24.2%0A%09%09h5.5h12.5V87h-12.5h-5.5V24.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22934.8%2C166.2%20934.8%2C175.8%20924.5%2C175.8%20924.5%2C200%20981%2C200%20981%2C175.8%20971.5%2C175.8%20971.5%2C133.1%20%0A%09%09971.5%2C81.9%20971.5%2C25.5%20981%2C25.5%20981%2C9.1%20981%2C0%20942%2C0%20930.5%2C0%20924.5%2C0%20924.5%2C25.5%20930.5%2C25.5%20934.8%2C25.5%20934.8%2C119%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1089.9%2C87.2V25.7c0%2C0.6-6.4-5.8-19.3-19c-2-2.1-4.2-4.3-6.5-6.7h-31h-43.7v23.8h10.5v24.2v55.5v72.8h-10.5%0A%09%09V200h74.8l28.5-23.8v-66l-13-12.8L1089.9%2C87.2z%20M1059.4%2C176.2h-22.2v-66h22.2V176.2z%20M1059.4%2C84.2h-22.2V57.5V23.8h22.2V25V84.2z%22%0A%09%09%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Cubs Coffee Talk: Pandemic? Let’s go to the casino!
It only takes a few bad apples on any team to spoil the season for the Chicago Cubs and everyone, especially amid a pandemic.
Last night, I got a call from my work buddy Howard, who has been gone the previous two weeks on a business trip. You may recall Howard, from our routine Coffee Talks at work. By far, he is one of the smartest people I have ever met at work, and his talent was quickly recognized by our bosses, who asked him to attend an important meeting recently in Minnesota. Before Howard left, he was given strict rules from our supervisors due to the pandemic:
– Wear a mask when outside your room
– Don’t go to places that you can’t practice physical distancing from crowds
– Order food to your room instead of going out
– Go right from the hotel to the business meeting and back
– Sanitize everything and keep personal sanitizer on you at all times
Our bosses back home were counting Howard to deliver the critical pitch for our organization, which could bring millions of income.
I hadn’t heard much from him while he was gone, and I know he returned several days ago but again – no word from Howard until my phone began ringing late last night.
“Hey, what’s going on, Howard? How was the trip? I haven’t heard anything from you for a while and was beginning to get worried,” I said as I answered the phone.
“Hey Goose, I really screwed up, man. I caught COVID and am on quarantine in my house,” Howard explained.
“WHAT??? What do you mean? When did this happen? How did you find out?” I asked about a hundred questions at once.
“Well, when I went on that business trip to Minnesota, I got a bit bored sitting in my room. I watched movies and tried to read, but I felt like I deserved to go out for a treat. So I called for a cab and went to a casino out there to do a little gambling and stretch my legs,” Howard confessed.
“Thought you weren’t supposed to go out while on business travel?” I asked.
“Well… yes… but I didn’t think it could do any harm. The place had sanitizer on the gambling tables, and the dealers were wearing masks, so I thought it would be fine,” Howard said.
“I’m stunned man. I thought you of all people who would appreciate the opportunity to travel and work,” I somewhat lectured. “What happened at the casino?”
Chicago Cubs: Casino-Club night
Howard began to relay the details of the evening.
“I was playing craps and winning big, almost a thousand dollars. Before I knew it, these two gorgeous model-type girls, Sara and Nicole joined me at the table for luck. They were great! They blew my dice for luck before I threw them and kept tickling me every time I won. Before I knew it, there was a group of about 15 people around the table cheering me on. The drinks were flowing, the cash was rolling in, and I was high-fiving my cheering section every time I rolled another winner, and I kept winning; a thousand, two, three…” Howard said.
“You gotta be kidding me,” I said.
“No, seriously, I was winning in the casino, drunk, jumped on some tables, and started to dance with Sara and Nicole and just having the best time ever. I noticed they had a club in the back of the casino and you know me and dancing, I had to go,” Howard said.
Howard is actually a terrible dancer but loves to dance, and so no one has ever had the heart to tell him, he should stick to karaoke.
“So the girls and I sauntered my winnings down to the club and the place was packed. As soon as I heard, ‘Fisher – Wanna Go Dancin’ over the speakers, we were out on the floor dirty dancing and having a blast. The club brought out some good champagne as I had won a small fortune, and I bought drinks for the whole club,” Howard said.
“Unbelievable,” I said.
“Later that night, we hit a few more bars, and I’m not sure how I got back to the hotel, but it was very late,” Howard said.
“And the girls?” I asked
Chicago Cubs: Everyone pays when even a few take no personal responsibility
“Were the girls still there in the morning?” I asked.
“Well, they weren’t in the room in the morning, and neither was any of the money I won,” Howard said.
“Oh, boy,” I said.
“Besides losing all my money, I was about 10 minutes late for the business meeting, which didn’t go over to well. I tried to play the dumb tourist, saying I couldn’t find the building, but between my appearance and smell, I didn’t have time to take a shower; I think they knew what was up,” he confessed.
“So did we get the deal? What did the bosses at work say? And when did you find out you had COVID?” I asked, trying to get to the bottom of the story.
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
“Well, it looks like I caught COVID at the casino from someone; I’m still not sure who. The worst part is that I then unknowingly infected the people at the business meeting as well. Our future business partners are now under quarantine. Despite the worst meeting ever, they accepted our deal. They probably were going to anyway,” Howard said.
“No way…” I said in disbelief.
“Yea – this is really a nightmare. The whole reason I was on the road was for work, and I end up screwing them and us because I was careless. I don’t know what came over me? But once I was in the casino, all the personal responsibility and duty to our company just went out of the window. I got sick on the flight home, and because I was traveling, my Doc sent me for a COVID test the next day, and my worst fears were confirmed; positive for the virus,” Howard said.
“Are you fired?” I asked.
“I thought I would be for sure, but the bosses are way cool because of COVID and because we did get the deal. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to travel again for work, but right now – I’m still employed. It’s true Goose; I had the opportunity to do the thing I love and show everyone what a rock star I was for the company, but instead, I wasted the opportunity on a foolish night. What was I thinking? I know the virus is out there, and I took a chance and lost. Right now, they are trying to do contact tracing to find out who else may be paying the price for my night of fun. Boy, I’m in trouble,” said Howard.
“I don’t know what to say, buddy, you gotta take care of your health now – this isn’t a game – it’s life and death, and then all the other stuff will work itself out,” I said.
Next. Cubs' Quintana should move to the bullpen. dark
“You’re right as usual, Goose, thanks for listening, man. Hey, how the Cubbies doing?” Howard asked.
“They are on fire and playing together and winning like never before. I really believe Ross has got a good grip on this team and is keeping them in line. I hope they just keep winning, but we’re supposed to have a series against the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend, and they always play us tough,” I said.
“Wow, I just remembered one of the girls, Nicole, told me she was hanging with a couple of St. Louis Cardinals earlier that night at the casino; small world, huh?” Howard quipped.
“With the virus still alive and kicking, the world is too small to take chances,” I added.