Let Me Introduce You to the Man Who Broke My Heart and Stole My Dream Job

The job I’m talking about is the Public Address (PA) announcer for the Chicago Cubs. I never gave a job like that a second thought, but when I learned the Cubs were actually looking for a new PA announcer, my imagination started to take off. I realize that the job, for me, is really unrealistic – I’m not naïve about that – but I also believe, in theory, that job could be very possible and doable for me.

Pros

• I’m a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan – I think that helps, but it is certainly not a requirement.
• I love to be on a microphone, whether I’m on the radio or hosting an event – and from what I’ve been told, I have a good voice and I make a great MC (master of ceremonies).
• I have nearly 25 years of broadcasting experience.
• I would work for peanuts – like, literally, a bag of peanuts each game.

Cons

• There’s really just one, but it’s a big one. I don’t live in Chicago and I have no desire to. There’s no way I would even consider moving my family at this point in their lives.

So, I’ve determined that the Cubs PA announcer job will have to continue being a dream of mine, not only because of the things I just mentioned but also because they just hired a guy for the job.

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The fella who snatched my dream job right out from under me (I say with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek) is named Jeremiah Paprocki, and it’s hard to be anything but super excited for the young man. The 21-year-old Chicago native and Cubs fan is the first black PA announcer in the long history of the Chicago Cubs organization. Let’s not skip over the first part of that sentence, that fact that this fella is just 21 years old – that’s insane. Jeremiah’s first game as the voice of Wrigley Field was just yesterday (5/17) as the Cubbies returned to the ‘Friendly Confines’ for a brief 4-game homestand.

After watching the following video, it's hard not to be excited for this young man, but I’d be lying if I said I also wasn’t really, really jealous.

[h/t: Sports Illustrated]