Tribune Co. Still Trying to Shoo Shoo Woo Woo!
(Story by Chicago Tribune proven inaccurate after investigation)

CHICAGO, IL---August 16, 2005--- The Chicago Tribune reported a story on August 1, 2005 that intimated that famous Chicago Cub Fan, Ronnie ‘WooWoo' Wickers was escorted away by security from the Cooperstown Hall of Fame induction Ceremony of Cub player Ryne Sandberg.

After this story appeared in the Chicago Tribune, in such a position on the front page of the sports section to overshadow this wonderful event for the Chicago Cubs, many Cub fans came up to Ronnie Wickers and asked him about being "thrown out" of the ceremony. One fan even wrote a letter based on reading the Tribune's piece that letter appeared in a local paper and praised the fact that Wickers was thrown out of the event.

Ronnie "WooWoo's" reaction to the Tribune's inaccurate article was: "Thrown out? I was there the whole time cheering for all my heroes. I didn't leave until I paid respects to all the great players and the ceremony ended." A puzzled Wickers said.

Eye witnesses had this to say:

"Ronnie sat right next to me during the event and did his Woo Woo cheers. Isn't that what you're supposed to do, cheer for the players? Said Buck O'Neil, legendary Negro League player and Negro Leagues Hall of Famer.

"We would never prevent an exuberant fan from cheering on his beloved players. That is what the event is all about." Said Jeff Idelson, Vice-President of Communication and Education for the Hall of Fame. "The Hall of Fame and the induction ceremony is all about the fans. We would not ‘lead away' a fan from the premises for cheering as was reported. We may ask them to sit down, but not to leave."

Friends of Ronnie Wickers wonder if this article is just another attempt in a long history of the Chicago Tribune Co.'s efforts to rid themselves of this popular fan. The Tribune Co. owns both the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Tribune. In the past, the Tribune Co. tried to prevent Ronnie from singing, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch at the ballpark because he was missing front teeth even though Cub fans mounted a vigorous campaign to have him sing at the ballpark. Having had his teeth fixed so he could look to the Tribune Co.'s standards to sing, friends now wonder if the Tribune Co. is trying to set standards on how this former homeless person SOUNDS.

Wicker's friend Janet Tabit remarks, "Geez, this is edging on impinging on this man's freedom of speech. And what about a newspaper purposely reporting an item that is inaccurate? This damages the reputation of a person who is loved by many fans. Why? Because they (Tribune Co.) don't like how he sounds when he cheers? First, he doesn't look right now they try and portray that he doesn't cheer right and needs to be escorted away for cheering. Aren't fans supposed to be excited? Well, maybe not to corporate types sitting in offices. I guess they want fans to just buy stuff and be quiet. I'm upset."

A documentary about his life, titled, Woo Life chronicles Ronnie's love of the Chicago Cubs and of baseball and shows how instrumental both were to lifting him up out of homelessness.

Cubs/Tribune Still Trying to Shoo Shoo Woo Woo!
Cub Superfan being banned from Wrigley Seats

CHICAGO, IL --- May 29, 2007--- Recent actions by the security staff at Wrigley Field appear to follow a pattern that is aimed at excluding famed Cub Superfan, Ronnie "WooWoo" Wickers from Wrigley Field.

The Chicago Cubs are owned by the Chicago Tribune Company.

The most recent incident happened on May 9, 2007 when Ronnie attempted to enter the grandstand section of Wrigley as the guest of a well-known international financial company. Ronnie had a ticket as part of this company's ‘day-at-the-ballpark', he entered with company officials as their guest, the company CEO even threw out the first pitch, yet Ronnie was not allowed to sit with his invitees.

Ronnie's comment:

"This is wrong. I had a ticket. I was asked by these great people to be their guest and I couldn't sit with them during the ballgame."

A company executive from the host company said in a letter he is preparing to the Tribune Co.:

"Ronnie was our guest. We wanted him in our seats. It was embarrassing and confusing that they didn't allow him to sit with us. We enjoy Ronnie's presence and the fun he brings to a baseball game. Our whole party was looking forward to being with Ronnie during the game. Why he could not sit with us is insulting to us and to Ronnie. I thought these attitudes stopped after Rosa Parks?"

This incident comes on the heels of other efforts to restrict Ronnie from Wrigley and his famous enthusiasm for the Cubs. Other incidents:

• The now infamous campaign to keep him from singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame' during the 7th inning stretch until he fixed his teeth.
• Ronnie was escorted away from his paid grandstand seat at a spring training game on March 27, 2006 at the Cubs HoHoKam Park training facility in Mesa, Arizona without explanation.
• Ronnie was denied the ability to exit (yes exit) from the left field bleachers following the last night game of the 2006 season. Security stated to him that he wasn't allowed to be near the grandstand seats.
• Ronnie has been told repeatedly in the past several years that he cannot walk around the ballpark throughout the games, but instead must confine himself to the bleacher section of Wrigley Field.
• Even when Ronnie has a paid admission ticket to other sections of the ballpark Ronnie has been told by security staff that he must sit in the bleachers.
• It was reported by the Chicago Tribune that Ronnie was escorted away from the reserved seating section of the Baseball Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony for Cub great Rynne Sandberg even though Ronnie was the special guest of Black Baseball legend Buck O'Neil. No such incident happened. Was this wishful thinking on their (Chicago Tribune) part?

"I don't know why they are doing this to me? Is it because I don't have a funny costume on and I'm not a cartoon character? I am a real person, I have a face and I love the Cubs. I wear Cubs colors and cheer. Is this wrong?" Asks Ronnie Wickers.

Local Chicago radio personality Jonathan Brandmeier of WLUP 97.9-Chicago has picked up the cause of Ronnie Wickers. Brandmeier had Ronnie's friend and manager on his show May 24th to try and get to the bottom of the controversy. Brandmeier placed a call to John McDonough, the President of the Cubs, but received no answer.

Meanwhile, Ronnie Woo Woo continues to bring publicity to the Cubs. He is continually interviewed in the local and national media and is considered an icon to the Wrigley Field experience. For example, a recent article that appeared on the web site, The Indy Channel.com, cited Ronnie Woo Woo as one of Major League Baseball's "Unique Ballpark Offerings" around the country.

A documentary about his life, titled, Woo Life chronicles Ronnie's love of the Chicago Cubs and of baseball and shows how instrumental both were to lifting him up out of homelessness.

Letter From Fan:
05/13/2007

To whom it may concern,

I met Ronnie Woo Woo a few weeks ago in Hightops while attending a Cub game. I took some photos with Ronnie. While conversing with him I found out that he didn't have season tickets to all the Cub home games. I assumed that Ronnie had season tickets because every time I have attended a Cub game over the years I had seen him in the stands or on the streets before the game taking photos with the other fans. I actually thought he was part of the Cub organization.

On Wednesday May 9th, 2007 I attended the Cubs/Pirates game with my company. I invited Ronnie Woo Woo to attend this game as my guest and take pictures with the people from my company. As we entered the turn style near the Harry Caray statue, the security guards immediately approached and detained us. When I asked them what the problem was, they said "Ronnie, you know the rules, you are not allowed in here." I was stunned because I didn't know that there was a problem with Ronnie and the Cubs. I told the guard that Ronnie was my guest and was expected to sit with my company. The guard said that Ronnie was only allowed in the bleachers and that she would escort him there with the ticket that I gave him to sit by us.

The way they approached and detained us was very embarrassing not only to me, but can you imagine how Ronnie felt? Now imagine how I felt when I went to my company's area and was asked where Ronnie was and I had to tell them what happened. Everything I have ever read and seen, Ronnie is the face of the Cubs and is known nationally as the ultimate Cub fan. I was very disappointed to know that he has been singled out and can only sit in a certain section. I thought that stopped with Ms. Parks? Ronnie should be able to sit where ever the seat is that he is holding and held to the same standards as any other fan. Why is it that he can be in the bleachers and not in the grandstands? Someone owes me an explanation.

Sincerely,

Ken A

What Chicago Tribune Reported after Johnny B Radio show talked about Ronnie being banned:

Cub Bits By Paul Sullivan -June 13, 2007

Cubs President John McDonough shot down a rumor the organization banned long-time fan Ronnie Woo-Woo Wickers from games. McDonough said Wickers is welcome to scream "Cubs woo" at Wrigley Field any time if he has a ticket. "We need all the help we can get right now," said McDonough.

What ChicagoSports.Com reported:

Originally posted: June 23, 2007
No-Woo Zone?
By Paul Sullivan

Representatives of Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers have contacted Hardball to voice their protest over a recent Tribune story that quoted Cubs president John McDonough as saying there has been no ban of Wickers at Wrigley Field. The Woo camp says that Wickers was not allowed to sit in a box seat at Wrigley during a game in May, and has provided the Tribune with names and phone numbers of eyewitnesses. When contacted by the Tribune and told of the information provided by the Woo camp, McDonough said: "As far as I know, there is not a No-Woo Zone at Wrigley." We'll keep you updated on this saga as more evidence comes to light.

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