The Lee Elia Rant — 30 Years Later (NSFW)

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 29, 2013 1:45PM

April 29, 1983 is a high water moment in Chicago history. Harold Washington was sworn in as Chicago’s first black mayor on this date. For Cubs fans, April 23 also marks the anniversary of manager Lee Elia’s rant against the Wrigley Faithful, who booed the Cubs performance in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was the beginning of a new era at Clark and Addison. Tribune Co. purchased the team two years earlier. Harry Caray was getting settled in the broadcast booth just as WGN emerged as one of the nation’s first “superstations.” The view from the rooftops surrounding the ballpark was enjoyed by a handful of renters with a cheap grill and a cooler full of beer. And the bleachers were populated with more bums than bros.

It was the fans’ lusty response to the Cubs’ play that set Elia off.

"Fuck those fuckin' fans who come out here and say they're Cub fans that are supposed to be behind you rippin' every fuckin' thing you do. I'll tell you one fuckin' thing, I hope we get fuckin' hotter than shit, just to stuff it up them 3,000 fuckin' people that show up every fuckin' day, because if they're the real Chicago fuckin' fans, they can kiss my fuckin' ass right downtown and PRINT IT!!!”

The rant may not have gone any farther than the media room if not for Les Grobstein. The longtime Chicago sports reporter and radio host, working for WLS-AM at the time, recorded the rant and ran it down to the studio, where he edited out the obscenities and played it on air.

It became a classic.

”Eighty-five percent of the fuckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A fuckin' playground for the cocksuckers. Rip them motherfuckers. Rip them country cocksuckers like the fuckin' players.”

Over the past 30 years, Elia has repeatedly said he regretted the outburst. He told the Sun-Times he finally received some measure of peace with the rant five years ago, when a poll conducted by a television station showed 80 percent of fans forgave him for the rant.

Thirty years later, it’s still a joy to listen to. (Discretion advised for language.)