Arts & Entertainment
'I'm Shocked!': Even Cubs Fan Oliver Stone Thinks This Is Chicago's Year
Stone might be a Hollywood director born in New York, but the Oscar-winning filmmaker says he's been rooting for the Cubbies since 1957.
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL―He might be a New York City native, but filmmaker Oliver Stone counts himself as a longtime―and long-suffering―Chicago Cubs fan since 1957.
"It's a useless trail of tears worse than Andrew Jackson's Cherokees."
RELATED: Natural Born Talker: 5 Oliver Stone Quotes on Money, Military and Making Sense of U.S. History
Find out what's happening in Chicagofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
That's how the Oscar-winning director of Platoon, JFK and Natural Born Killers described what it's like to follow the Cubbies and players like Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins and Billy Williams season after disappointing season. But the team's red-hot and dominant start this year has Stone imagining the unimaginable:
The Cubs could go to the World Series ... and win it.
Find out what's happening in Chicagofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Frankly, I'm shocked, because I thought the season was over when [Cubs slugger] Kyle [Schwarber] went down," said Stone, who spoke to reporters before a screening of an episode of his documentary series, The Untold History of America, on Wednesday night at Adlai E. Stevenson High School. "I was shocked. ... You don't get affected by sports the same way when you're older, but it did disappoint me. I said, 'It's over, the season's over.' And goddamn it I was wrong, because the reserves and [utility players] are great. The depth.
RELATED: Oliver Stone to Visit Stevenson High School for Screening
"I'd love to see that! I'd love to see this hundred f--king year curse ... terminate!"
Stone, 69, and Untold History co-creator Peter Kuznick, a history professor and director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, also participated in a student-moderated discussion at Stevenson, as well as answering questions from some of the about 400 people in attendance at the event, which screened the 2012 Showtime series' third episode that dealt with America's decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan during World War II.
So what about Kuznick when it comes to baseball allegiances? Does he share Stone's love for the Cubs?
"He's an Oriole fan," Stone said.
"They might play the Cubs in the World Series this year," Kuznick replied.
"I doubt that," Stone added.
Check back with Patch later for coverage of Wednesday's event with Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick.
Get Patched In
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
