Chris Christie holds onto nachos while Cubs fan loses his nuts in stadium confrontation

By Tony Mangia

It doesn't really matter if you consider Chris Christie a bully, a blowhard, a traitor, a fathead or — worst of all — a Cowboys fan, you have to admit that, unlike the oozing cheese on a warm tray of nachos, the round mound of New Jersey doesn't melt when the chips are down.

On Sunday the unpopular governor showed that double-wide side when he got in the face of a Chicago Cubs fan during a game in Milwaukee — all while never releasing his precious grip on a bowl of the gooey snack he was carrying.

The nachos-toting Christie was walking down the aisle at Miller Park when a Cubs fan who had nothing better to do than razz the rotund Christie by yelling out at the not-so-hard-to-miss politician.

And his comments had nothing to do with down in front, side, rear or section 215!

So, in his typical brash Jersey style, an intense stare-off between the blustery Guv and suddenly not-so-big-mouthed fan was on. 

At #Cubs #Brewers game. #ChrisChristie was getting razzed by fans, so he got in the face of one of them. 5:30 on @WISN12News pic.twitter.com/sx8euMgFy2

— Ben Hutchison (@BennyHutch) July 30, 2017

“When he initially was going up the stairs I yelled his name,” Cubs jersey-wearing fan Brad Joseph told WISN-TV in Milwaukee.

“He was quite a bit past me, and 30 feet away I yelled his name and told him that he sucked . . . I called him a hypocrite because I thought it needed to be said.”

That's when, according to Joseph, Christie turned back toward him and got in his face while firmly clutching that tray of nachos with one hand.

“First he told me, ‘Why don’t you have another beer?’ which I thought was a decent come back, and I thought that was kind of funny,” he told the station. “Then he started calling me a tough guy.”

Christie, who was at the game visiting his son who works for the Brewers, was also heard on the video sarcastically telling the guy “You’re a big shot!”

While Joseph wilted like a soggy bag of fries on a Seaside Heights boardwalk, Christie kept his all-you-can-eat gaze on the now suddenly timid Cubbie before waddling away. 

Whether suitable or not, politicians should be used to comments in all public areas but, in Christie's case, feedback seems to be off limits when the feedbag is on.

Yankees beat Cubs on Brett Gardner's come-from-behind ninth inning home run

The Cubs were cruising along in the ninth inning towards a 2-0 win in the Friday afternoon opener of their big inter-league series with the Yankees when Brett Gardner silenced the optimistic Wrigley Field crowd with one mighty swing.

Looking like it was a sure win, Chicago closer Hector Rondon then got Didi Gregorius to ground out to start the top of the inning. Chase Headley then singled, and a wild pitch would send him to second. After a strikeout, Jacoby Ellsbury walked to put the tying run on. That’s when Gardy came up and jacked a 2-out, 2-strike pitch out of the park to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

This is exactly why Joe Girardi loves the man. He's a GAMER, a COMPETITOR. Brett Gardner, 3-2 #Yankees at Wrigley. pic.twitter.com/V1Zq1KYJOY

— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) May 5, 2017

Gardner left no doubt he put the Yankees ahead as the game hero hollered and fist pumped his way around the bases. It was Gardner's fifth home run of the season — all in his last six games! 

Funny, because before today, we last saw Gardner Wednesday night, as he was taking batting practice in the Yankees dugout up in Toronto.

Yankees fans are taking a liking to Gardy's new found power... no matter where he does it.

Cubs apologize for playing 'Smack My B*tch Up' as alleged girlfriend-beater Aroldis Chapman exited field

The Chicago Cubs have apologized after Aroldis Chapman's appearance on the field was accompanied by The Prodigy's single Smack My B*tch Up.

It was an inappropriate song choice considering it contains the line "Change my pitch up/Smack my b**** up" which probably isn't suitable at a family event — but even more awkward when used to accompany Chapman — who has been accused of domestic violence.

More shocking is the fact that it was played in his home stadium — Wrigley Field.

The 1997 hit song was played Sunday after Chapman had finished pitching the ninth inning for the Cubs after a loss to the Cardinals and was walking to the dugout, reported the New York Daily News.

The relief pitcher served a 30-day suspension while he was with the Yankees at the start of this season for allegedly choking his girlfriend.

"The selection of this track showed a lack of judgment and sensitivity to an important issue," Cubs president Crane Kenney said in a statement. 

"We have terminated our relationship with the employee responsible for making the selection and will be implementing stronger controls to review and approve music before public broadcast during our games," he added.

Chapman was suspended under new MLB domestic violence rules on March 1.

The 28-year-old was alleged to have choked his 22-year-old girlfriend Cristina Barnea after an argument in October last year, although a police report noted "no injuries or even redness anywhere on her neck or dress."

Chapman said that she fell over when he poked her with his fingers.

No police charges were filed, but Chapman said he did not want to appeal the MLB suspension because it would be a distraction.

The pitcher later released a statement that said: "I want to be clear, I did not in any way harm my girlfriend that evening.

"However I should have exercised better judgement with respect to certain actions, and for that I am sorry."

Next time stick with "Firestarter."

Cubs fan carted off field after falling onto warning track (VIDEO)

A man was carted off Wrigley Field and hospitalized after he slipped and fell while attempting to jump from the bleachers before a game between the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs on Thursday night.

The Cubs, who didn’t identify the man, said in a statement the fan “was injured after attempting to jump onto the field.”

The incident happened around 7 p.m., about the scheduled start time, but the tarp was on the field because of earlier heavy rain. The game later began after a delay of 1 hour, 35 minutes.

The man, dressed in shorts and sneakers, was face down just in front of the ivy in right-center field when officials started running from the dugouts to assist him. They immediately checked his pulse while a medic ran in from right field.

This guy just jumped the outfield wall and hasn't moved for over 10 minutes!😬⚾️⚾️ #wrigley #savage #cubsgame pic.twitter.com/oAbSyAyJyV

— Brandon (@Brandon13_22) July 8, 2016

It took three people to turn the man over onto his back. They then pulled up his shirt and put on a brace to stabilize his neck before strapping him onto a backboard and loading him into a cart. Witnesses said he appeared to be awake as they carted him from the field.

The man was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

Cubs release statement after fan injured in apparent jump from Wrigley Field bleachers: https://t.co/gci97Y6XL4 pic.twitter.com/iiHHlA40aE

— NBC Chicago (@nbcchicago) July 8, 2016

“We will remain in contact with the fan’s family to stay updated on his progress,” the team said.

Pirates fan updates 'World Series Champs' tattoo after playoff loss (PHOTO)

You have admire this Pittsburgh Pirates fan for his optimism — if not for his body ink aesthetics.

After apparently not learning from his previous mistake, the Bucs fan who felt confident enough in his team to get a "2015 World Champs" tattoo on his leg before this year's playoffs began had to make a few adjustments to his once bold proclamation.

So almost as fast as the Pirates' hasty elimination Wednesday night, the fan decided to update his ink to have it read, "2016 World Champs."

@Pirates @espn @SportsCenter updated pic.twitter.com/VoTscsBZNu

— Andrew Broadwater (@ajbroadh2o_24) October 8, 2015

The Pirates won 98 games in the regular season but ended up losing to the Chicago Cubs, 4-0, in the National League Wild Card Game.

Lucky the guy's calf is as wide as the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers combined — so he could keep this up for years.

Anthony Rizzo climbs Wrigley Field tarp to make amazing catch (VIDEO)

We all love seeing players leaping into the stands for a catch, but Anthony Rizzo just might have set the bar pretty high for all amazing catches in the future.

The Chicago Cubs first baseman tested the limits of the Wrigley Field playing area, and a little known Major League Baseball rule, to complete one of the wildest plays ever.

The acrobatic play happened in the sixth inning of Wednesday's Cubs 3-2 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers when Rizzo chased Ryan Braun's pop-up down the first-base line before hopping on the tarp and tumbling into the stands to make the catch.

The second best part of the play might be the Cubs fans who engulfed Rizzo who landed about three rows up. 

And because the nimble-footed Rizzo made the catch with one foot on the wall and not in the stands, it was ruled an out.

Betcha didn't know about that rule?

Former Yankee Joe Pepitone: I got Mickey Mantle stoned and hid drugs in Wrigley Field ivy

Longtime Yankees first baseman and outfielder Joe Pepitone reminisced with Rolling Stone upon the reissue of his 1975 autobiography, Joe, You Coulda Made Us Proud. 

The tell-all-book — there is talk about making it into a movie — covers his days playing on the diamond but, more interestingly, recounts colorful off-the-field anecdotes like playing pool with Frank Sinatra, hanging out with the Mafia and turning Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford on to pot.

And in one particularly crazy story, he admits hiding the drugs he regularly got from fans in Wrigley Field’s ivy while playing for the Cubs in the early 1970s.

And, after reading this excerpt, you will never look at the revered ivy the same way again:

The Bleacher Bums at the Cubs’ ballpark, they’d hit me in the back with a (expletive) football during warm-ups, and I’d turn around and play catch with them. One time, someone hit me in the back with some foil, all wrapped up, and there’s like four joints in it. I went and stuck it in the ivy on the outfield wall, but I remembered where I put it. Once they saw me do that, the regular Bleacher Bums started throwing things at me every day; I’d get hit with a little packet, I’d look and there’s a gram of coke in there. I was like, “Holy (expletive)!” Right into the ivy with it! I’m telling you, I got speed, I got everything. Used to be I was always the first person at the ballpark, and the first one to leave; next thing you know, people are wondering why I’m hanging out at the ballpark so long. Leo [Durocher] goes, “You still here?” “Yeah, I gotta get a rubdown from the trainer!” Then I’d be out in centerfield with my shorts on, looking through the ivy to find my dope. I loved Chicago! With the (expletive) I was getting in centerfield, I woulda played for nothing!

Pepitone, a hard-partying fan favorite, was named to All-Star teams (1963-65), won a championship (1962) and some Gold Gloves (1965, 1966, 1969), but he never truly fulfilled his potential.

And that was before his wild life really caught up to him. Pepitone was sentenced to six months in jail for drug charges in 1986.

The shaggy-topped Pep was at his prime in the Swinging Sixties so the interview is both entertaining and real — which means Pepitone drops the F-word and names with equal aplomb.

He also seems pretty proud about the numerous mentions he got on Seinfeld.

Joe Maddon brings in magician to help end Cubs’ slump

In the midst of a five-game losing streak, Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon dipped into his bag of tricks to try and create some magic for his team.

And no, he didn't pull a rabbit or penguin out of his hat.

"Joe started talking about [baseball] magic and the next thing I know there was a magician there," second baseman Addison Russell said afterward.

Maddon said he thought of the idea "on the plane or bus" after the Cubs' weekend series in St. Louis, where they were swept. They were on a season-high five-game losing streak, having fallen 11½ games behind the Cardinals going into Tuesday's games.

"It was about time," Maddon said. "Tough series in St. Louis. I don't want our guys to get all distraught for the wrong reasons. We played a good game. They beat us. Let's keep moving it forward."

So Simon, a magician, performed several tricks for the team.

Video: Joe Maddon on hiring a magician for #Cubs, via @MDGonzales: http://t.co/GwPxf8QHhi pic.twitter.com/lj0Uu3nMBC

— ChicagoSports (@ChicagoSports) June 30, 2015

It seemed everyone's favorite involved a crushed, empty soda can.

"He then uncrushed it, sealed it, then popped the can and poured the now full can of liquid into a cup," pitcher Jon Lester said. "It was amazing."

Maddon's unusual tactic seemed to work. And, with the Mets acting as lovely assistants at Citi Field, the Cubs beat New York 1-0 on Tuesday. 

And the postgame music selection in the clubhouse after the win? It was magic-themed, of course, according to the Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzales:

Post-game clubhouse music was "It's Magic' by Pilot. Maddon played 'Do you Believe in Magic' by John Sebastian as reporters walked in

— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 1, 2015

Now if only Simon could make that World Series jinx disappear.

Cubs put Blackhawks' game on Wrigley video board during rain delay (VIDEO)

Chicago Cubs traditionalists have been complaining about the new video boards installed at Wrigley Field all season — feeling it takes away from the iconic look of the old ballpark. However, those video boards found some new fans Saturday night when the Cubs' game against the Cincinnati Reds went into a rain delay.

With the Chicago Blackhawks playing the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at the same time, there was probably more then a few of the nearly 41,000 fans in the ballpark cursing in their beers about missing a pivotal NHL playoff game for a night of wet baseball.

But, luckily for them, the Cubs were ready.

To everyone who tweeted us politely asking to play the @NHLBlackhawks on the video board during the rain delay, YOU'RE WELCOME.

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 14, 2015

The Wrigley crowd reacts to Chicago's go-ahead goal in the third period. They even blared the Blackhawks' goal horn in the stadium.

#Blackhawks score, Wrigley Field reaction pic.twitter.com/E4iK1549uv

— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) June 14, 2015

And to top it off later, Kris Bryant doubled and scored on Starlin Castro's walk-off single in the ninth inning to lift the Cubs to a 4-3 victory.

Who knew it was two-for-one night at Wrigley?

Cubs fans resort to urinating in beer cups due to Wrigley Field renovations (PHOTOS)

Say what you will about Chicago Cubs fans but when they gotta go, they gotta go.

During the Cubs opening night loss to the Cardinals Sunday night, unfinished renovations at Wrigley Field caused lines to the bathrooms to get so long, some fans relieved themselves by using empty beer cups instead of waiting for a urinal.

I'm rather certain this is not flat beer. pic.twitter.com/UCEjhDoi0A
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 6, 2015

Photos of the long lines and cups of urine surfaced on Twitter as fans voiced their frustrations at the stadium delays caused by the construction, with some saying they waited two innings to use the bathroom.

From a friend at wrigley. These are the lines for the bathroom. Ouch. Looks like the renovation hasn't gone so well. pic.twitter.com/heeUH2Rdab
— Craig Mac (@CraigMac) April 6, 2015

@Cubs 30 minute bathroom line and no food at concessions? #lame #unacceptable
— Brad Curtis (@bcurtis2) April 6, 2015

Good news for Cubs! 20 minute lines for bathrooms made fans forget about long lines for metal detectors. http://t.co/Wgs9diKKyH
— James Risen (@JamesRisen) April 6, 2015

The bleachers at Wrigley are currently off-limits because of the construction and are covered in a tarp honoring the late Ernie Banks as they continue work in that area of the park. The renovations are expected to be completed by June.

Conditions that would even make a goat blush.

Charlie Blackmon's outstanding leaping catch extends game (VIDEO)

Charlie Blackmon made a tremendous game-saving catch to rob Welington Castillo of a sure base hit Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.

The incredible 10th inning play not only extended the game and knocked the wind out of the Rockies rightfielder but it had the breathless Cubs fans actually stand up in appreciation of the outstanding play.

The game lingered on for another six innings before the Cubs overcame a three run deficit and beat the Rockies, 4-3, in the wee hours of the morning.

Chase Headley's debut as a Yankee ends with Gatorade shower (VIDEO)

To call Chase Headley's Tuesday anything but extraordinary would would be a gross understatement.

Headley started the day off ready to suit up for the Padres against the Cubs at Wrigley Field when he found out he was acquired by the Yankees and hopped the next plane to New York.

The Bombers' new third baseman wasn't able to get to the Bronx for the start of his new team's game against the Rangers, but he did put on the pinstripes later in the contest — subbing in for Zealous Wheeler in the eighth.

After a round of quick introductory handshakes, and even fewer nondescript at-bats, Headley topped off the long day by lining an RBI single to left to give the Yankees a 2-1 walk-off victory in the 14th inning.

Instantly, talk went from Who's the new guy? to Brian Cashman is a genius! with one swing of the bat.

And, after a game that the Yankees really needed to win, his new teammates expressed their gratitude for the clutch hit by pouring Gatorade — bucket and all — over Headley's ... well ... head.

One could imagine that days just don't get crazier than this.

Moron invades field to get selfie with Gerardo Parra (VIDEO)

Here's another attention-seeking idiot using a sporting event to make people hate Millennials and their gadgets even more Friday night.  

The iPhone-clutching moron jumped on the Chase Field outfield during the Cubs-Diamondbacks game and got a selfie with D-backs rightfielder Gerardo Parra before being wrangled down.

The loud-mouthed chick in the shot was apparently thrilled.

Matt Szczur makes diving catch for the last out of a Minor League no-hitter (VIDEO)

Matt Szczur went 0-for-5 at the plate Wednesday night, but it wasn't the centerfielder's bat that Iowa Cubs pitcher Chris Rusin was thankful for, it was his glove.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Rusin faced Josh Rodriguez of the New Orleans Zephyrs, one out shy of a no-hitter. Rodriguez then hit a soft pop fly to the Bermuda Triangle of open outfield space between the shortstop, second baseman and center fielder, and the no-no suddenly looked like a lost dream.

Fortunately for Rusin, Szczur charged in at full speed and was there to make a sensational diving catch to end the game and start a huge celebration at Zephyr Field.

For Rusin, who already has one appearance with the Chicago Cubs this year, the historic 3-0 victory could earn him another call-up from their Triple-A affiliate later this season.

And he might have Szczur to thank for it.

Fan makes one-handed foul ball catch with son in other arm (VIDEO)

A quick-reacting father made a great one-handed catch on a line-drive foul ball all while holding his son in his other arm.

The fantastic bare-handed grab came during Wednesday night's Cubs-Reds game. 

Afterwards, the humble dad (and former college player) just shrugged and said it was nothing because his glove hand was free.

The kid in the throwing hand was left speechless but mom had a few things to say:

Jeter wondering who injury snitch on Yankees is: Report

Derek Jeter was in Wednesday night's starting lineup for the first time since last Friday and it sounds like he feels he didn't need three games (or four days) to comeback after tweaking his quad last week.

Jeter is trying to get accustomed to the Yankees treating him cautiously — as they did by sitting him out Saturday and Sunday with a tight right quadriceps then easing him back into the lineup in the second game of the Cubs' doubleheader yesterday — but the antsy Jeets is wondering who is turning a simple stretching exercise into games on the bench.

The shortstop claims he never complained about any injury to manager Joe Girardi.

“I didn’t say anything,” Jeter said of the quadriceps injury he suffered Friday. “I was running to first and evidently someone saw me stretching. I don’t know who. Joe said, ‘Did you hurt yourself? I saw you stretching.’ I said, ‘No, I was just tight.’ No big deal.

“That was the end of the conversation. Saturday, he was not planning on playing me anyways, and then when I got here on Sunday, he said, ‘You have the day off.’ ”

“I’ve always understood, but I didn’t like it,” Jeter said of the days off. “I still don’t like it, but I get it — the fact that it’s a long season.”

Jeter returned Wednesday night for the second game of a doubleheader against the Cubs and went 1-for-5, playing all nine innings at shortstop in a 2-0 win at Yankee Stadium.

He said he felt fine.

Bootleg Cubs mascot punches dude for removing his head (VIDEO)

An imitation Chicago Cubs mascot punched out a man who removed his giant head in a Wrigleyville bar Saturday.

Clearly, this was NOT the Cubs' official Clark the Cub mascot — but some mutant version of the cuddly bear. While Clark was prancing around Wrigley Field, this brute was brawling with patrons in a saloon.

Kind of like those dirty Elmos who hang around Times Square.

The video starts off innocently enough, with the bootleg mascot posing for pictures with some fans, but things turn nasty when some dude behind him sneaks up and snatches his furry bear head from his shoulders.

It looks like a few words are exchanged and then the phony mascot  known as Billy Cub — who already has a reputation for being abusive and racially insensitive with fans — lays into the guy with his clenched bear paw.

The best part? When the mean mascot puts his head back on and looks around for any more takers.

David Cross apologizes for 'awful' rendition of 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' at Wrigley (VIDEO)

Actor and comedian David Cross leads Cubs fans in  "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch of Saturday's game and immediately apologizes for his "awful" rendition when he is through.

The camera captures the stunned reactions of fans as he shrieks out the traditional song and Cross seems to know it.

Following the song, Cross humbly addressed the crowd, saying, "That was awful. Thank you very much. I’m so sorry. Next time, guys. Next time."

You can bet Cross' "Arrested Development" character, Tobias Fünke, would have called it Awe-some.

Determined Pirates fan barrels over kid to get baseball in stands (VIDEO)

A determined Pirates fan in the stands barrels through people while attempting to snare Darnell McDonald's ground-rule double Thursday night at PNC Park.

This guy stops at nothing to get the free souvenir after the ball bounced into the stands — even taking out the poor kid in front of him. And the buffoon still came up empty-handed.

Cubs announcers use artist's drawings to show home run replay

Nate Schierholtz hit a home run in the fourth inning of Chicago's 6-5 loss to Philadelphia at Wrigley Field on Friday. Unfortunately, the Cubs broadcast was experiencing some technical issues when it happened.

So when it came time for a replay, the resourceful announcers relied on an artist's rendition to show the big hit.

Although he took some artistic license — Schierholtz is a left-handed batter, while his stick-figure avatar was a righty — the artist did include cute little authentic looking caps in his drawings.