Man Who Attacked Cubs Pitcher Now Hawking Cubs Signs

You know that annoying guy we keep seeing at Cubs games sticking his "It's Gonna Happen" sign in front of the camera? The guy who also keeps popping up outside the ballpark, and is now also selling shirts with the ambiguous catchphrase? Well that guy's name is John Murray. He's also the knucklehead who ran onto the field and rushed Cubs closer Randy Myers.

Mike North on Chicago radio station 670 The Score and guest Steve Stone recently poked fun at the slogan as being ambiguous and allowing for anything. North said, "When I see a Cubs fan holding up a sign that says 'It's Gonna Happen' I think of bad things." But that was before either of them knew of the past of Murray.

On September 28, 1995, Cubs closer Randy Myers gave up a go ahead home run to the Astros' James Mouton. As Myers was being yanked from the game, Murray stormed onto the field and ran up to Myers to yell at him. Myers, a former black belt in karate, performed what teammate Shawon Dunston described as "one of those martial arts moves" and pinned Murray until security arrived. Murray was escorted out of the park and was eventually banned from Wrigley Field for one year.

That incident is often pointed out when the media talks about fan violence in sports. In fact, Sports Illustrated claims Murray said he ran on the field as a dare from his friends. "I was watching the game with some friends," Murray said, "and I told them if Myers gives up another homer to a guy I'm going to run out on the field and yell at him."

A few years later fans across town at White Sox games charged the field on separate occasions and attacked a Kansas City Royals coach and an umpire. Until then it was a simple misdemeanor for going on a playing field during an event.The White Sox lobbied to have the law changed to a felony and won.

Murray, who is now 39, makes a living as a commodities trader and is lucky he was not charged with a felony in 1995. A felony conviction would have cost him any chance to work in securities.

But if you think seeing the stupid sign isn't annoying enough, Murray didn't even come up with the idea with the Cubs in mind. He admits he first thought of the idea in connection with Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. And Murray is trying to force feed the slogan wherever he can. He said he is planning on dropping off merchandise at Barack Obama's headquarters. I doubt any politician will be associated with the slogan if they know the full story behind Murray.

As for the Cubs, they are aware who Murray is and of his infamous past. While they have no problem admitting him to the ballpark now, they have asked their television crews to stop showing him on camera during games.

I guess Murray should change his slogan from "It's Gonna Happen!" to "I'm Gonna Disappear!"