2008 Woodie Awards
the Dunn's Divided
Husband and wife endure baseball rivalry
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: News
Emily Wuchner
News Editor
Murray State is full of rivalries within athletics, residential colleges and Greeks.
But this rivalry is just a little different.
Billed more as a "friendly" rivalry, University President Randy Dunn cheers for the Chicago Cubs while his wife Ronda roots for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Growing up in southern Illinois, Ronda was exposed to Cardinals baseball at an early age, and even played second base for a softball team, she said.
"It's Cards territory," Ronda said. "I don't remember not being a Cards fan."
But at the opposite end of the state, Randy's team choice was a little different.
"The question where I grew up was more of were you a Cubs fan or a White Sox fan," Randy said.
He said most people in the country were Cubs fans, while many of those living in the city were White Sox fans.
Both said they became fans by association and not by certain players.
"She grew up hearing nothing but Cards, I grew up hearing nothing but Cubs," Randy said. "You just kind of fall into that."
The pair didn't know each other's preferred sports team when they met, but said it hasn't really mattered. They maintain a friendly rivalry, joking every once in a while about the status of each other's team.
"If he goes on about Cubs fans, I just roll my eyes," Ronda said.
She said Randy often disses the Cardinals, also resulting in rolled eyes on her part.
"That's what Cubs fans do," Randy said. "By definition of being a Cubs fan, you diss the Cards, and vice versa."
Both agree, however, one of the most memorable moments in baseball was Mark McGwire's and Sammy Sosa's home run race in 1998.
"Probably the most interest I had in watching it was when McGwire and Sosa were doing their homerun derby," Randy said. "You watched it because it was a classic Cards/Cubs rivalry. I think everyone was kind of following it to see what would happen."
Ronda said the Cardinals' 2006 World Series victory also sticks out in her mind. But as far as the Cubs taking the pennant this year, Randy said the chances are slim to none due to their inauspicious start and mediocre pitching.
"I think it's going to be real tough for them. But as a Cubs fan, you don't worry nearly as much about that anymore," Randy said. "You're a fan. You're a Cubs fan through thick and thin and you love to win but you are kind of accommodated to the fact that it probably isn't going to happen in your lifetime, so you enjoy it for what it is."
Though Randy said neither are extreme fans and haven't attended many professional sporting events, the couple tends to occasionally have games on while at home (paying more attention to the bigger ones).
But with the purchase of a condo in Chicago, the couple hopes to attend a few games at Wrigley Field this year since Ronda has never been. The couple also has yet to attend a game at the new Busch Stadium.
So, Busch Stadium or Wrigley Field?
Said Ronda: "It's a toss up which one we get to first."
Emily Wuchner can be reached at emily.wuchner @murraystate.edu.
News Editor
Murray State is full of rivalries within athletics, residential colleges and Greeks.
But this rivalry is just a little different.
Billed more as a "friendly" rivalry, University President Randy Dunn cheers for the Chicago Cubs while his wife Ronda roots for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Growing up in southern Illinois, Ronda was exposed to Cardinals baseball at an early age, and even played second base for a softball team, she said.
"It's Cards territory," Ronda said. "I don't remember not being a Cards fan."
But at the opposite end of the state, Randy's team choice was a little different.
"The question where I grew up was more of were you a Cubs fan or a White Sox fan," Randy said.
He said most people in the country were Cubs fans, while many of those living in the city were White Sox fans.
Both said they became fans by association and not by certain players.
"She grew up hearing nothing but Cards, I grew up hearing nothing but Cubs," Randy said. "You just kind of fall into that."
The pair didn't know each other's preferred sports team when they met, but said it hasn't really mattered. They maintain a friendly rivalry, joking every once in a while about the status of each other's team.
"If he goes on about Cubs fans, I just roll my eyes," Ronda said.
She said Randy often disses the Cardinals, also resulting in rolled eyes on her part.
"That's what Cubs fans do," Randy said. "By definition of being a Cubs fan, you diss the Cards, and vice versa."
Both agree, however, one of the most memorable moments in baseball was Mark McGwire's and Sammy Sosa's home run race in 1998.
"Probably the most interest I had in watching it was when McGwire and Sosa were doing their homerun derby," Randy said. "You watched it because it was a classic Cards/Cubs rivalry. I think everyone was kind of following it to see what would happen."
Ronda said the Cardinals' 2006 World Series victory also sticks out in her mind. But as far as the Cubs taking the pennant this year, Randy said the chances are slim to none due to their inauspicious start and mediocre pitching.
"I think it's going to be real tough for them. But as a Cubs fan, you don't worry nearly as much about that anymore," Randy said. "You're a fan. You're a Cubs fan through thick and thin and you love to win but you are kind of accommodated to the fact that it probably isn't going to happen in your lifetime, so you enjoy it for what it is."
Though Randy said neither are extreme fans and haven't attended many professional sporting events, the couple tends to occasionally have games on while at home (paying more attention to the bigger ones).
But with the purchase of a condo in Chicago, the couple hopes to attend a few games at Wrigley Field this year since Ronda has never been. The couple also has yet to attend a game at the new Busch Stadium.
So, Busch Stadium or Wrigley Field?
Said Ronda: "It's a toss up which one we get to first."
Emily Wuchner can be reached at emily.wuchner @murraystate.edu.
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