Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/809106
Joe: I like an esoteric message that starts out as an esoteric message just among the group and then hopefully blossoms among the fan base. I like the guys to see—that's why I like T-shirts; I like for them to see the message daily, and be reminded about it daily. That's where I'm coming from with all this stuff; just simple reminders of simple messages daily that I think can impact us in a really grand way. Jaye: Let's talk about Respect 90. You've been very active in Chicago with your Respect 90… Joe: Our. Jaye: [laughs] With our Respect 90 foundation. Why is it important to you that we give back? Joe: Because it's all about that. I mean, what is the good of really gaining any kind of personal wealth or prestige, or however you want to label what happens to us as we move this further along, without being able to share it? If you can't share it then it really is no fun pushing yourself to achieve more. I think achievement needs to be shared. Jaye: What is your vision or goals for the foundation? Joe: We're still trying to define all that. The vision and the goals are to stay after it hard in an attempt to raise funds and awareness for different groups, whether it's the homeless that we work with, the immigration project, Misericordia, the Crushers Club—whatever groups we want to work with, raise awareness and then of course hopefully be able to help them financially. The goal is really just spreading the tentacles, trying to reach as many folks as we can. I don't want to put restrictions on the foundation by saying we're limited to certain areas. I like unlimited growth potential mentally, and I think that's what we should be about. Jaye: You're famous for keeping your cool and your sense of humor on the field. What keeps you so relaxed? Joe: My wife. Jaye: [laughs] Joe: I just wanted to hear you giggle. I do believe my dad does [keep me relaxed]. My mom was a bit more excitable, but my dad was the most patient man I've ever met, so I think part of it is genetics—the Italian side of my family, believe it or not. They took life as it came. More specifically, I do like to meditate as often as I can in the mornings. I think that matters, and I think rest matters. I'm all about rest, I'm about meditation and exercise—if you're able to exercise and clear your body and mind, that also [gives you] the ability to transcend the moment in a situation where you can't control yourself. Jaye: What are some of your favorite things about Chicago? Joe: Probably the most important thing is the people. I've said it before: I think my hometown, Hazelton, Pennsylvania, is like a microcosm of Chicago. A lot of European settlements in Hazelton, the way the city was set up with different blocks of ethnicities from different countries, and the same thing occurs in Chicago. So when I speak with the folks in Chicago it's really familiar, man; it's crazy. I feel really, really comfortable. Jaye: How are fans different here than in Florida or Southern California? Joe: There are more of them—more of them everywhere—and in some ways [they are] probably the most understanding [fans] in the history of the game. Even though the burden's been lifted, for a long time, man, the support was magnificent absent of a world championship. To have as many people follow the Cubs as do and have had to go so long without an actual title and still be as vehemently loyal as they are, [that's] unique. No other group can do that. I'm not degrading Angels fans or Rays fans—they're wonderful—but the Cubs fan is unique, man, and I didn't know that until I got there. Jaye: That's one of the first things I noticed going to Cubs games. That there could be so many people there in the afternoon on a [weekday] and they're all very engaged in what's going on in the game. It's not a whole lot of fanfare going on with other things. There's just the game that's keeping people busy and engaged. Joe: Sounds like I need to put you in the bleachers one game, babe. You might get a different perspective. Jaye: I do sit in the bleachers; I can point out my seat! Joe: In the outfield. The bleachers. Jaye: Oh my gosh, yeah—that would be amazing. I need to do that. [laughs] What are some specific places around town that you enjoy? Joe: We enjoy Oak Street, walking up and down there, shopping a little bit. Rush Street, Michigan Avenue… I would say we just enjoy downtown and everything it has to offer. We have our own ocean, we've got a great bike trail—I love riding all the way to the turnaround at Hollywood Beach. So I don't know, it's hard to pinpoint: the art, the culture of the city, everything. You've got to embrace and imbibe in all of Chicago because it's all there. I'm enamored with living in a big city for the first time, and then you magnify that because I do believe Chicago is probably the most magnificent city in our country. Jaye: I want to explore [more]. I want to go to the museums, maybe go see a play. I really do want to hit all those places. Joe: We haven't explored all of that yet. Jaye: I do like walking around in different neighborhoods. I'm going to have to arrange something. Joe: She's going to Mary Tyler Moore around Chicago. Throw her hat in the air. Jaye: [laughs] Definitely. What keeps you driven after all your success? Joe: Today, tomorrow… I don't really dwell on past successes in a [manner] that by having had them you lack motivation for the next day. I'm really into the word "growth," as you know really well. I am uncomfortable—I'm using that word from personal experience. It's not about being driven by wanting more—I'm driven by accomplishment in the field that I've chosen in a sense that you always want to be recognized as among the best, and you love to do it. Listen, I haven't really wrapped my head around last year yet; I probably won't for several years. So it's about today. It's about this group. It's about now. Jaye: OK. And lastly, what's your message to Cubs fans as we kick off the season? Joe: Be uncomfortable. Be uncomfortable with us. Don't be satisfied with what just happened. Of course, we're all pleased, and it's great that the burden's been lifted, but I want us all to continually want to do that on an annual basis. So I want the Cubs fans to be as uncomfortable as we are. . "I HAVEN'T REALLY WRAPPED MY HEAD AROUND LAST YEAR YET; I PROBABLY WON'T FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SO IT'S ABOUT TODAY. IT'S ABOUT THIS GROUP. IT'S ABOUT NOW."