Craig Sager has the pipes and showmanship befitting an accomplished broadcaster. He put both to use Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.
Sager was the guest conductor for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch, and the Chicago native and lifelong Cubs fan savored every second.
A couple hours earlier, Sager threw out the first pitch while family and friends looked on.
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Sager was a special guest as the Cubs held Conquer Cancer Night at the ballpark. The Turner Sports reporter is waging a very public fight with leukemia, and he seems to be making almost no concessions to his condition. His itinerary the past three days, per MLB.com: Oakland for Game 7 of the NBA's Western Conference finals; Atlanta for treatment; Chicago for the game.
"It's a blessing to be alive," he told MLB.com. "I've never been one to want to miss anything, even as a kid. If something's going on, I want to be there. ... It's not because I have this disease. 'How much time do you have left? The future's uncertain.' No, I've lived my whole life like that. I've never had a bad day. Every day is happy. I don't want to be around negative people.''
MORE: Sager to receive Jimmy V Perseverance Award at ESPYs
The Cubs boasted two cancer survivors in their lineup Wednesday: starting pitcher Jon Lester and first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Lester pitched a complete game as the Cubs beat the Dodgers 2-1.
