I wrote an article yesterday that focused on Cubs manager Joe Maddon’s new “theme” for the 2018 season. Maddon has become somewhat of an icon for crafting new mottos or slogans that he introduces to his players during Spring Training which eventually turn into a battle cry for the team’s upcoming season.
Maddon has dug deep into his bag of tricks to try and reach this year’s Chicago Cubs. Yes, we’ll HEAR a ton of new slogans (the process is fearless, try not to suck, etc) but now we’ll actually get to SEE his motivational strategies everyday in Mesa.
How is that possible you ask?
Simple.
Maddon is using art as his 2018 motivational tool.
"Put the art back into the game."
*SPOILER ALERT*: Joe Maddon shared with us his theme for the upcoming #Cubs season.
Maddon explains further at https://t.co/0CbDYfd4Vf pic.twitter.com/tBd2FTy7GF
— NBC Sports Chicago (@NBCSChicago) February 14, 2018
Maddon had been reading a book on the famous artist, Leonardo da Vinci, during the offseason when he took a trip to a store called Milano’s Exchange in his winter home of Tampa, FL. When Maddon walked into the store, he saw a version of the famous Mona Lisa painting by an artist named Jason Skeldon and it clicked in his brain that he had just discovered his new theme for 2018.
Maddon contacted Skeldon and gave him some ideas of what he wanted to see painted. Skeldon did six pieces of art for Maddon but only two were on display yesterday at Cubs camp.
New message art unveiled to team by Maddon, including a shout-out to Cubs' favorite publication. pic.twitter.com/RGuX1reNId
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) February 14, 2018
I’m the last guy you want critiquing art so I’ll just say this — these things are pretty bad ass. One painting features Salvador Dali wearing catchers gear and the other features the most famous giant slayer in history, David, standing on the pitchers mound wearing a cup. Maddon was focused on presenting the game of baseball as an art form to his players.
“If you really watch video of a well-played game or a great play, whether it’s baseball, basketball, football, you see artistry in the movement of athletes,” he said. “So I want them to think of themselves as artists also.”
The other four pieces of art will be revealed throughout the rest of training camp and Maddon also mentioned there were two pink flamingos outside the team’s practice facility named “Ron and Ernie” which also had meaning which he would explain later.
Call it what you want but you cannot deny the fact that Joe Maddon is one of the best managers in the game at getting his players to think outside the box and see things from a different perspective. Now will it work?
That remains to be seen.
