HICAGO — A real earthquake has just broken out at Wrigley Field. After months of speculation, Andre Dawson, the legend who lit up the Chicago skyline in the late 1980s, officially returned to the Cubs as a special advisor, with a contract worth $30 million – a staggering figure but with a heartwarming story.
“At 71, I don’t need the money anymore,” Dawson shared in an emotional press conference. “The last thing I want is to recapture my youth here — to dedicate myself to the Cubs until my last breath.”
Andre Dawson – affectionately known as The Hawk by fans – is not just a Cubs legend, but a symbol of loyalty and fighting spirit. More than three decades after his last outing in the green and white, his return as a senior advisor to the coaching staff has the entire CubsNation community erupting.
The entire Wrigley Arena seemed to relive the memories of 1987 – the year Dawson won MVP despite his team finishing near the bottom of the league. But for this man, the title has never been the thing he is most proud of. It is the way he fights, the way he walks onto the field with aching knees and still bleeds for the Cubs.
Dawson said with a trembling voice, his eyes welling up as he looked back at the familiar stands:
“I left the Cubs a long time ago, but I never really left Chicago. I still watch every pitch, every cheer. I see the young guys today, and I want to help them understand what it really feels like to wear this jersey — not just to play, but to live for it.”
According to inside sources, Dawson will work directly with Craig Counsell, focusing on “building the Cubs culture,” cultivating the spirit of young talent, including Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch – who are considered the future of the team.
Experts say the “$50 million” figure is more symbolic than real. A large portion of the money was donated to the Cubs’ youth development fund and Dawson’s charity, The Hawk Foundation.
“This is not a labor contract,” a Cubs official said. “This is the team’s way of thanking someone who gave their soul.”
When asked about his goals, Dawson just smiled:
“I want to see the Cubs win again. And when that day comes, I’ll sit in the dugout, hold the hands of the Cubs kids and say, ‘We did it.’”
At Wrigley Field this afternoon, the sun was beating down on the ancient roof, the wind was blowing through the green flagpole bearing the words “Fly The W.” Andre Dawson looked up at that flag — as if he saw himself in 1987, young, fierce, and on fire.
And this time, he won’t be playing… but he’ll still be fighting — for the Cubs, for Chicago, for the part of his youth he never lost.
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