Grant DePorter

Grant M. DePorter (born November 7 1964) is a restaurateur from Chicago, U.S., who came to prominence in by|2004 after he paid US$113,824.16 for a baseball which had played a role in the Chicago Cubs defeat in the 2003 National League Championship Series, and had the ball destroyed in a nationally televised event. The event was an attempt to end the "Curse of the Billy Goat" – which has supposedly prevented the Cubs from winning the National League since by|1945 – and also helped raise a substantial amount of money for diabetes research.

DePorter graduated from the Latin School of Chicago in 1982. He then graduated from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, and also holds an MBA from Duke University. He has worked in, managed or owned over thirty restaurants. He is the President and Managing Partner of Harry Caray's Restaurant Group, which owns seven restaurants, the best-known being Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouses in the Chicago area (named after the late Hall of Fame baseball announcer Harry Caray). The restaurants have won several awards, including been voted the best steakhouse in Chicago and the best sports restaurant in the United States.

In October 2003, the Chicago Cubs had a built up a commanding lead in the playoffs for the National League title against the Florida Marlins. But during Game 6 of the series, with the Cubs leading 3-0, a home fan, Steve Bartman, unwittingly deflected a vital catch out of the hand of Cubs outfielder Moisés Alou. Following this the Marlins rallied, winning not only the game but the league and, eventually, the 2003 World Series. Many Cubs fans viewed this as a continuation of the "Curse of the Billy Goat", which had hung over the team since 1945, when the owner of the local Billy Goat Tavern was prevented from bringing his beloved pet goat into the Cubs' home stadium, Wrigley Field, and thus swore that the Cubs would never again win the National League Championship. DePorter paid $113,824.16 for the infamous "foul ball" in order to destroy it, and thus hopefully to put an end to the curse.

The destruction of the ball took place outside Harry Caray's restaurant on February 26, by|2004. During its final days, the condemned ball was guarded by a team of 13 security men. It was given a massage and a final meal of steak, lobster and beer. Academy Award-winning special effects expert Michael Lantieri was drafted in as executioner to make the sure that ball went out with a bang. On the night of February 26, when a final reprieve failed to arrive from the governor, an explosive charge reduced the ball to a pile of string. The event was covered live on CNN, ESPN and MSNBC. MythBusters hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman provided commentary for Keith Olberman's coverage of the event. The story made front page news in "The New York Times", "Los Angeles Times" and "USA Today". Worldwide, there were over 4,000 newspaper stories and 2,000 TV stories about the event. Sales of mementoes from the ball's execution were used to raise funds for diabetes research. A year later, DePorter still trying to end the curse, used the remnants, infused in vodka and beer, to flavor a special "Foul Ball Spaghetti" then sold to some 4000 diners, Cubs fans all.

At the start of the Cubs' 2008 baseball season, DePorter revived the Cubs first noted fan club called the West Side Rooters Social Club which was founded in 1908 by Cubs shortstop Joe Tinker. The fan club's official war cry is "Oof Wah!". DePorter is president of the 2008 West Side Rooters Social Club. Cubs' Hall-of-Famer Ernie Banks is chairman, Dutchie Caray, Harry Caray's widow, is treasurer and Cubs' Hall-of-Famer Ryne Sandberg is secretary. The fan club was dismantled by unpopular Cubs' owner Charles Murphy after the Cubs had won the World Series in 1908 and the Cubs have not won the World Series since. Cub fans hope that by bringing back the West Side Rooters Social Club, the Chicago Cubs will finally win the World Series. During the same week in which the Cubs clinched the 2008 central division title, DePorter released a book that he co-authored called Hoodoo: Unraveling the 100 Year Mystery of the Chicago Cubs, an entertaining account of the events contributing to Cubs unprecedented World Series drought.

DePorter has served on the committees of several civic organizations in the Chicago area. He is past Chairman of the Illinois Restaurant Association, the Illinois Tourism Alliance (formerly Visit Illinois), and the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. He is also past Chairman of the Greater North Michigan Avenue's Marketing Division and is a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame's steering committee. He also serves on the boards of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the River North Association and the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra.

Grant's father was Donald J. DePorter, the founder of Chicago Gateway Green, a non-profit organization dedicated to the beautification and greening of Chicago. Since his father's death in 1996, Grant has served as Chairman of Chicago Gateway Green. Grant's mother is the educator Bobbi DePorter, who founded the SuperCamp program and the Quantum Learning Network (QLN). Grant attended the very first SuperCamp in 1982 as a student, and has served as a Director of the QLN. Grant and his wife Joanna have two twin daughters named Hannah and Margo.

External links

* [http://www.harrycarays.com/index.php?page=about&cat=deporter harrycarays.com page about Grant DePorter]
* [http://www.enjoyillinois.com/IllinoisTourismNews/November2004/insider.htm Illinois Tourism News article about Grant DePorter]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3492532.stm BBC article]
* [http://www.gatewaygreen.org/ Chicago Gateway Green website]