The Lovable Reunion - Cubs pranks, a $10k check & World Series comeback w/ former strength coach Tim Buss | Ross & Rizzo

The 2016 Chicago Cubs' World Series victory wasn't just a triumph of talent—it was forged in a culture built by unsung architects like strength coach Tim Buss, whose relentless humor, emotional intelligence, and psychological mastery turned a fractured roster into a family. In this heartfelt reunion, Anthony Rizzo and David Ross recount how Buss transformed mundane routines into rituals that bonded players: from the 'ball bag of the day' shaming games to the 'circle of trust' where teammates shared positive affirmations, and the pregame 'on the base, on the base, on the base' chant that became a self-fulfilling prophecy. The episode reveals that Buss’s real power wasn’t in physical training, but in creating psychological safety—knowing when to push, when to laugh, and when to simply be present. His influence extended beyond the field, culminating in a $10,000 check Rizzo wrote after driving in 100 runs, which Buss still hasn’t cashed after nearly a decade—a living symbol of their unbreakable bond. This wasn't just a team; it was a tribe, and Buss was its emotional spine.