On Sunday, December 3, Purdue University Northwest (PNW) ended its 70th annual Sinai Forum on a high note with an exciting session featuring David Ross, a former Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher who helped bring the Chicago Cubs to a World Series Championship win in 2016. Cubs fans headed out to PNW’s Westville Campus dressed in their finest baseball gear, eager to hear from Ross about everything his time in the MLB has taught him.
Every year PNW’s Sinai Forum enlightens the community through a variety of knowledgeable individuals and intriguing discussions. The 70th annual Sinai Forum has easily been a notable one for the books.
”This season, we have discussed changes in business and in life with former governor of Indiana Mitch Daniels. We’ve heard first hand from Jennifer Griffin and Benjamin Hall about the challenges faced and the courage shown by journalists covering wars. We learned that community is crucial to creating resilience and to allowing individuals to thrive after life’s harshest realities from both Dr. Bruce Perry, renowned trauma psychiatrist and death row exoneree, Anthony Ray Hinton. And we were fascinated by the geopolitical perspectives of Peter Zeihan who explained the complexities of the world with both intellect and humor," said Leslie Plesac, executive director of the Sinai Forum.
The PNW team knew that this season’s final Sinai Forum guest speaker would leave everyone hopeful for more. David Ross was the perfect speaker to do so.
“We’ve been looking forward to our final program of this season with David Ross ever since he accepted our invitation way back during spring training. Baseball is America’s favorite pastime and a powerful business. Sports bond us together as players and spectators through experience and in community. David Ross has been a part of some of the greatest moments in Chicago Cubs history,” said Leslie Plesac.
David Ross played as a catcher in the MLB for 15 years for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Cubs. Before retiring he helped lead both the Red Sox and the Cubs to victories in the World Series. Even after retiring, though, Ross wasn’t quite done with baseball. He served as a Special Assistant with the Cubs and a baseball analyst for ESPN. He’s most recently been known as the manager of the Cubs until being replaced at the end of this year’s 2023 season.
Moderating this year’s final Sinai Forum was Dan Plesac, an 18-year MLB veteran. He asked Ross all kinds of questions to give the community an inside look into the MLB and the mindsets that have helped Ross find success.
Of course, all the Cubs fans in the room wanted to hear more about the Cubs' win in the 2016 World Series. With the numbers and stats in the team’s favor, Dan Plesac asked Ross if the 2016 Cubs team knew it was finally going to be their year, but Ross explained that numbers only go so far. Winning is about working hard.
“We knew we were good, but you still have to go out and prove that,” said Ross.
A hard-working mindset isn’t the only thing that has helped Ross find success, though. Ross shared that as a manager he faced all kinds of challenges and countless highs and lows. What got him through was learning to fall back on the people who could support him and not be afraid to know when he needed to accept other people’s guidance.
“I didn’t want to be a control freak. I relied heavily on my coaching staff and listened to how my players felt. I’ve never played outfield. I don’t know what it’s like to be a middle infielder. I don’t know what it’s like to catch 150 games in one season. It was important for me, especially as a new coach, to listen to my coaching staff and players so we could set up our players in the best situation to succeed,” said Ross.
Now that Ross has been let go by the Cubs, it would be easy for him to feel lost, but Ross left everyone with one final message: things happen for a reason.
“I’ve gone through a lot of difficult things in my life — sometimes it can feel like your life is coming to an end, but there is so much good that comes from the hard times. I’ve grown as a man and as a dad and I know that there’s something that God has for me down the road that is even better. That’s the way you have to look at things,” said Ross.
PNW’s 70th annual Sinai Forum couldn’t have come to a brighter, uplifting end. Ross’ story of persistence, humility, and hope in the face of adversity left everyone feeling empowered and more than excited for the next MLB season.
“I want to thank our team here at PNW, our senior leadership, and our Sinai Forum Advisory Board for all their countless hours and dedication to this program. I also want to thank everyone here for attending our programs,” said Leslie Plesac.
To learn more about Purdue University Northwest, visit www.pnw.edu.
