Grant DePorter
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Grant DePorter (born November 7, 1964) is a restaurateur from Chicago, USA, who came to worldwide prominence in 2004 after paying 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 having it 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 1945 – and also helped raise a substantial amount of money for diabetes research.
DePorter 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 HC Restaurant Group, which owns several restaurants, the best-known being Harry Caray's in Chicago (named after the late Hall of Fame baseball announcer Harry Caray). The restaurant has 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 Moises 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, 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.
DePorter has served on the committees of several civic organizations in the Chicago area. He is Chairman of Visit Illinois, and past Chairman of the Illinois Restaurant Association, and the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.
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.
