No matter where you go or what you do, it is always good to have choices. That is exactly what Jeff Samardzija has, choices. The 21-year-old wide receiver for Notre Dame recently signed a deal that places him in the Chicago Cubs organization. The deal
is reportedly up to 5 years and is worth upwards of $7.25 million. He was a fifth round selection by the Chicago Cubs in the recent MLB draft but don’t worry Fighting Irish fans; he’ll be back in time for fall practice.
Samardzija got the red carpet treatment by the Cubs as they took him out to dinner, allowed him to have a 45 minute bullpen session, and to top it all off he got to throw out the first pitch before the Tigers-Cubs game. Let’s not forget he got a few pointers from future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. The plan is for Jeff to play in the Cubs' farm system until Notre Dame opens football camp this season.
The decision process that Samardzija will not have to go through will not have to occur right away. He already knows that in the fall he will wear #83, catching touchdown passes in Notre Dame Stadium, but what does the future hold for him after that? As of now he would like to try to play both sports, but that is going to be really hard to do. It takes a special athlete to be able to play two professional sports. Bo Jackson did it, as did Deion Sanders, but Michael Jordan struggled when he tried his hand at baseball.
Samardzija’s college coach, Charlie Weis thinks that his future is in football and I would have to agree with him. There is nothing wrong with him striving to play both but if he truly wants to be a star, he is going to have to pick one and concentrate on it, but what a luxury to have that choice.
