SAN FRANCISCO — David Ross had just checked into his Bay Area hotel Friday afternoon and not yet made it through the hotel lobby before two Chicago Cubs fans stopped him.
The father and son told Ross how much they love his “Lovable Reunion” podcast with Anthony Rizzo and shared how their Cubs fandom had been passed down in the family. Of course, the conversation couldn’t end without the fans telling Ross about their experience watching Game 7 of the 2016 World Series.
It never gets old for Ross.
“I just love those stories,” Ross said in a conversation with the Tribune. “It’s all about the fans and the interaction like I had it in the lobby, when people do that and stop you. It really is the greatest thing. It makes your day, it changes your day every time you hear those stories. My favorite thing about traveling right now is somebody recognizes me in the airport or in a city unexpectedly, and it turns your day around if it’s going bad or lifts you up even more when it is going good.”
Ross came to San Francisco to serve as the TV analyst on the ABC broadcast of Sunday’s series finale between the Cubs and Giants alongside play-by-play announcer Jon “Boog” Sciambi. Ross signed with ESPN before the season to return as an analyst for broadcasts and in studio after spending the 2017 season in the same role. Sunday represents Ross’ first time calling a Cubs game since he was fired in November 2023 when president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer made the move to hire now-manager Craig Counsell.
Ross didn’t have any preconceived notions of how it will feel being around the Cubs. He was at Oracle Park pregame Saturday for initial conversations with players and coaches on both sides, which on Sunday will include the broadcasters’ usual pregame meeting with each manager. Ross said the first call he made after getting fired was to Counsell to tell him he was joining an organization with great people.
“There may be some awkwardness at some point, but I don’t carry a lot of that around with me,” Ross said of being around the Cubs and calling Sunday’s game. “It took about a year to get over. I laugh at myself when I say that, but you follow so hard, I still follow the Cubs, probably harder than to anybody else, just because of the history there, them and the Red Sox.
“I tell people all the time, I went out on such a high note as a player, something bad had to happen if I stayed in the game,” Ross added with a laugh. “Nobody gets to go out like I did as a player. It’s bound to level itself out, and I’m completely fine and comfortable with it. I’ve got so many great memories in Chicago. The organization’s been nothing but phenomenal to me.”
Ross likes to joke how he got his hair back after he stopped managing and that his golf game is much better. The biggest change in his life the last 2½ years, though, centers on more family time with his three kids after being in the Cubs dugout from 2020-23.
“There’s things you sacrifice in life — everybody sacrifices something for success and for work, and that’s one of those things that you know that’s just part of the gig, and you try to make the best of it,” Ross said. “But the quality time at home, I don’t think you can replace that with anything, and so it’s been so great to be a part of that.”
Ross got another taste of the coaching in March when he was part of the Team USA’s staff in the World Baseball Classic as the bullpen coach. He described it as one of the coolest things he has done in baseball and an “absolute blast.” He equated the WBC to a playoff environment from the start of the tournament and hopes the WBC continues to grow.
As for whether he wants to manage a major-league team again, Ross, 49, would embrace another opportunity.
“I love the idea of managing again, but also I realize how much of a relationship you have to have with the front office, the players, and I realize the commitment that it takes, and of course I want to do it again,” Ross said. “It was fun to do it, and the reason why you take the job is to win a championship, but I wasn’t able to do that so I love being a part of championships, historic runs, changing the course of history of organizations. That’s special. I’d love to try that again.”
Ross has used the last two-plus years to reflect on his tenure as the Cubs skipper. There’s “tons” he would do differently if he gets a managing gig again, but mostly the memories and relationships he built with players stand out.
“I always self-evaluate, try to evolve and get better,” Ross said. “I think everybody that’s been successful tries to have some form of looking at that.”
There’s one thing Ross doesn’t miss: Being pissed off at night after a loss when things don’t go your way.
Nowadays, besides his busy weekly TV schedule, Ross has been busy recording the “Lovable Reunion” podcast.
It’s an idea that had been the works for a while. Ross and Rizzo stayed in touch over the years and discussed sharing their stories from the Cubs’ 2016 championship season. When Rizzo retired in September 2025, they both decided their available free time made sense to launch it this year in conjunction with the 10-year anniversary of the World Series title. They started making phone calls to gauge interest and ultimately decided they wanted to do it for themselves, regardless if they lost money on the venture.
Ross didn’t want to spoil who else from the 2016 squad they are still scheduled to have on the podcast, but the first 12 episodes have featured Chairman Tom Ricketts, former manager Joe Maddon and 12 teammates, including Jon Lester, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber. Ross and Rizzo will be hosting a live show July 16 at the Chicago Theatre.
“It has been therapeutic, to be honest,” Ross said. “Telling stories, different stories from different guys in the same scenarios, and their take on it, I can’t tell you how much fun it’s been. I can’t believe that it’s getting so much positive feedback, which is really cool. We thought it would just because of how much fun we have, but you never know.”
The only criticism Ross has received about the podcast came a few days ago when he was at lunch with his mom.
“My mom told me I cussed too much,” Ross said, laughing. “I’m going to try to kick that over these next couple.”
Ross was unable to go to the Red Sox’s 10-year championship reunion in 2023 because he was managing the Cubs, so he’s especially excited to be able to attend the team’s celebration next month at Wrigley Field.
“The fans are ones that make it worth it,” Ross said. “When they stop you on the street, when they tell you their stories, with this podcast going, the DMs are filling up with people’s stories and their interactions, and that’s the stuff that hits you and makes you feel like, wow, we did something so special and historic.”
