Denise Richards Latest Illustration of Why Wrigley Tradition Needs to Go

For those who don't know, ever since the passing of beloved broadcaster Harry Caray, the Cubs have had a "guest conductor" sing the seventh-inning stretch for every home game. At first, it was a great way of honoring the man many of us grew up with. Now, it's totally played and you can argue it tarnishes the memory of Harry more than glorifying it. Witness the latest embarrassment below: Denise Richards trying to sing in Wrigley Field (Friday afternoon).

I had the pleasure of being in Wrigley for this masterpiece. Everyone was laughing at Denise. I can't understand how that's honoring the memory of Caray.

I know it's not happening anytime soon, but the Cubs' officials keeping this charade going really need to change things. It is now Year 12 of the guest conductors, and many of them are either really obscure or former stars still barely clinging to the spotlight. The truly big stars came out in 1998, and it was a special thing to honor Harry Caray like that. Now, it's a farce. As we just witnessed with Denise, when people absolutely butcher the song or don't know the words (see the Osbournes), it's kind of disrespectful to Harry -- who used to sing the stretch for every home game.

The best way to honor Harry Caray, in addition to having a restaurant kitty-corner from Wrigley and a statue outside the right field entrance, is to either have a tape recording of him singing it or just have Ron Santo sing it every game he's up for it. I'd even be on board with having celebrity Cubs fans (like Jeff Garlin) sing in a select few games -- like once a homestand or only on Saturday afternoons, for example.

As things stand, there is no reason to continue running out the Denise Richardses of the world to butcher the song our beloved Caray used to sing. It's disgraceful.

Denise Richards Snapshots

Jewel, Nancy O'Dell and Denise Richards attend afternoon tea in honor of Nancy O'Dell's new book "Full Of Life" presented by Neutrogena & Cookie at the Hotel Bel-Air wine terrace on April 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, CA. Afternoon Tea In Honor Of Nancy O'Dell's "Full Of Life" Hotel Bel-Air - Wine Terrace Los Angeles, CA United States April 17, 2009 Photo by Stefanie Keenan/WireImage.com To license this image (57205567), contact WireImage.com

Stefanie Keenan/WireImage.com

Denise Richards attends afternoon tea in honor of Nancy O'Dell's new book "Full Of Life" presented by Neutrogena & Cookie at the Hotel Bel-Air wine terrace on April 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, CA. Afternoon Tea In Honor Of Nancy O'Dell's "Full Of Life" Hotel Bel-Air - Wine Terrace Los Angeles, CA United States April 17, 2009 Photo by Stefanie Keenan/WireImage.com To license this image (57205475), contact WireImage.com

Stefanie Keenan/WireImage.com

Shaun Robsinson, Nancy O'Dell, Alison Sweeney, Lisa Rinna, Denise Richards and Jewel attend afternoon tea in honor of Nancy O'Dell's new book "Full Of Life" presented by Neutrogena & Cookie at the Hotel Bel-Air wine terrace on April 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, CA. Afternoon Tea In Honor Of Nancy O'Dell's "Full Of Life" Hotel Bel-Air - Wine Terrace Los Angeles, CA United States April 17, 2009 Photo by Stefanie Keenan/WireImage.com To license this image (57205669), contact WireImage.com

Stefanie Keenan/WireImage.com

Nancy O'Dell, Lisa Rinna and Denise Richards attend afternoon tea in honor of Nancy O'Dell's new book "Full Of Life" presented by Neutrogena & Cookie at the Hotel Bel-Air wine terrace on April 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, CA. Afternoon Tea In Honor Of Nancy O'Dell's "Full Of Life" Hotel Bel-Air - Wine Terrace Los Angeles, CA United States April 17, 2009 Photo by Stefanie Keenan/WireImage.com To license this image (57205677), contact WireImage.com

Stefanie Keenan/WireImage.com

Denise Richards sighting on March 10, 2009 in West Hollywood, California. Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - March 10, 2009 Los Angeles, CA United States March 10, 2009 Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com To license this image (56949046), contact WireImage.com

Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com