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Ryan Dempster doing more than just pitching in for Cubs’ Marquee Sports Network

Like any kid growing up, Ryan Dempster had an idol.

You’d figure that an aspiring baseball player would worship major-leaguers. But that wasn’t the case for a young Dempster. Growing up in Gibsons, British Columbia, his adoration went to Johnny Carson.

Dempster would stay up late to watch the “The Tonight Show.” Just how late was he allowed to stay up?

“I don’t want to rat out my dad,” said Dempster, now 43. “I was pretty young.”

Dempster liked falling asleep happy after hearing a joke or an amusing story or watching an entertaining skit.