Wrigley is a Dump so

by whatever39 on May 24, 2006 2:54 PM CDT Comment 53 comments

give me a better team. After 12 trips with my three children to watch the Cubs on the road the last 4 years.. the nostalgia has started to wear thin.

My children... the future Cubs fans are just as important as the adults that post here.
In this multimedia world we live in a manual scoreboard is not too exciting. They love that 10 story deal in Atlanta. Even fortunate enough to see Wood pitch in Atlanta during the playoffs. PNC along the river in Pittsburgh is a great little park. Kids ate at Outback Steakhouse in the outfield during BP and saw a great game. Those fireworks after the game... just the icing on the cake. Many of these parks have batting/pitching cages or other ways of passing on the MLB experience.. ways to bring the kids closer to the game (not the bar). The huge concourses.. just great when you have a stroller.
Bottom line if you are going to stick me with this minor league team give me a Major League Ballpark.
Would all this be more tolerable if the product on the field resembled the Yankees? probably.

My children love baseball and I will continue to take them to Sluggers before the games to take a few swings. They will try to get their autographs and keep score. However, taking my children to a 40,000 seat bar surrounded by 100 bars is not the only way it is done today. If that is the experience everyone wants to pass on... then so be it. I guarantee one thing if the Sox keep winning and the Cubs keep losing the little Cubs fan starts to lose interest. Soccer, Skateboards, internet, Ipod, video games.. all competing for my boys time. Give me a damm winner. The little fan in me has already started to lose interest.. no road games this year and cutting back on home games.. Tribune just does not deserve my money.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Getting harder and harder to "convince"

my 6 year old son to be a Cubs, not Sox fan. But come to think of it, why would I want to do that to him?

by SonnyJ9 on May 24, 2006 2:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"This is not for you"

...to quote Pearl Jam. If you're looking for a place to come in from the suburbs and park your SUV/Minivan and entertain the rug rats, then by all means go to U.S. Cellular Field, where the modern scoreboard lets you know when to cheer and encourage the team.

The majority of the Wrigley crowd seems to be unburdened with children (I observe 50+ games per yer), and this market segment is obviously happy with the facilities, as evidenced by the attendence figures. So if this isn't your cup of tea, please join the other soccer moms on the south side and leave our park alone.

by 60613 on May 24, 2006 3:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

refer to my children as rugrats and

question my intentions.. barking up the wrong tree knucklehead. You missed the point and have no kids.. get a life. Your f*** with a soccer dad by the way.

by whatever39 on May 24, 2006 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No offense intended...

...sorry to rile you. By the way, I actually have a life because I have no children. This was a conscious decision we made and I don't regret it one bit. :) I respect your decision to procreate, and to that end, I believe the best park for you would be US Cellular Field.

by 60613 on May 24, 2006 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know at what ball park you watch the Cubs

but there are many SUV's or minivans filled with parents and kids from the suburbs coming to see the Cubs. I attend about thirty-five games myself, and live somewhat near-by, and there seems to be no shortage of children in attendance. I have no problem with kids coming to the park. I'll guess the guy who runs this site agrees.

I don't understand the positioning of your internet shorthand smiley face. If you didn't want to offend him, perhaps you should have put it after the previous sentence. It shows some deep reflection for you to tell parents that they have no life because of kids. It seems like a personal attack on the guy, and isn't necessary to show that you disagree with his points.

I don't think anyone here cares about your personal decisions and your lack of regrets.

I'd prefer to hear your reflections on baseball.

And you are the guy who said you came to this site to get away from hateful rhetoric. I know, you'll say you made that remark in regards to political discussion, but to me it seems to be the same thing here. I for one would like to see you save your sarcasm for some other site, and see you try to live by your own desire to see BCB "remain a baseball-only site and a great refuge from all the garbage posted elsewhere," Bob.

by Tom Mason on May 25, 2006 12:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for reading..

...my other posts so closely without even reading the recent ones up the chain. He said that I had no life first because I had no children. That was a personal attack on me, so I responded in kind. It appears now that the guy was a troll, and that I shouldn't have commented in the first place, or maybe post a recipe instead. My apologies, but I was simply defending myself.

by 60613 on May 25, 2006 6:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I read the previous posts in the thread

And frankly, you started the personal attack. To say you missed the point and have no kids in one sentence, and then to tell you to get a life in the next sentence, does not equate to whatever39's saying that you had a life because you had no chidren.

My issues with you were your defining the ball park's demographic as being unburdened with children, as well as your feeding a troll and descending to his level. Reread my post, and its exhortation to you.

by Tom Mason on May 25, 2006 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Poached Eggs in Wine Sauce for Two

Poach a couple of eggs

Slowly sauté button mushrooms and pearl onions in butter, about a half a cup of equal parts should do.

Sprinkle in some flour for thickener.

Add 1/4 cup of white wine and a 1/4 cup of chicken stock. Cook over low heat until thick ... maybe 15 minutes.

Let it cool a bit, then add an egg white blend well and warm it till thick ... but do not boil.

Arrange the poached eggs on toast and pour the sauce over the top.

Place a strawberry in a wine glass and add champagne. Serve in bed closing the window drapes for effect. Oh and if by chance you intended only exotic just serve at the table and forget the drapes.

by 60613 on May 25, 2006 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL!!!!

n/t

she

by Sarah Hope on May 26, 2006 7:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL?

You've got to be one of the biggest trolls here. And save us your self-important signature.

by Tom Mason on Jun 1, 2006 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

What people with kids....

DO have lives. I'm not saying that having kids is a totally banal existence, but just remembering my parents, they really weren't going out ALL the time until I left for college.

Chances are, if you have kids, and you are living a big time jet-set lifestyle, and you aren't rich enough to pay someone to parent your children, you are bad parents.

Otherwise, call it what you want, but parents just don't have the same opportunity to have a spontaneous life like childless couples, and even less opportunities than single people. There's nothing wrong with that, such is the sacrifice of parenting. But as a result, I don't really love being around parents too much, especially those with young kids, because it seems like they are foreced to live their lives through their kids too much. Back in the day, I used to lifeguard at a pool with membership, and I had to deal with a couple hundred families with small kids. Drove me pretty crazy, I must say. I like to live my life in adult swim mode. Although, ironically, I still watch cartoons, so there's that. Scooby Doo, and Tom and Jerry, my friends, are quality shows.

--From my pointless post of the day files.

by CosmicCharlie911 on May 25, 2006 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stick to the Chicago Fire then?

Wrigley is the least of the Cubs problems. If you want your kids to be continually entertained take them to Great America, that's a classy place.

I think this diary is a first, someone taking out their angst for the Cubs horrible team on one of the most historic parks in Baseball.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 on May 24, 2006 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is about

the tribune putting an inferior product on the field in a dump. Why is either acceptable.

by whatever39 on May 24, 2006 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again, you're in the minority...

...of Cubs fans with the idea that Wrigley is a dump. Turning Wrigley into a "ball mall" would be a blight on the community. Besides, we already have one of those a few miles south (hint, hint).

by 60613 on May 24, 2006 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Most of the Cubs fans...

...I know are fans of the team not of the ballpark. They'd be happy to watch the Cubs wherever they're playing.

Face it Wrigley is a horrible place to watch a game from probably 1/3 of the seats. OTOH, the UD is the best UD in the majors to watch a ballgame from. Sitting in most of the Terrace Reserved is horrible.

by jolietconvict on May 24, 2006 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, partially...

.. I wasn't saying that Cubs fans are fans of the park fist and the team second (though I'm sure this situation exists). All I said was that all the Cubs fans I know love the park, and don't consider it a dump.

I agree about the Terrace Reserve seats. Some of them have poles blocking the view, but that doesn't add up to 1/3 of all seats. I'll give you 20-25%, no more. I also agree about the Upper Deck box seats, which is where I have my season tickets.

by 60613 on May 24, 2006 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know..

...Cubs fans who think the place is a dump. It is a dump IMO, although a dump with charm. That doesn't mean it's without value. The issues with the Terrace seats are not only the poles, it's the upper deck. You can't see a ball that goes more than 20 feet in the air in a large portion of the TR seats. Of course that's what makes the UD at Wrigley so great.

by jolietconvict on May 24, 2006 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Soccer Dad

ooooooooh scary.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on May 24, 2006 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

six three 260 bring it on tough guy

by whatever39 on May 24, 2006 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oops i just regressed to my single days

by whatever39 on May 24, 2006 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

6'4" 270.

Maybe we should go to Weight Watchers together. :)

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on May 24, 2006 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good

I'm glad your kids don't like Wrigley. If they can't appreciate an old school ballpark, then they don't deserve to be there anyway. I hate how parents in this country hijack everything to make it kid friendly. I already have to deal with ridiculous censorship on TV, because parents are too lazy to do their own parenting. Having lived in England for about a year, and three years in Spain, I can say with conviction that America is the most child friendly country I've ever been to. I'm fine with some child oriented attractions, but leave Wrigley alone. I was able to appreciate Wrigley when I was a kid, but if your kids don't feel that way, then don't feel we should all change to suit your needs. Besides, based on what I've observed, tons of kids (lets say age 8 and up) seem to be intuitive enough to understand the uniqueness and charm of an old syle field, so don't speak for all parents or their kids. And why not go enjoy the bars around Wrigley with just the wife and leave the kids at home for a change. Maybe you can try out some of your big talk in person, tough guy soccer dad.

And you lost all credibility with your posturing against other people on this board who weren't really trying to pick a fight with you. Yes, you're awfully brave on the internet. I think what made me laugh the most is I got a visual of you with your "posse" rolling out for a brawl in the family mini-van. What a joke.

On a related note, I do think we Cubs fans need to temper our feelings for Wrigley. Its a great park, with few comforts. I would equate Wrigley to an antique muscle car. Does it have all the latest comforts like thermostat air conditioning, Mp3 player, super smooth suspension, or airbags etc.? Probably not. But it looks damn good cruisin' around. Thats Wrigley for you. If new parks like Petco and PNC are the Lexuses of ballparks, Wrigley is the Duesenberg of ballparks (Yes, I know they aren't muscle cars, but they are closer to Wrigley's age). If Wrigley had to be torn down, my feelings for the Cubs wouldn't change, but that doesn't mean that we should put in a new state of the art park either, because watching games at Wrigley emotes feelings and experiences that new ballparks simply cannot match.

by CosmicCharlie911 on May 24, 2006 7:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"tough guy soccer dad"

yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

by whatever39 on May 24, 2006 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well said, CosmicCharlie...

n/t

by 60613 on May 24, 2006 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re

Amen.

It's a sad state of affairs when a scoreboard gets critisized for existing in the state of sin of being manual. God forbid it doesn't provide electronic stimulation and explode.

And what's an Outback Steakhouse doing in a ballpark, and why would anyone choose to eat at a chain restaurant that's available anywhere 3 people live within a mile of each other when visiting a city? Someone spends the time and money to travel to Pittsburgh and they can't find the wherewithall to experience food particular to that city?

Baseball used to be the point of attending baseball games. Now, I guess, it's supposed to be just another sideshow. Wrigley is the lone holdout, and thank ja it is.

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on May 25, 2006 5:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go to the Cell

Can't argue. Winning baseball, parking, decent food, the FUNdamentals area, etc., etc.

by jolietconvict on May 24, 2006 3:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well...

I don't plan on attacking you or your children, but don't suggest they knock down Wrigley to put in some obnoxious park with bells whistles all over the place to help entertain families. This is baseball not the circus.

I've been going to wrigley since the first grade and never complained because there were no fireworks. I was taught the game of basbeall and how it is played, so I guess I was actually into the games and not entertained by everyhting else around me.

Knock down THE greatest field in any sport to put in something like "The Cell"? Good luck selling those games out.

"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want somebody else to go chase it.

by 10 14 23 26 on May 24, 2006 3:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, yeah

Back in my day I crawled to Wrigley on bloody stumps in a snowstorm and that's the way we liked it. We didn't need no feet.

by jolietconvict on May 24, 2006 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You had STUMPS????

Hey back in MY day we ROLLED to Wrigley Field
as we did not even have stumps just a belly and head
and it was during a HURRICANE not some wimpy
snowstorm.

( apologies to Monty Python)

by jessica on May 24, 2006 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you mean

The 'Sell'

Jacque Jones-doubled-off-second-o-meter: 3

by jrm78 on May 24, 2006 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry..

in my ranting I must submitted this twice. Al, can you delete one?

"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want somebody else to go chase it.

by 10 14 23 26 on May 24, 2006 3:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Done.

n/t

by Al on May 24, 2006 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

This diary smells greatly of trolling.

If Wrigley Field and the Cubs aren't your thing, maybe you should find a different thing.

by Sidd Finch on May 24, 2006 3:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Get your jollys.....

Yeah, the White Sox are winning AGAIN. So what?

Eventually the Cubs will win. McFail, Hendry and Dusty can only live for so long. Unless they perfect cloning..... Hmmmm......

by timeforachange on May 24, 2006 3:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah

but we don't get to live forever either. Pujols is my age, I get to see him destroy the Cubs for the next 16 years of my adult life. Great.

by mike bornemann on May 24, 2006 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great America is up the road a bit...

Why don't you watch a ball game under the roller coaster? Because you are certainly not baseball fans. Don't bother with Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium, not many bells/whistles, either -- except for a video board to entertain your short-attention-span brood....

by Smooth Jazz Man San Diego on May 24, 2006 4:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Unless....

... the dialogue in this diary becomes a little more, shall we say, "adult", I think I just might delete it.

by Al on May 24, 2006 4:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Blind faith demands that you take this diary down

a few years ago I to saw Wrigley as a shrine. I just see the importance of winning and evolution of the Ballpark differently.

by whatever39 on May 24, 2006 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blind faith?

Al just wants to stop the attacks, which were happening earlier in the thread.

Cubbie Blue will always sPaRkLe in my eyes, but please stop losing. PLEASE!

by sparkles721 on May 24, 2006 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correct!

n/t

by Al on May 24, 2006 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As I have noted elsewhere...

... the ballpark isn't the problem.

Bad personnel decisions are the problem.

by Al on May 24, 2006 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Rockies have found "Coors -Pitchers"

Aaron Cook 2-3 2.88 ERA

"Cook's Splits"

Jason Jennings 1-1 3.88 ERA

Jeff Francis 2-2 3.30 ERA

Rockies Home Splits

by cubsfan2883 on May 24, 2006 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

evolution?:

You want a corporate product, not hallowed ground. If it means evolving into something watered down and unrecognizable, call me conservative.

...the artist formerly priorpwnz.

by Faith plus 1 on May 24, 2006 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hallowed ground?

Please. What about Wrigley makes it hallowed? All the playoff and World Series victories by the Cubs there? Or maybe Ruth's "called shot"? Most of the good memories of Wrigley can only be personal since the team has provided precious few on the field. One of my best memories there was seeing Aaron hit #703 (or thereabouts) and being very upset because the Cubs lost!

I love baseball and have children. I don't need to have all the amenities a new park has, but I probably don't need air conditioning in my home either; it's just nice to have and makes living more comfortable.

by wicubfan on May 24, 2006 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

then

it's sad...youv'e truly forgotten where baseball has come from. How disgraceful.

...the artist formerly priorpwnz.

by Faith plus 1 on May 25, 2006 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wrigley Is The Church Of Baseball....

....anyone who believes it is mistaken. Period.

by BeerCub on May 24, 2006 6:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh for heaven's sake

anyone who believes it is a DUMP is mistaken.

by BeerCub on May 24, 2006 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Y'know

I've been to the Cell a couple of times this season (my dad's a Sox fan, as are some of my friends), and the experience struck me...like a brick to the head. There are too damn many bells and whistles and lights and the like. Every freaking batter had music to walk out to (the closer should be the only one with that privilege!), and it generally felt like an assault on the senses. Apparently in the midst of all of that, a baseball game was going on. Being at Wrigley for me is all about the game itself. There are absolutely none of those distractions. Frankly, I think it's a better place to take kids to watch games, because there's little else to distract them, and you can teach them to keep score and the like. That's the great thing about Wrigley: it's not meant for the suburban family with its big SUV and children with short attention spans and need to be entertained constantly. It's meant for baseball fans (and unfortunately, also drunks, but you'll find those anywhere). Frankly, I've always preferred Wrigley to anywhere else, and I'm only 20. I'd like to think my folks raised me right. Now, if the Cubs could only play better than minor leaguers, it'd be perfect.

by Perkins on May 24, 2006 9:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well said

Exactly my point. Baseball is a great attraction by itself. I don't need fireworks after every homerun (although I guess that wouldn't be to frequent this year).

by CosmicCharlie911 on May 24, 2006 9:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I liked yours as well

Very well put. Baseball is beautiful and pure in and of itself. Nuts to the suburbanites and wanting everything to be kid-friendly.

by Perkins on May 24, 2006 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My 9 year old wasn't bored at the game...

I brought her, along with my wife on Mothers Day. She sat with me. I was explaining what was going on, she was listening and asking queestions. I asked her if she wanted to walk around, she said no, she wanted to watch the game.

Oh btw, we don't have any video games in our house either. I have the computer and sometimes she goes online to play some games, but thats it. I guess I don't have one of those attention deficit kids that video games seem to breed nowadays and she really doesn't need all the bells and whistles to become a baseball fan. Like her daddy, all she needs is a game.

Kasey

by kaseyi on May 24, 2006 11:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Re

Well, that's just it. Kids are fed a steady diet of overstimulation via electronic media rather than given attention and participatory activities. Then when things like getting an education require the ability to hold and develop a though for more than 5 seconds, it's an environment they haven't been wired for. And people wonder why diagnosises like ADD are so prevelant today.

FOX is a great example of playing into this phenomena. Their graphics are constantly moving. The colors are visually assaulting. There are constant sounds of shwoosing and guitar riffs that really add nothing to the game, but they do mimic the sensory stimulation of playing a video game.

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on May 25, 2006 5:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

See. this guy has a smart daughter

She doesn't need fireworks, lights, and an outback steakhouse to keep her awake.

Besides, give kids 10 years or so, and I'm almost positive they eventually become adults. Then, they will really appreciate the local bars, and can make a drunken ass out of themselves like the rest of us. As the Redstripe commercials say, "Hooray Beer".

by CosmicCharlie911 on May 25, 2006 5:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs