Friendly Confines?
Bob Nightengale has an interesting article in the USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/cubs/2006-08-20-cubs-baker-focus_x.htm
The article points out the higher expectations for the Cubs since 2003 as well as problems a few players have had with racism at Wrigley Field.
Ryan Dempster states that "sometimes it's a whole lot easier to play on the road."
This situation reminds me of a time in the late '70s and early '80s when Green Bay Packer fans were accused of hampering the home team's play with the constant booing. They tried to turn everything positive and make it more like a college game atmosphere.
What do you think?
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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Unfortunately, some people, I guess many people
As much as we want to see the Cubs succeed, in the end, this is just a dumb game; albeit, one we truly enjoy. People need to use their heads, and those who continue to paint a black eye on the rest of the Cub faithful are truly ignorant/gutless individuals.
AT LEAST Dusty, whether you like him or dislike him, is smart enough to separate the few idiots from the majority of loyal Cub fans. I'm disappointed with Don Baylor's, Hawkins, and previously Jacque Jones' comments which seem to generalize all Cub fans as racists/threats.
I don't have time to find Jacque's old comments
It's very rare...
There are only two players...
by santo for prez on Aug 21, 2006 10:20 PM CDT reply actions
What an stupid article...
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Aug 21, 2006 10:31 PM CDT reply actions
"Never ANY booing ... until after 2003"?
I've heard plenty of boos directed at the Cubs over the years prior to '03, especially when an unpopular scapegoat such as Todd Hundley was on hand to be the prime target of the boo-birds. Booing wasn't as conspicuous a part of the Wrigley landscape as it was in Philly, Boston, or New York, but it was there.
Other than that, I think that your comments about that obnoxious Nightengale article in USA Today were right on target.
by Gregory on Aug 22, 2006 4:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Agree, SD
Of course, this is the same guy who earlier in the year wrote an article that seemed to imply God was helping the Rockies.
by nextyearcub on Aug 22, 2006 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Drama journalism
No thanks. Racism is real. To stage what is purpoted to be an example of a typical day filled with racism is a terrible example of journalism at its worst.
What are Cub fans
How about tonight, once again wonderful situational hitting by the Cubs. Mabry on 3rd, no outs, and DO NOT score. Cubs lose 6-5.
I am tired of seeing this team swing at pitches that are not even close to the plate. And I will boo in this situation.
Suck it up Boys, You have played bad ball this year. Stop the Boo's, stop swinging at a 2-0 pitch around your eyes.
by Johnny Callison was a Cub on Aug 21, 2006 11:02 PM CDT reply actions
Fans have the right to boo
Cubs fans should have high expectations and expect the team to compete. When they play poorly feel free to boo all you want, just don't assualt people or toss stuff on the field.
And to Baker, Hawkins, Baylor, and J.J., 99% of Cubs fans rooted for you and wanted you to do well (except for Hawking who is a total ignorant jackass). If you want to generalize about all Cubs fans because of some ass-hat racists then go ahead, you don't mean anything to Cubs fans once you are gone and nobody gives a shit about your burdens.
by DudeVf1 on Aug 22, 2006 1:43 AM CDT reply actions
Booing is classless
I needn't say more.
RE: Booing is classless
I feel like the opposite is true here. While, yes, there is a portion of Cubs fans that will support this team with an almost unheard amount of passion and loyalty (I feel like that is who I talk with here). But there is also a significant portion of fans portrayed as drunken yuppies who go to the ballpark for a good time and leave without knowing the final score or who pitched that day. When you combine that with this "Broad Brush" article by Nightengale, it doesn't make us look very good.
We are/were among them for sure
You're just kidding, right?
If you were to order a $50 N.Y. Strip Steak at Gibson's, would you just sit on your hands and say nothing if it arrived to your table looking like a charcoal briquette? Sarah might be willing to sit by while blissfully (ignorance is bliss) chewing on a piece of leather but the majority of us know that the customer is always right.
by cubfan4life on Aug 22, 2006 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions
To each his own,
Yes, booing is classless.
well
That's not a real good analogy...
Booing is a way of showing disapproval. I don't find anything wrong with it.
I think it's a perfectly...
by cubfan4life on Aug 22, 2006 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions
accepted behavior
Well...
by cubfan4life on Aug 22, 2006 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Funny that booing is the issue picked up here
Don't know if Chicago is worse than other cities in this regard, but as fans we should be concerned about the reputation being painted.
Finally, the Sun-Times headline today "Dusty in no race to leave" is really in poor taste, making a pun out of "race" in a story that is partially about racist hate mail.
my guess
now booing at Wrigley annoys me because its boring, I don't mind heckling as long as its interesting and creative. random booing and yelling swears at players just seems like a waste of energy. put some thought into it people, I've heard some really good heckling at wrigley, but booing is just noise
Exactly
My interest is in finding out what other Cub fans thought about booing the home team as it affects performance. As we all know, the Cubs record in Wrigley the last few years has been abysmal. As a Cub fan, anything I could do to turn that around I would do.
Unfortunate article.
The most bothersome aspect of the article is equating the booing with the racist hate mail. I'm not a huge fan of booing, and generally consider it a last resort. Nevertheless, given the complete mismanagement of the Cubs and Hendry's failure to fire a demonstrably incompetent manager, I don't think there's anything wrong with making displeasure known. All of the tickets are sold, so a boycott doesn't really work.
I've lost some respect for Dempster as well. In most cities and for most of the Cubs' history, these playing-out-the-string games would be played in front of 10,000 people. As it is, the ballpark is nearly packed every day with the people who buy tickets and allow the Cubs to pay the players their multimillion dollar salaries. If Dempster doesn't want to hear it from people who are sick of watching him throw batting practice every day, I could use a file clerk around here. The pay would be about 1/10,000 an hour of what he earns now, but he won't be booed. Nice "closer's makeup," Ryan.
by John in Indy on Aug 22, 2006 7:47 AM CDT reply actions
Excellent analysis....
While racist mail is indeed repugnant, and those people should be ashamed of themselves, it does appear to be a very small minority of letters received.
Totally Agree
Booing is okay sometimes. But many fans these days do seem to have a higher expectation after 2003. I've been saying this all year, and it's why I've avoided the team the last year and a half.
If the Tribune doesn't want to pay for a good team, then we have to leave the seats empty. It's as simple as that. You can't go to the park and expect a team with two rookies in the starting line-up, and three rookies in the rotation (now four) to perform well. It's ridiculous to expect anything from the Cubs these days. And until they replace the bats of Sosa and Alou (75 HRs, 200 RBIs) that they lost 3 years ago, they will never be that good again.
by jg on Aug 22, 2006 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions



















