I'd like to ask Dylan here if he'd like to be my best friend. However, there's no way you're ever, ever going to get rid of the yuppie/frat boy/reactionary crowd, and it's as simple as the ballpark's location. It still is the world's biggest beer garden, and unfortunately, always will be. This leads to mucho, mucho idiocy. Once people enjoy drinking there, and do it regularly, they think they're fans.

This is a different category than the other side of idiot Cub fans, which would be the the buses from Iowa contingent, the nostalgia crowd, who don't want Wrigley changed in anyway, despite the added revenue that would only help the team. Because of the long standing association with WGN, and the folklore of the Cubs that has spiraled out of control, you'll never get rid of these people either.

There are some of us, sir. Just have to wade through a whole sea of crap to find those ports.

you're talking about. However, I'm pretty positive every team has the fans that you mention. I personally don't don't mind seeing people who want to give players that we may not agree with a shot. I think its important to note that there are obviously different levels of fans, like young posters, and people who are just casual fans, and I don't think you can try and push those people out. Really, if someone says something that isn't that bright, it shouldn't be that hard to just pass it by. I wish we could come on here and have the most knowledgable posts in the world, unfortunately, you won't find that anywhere.
As for the Iowa contingent, I'm from Dubuque, I know the bus scene, it ain't that cool. I refuse to take a bus ride. But not all Iowa fans are like that. I'm sure every other surrounding state has the same thing.

what you meant with this statement:

not white eeerr intangible enough to win

I think I have an idea of what you're getting at, but I'm not 100% sure and would rather have you spell it out than me assume and misinterpret. Thanks.

Moving on, I share your disappointment with the crowds. It made me embarrassed today to see many, many people act like complete idiots -- especially people my age.

There's nothing we can do about anyone else's behavior. People will only change if they want to change. All we can do is hope to lead by example.

One of my favorite sayings is "You can't take the sky from me." [It's a couplet from the theme song to the (amazing) TV show Firefly.] The masses may act like idiots, but we can't and won't let them ruin our team and our game.

is a good place to start for information, presented in a very entertaining manner. Just search the site for "Ryan Theriot", "Darin Erstad", and "David Eckstein" and you'll have PLENTY of reading material...

It helps explain why a guy like Theriot may indeed have value and be a good player to have on your club, but as a role player at best. NOT a starter. And certainly not a leadoff hitter. I love The Riot, but let's be honest about his strengths...and his weaknesses.

For those unfamiliar, FJM parses the work of sports journalists in an amusing, but factually-based, fashion. Frequent targets: Gordon Wittenmyer, Joe Morgan (duh), Tim McCarver (duh), virtually all of MSNBC.com, Bill Plaschke, etc.

(As with all my posts, links will open in a new window.)

One caveat for FJM:
Occasional profane language warning

It's not just on the Cubs site either...it's everywhere. I'm a 25 year old male who played college baseball, and I have no children. I coached youth baseball last year with a guy who's only knowledge came from the 6 games a year he watched. It's frustrating, but it's a fact of life...people want to give their opinions just to be heard.

if you redefined the word "fan" for yourself.

Fan is short for fanatic. Showing up at a game does not constitute a fan. Personally I call them attendees. If you separate the fans from attendees, you'll realize the difference is night and day. The worst example of that is a Bulls game; talk about sheeple. If the scoreboard ever blew a fuse, you would be able to hear a pin drop.

Don't worry, that "attendee" infection has spread all over the country in all sports. You can't kill that infection so it's best to try to ignore it and know you're above it. The only requirement to get into a game is money, not knowledge. Hell, I had some ass-clown ask me (in the bleachers none-the-less) what 4-6-3 meant. Talk about being annointed one of Dogbert's in-DUH-viduals instantly.

Knee jerk reactions from ass-clowns like that really doesn't matter, does it? Now I'm not saying drink the Cubbie koolaid while looking through the Cubbie blue sunglasses (we have those here too) but once you realize there's a lot of dumb-asses out there you'll be able to separate yourself from that.

... you and I have not always seen eye-to-eye. This time, I happen to agree with you. The angst spilled in the last two days over TWO LOSSES (one of which came close to being a dramatic win) is unbelievable.

I do wish you hadn't used the word "idiot" in your title, but otherwise, you're spot on.

Watching the fans at Wrigley boo both hero Kerry Wood and the team as whole today in the 6th gives me hope that the spark which was awakened in all of us in 2003 still burns.

It gave me heartburn.

It was terrible to see. One game in, and already we're booing one of the most talented players on the club, not to mention the longest-tenured Cub, and why? Because he had a bad outing.

If this team wins 100 games, it means they lost 62. Should, then, we be sure to boo the Cubs every time they lose? Every time they disappoint us? Of course not, losing is part of the game.

I'm embarrassed for Cubs fans when they boo their own team. It's the sign of an infantile fan base, not a hungry one.

I've got a few disagreements with your main idea--that the Cubs "fans" who go to the game to drink themselves silly and those that like players such as Murton, Theriot and Fontenot are the same. In my opinion, those are two groups--one who's opinions can be safely ignored and one who's opinions, if presented intelligently, should at least be heard.

We know the drunkards don't really care about the team construction, chemistry, hustle, OBP, advanced defensive metrics, etc. They care about the beer and being out in the sun. As long as they don't ruin my enjoyment of the game (which they sometimes do), I could care less if they're at the park or not.

Lumping the second group of fans--fans who support players who "hustle", have "intangibles", etc---in with the drunkards does a disservice to our baseball debate. As the last few World Series winners have proven, there's more than one way to build a Championship team. To say that people who disagree with your way to build the team are all "know-nothings" seems to be grouping too many disparate groups together.

Anyway, that's my 11 cents.

the next FanPost right above you. Case in point.

Why should you complain about other pople being obnoxious? they pay money to watch the game just like you, and just because they are drinking and have their chests painted doesnt mean they are not intellient cub fans.

I for one am sick of people like you, complaining about what other people are doing.

deal with it buddy

its stupid people constantly complain what other people do at the stadium. Grow up and focus on your self.

some fellow "fan" as he called himself as ked me if it was Kyle Farnsworth pitching the 10th.

That my friends, is a true Cub fan!