I have to admit, as much as I thought I'd hate U.S. Cellular Field for being more of a mall than an American ball park, I was pleasantly surprised. It's a very nice stadium. The staff everywhere were friendly and helpful. The bathrooms were much nicer than those at the other Chicago baseball field, I readily admit. So, I give the park a thumbs up! I understand that Joan Cusack sleeps in a
n empty broom closet somewhere beneath the stands around the third-base line. She's sort of like the Quasimodo of the Cell, I guess, occasionally scurrying up to the top of the scoreboard to launch fireworks (or try to catch them; it's difficult, sometimes, to determine which). Her presence was definitely felt that cool, late-summer evening as Mark Beuhrle took the mound against the Kansas City Royals, seeking payback for their sweeping a series against the Sox earlier in the season.A few things I observed while attending this game:
- It is great to see Harold Baines back with the White Sox. He was one of my baseball heroes when I was growing up.
- Sox fans really, vehemently, passionately hate Cubs fans. I saw two things that really disturbed me that night. One was just a T-shirt riddled with little Cubs heads with bulletholes between the eyes that read, "Cubs Fans! Shoot to Kill." worn by a mouthbreather sporting a skullet who looks like he'd gleefully and readily follow the advice displayed on his barrel chest. The other was a bit more unnerving. It was a drunk, cocky, idiot physically roughing up a man wearing a Cubs hat in front of that man's own child. The Cubs fan said, "Come on, man. My kid's here. Leave me alone. It's only a game." The other guy said, "Does your kid know how much of a fa**ot you are!?" It was broken up by Sox fans, so that was a good thing. Just not very classy. I'm not saying that could not happen at Wrigley Field, I'm just saying that I've never seen it happen, and I've been to quite a few more Cubs games over the past few years than Sox games. I see a lot of pro-Cubs shirts; not a lot of against-Sox stuff, at all.
- Back to the positive: Got to see Mark Beuhrle pitch in person.
- Got to see Ken Griffey Jr. play in a Sox uniform in person.
- Got to see Bobby Jenks close... in person.
- Was entirely entertained by my son and his friend.
- Had a great time shooting the breeze about baseball with my Dad, the walking almanac.
4 comments:
Your description is very detailed, and mostly accurate. It's good to see Papi teaching that boy some good values!
I prefer the South Side as opposed to that singles bar on the North Side full of snotty Lincoln Park people who have no interest in the game. Even your boy Barack knows the score on that one.
Funny post - glad everyone had a good time!
Two things:
1. I was not the Cubs fan in my story. I am smarter than that.
2. I recognize, now that Paul has mentioned it, that I sound like one of those snotty LP people. Hmmmmmm. That's a downside of Cubs fandom, I also readily admit.
I am from the South Side, and I have rocked a mullet or two in my day. I'd be rocking one now, if I could grow hair on top of my head and not on my back and out my nose and ears. In fact, I will find my high school yearbook for my junior year and post that picture. I'm more addressing the lack of class displayed.
As for your account of fans, Mr. Kreidler... In what section were you sitting? The Cubby Bear lounge doesn't count as actually being inside the stadium; nor does govt. issued sky box seats (D'oh!). In the bleachers, there is nary a snotty, cell-phone toting, texting yuppy prick; only, good, ol' fashioned rowdy drunks!
Ah yes, I good time on the South Side. The shirts for sale outside the park a bit harsh but (from the glass is half full perspective) it shows the Sox fan's devotion to their team.
BTW - its tough living north of O'Hare and bleeding black and white. Its lonely up here ... and a long drive to the park.
You see this? *Rubbing my finger and my thumb together*
It's the world's smallest violin playing just for you, Joe. Bwah! I'm kidding.
I did see one shirt that I absolutely loved, but I have not been able to find it, since. It's the cubs logo, but it says "Cork" instead of Cubs. On the back, it reads "Sammy Sosa: Cheating with the Cubs since 1992"
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