Wrigley Field

After yesterday's heart-ripper-outer of a game, the Cubs have lost seven of eight for the first time since last June. They still have a four-game division lead and an 84.5% chance of winning the division, thanks to the Brewers losing five of their last seven, so things are not actually as bleak as they may seem. (And yes, the chances of them missing the playoffs entirely are very, very small. But we're not discussing that. Yet.). Still, with Zambrano and Harden in various levels of gimpitude, the collective angst here in Chicago is not unfounded. As Rob wrote earlier today, Harden is scheduled to pitch on Thursday, and Zambrano on Saturday, so we'll know more (and know just how freaked out to be) in a week or so.

In the meantime, maybe WXRT's Lin Brehmer is right and the Cubs are suffering under The Curse Of Jon Bon Jovi. Apparently the Cubs are playing "Living on a Prayer" during pitching changes. "Living on a Prayer"? Seriously?

It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not.
We've got each other and that's a lot for love
We'll give it a shot.
Whoah, we're half way there
Whoah, livin' on a prayer

I don't think "it doesn't make a difference if we make it or not" adequately captures the true feelings of Cubs fans (not to mention players and management). The Cubs aren't "living on a prayer," either; they're living on strong pitching (expect for the 9th inning yesterday), solid defense (ditto), and the best offense in the National League.

Of course, a textual analysis of the problems with "Living On a Prayer" doesn't address just how crappy Bon Jovi is. I mean, seriously, I understand how the desire to appeal to the widest possible audience often manifests itself in a rush to the lowest common denominator, but this is ridiculous.

I wish I had a long list of viable, higher-quality alternatives to offer, because we're all about solutions here at TCR, but alas the last few weeks have reduced my brain's capacity for that sort of critical thinking to almost nil. But for starters, how about "Nothing To Fear (But Fear Itself)" by Oingo Boingo?

I await better suggestions in the comments. In the meantime, I will officially add my voice to Lin Brehmer's: no more Jovi at Wrigley. Not now, not ever. Life's too short to listen to bad pop metal.

When NASCAR's Robby Gordon runs at the Chicagoland Speedway this weekend, the hood of his car will bear the Web address, SaveOurName.com. The site is a collection point for signatures from Cub fans who want to send a "message to the (Cubs') owners: Don’t sell the name. It’s wrong. It’s selfish. And we won’t stand for it."

By "we," the site's operator presumably means tradition-loving Cubs fans...and everyone at Deerfield,Illinois-based Jim Beam Brands Co., who created the site as part of an ad campaign.

If the Cubs were just now getting around to installing lights, I imagine Chicagoans United for Baseball in the Sunshine would be underwritten by Coppertone.

Grassroots movements just ain't what they used to be.

 

 

From a campaign for Nuveen Investments designed specifically for use in and around the Wrigley Field skyboxes.You can see the rest of the posters here and here.

Tribune Company is now owned by a supposed money-making genius, and the best ideas he can come up with to wring more money out of Wrigley Field are more night games, additional concerts, and peddling the naming rights?

What about the weddings you could host on the pitchers mound, the bar mitzvahs, the graduation bashes, and the Congratulations On Getting Out Of Prison parties?

We've all seen the elaborate staging that happens at halftime of the Super Bowl. How hard could it possibly be to wheel a roller derby track onto the field between innings? Or put a petting zoo on the concourse. Or try this, Sam--get to know Cub fans on a personal level and feed the bottom line by setting up a booth where the Cub faithful get to kiss your beard for a buck!

Obviously the creative ideas are out there, and Sam isn't uncovering them. He needs our help. Send your suggestions to Sam Zell at Tribune Tower. Or post them in the Comments.

We can all laugh and be disgusted together.

According to the Daily Herald, the Blackhawks have discussed with the Cubs the possibility that the Hawks would play one of the NHL's outdoor games next season at Wrigley Field. The NHL would obviously need to give its okay and according to the Daily Herald story, the New York Rangers, who are hoping to host a game in soon-to-be-shuttered Yankee Stadium, might be more likely to get Gary Bettman's approval than the Hawks.

I've looked around the Internet trying to find the weight of an NHL hockey rink and can't come up with it, but I'm pretty sure they're heavy.

If Roger Bossard was dead, he would be spinning in his grave.

There's been a lot of talk lately about the potential sale of Wrigley Field to the state of Illinois. Many seem to be wondering why Sam Zell would risk devaluing the Cubs by selling its most valuable asset. The answer is simple...and obvious; more money.

While searching for the answer last night, I stumbled across the writers at Field of Schemes, who, in my humble opinion, are doing the Lord's work. It's been my long-held opinion that public subsidized stadiums are nothing more than corporate blackmail. The owners ask the state or local government to pay for their stadium. In return, the team won't move...how nice of them. The Field Of Schemes authors have a book whose subtitle explains it best: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money into Private Profit. Bingo! The octogenarian's in Florida have it right though, don't pay. In most cases, the teams need the city and its population more than the city needs the team (except Green Bay which I'm certain would be swallowed up by the Earth if the Packers left).

But how does this all relate to the Wrigley Field situation, you ask? The Chicago Reader explains what some of the reasoning might be behind Zell's plan (link found via Field of Schemes):

Read the rest of this entry>>>

According to Crain’s Chicago Business, Sam Zell’s plan to sell Wrigley Field to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority is “alienating would-be buyers” of the ballclub, A member of one of the prospective ownership groups says, “Splitting (the team and ballpark) absolutely diminishes the value of the team and my interest level.”

With all of the hand-wringing about the possible sale of naming rights to Wrigley Field, I have a suggestion:

How about "Jacobs Field"?

It’s not taken anymore.