Hey, people actually care about the Blackhawks now

August 12th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

Hockey isn’t exactly “back” in Chicago — it’s still here, to be sure, and thanks to young players, it’s experiencing a sudden surge in optimism. But it’s not all the way back, at least not yet.

Still, people in Chicago seem to be noticing the Blackhawks again, for a few reasons. One: Good young talent and an interesting team. Two: The Bulls were horrible to watch last year, and an $8 hockey ticket was a relative bargain. Three: Former Cubs marketing guru John McDonough is raising the team’s profile in the city little by little, whether through standard marketing (player outreach, team events) or through big coups like the planned game at Wrigley Field in January. After a few years of obsolescence, the Blackhawks are moving in the right direction.

At least it feels that way. Do the numbers match up? Are people buying more season ticket packages? Apparently it feels that way because it is that way:

Mike Kamarauskas’ predawn drive from Bartlett to the United Center to be at the front of the line to purchase Blackhawks tickets Monday was a first for him. It also marked the first time in recent memory Kamarauskas — or anyone else, for that matter — needed to arrive before sunrise to buy Hawks tickets.

“I wanted tickets for some of the premium games, and I knew I had to get out early,” said Kamarauskas, who established the head of the line at 5:30 a.m., 41/2 hours before single-game seats for the upcoming season went on sale. “I didn’t do it last year. I bought tickets the day of [games], and I bought tickets a few days or couple of weeks before the big games. I’m afraid they’re going to sell out this year.”

“Every single day, with everything we do, we need to make good impressions,” McDonough said as he worked the line under a sunny morning sky. “I met a gentleman in line who said it’s the first time he’s been back as a ticket-holder in 27 years. I hear more and more of that every day. Many of them are coming back.”

See? Hockey may suck sometimes, but some of its major problems — lack of scoring, broadcast difficulties — have been eliminated by new rules and the rise of HD television. In Chicago, ownership is no longer running the franchise as if its the 1930’s. Without getting too worked up, it’s fair to say hockey is making its push; the only uncertainty is whether that push will be a gentle nudge or a vicious shove.

Wrigley Field was half circus, half Ben Kingsley movie last night

August 5th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

Hey, Postmen readers! Perhaps it’s been a while. I hope you’ve enjoyed the numerous FanHouse links that have now fully covered our front page. Allow me to apologize — things are slowing down here, perhaps permanently. Busy busy. We’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, you should watch these videos of Wrigley Field last night. There was this big old storm, you see, and it came crashing down on the North Side of Chicago — tornadoes, huge winds, lightning — it was biblical and terrifying. Most of my neighbors lost their power. I didn’t, and I was playing Rock Band all night. I’m a nerd.

But Wrigley Field, that’s where things went a little crazy. Not only did people slide on the tarp during the storm, a large number of fans somehow waited the thing out and risked life, limb, dignity, and life to stay and watch the Chicago Cubs play baseball. Not smart. Also: kind of awesome.

Yankee Stadium trying to steal Winter Classic from Chicago?

July 1st, 2008 | Posted by PostmanR

At the end of May, the Sun-Times reported the Winter Classic was all signed, sealed and delivered for the Red Wings to play the Blackhawks at Wrigley Field. Outdoor hockey. In the winter. At Wrigley. Pretty. Freaking. Cool. But alas, a wrench — why is it always a wrench? could we not through a screwdriver into the situation? let’s to that — has been thrown into the plans. According to Random Reality Thoughts, New York doesn’t seem completely out the door yet.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Billy Daly was a guest on XM Radio’s “Hockey This Morning” and stated that “it’s safe to assume” that a Winter Classic will be held at Yankee Stadium or Wrigley Field during the upcoming season.

Like Eric McErlain over at FanHouse, I’m a bit confused by this, but would think it’s safe to assume both cities are now bidding for a shot at hosting the game. Which is bogus. Yeah, it’s Yankee Stadium’s last year. And yeah: it makes sense to have it there. But does Yankee Stadium have the ability for someone to throw an octopus on the ice from a rooftop?

I think not.

Outdoor hockey inching closer for Hawks, Cha-city

May 21st, 2008 | Posted by PostmanR

I don’t claim to be a huge Hawks enthusiast in any regard, but I must admit if they score a game in Wrigley or Soldier Field next season, I am so totally there, man. And things are still looking pretty good on that tip.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said last week that the proposed game at Yankee Stadium isn’t as likely to happen because of a “variety of issues,” according to Newsday.

“There are some winterization issues, because it is an older stadium,” Bettman told reporters in a conference call. “… I don’t know whether or not they can be resolved.”

Chicago is considered one of the other finalists to be the host for the game, which was played for the first time on New Year’s Day at Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium.
[ … ]

McDonough has pitched the idea of playing the game at Wrigley Field, but Soldier Field would seem a better fit. McDonough, who said it’s possible a decision will be made in the first week of June, simply wants the game in Chicago and the location doesn’t matter.

My own self-serving, let’s get some drinks and go watch some hockey at Soldier Field WHOOOOing aside, this is just what the Blackhawks need. For a team that actually televises home games now, generated a decent buzz and some excitement about themselves this past season and have some great young talent, this can only help.

But yeah: HOCKEY AT WRIGLEY WHOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Let’s hope tonight goes better

May 12th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

This is has been posted everywhere today, but I don’t give an eff. It’s been a stressful day, and all I can think about is an Old Style, my Fukudome jersey, and my well-worn seat four rows up in the center field bleachers, all of which I will be indulging in in approximate four hours. It’s a beautiful thing.

Less beautiful is Tony Romo’s edition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame, which not only features some truly horrible singing — that would be entirely forgivable — but Romo’s apparent embarrassment at how bad he was. Any seasoned karaoke singer knows: No matter what, never betray weakness. If you fail to keep belting that horrible 80’s pop at the top of your cigarette-scorched lungs, the crowd will immediately turn on you. So it was with Romo.

I have no idea who’s singing tonight, and I don’t care. There’s no way it will be worse than Tony.

{Vid HT: Bugs and Cranks | Everywhere}

The Chicago Sun-Times is fighting the power … with limericks

April 17th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

Getting all worked up about changing Wrigley Field’s ancient name is pretty lame. Know what’s lamer? Stoking the anti-change populist fires in a sad, desperate attempt at drawing attention to your newspaper. Know what’s even lamer than that? Doing so with limericks. Yes: freaking limericks.

The Sun-Times seems to be running one of these “Let Sam Zell know what you think!” community stories every third day now, and today’s installment is yet another proud edition to the pantheon. Keep in mind, as you read on in horror, that these were chosen as the best from a “flood” of entries. Taking these apart piece by piece is kinda mean, so instead I’ll just let the artists’ work stand on its own. Order your cappuccino, adjust your beret, and politely close your MacBook Pro away — it’s the first annual WATP Poetry Slam!

The state wants to buy Wrigley Field,
for the rent money that it will yield.
With a corporate name
It won’t be the same,
And the wound will never be healed.

Change Wrigley’s name? We deplore it,
We hate all the bad reasons for it.
If a company should,
We’ll boycott their goods
And the corporate name, we’ll ignore it.

For every sad generation
That has left Wrigley Field in frustration,
Between the foul poles
We have given our souls
And resent any new appellation.

To tradition true Cubs fans will cleave, and
embrace history and hope in ”Believe”-land
But if we listen to Zell
we might as well sell
the name “Chicago” to Cleveland. 

I spend a decent amount of time thinking about people of the future will look back on our society. (This thought precludes the possibility that we destroy the Earth in like 50 years, but whatever.) And I get to thinking, and I genuinely believe this. Humans in 2100 will look back at our era as I look at the Renaissance — as a time of incredible positive discovery, innovation, and conscientiousness, a time just as formative as any in the history of the human race. That makes me feel good, you know? That after I’m gone, the things my peers are doing will live on forever as the foundations for a more interconnected, intelligent future.

And then I read things like this, and it brings me back. Because no matter what people in the future think, when I die, I’ll know the truth: we are, as ever, remarkably stupid.

Wrigley Fields only 17 years away from suicide

September 24th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

As we gear up for what should — repeat, knocking on wood: should — be a Cubs playoff berth, it’s time to brace for the legendary bandwagon Cubs fan, the one who just sort of started paying attention last week but who is totally ready to go buy a Marmol jersey if, you know, they do well in the NLDS or something, bro. These are the same people who likely snatched up all the tickets yesterday, rendering me ticketless for Game 1, and these will be the same people that, should the Cubs win — which isn’t going to happen — will be thanking God for ending their lifetime of misery as if they invested anything in the first place.

These people deserve to be hated. So, crazy as it is, there’s something to be said for fans so hardcore, so eager to demonstrate their love, they’re willing to indirectly push their son to suicide by the time he’s 16.

That’s right: some idiots named their kid Wrigley Fields:

His parents say he can go by his middle name when he’s old enough to decide.

For now, the newborn will be known by his first name: Wrigley.

And his last name: Fields.

His parents are Paul and Teri Fields of Michigan City, Ind. They are — no surprise — fans of the Cubs, who have played at Wrigley Field since 1916. The Fields planned the name for years before their son’s birth.

Cubs spokeswoman Katelyn Thrall said the name may be a first. The team has no record of other children named Wrigley, although there have been some children names Zambrano and Ryne after Cubs stars Carlos Zambrano and Ryne Sandberg.

Hey, nothing says welcome to Earth, babies like selfishness! Giving your son a unique name is cool; chances are, one day, he’ll get past the schoolyard crap and grow to love the fact that he’s not named Michael or Jake or Steve or whatever else. Giving your son a name inspired by your favorite baseball team’s stadium is a terrible, terrible thing to do. But at least no one can call the Fields bandwagon fans ever again, and that’s what’s most important, right?

{HT: SbB}