I don't know anyone who would admit Wrigley Field was "comfortable" I've been to my fair share of games at Wrigley this past season and I'm not going to be a complete White Sox hater of the stadium like some of my friends that I know. But it's sure as hell historic. There's an undeniable prestige about The Friendly Confines that can't be ignored. Travelers, tourists, and baseball fans alike have flocked to see at least one game at Clark and Addison. ESPN Page Two ranks Wrigley Field as the 13th most important sports venues. They also rank seeing a Cubs game in the bleachers as the 22nd best thing a sports fan should do before they die. I'm sure there's no more Pro-Wrigley top 100 rankings because Wrigley and Wrigleyville is just an integral event and part of Sports Americana. People love Wrigley and rightfully so.
But that being said, let's stop having anything other than baseball games be played at the stadium.
In 2008 on New Year's Day, for the great Winter Classic- the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field. Overall it was a resounding success (especially for Red Wings fan who rallied from a 0-3 deficit to win 6-3) and it has gotten many praises. But it wasn't without it's problems.
There were reports about problems with putting ice down on the field, the temperature was WAY too cold for both players and fans, and most importantly- it was hard to see the game for a lot of the fans. While I'm not going to make a joke about poles being in the way, one of the best experiences (so I've heard) is being up against the glass and having the possibility of seeing a check right in front of your face. But because Wrigley Field is not conducive (really) for a hockey rink, it was hard for a lot of people to see the game. Not only were there no people up against the glass but you could just how far away people had to sit to watch the game- even for those who got great seats if you were watching a baseball game. I bet for the people who paid an arm and a leg and through the nose for those seats lost some of the appeal of a hockey game compared to a game at the normal arena.
But, again, the Winter Classic was considered a resounded success so if you want to refute me on any points (respectfully of course) be my guest- I won't put up a fight.
But what really grinds my gears is regarding the upcoming Illinois-Northwestern game being played at Wrigley this Saturday. While I'm thrilled, because this game is at Wrigley, that my beloved Illini will receiver national attention and receiver it's sixth win to be bowl eligible (cross your fingers), it's how the game will be played that's got my slightly ticked.
On EPSN.com today, there was a story that both offenses will be playing towards the same touchdown. This is because the other touchdown will be against the right field wall and there's fear that an injury will occur.
WHAT!? This isn't a pick up game in your back yard with your family right before a Thanksgiving dinner. This isn't a game where there's that one due who's a permanent QB because you have an odd number of players. This is a college football game. This just seems absurd to me.
While I admit this is at the bottom of my list of "shit I should care about" right below the color of my bowel movements (ooo going Blue!), this still shouldn't happen. I think it's time to reevaluate other sporting events that will play at Wrigley. I understand why sports want to do it. I understand the prestige and the "OOOH" factor involved in playing at Wrigley. But at the same time, let's be realistic here. At some point the mystique factor should be outweighed by the realism factor.
Showing posts with label Sexy Rexy's Sports Gripes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sexy Rexy's Sports Gripes. Show all posts
Sexy Rexy's Sports Gripes: LeBron Edition
Yes, I realize I'm late giving all you lucky fans MY two cents on quote The Decision endquote. Yes, my "''" buttons work fine. Stupid interns, can't find good help these days. Even though no one has a job. Yet I digress. I was going to do a podcast about this as soon as I sat through an excruciating 15 minutes of Stuart Scott and Jon Berry's opinion and another excruciating 15 minutes while LBJ babbles on and on about quote what a tough decision this has been endquote. Damn it Johnny, stop taking everything I say so literal. Stop writing what I'm saying! Stop that. qwefqewnfbqwejfbqdvbcqwjvqewcbqwd,ncb
Sorry about that folks, I had to fire Johnny and he wouldn't relinquish the computer. So now it's all me. Despite you having enough time to formulate your own opinion about LeBron and even though you heard EVERYBODY at ESPN and your local sports talk radio tell you their opinion, here's mine:
- Everyone except the five Heat season ticket holders and Pat Riley is pissed at LeBron for some reason or another. I am no different. Except the only reason I hate him is because he didn't choose Chicago. I'm not even a big basketball fan by any stretch of the imagination but I was wishing upon airplanes in the night sky that they were shooting stars so I could wish that LeBron would choose Chicago considering everyone in the media for two straight months told me he was coming to Chicago. I would have actually watched basketball/ follow NBA box scores if LeBron came to Chicago.
- Also, I hate LeBron because when the interviewer FINALLY came around to asking LeBron where he was going, LBJ's response was "South Beach". When the interviewer then said "you mean Miami; you're going to the Miami Heat?", LeBron just starred at him blankly. Really fucknuts!? You couldn't just say "Miami Heat" or at least reiterated after you were asked that you're going to the Miami Heat!? Or say "the Heat". Or at least the namesake city of the team you're going to play for? Even a 24 year old could have thought of that.
- By the way, if you think about it, WISHING airplanes were shooting stars just so you can then go ahead and MAKE A WISH is pretty fucking retarded. Think about it.
- I have absolutely no inherent/ objective reason to hate LeBron's actual team choice. All I heard in the off season is that LeBron needs to go to a place where he can win. Well, I think LeBron can win with DeWayne Wade, Chris Bosh, myself, and The 'Bright' One playing center. I'm pretty sure LeBron choose a place where he could win multiple championships, like every critic said he needed to do. But because he'll win with other superstars it was a bad decision? What!?
- This "LeBron doesn't want to be the man" nonsense is getting way too out of hand. When people are comparing King James to Michael or Kobe, are they forgetting the other four players that were on the court with these players? Did people forget that Kobe was The Man in L.A. for a long time post-Shaq and pre-Gasol and it got him nowhere? Did people forget the reason Boston won a Championship recently and just went to the Finals was because of what the media dubbed "The Big Three". And do people forget that Michael Jordan had a top 50, probably a top 35, best basketball player of all time during his six rings. A little man by the name of Scottie Pippen. And three of Jordan's rings came with Pippen along with a great player who also has won many rings prior; a guy by the name of Dennis Rodman. Ever heard of him? No really, have you? Can you please tell me who he is?
- Along the same line, LeBron did not hurt his global image. He's still going to be a sponsor for Nike and Vitamin Water and what have you and still sell shit all over the world AND have multiple rings to go along with the millions upon billion of dollars that he's going to make. And then he's going to sleep with 20 different women, a few in each city he plays on the road (the one hot girl in Charlotte, keep your legs warm!) and then get caught in a huge scandal that will actually hurt his image and he'll end up paying one of the girls a few BILLION dollars. This type of scandal will be unprecedented and will never happen before or after LBJ did it.
- Everyone who is criticizing James for "how he handled 'The Decision'" and the press conference are just jealous haters who wish he came to their city and team. The only "bad" part of the interview was that ESPN, the lying douchebags that they are, told us that The Decision would be at 8:00 and when 10:15 finally rolled around and everyone at ESPN gave their own dumb ass opinion (mine is clearly the only one that matters!)along with a really boring interview, then did we all hear where exactly LeBron was going- even though ESPN told us all day LBJ was going to Miami anyway.
- LeBron owes Cleveland nothing but an apology that he was a little bitch in the playoffs and even though the Cavs were the best team in the East for like five straight years, James could only go to the Finals once and win no titles. He didn't have to go play for Cleveland just because they drafted him and just because he's from the area. Let the man, aka little bitch, play wherever he wants to.
- The only bigger little bitch in this entire saga is Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. We're all pissed LBJ didn't came to our team but we all don't take out editorials in the paper and whine and complain about it and throw a temper tantrum like a three year old. We instead act like adults and bitch and moan about it on an independent sports blog mainly related to baseball and football that no one reads.
As Porky Pig would say Th-th-th-that's All, Folks!
Sorry about that folks, I had to fire Johnny and he wouldn't relinquish the computer. So now it's all me. Despite you having enough time to formulate your own opinion about LeBron and even though you heard EVERYBODY at ESPN and your local sports talk radio tell you their opinion, here's mine:
- Everyone except the five Heat season ticket holders and Pat Riley is pissed at LeBron for some reason or another. I am no different. Except the only reason I hate him is because he didn't choose Chicago. I'm not even a big basketball fan by any stretch of the imagination but I was wishing upon airplanes in the night sky that they were shooting stars so I could wish that LeBron would choose Chicago considering everyone in the media for two straight months told me he was coming to Chicago. I would have actually watched basketball/ follow NBA box scores if LeBron came to Chicago.
- Also, I hate LeBron because when the interviewer FINALLY came around to asking LeBron where he was going, LBJ's response was "South Beach". When the interviewer then said "you mean Miami; you're going to the Miami Heat?", LeBron just starred at him blankly. Really fucknuts!? You couldn't just say "Miami Heat" or at least reiterated after you were asked that you're going to the Miami Heat!? Or say "the Heat". Or at least the namesake city of the team you're going to play for? Even a 24 year old could have thought of that.
- By the way, if you think about it, WISHING airplanes were shooting stars just so you can then go ahead and MAKE A WISH is pretty fucking retarded. Think about it.
- I have absolutely no inherent/ objective reason to hate LeBron's actual team choice. All I heard in the off season is that LeBron needs to go to a place where he can win. Well, I think LeBron can win with DeWayne Wade, Chris Bosh, myself, and The 'Bright' One playing center. I'm pretty sure LeBron choose a place where he could win multiple championships, like every critic said he needed to do. But because he'll win with other superstars it was a bad decision? What!?
- This "LeBron doesn't want to be the man" nonsense is getting way too out of hand. When people are comparing King James to Michael or Kobe, are they forgetting the other four players that were on the court with these players? Did people forget that Kobe was The Man in L.A. for a long time post-Shaq and pre-Gasol and it got him nowhere? Did people forget the reason Boston won a Championship recently and just went to the Finals was because of what the media dubbed "The Big Three". And do people forget that Michael Jordan had a top 50, probably a top 35, best basketball player of all time during his six rings. A little man by the name of Scottie Pippen. And three of Jordan's rings came with Pippen along with a great player who also has won many rings prior; a guy by the name of Dennis Rodman. Ever heard of him? No really, have you? Can you please tell me who he is?
- Along the same line, LeBron did not hurt his global image. He's still going to be a sponsor for Nike and Vitamin Water and what have you and still sell shit all over the world AND have multiple rings to go along with the millions upon billion of dollars that he's going to make. And then he's going to sleep with 20 different women, a few in each city he plays on the road (the one hot girl in Charlotte, keep your legs warm!) and then get caught in a huge scandal that will actually hurt his image and he'll end up paying one of the girls a few BILLION dollars. This type of scandal will be unprecedented and will never happen before or after LBJ did it.
- Everyone who is criticizing James for "how he handled 'The Decision'" and the press conference are just jealous haters who wish he came to their city and team. The only "bad" part of the interview was that ESPN, the lying douchebags that they are, told us that The Decision would be at 8:00 and when 10:15 finally rolled around and everyone at ESPN gave their own dumb ass opinion (mine is clearly the only one that matters!)along with a really boring interview, then did we all hear where exactly LeBron was going- even though ESPN told us all day LBJ was going to Miami anyway.
- LeBron owes Cleveland nothing but an apology that he was a little bitch in the playoffs and even though the Cavs were the best team in the East for like five straight years, James could only go to the Finals once and win no titles. He didn't have to go play for Cleveland just because they drafted him and just because he's from the area. Let the man, aka little bitch, play wherever he wants to.
- The only bigger little bitch in this entire saga is Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. We're all pissed LBJ didn't came to our team but we all don't take out editorials in the paper and whine and complain about it and throw a temper tantrum like a three year old. We instead act like adults and bitch and moan about it on an independent sports blog mainly related to baseball and football that no one reads.
As Porky Pig would say Th-th-th-that's All, Folks!
Sexy Rexy's Sports Gripes
Since I haven't posted in a while, I was going to write a post about former White Sox prospect John Ely in a clever post that was to be entitled The Book Of (John) Ely. But when I went to Fangraphs to do my research, they already wrote a post on him and his success. I guess that's what I get for being negligent for two weeks. Plus, if you don't know who John Ely is by now, you deserve to lose your fantasy league.
So instead, I'm going to do what every good blogger, er every blogger does and that's bitch and moan about shit that really no one cares about. Cuz hey, that's what blogs are for, right?
-Joe West, you can go fuck yourself. I know GOI is trying to be more politically correct, but I'm gonna say what everybody else is thinking (and what Ozzie said): Go fuck yourself Joe West. Because the official MLB rules are so vague as to what is considered a balk, what Mark Buehrle did may have technically been a balk, but you're just a fat piece of shit umpire West for calling TWO balks on Buehrle and then sending your publicist to every media outlet to try to set up interviews about the incident. Hell, GOI even got an email from West's publicist (God, I wish). Keep your damn mouth shut.
-After the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Conference Finals, ESPN all but declared the Magic the winner of the series- even though the Celtics had won the first three games. Essentially every analysts said the Celtics were done and that Boston fans should hit the panic button. I don't care if this series does end up going to a Game 7, no NBA team has ever won four straight after losing the first three and this RARELY happens in sports. Sure the Boston Red Sox in '04 and the Philadelphia Flyers just did it against the Boston Bruins, but relax Celtics fans, you're going to the Finals.
-How messed up and neurotic are we as Chicago sports fans in general that we are not overwhelming expecting the Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup? Listen, I get that the Flyers are not to be passed over just because they were a seventh seed and I will give the team all the credit in the world for getting this far. And just ask the Detroit Tigers in 2006 how it feels to play an inferior team and lose. But the Hawks are so damn good, young, deep, and talented that we should all expect a victory. You never heard Indianapolis complain in the past about their Colts did you?
-A Twins/Yankees game got rained out so I benched Derek Jeter, because he obviously wasn't playing that day. A few days later the game was rescheduled for a double header. The rescheduled game was the first game of the double header in which Jeter hit a home run. However, because I benched Jeter during the original rain out, I didn't get the HR (even though I started Jeter for the double header). This has nothing to do with anything but I'm really pissed at Yahoo! right now. But I'm over it now, can you tell? Fuckers.
-The New Jersey Nets were BY FAR the worst team in basketball this year and probably had one of the worst years ever for an NBA team. Their reward? The #3 pick in the NBA Draft. What horse shit. As a Bulls "fan" I should be happy by the lottery system because this BS system allowed the team to get Derrick Rose (and, cross your fingers, LeBron) but seriously this system is so messed up. NBA's logic is that the lottery system will prevent teams from "purposefully taking a dive" in order to earn the #1 draft pick. Do you really think the Nets winning 12 games is dependent on where they want to draft? Teams don't take dives- no matter what the sport. A few years back, in Week 17, the Texans played the 49ers and the loser of the game was guaranteed to have the #1 pick in the NFL draft. Players came out and said they would MUCH rather win the game than earn the 1st pick in the draft. (An exact quote was from a Texan "we don't want Reggie Bush". At the time everyone interpreted that quote as we don't want to lose this game because that means we get the #1 pick and we will use that pick on Reggie Bush. However in hindsight, he may have just been pleading to his GM to not draft Bush because he is really bad at professional football.)
-Speaking of LeBron James: YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHERE HE WILL END UP! Sure, you can speculate and discuss and make up any bull excuse like "He wants to go to a franchise where he will be the best player in the team's franchise" (hence he's not going to Chicago) or "The reason he changed from number 23 to number 6 is because Michael's number 23 is retired" (hence he is coming to Chicago). Don't get me wrong, I think it's fun and interesting to talk about it, but if you're in the 'business' just say what it really is: just pure speculation and blind hope. The day after the Cavs got kicked out of the playoffs, ESPN had a reporter from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Cleveland- all of which said LeBron is coming to their sports team. Me personally, I think LeBron goes to the Nets and D-Wade comes home to Chicago. But what will really happed is that Chicago will get Bosh and Joe Johnson.
-Rihanna cheated on Chris Brown, gave Brown herpes, so Brown beat Rihanna's ass. Now there's no excuse to EVER harm a woman, but it makes you think differently about the situation now doesn't it?
-I think the Chicago Bears had a really bad offseason, especially by not addressing their O-line. Yet they are still light years ahead of the Detroit Lions.
-When is a book gong to be written on the Tampa Bay Rays? Jesus Christ they are awesome.
- I hate you: Justin Upton, Aramis Ramirez, Ben Zobrsit, Lance Berkman, and Octavio Dotel for messing up my GOI draft fantasy baseball in some way, shape, or form (mainly because they suck donkey balls). Now I have to do offensive AND pitching research instead of just pitching research for next year.
-Having the Superbowl at the Meadowlands is a really dumb idea. As awesome as the potential to have the Superbowl in Chi-Town is, I'm a firm believer it should only be in a place where the weather can not (or the chances of it affecting the game are very slim) affect the outcome of the most important football game of the year.
So instead, I'm going to do what every good blogger, er every blogger does and that's bitch and moan about shit that really no one cares about. Cuz hey, that's what blogs are for, right?
-Joe West, you can go fuck yourself. I know GOI is trying to be more politically correct, but I'm gonna say what everybody else is thinking (and what Ozzie said): Go fuck yourself Joe West. Because the official MLB rules are so vague as to what is considered a balk, what Mark Buehrle did may have technically been a balk, but you're just a fat piece of shit umpire West for calling TWO balks on Buehrle and then sending your publicist to every media outlet to try to set up interviews about the incident. Hell, GOI even got an email from West's publicist (God, I wish). Keep your damn mouth shut.
-After the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Conference Finals, ESPN all but declared the Magic the winner of the series- even though the Celtics had won the first three games. Essentially every analysts said the Celtics were done and that Boston fans should hit the panic button. I don't care if this series does end up going to a Game 7, no NBA team has ever won four straight after losing the first three and this RARELY happens in sports. Sure the Boston Red Sox in '04 and the Philadelphia Flyers just did it against the Boston Bruins, but relax Celtics fans, you're going to the Finals.
-How messed up and neurotic are we as Chicago sports fans in general that we are not overwhelming expecting the Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup? Listen, I get that the Flyers are not to be passed over just because they were a seventh seed and I will give the team all the credit in the world for getting this far. And just ask the Detroit Tigers in 2006 how it feels to play an inferior team and lose. But the Hawks are so damn good, young, deep, and talented that we should all expect a victory. You never heard Indianapolis complain in the past about their Colts did you?
-A Twins/Yankees game got rained out so I benched Derek Jeter, because he obviously wasn't playing that day. A few days later the game was rescheduled for a double header. The rescheduled game was the first game of the double header in which Jeter hit a home run. However, because I benched Jeter during the original rain out, I didn't get the HR (even though I started Jeter for the double header). This has nothing to do with anything but I'm really pissed at Yahoo! right now. But I'm over it now, can you tell? Fuckers.
-The New Jersey Nets were BY FAR the worst team in basketball this year and probably had one of the worst years ever for an NBA team. Their reward? The #3 pick in the NBA Draft. What horse shit. As a Bulls "fan" I should be happy by the lottery system because this BS system allowed the team to get Derrick Rose (and, cross your fingers, LeBron) but seriously this system is so messed up. NBA's logic is that the lottery system will prevent teams from "purposefully taking a dive" in order to earn the #1 draft pick. Do you really think the Nets winning 12 games is dependent on where they want to draft? Teams don't take dives- no matter what the sport. A few years back, in Week 17, the Texans played the 49ers and the loser of the game was guaranteed to have the #1 pick in the NFL draft. Players came out and said they would MUCH rather win the game than earn the 1st pick in the draft. (An exact quote was from a Texan "we don't want Reggie Bush". At the time everyone interpreted that quote as we don't want to lose this game because that means we get the #1 pick and we will use that pick on Reggie Bush. However in hindsight, he may have just been pleading to his GM to not draft Bush because he is really bad at professional football.)
-Speaking of LeBron James: YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHERE HE WILL END UP! Sure, you can speculate and discuss and make up any bull excuse like "He wants to go to a franchise where he will be the best player in the team's franchise" (hence he's not going to Chicago) or "The reason he changed from number 23 to number 6 is because Michael's number 23 is retired" (hence he is coming to Chicago). Don't get me wrong, I think it's fun and interesting to talk about it, but if you're in the 'business' just say what it really is: just pure speculation and blind hope. The day after the Cavs got kicked out of the playoffs, ESPN had a reporter from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Cleveland- all of which said LeBron is coming to their sports team. Me personally, I think LeBron goes to the Nets and D-Wade comes home to Chicago. But what will really happed is that Chicago will get Bosh and Joe Johnson.
-Rihanna cheated on Chris Brown, gave Brown herpes, so Brown beat Rihanna's ass. Now there's no excuse to EVER harm a woman, but it makes you think differently about the situation now doesn't it?
-I think the Chicago Bears had a really bad offseason, especially by not addressing their O-line. Yet they are still light years ahead of the Detroit Lions.
-When is a book gong to be written on the Tampa Bay Rays? Jesus Christ they are awesome.
- I hate you: Justin Upton, Aramis Ramirez, Ben Zobrsit, Lance Berkman, and Octavio Dotel for messing up my GOI draft fantasy baseball in some way, shape, or form (mainly because they suck donkey balls). Now I have to do offensive AND pitching research instead of just pitching research for next year.
-Having the Superbowl at the Meadowlands is a really dumb idea. As awesome as the potential to have the Superbowl in Chi-Town is, I'm a firm believer it should only be in a place where the weather can not (or the chances of it affecting the game are very slim) affect the outcome of the most important football game of the year.
