Wrigley Field: A love/hate relationship.

I may hate the Cubs with every inch of my soul... but I am enough of a fan of the game to love Wrigley Field. Sure they serve crap beer (Really? Old Style?) and sure the "Friendly Confines" may be a gross misrepresentation (there is nothing friendly about it if you aren't a Cubs fan, or even Cubs players at times). But there is just something about this historic baseball mecca that really embodies all that is the game. However there is definitely a love hate relationship with this baseball shrine.


Why I love it:

• First of all, they have amazing hot dogs. And what is baseball without hot dogs?

• Second of all, the place is old... really old, it has been home to the Cubbies since 1916. In fact the scoreboard is still manually operated and has been since it's installation in 1937. With it's age comes it's history. It is hard not to get chills when sitting in the park and knowing that 77 years ago, the Great Bambino himself, Babe Ruth hit is famous "called shot" homer into the center field bleachers

• Third, the size. It is relatively small. At least it feels that way. There really isn't a bad seat in the place. There aren't any towering lodge boxes and the cheap seats don't require an oxygen mask. Maybe it's because a great deal of seats are technically outside of the stadium on brownstone rooftops across Waveland ave, but it has a really homey feel.
  

• Fourth, when it comes to fights and temper tantrums it is about as good as a hockey game. Whether it be Zambrano beating the crap out of a Gatorade Machine or the awesome 2006 Cross-Town Classic (White Sox vs. Cubs series) brawl that got four players ejected, the place does not disappoint.

• Finally, the city. Chicago is amazing. I can say that for sure because I have lived here for almost four years now. Most of the summer is perfect baseball weather. It stays in the high 70's and low 80's most of the time and the humidity is marginal at best. I have been to a few different ballparks and I can tell you that it's hard to beat Wrigley on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Why I hate it:

• First-The fans are AWFUL! Easily the worst fans in baseball. They are mouthy a'holes when they win, and they are mouthy a'holes when they lose. I have never seen a team disrespected by their own fans like the Cubs (this actually applies to all of Chicago- Bulls, Bears, etc... they are fickle people here in the Windy City). Every time I am at a game or even catch one on television they are booing their own team! As a St. Louis fan we will gladly boo other teams, but never our own.Although, I guess if my team had been losing for more than a hundred years... I might be a jerk too.
  

• Second, the fans... they are so awful they deserve to be put on here twice. Not only do they boo their own players but they throw beer at the other team. This summer some jerk in the bleachers decided that throwing his beer on Phillies fielder Shane Victorino was the best way to show his Cubbie spirit. Who do they think they are? NBA fans? (See Ron Artest, Pistons/Pacers brawl 2004.) Come on guys... we as baseball fans should be classier than that.

• Next, Carlos Zambrano. This Cubs pitcher has got the personality of a wet cat. The guy has serious anger management issues. Not only does he lose his temper on Umpires, fans, and the previously mentioned Gatorade dispenser. But he also fights with his own teammates. In 2007 Zambrano and Cubs catcher Michael Barrett took out their frustrations about sucking on each other... in the dugout during a game. Way to keep it together Big Z. I know two year olds that throw less tantrums.
  

• Finally, the city. There is no parking, it is smack dab in the middle of a bustling neighborhood and it holds up public transportation like crazy on game days.

All in all, if you are a baseball fan then you definitely need to make a visit to Chicago to see the legendary ballpark. Stop by and enjoy a hot dog. But let me give you some advice. You know the saying "Speak softly and carry a big stick"? Apply at least half of that to your Wrigley experience. Not so much the speak softly part... feel free to yell and scream as much as you want, especially about how much the Cubs suck... but you may want to carry a big stick. Because you never know when a crazed beer weilding fan or multi-million dollar pitcher may be hiding in the ivy.