Double Standard

GBS25 - Agree with you 100%. I noticed something like that with Ramirez when we went to a game in July.

ItsRosy - Those are very interesting numbers. My question is really very simple though, why does a franchise with such a long losing track record draw people like they do? It's kind of amazing when you think about it. Do the Red Sox have similar numbers?

Thanks

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No apology required GBS25. I like Alexei and had not heard that he had done that. I hope AJ's and Ozzie's sentiments got through to him.

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Have seen the same thing out of Alexi, not running things out, late to the bag on steal and fees and I think in the Red Sox seies stood at the plate on a dropped third with the tieing run coming in from 3b, he did make it to first but the effort was not what you would teach. Don't really understand it.

NC42, yes, the Red Sox do have similar numbers as the Cubs, as do the Dodgers and Yankees. For example, the Red Sox avg home attendance is 37,890, but because of the size of their park they're still playing to an overflow crowd of 101.5% nightly! On the road they're playing in front of 73.4% with an average of 86.2& of capacity, compared with the Cubs 87.8% of capacity, currently tops in the majors.

As to why, it would depend upon whom you ask. As has been reported here a zillion times,the home attendance is inflated because of tourists wanting to see a game at Wrigley. But,even if that were the case, how do you explain their huge attraction on the road? Every team has transplants around the country, but Cub fans seem to be particularly loyal and really come out wherever the Cubs are playing.

As I said, Mr.Ricketts knew exactly what he was getting for his millions. Now, he has to find a way to let this francise continue to grow. His options are limited, IMO.

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May I suggest...



...no guarantees though.




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The theory I have always heard about the Cubs is that WGN was the first "Superstation" being telecast nation wide. More people had a chance to see them play than any other team. Plus, all the day games with no other teams as competition made them popular to watch.

The older Wirtz never understood that putting yhour product on TV helps, not hurts attendance.

I agree that being on TV forever has helped the Cubs. When I was in College, we would watch either Cubs or Braves games during the day and I am still a fan of both. However, the Braves can't even fill their own stadium during a playoff game.

Why does that happen?

All day games, TV and Ladies Day made the Cubs the darlings for women of past generations.

Donughnutman, maybe it's because the Braves are a transplanted francise. First the Boston Braves, then Milwaukee and now Atlanta. The Cubs have been in Chicago forever and over the years (centuries) have had the opportunity to capture many more potential fans. JMO

Itsrosy- Thanks for the numbers. You sound like a marketing "guy."

I know from having lived many years in AZ, there are TONS of Chicago transplants there. Try and get spring training tickets to a Cub's game - very tough. It will always amaze me though, how a team with such a losing history can generate that big a fan base. Maybe it isn't all about winning!

NC, no marketing guy here. Just came across this while surfing. In the case of the Cubs, and maybe only a few other franchises in all sports you're right, it isn't always about winning.

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It isn't always about winning rosy?



If not winning, what on earth could it be about?







A cool $6.75 each!




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"Turd" talk should be limited to the NL....which is in danger of being renamed AAAA!

Nice article in SI 2 weeks ago documenting this HUGE disparity.

I can't remember who won the World Series last year. Please help me recall.

It was The AAAA Team, The Phillies. This in spite of the fact they play in a league that still plays baseball instead of the perverted AL Game.

And that is the reason for any disparity.

FBD, let's not pile on the AL version of the game. Look, this year it's given us the AL central division. Hasn't it been fun to watch that bunch of misfits?

You are right again Rosy. While my wife scolds me for watching The Three Stooges, I can watch the sox as much as I want... and I get all the same laughs as watching The Stooges and my wife leaves me alone!

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Man, I could have watched that episode and my wife wouldn't said a word if they were only wearing sox unis.

Got Trophy?

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"No."

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WHAAAAAAAAAA!

cubby bravado is Stooge like humor!

4 outta 6 guys.......... and a lopsided AL record in EVERYTHING THAT IS INTER-LEAGUE FOR 20+ years.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

The SOX will rise again in 2010 and the cubby's will still have Hendry.

Now THAT is funny.

Don't know about your opinion on the sox, but the cubs have been tragically funny.

quote:

Originally posted by CPLZ:

Got Trophy?

Nope, but I did hear something that I didn't know: From now on, the sox won't be on WGN, Comcast or any other local station. They will shown exclusively on THE HISTORY CHANNEL.

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Even though I'm a Sox fan that is a good one FBD!



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Can anyone even envision Yankee fans, or any fans continuing to gloat about a Championship gained years earlier? In NY, if the Yanks don't win, their fans could care less about the Mets.CPLZ, just how many years can you use that photo as a ruse to hide your team's current ineptness?

FBD, The History Channel,now that's funny!

Ineptness, very well put Rosy.

I guess if the sox fans keep on blathering on about how bad The Cubs are, they might forget about how rotten things have gotten on the south side. Like their dirty sox don't stink.

Woody, the only thing I don't get about you is that you don't seem to be nearly negative or mean-spirited enough to be a sox fan. And you do have a great sense of humor...it just doesn't add up.

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It might have something to do with my choice of wardrobe...



...and the definition of extremely!




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Call the WS history. I lived through a World Series win with my favorite team. Cubs fans haven't. When Boston won, they talked about all the people that just wanted to see the Red Sox win once before they died.

My Step Father was a big Cubs fan. He passed away in 2001. He was 80. He never saw the Cubs win a WS. I would ask what it was like to never see your team in the Series. He would talk about listening to the Cubs in the Series in 1945 on a ship bound for Japan.

White Sox fans have seen it and lived it. 11-1. It is the whole ball of wax. If the Cubs had done it ONCE, they wouldn't be the professional franchise with the longest time without a championship in history.

2005 was all I need to say I have seen my team in a Series AND win it. Unless you are at least 66 you weren't even alive while the Cubs were in a Series let alone remember it. I lived it. If the Cubs ever win you will get the thrill. If not, it is just a dream.

Picture of Cub Nation spreading the good news last time they won a World Series.

Hey guys, where's your sense of humor?

When your team comes in 5th in a 5 horse race it's hard to keep that sense of humor. One great city and you can rank it's sports teams as follows:
1. Da Bears
2. The Cubs
3. The Bulls
3A The Blackhawks
5. The ws

Own it! This version of your team quit on it's manager and themselves right after the all-star game. You should be angry and embarrassed. But have no fear, ego driven KW will fix it all by next spring. BTW, love your bullpen.

My team has played in fits and starts. Right now, finishing the season playing hard and winning with some great pitching and timely hitting. Nice to see. See you in Mesa, 2010! Have a nice winter.

Corrections made. Thanks FBD.

Major League Baseball would sure be a lot more boring if it weren't for Chicago.

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That's right PG. Without Chicago every MLB city would become like this city in Oregon...




I've lived in a few of them!






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rosy....

Since you can't gloat about YOUR team that quit 4 months ago (let alone a Championship) you choose to be me! GREAT!!! Mean spirited banter is NOT just a White Sox fan deal after all! Red Handed,(or worded) dude.

Now we all knew this to be true but you have finally joined the gang in admitting your deep seeded REAL feelings. It's about TIME!

Imagine if we were all headed to the "City Series" in a week or 2 and had a chance to continue the fun?

That would instantly make the world series 2nd fiddle and pack both the sewer and the cell.

Unfortunately, the morons that run MLB would never let it happen.

In my mind 2009 has nothin on 1935.

There is no doubt that a city series would mean a lot to the fans of Chicago. Unfortunately I don't know that the players and teams would be on board. These guys make enough money that they just want to go home if they aren't in the playoffs.

A World Series between the two would be one of the greatest spectacles in sports of all time. Just inmagine what it would be like....especially if we got to a game 7. What a dream.

Rosy is clearly one of the classiest guy on our forum and of course he is just throwing fuel on the fire.....too bad for us the season has been over for a few weeks.

Bruce, you forgot The Bulls, who rank #4. That puts the sox at #5.

Sorry Soxnole, but your annual premise is still incorrect. It's like this. When your team is stinking it up big time, you feel the need to rip on the Northsiders. It's like you feel better about your situation by piling on someone else's. I maintain that Cub fans are just as unhappy about their team, regardless of what happens on the Southside. Sorry, we just don't care. I was just pointing out the obvious, my friend.

If it makes you and your fellow ws fans forget about the current state of your team, by looking at pictures from the Championship year, or bashing the Cubs, so be it.

This is by far the most entertaining topic I have read on the HSBBW in years, it is hysterical how you guys go at each other. How come the Mets and Yankee fans don't go at it like that?

The Cardinal fans thank the Cub Nation, I didn't realize how much they hate the Cubs.

For us parents of those milb on winning teams, we don't always like it when the big guys win, it only gives less chances for the young guys to move up quicker.

Hoping that next year Cubs can make it a horse race, for the young players sake.

If there were such a series as you speak of, I would place my bets on the NL cubbies.

FWIW, my fav team, those scappy Marlins, gave us TWO championships. Too bad they don't have the fan base to support them like those midwest teams have.