Cubs vs. Reds

We're leaving the hotel on the way to the Cubs game. Harry Caray's sports bar was right by our hotel.

I was going to put my stuff in Joel's car, as he'd be driving us back to Michigan after the game... but I was going to ride with BDF, to be his navigator.

Jonathan in front, then Joel and Dave, then BDF and Me in BDF's bling bling Jeep.

We were meeting up with everyone at Scott's place, which was kinda near the stadium. BDF spotted this Greek bar with the "OO-PAA!" sign.

This is where we parked. That's BDF's Bling Bling Jeep.

I thought it was pretty kewl.

So here's a video looking at it.

So we're getting set to go. We've got (from left to right) BDF, Dave, Joel, and Jonathan.

There's Alan, going to the car for some reason.

Here's Mark.

And here is Scott.

And here you can see Peter (hat) and Jason. That's the full group (not counting me) So: Bdf, Dave, Joel, Alan, Peter, Jonathan, Mark, Jason, Scott.and Me.

We took the L to the game. We go on here.

On the L stop by Wrigley Field they had this picture of Ernie Banks: "Mr. Cub."

And here we have Wrigley.

We got inside, and it was raining... and they had the tarps out. Which I thought was kinda neat, as I'd never been to a game with the tarps out before. I had faith that the game would still be played.

Here's a look around Wrigley as we're headed towards our seats (way up on top.)

Here's the scoreboard... I think it's the most beautiful scoreboard in professional sports... the inning by inning scores for games all done by hand.. the teams arranged by standings in the flags above the clock... There's a beautiful old timey feel to it that you don't get anywhere else.

Here's a good look around Wrigley from our seats.

In these boxes sit Steve Stone (Stoney) and Chip Caray (grandson of Harry Caray).. commentators for WGN-TV, and Ron Santo and Pat Hughes, the radio voice of the cubs on WGN radio. I've listened to Ron and Pat for years, and I can't help but consider them good friends at this point.

Video of them starting to pull up the tarp.

They're getting set to pull up the big tarp now.

And here they run and pull up the big tarp. It looked pretty kewl.

Here it looks like they're getting set to roll up the tarp, but instead they just sit there for about 30 minutes.

Here they are, a big group of groundskeepers (and some of the luckiest people on earth). They just kinda hung out there for a long while.

There's the Cubs dugout, and you can see Popeye towards the middle there.

There's another shot, with Popeye on the far left.

Here's our first look at Sammy Sosa. He's on the right.

And the game is starting. This was our view. ("obsvu"). It's a gorgeous park, and a great day for baseball. I love Wrigley.

And the game begins...

Aramis Ramirez, the Cubs' 3rd basemen, had a number of really nice plays this game.

So.. Peter and I were talking.. and we got into a disagreement as to which stadium was older: Wrigley or Fenway. I said Fenway was older, by about a year. Peter said Wrigley was older. I bet him a dollar. We had a few guys (Dave and Mark, I think) use their web enabled phones (after deciding that outside help, like me calling my roommates, would be unreliable as they'd be biased [I didn't bother to mention that they'd be biased against me.]). We first found that Fenway was built in 1912 (which made me say that Wrigley was built in 1914, and Jonathan agreed, [he had been leaning towards Wrigley being older, I think, but quickly saw the light of truth.]). Peter remained defiant, but was soon proven wrong when Dave found that Wrigley was in fact built in 1914. Here is a shot of a defeated Peter handing me my well earned $1. Good times. And for the record, Julia Stiles was not in Swinfan.

Here's another look around Wrigley, ending with a touching tribute by BDF.

Here's a nice "in action" shot of the game. I love Baseball.

Here's Joel. It was Joel, Bdf, Me, Peter, Jason, Mark in one row, and Jonathan, Scott, Alan, Dave in the row in front of us, I believe.

Here's a charming shot of Me, Peter, and Jason. I was made fun of as being a "fanboy" on the trip to the game, as I was decked out in Cubs T-shirt and cubs hat. But for one thing, I am a huge Cubs fan, so it's not like I was a poser, and another thing: Almost everyone at Wrigley was wearing Cubs stuff. So I fit in, and the other guys just looked like wanks.

So... here's another nice shot. to steal a phrase used out in Chicago: The girl behind us was "not unnattractive". BDF's face is classic. I was pretty proud of this shot.

Here we are, scoreless in the bottom of the 5th. Houston is already winning.. I hate them.

Please don't strike out.... too late.

I took a lot of shots of the game.. but you have to understand, this place is like Eden for me.

I really like this shot, with the ball in midflight.

we all got these card when we entered, with a scratch off dealie. I had watched much of the game the day before, and they announced that today was going to be Fergie Jenkins Day. Fergie Jenkins was a pitcher for the Cubs back in the late 60's and early 70's, and again in the early 80's. Anyway, they were giving out 500 autographed baseballs. I scratched my card, and I did not win... but Jonathan did. You had to claim the proze by the 7th inning.. so when the 7th inning rolled around, I asked Jonathan if he was going to claim it, and he said no.. so I asked if I could, and he gave it to me. (I was very pleased.. thank you Jonathan!). SO I ran down and got it, and here it is. My own authentic autographed Fergie Jenkins baseball.

Scoreless in the 8th.

And the Astros are still winning... I hate them.

Next time I come, I want to get seats around the Cub's dugout. That would be heaven for me. Well, wait. I want to go there with a girl that likes me, and either likes me so much she'll go to a Cubs game with me, or likes me and likes the Cubs as well, so she'd be jazzed to go to Wrigley. That is my wish. Those in charge: See that this gets done, thank you.

The Reds suck, and I hate them.

But I love Wrigley.

Just look at the crowds on the rooftops. Cubs fans are the greatest fans on earth.

Long story short: Cubs lose 1-0. Damnit. So we're leaving, and we see these drummer dudes on the street. They were really good.. doing all sorts of drumstick tricks and all synchronized and stuff.

here's a video of them drumming. You can kinda see the dude in the middle spinning the drumstick in his hand quickly then going back.. I was impressed.

The best part about this video (of the drummer dudes again) is Jonathan's funny dance/wave right at the beginning on the right side.

Here's a closeup of them drummer dudes again.

And there's the rest of the group waiting for me and Joel.

When the Cubs win, they raise a White flag with a blue W. When they lose, it's a blue flag with a white L. They had to "raise the blue flag" today.

We were now homeward bound.

So... don't pee on the tracks either...

"Oh my... You should eat!"

We're on the L now.. Here's Joel.

Here's me, Jonathan, and Alan. Nice guys.. Really Nice.

Here's where Scott lives, and where we all met up. A long week is done, my mighty Cubbies have been defeated, and I just wanted to go home.