These last couple months have been pretty busy for me. I’ve worked everyday for the last month and things have just been insane. Christmas Day was my first day off in over a month. I decided to go to a place that I haven’t been in a very long time: The World’s Largest Urinal™.
Okay, maybe I am still a bit bitter about the past. Wrigley was a place, for whatever reason, I loved going to for many years. Most of you already know that though.
This week, 670 The Score re-aired some of the memorable games this season. I listened to most of Game 6 late last night and today, while on the way to Wrigley, Game 7. It was nostalgic. Hearing Pat Hughes like I did 20 years ago made me feel like I hadn’t missed a beat. Comcast SportsNet is airing all of the playoff victories. The last two World Series games air Monday.
I listened to the first couple of innings at home while I was getting to ready to take 88 into the city. I listened to most of it in the car and arrived at Wrigley around the 8th. As I was walking around with one of my friends for about the next hour, the rest of the game was listened to on my phone with my ear buds in. It was a feel good moment for me.
It was weird seeing the place. I drove by it a few years back after dropping a friend off who lived just north of there. This past summer, I took the red line from another friend’s house as I went to The Taste of Chicago. But Christmas Day was the first time I walked around Wrigley since August or September 2008. And damn, does it look much different.
So many buildings are being built in places that use to be parking lots. I remember games sitting in the bleachers and after, I would cut through these parking and bike lots just to get onto the bus that would take me back to my car (that I parked near the Kennedy and Addison).
I am a creature of habit. I don’t enjoy when things change drastically around me. It’s complex to explain and so are the examples, but this is one of them. The McDonald’s that I use to eat at across the street was torn down. It looks like a hotel and other businesses are going to be built. It just doesn’t feel like the neighborhood anymore.
Then again, before all of this, the Cubs sucked and hadn’t won a World Series in a century. So I guess change is good in this aspect.
It was nice to get away on this day. I didn’t really want to sit around home and wait to watch the Bulls piss all over themselves (as they ended up doing anyway). It was my only day off in the last month and I wanted to make it worthwhile. I’ve watched the last inning of Game 7 about ten times already. It never gets old and it will never get old. I am so damn thankful the fucked up voices in my head told me to change the channel to Game 7 at the time I did.
Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Matt Eberflus 
December 26, 2016 at 12:24 pm
Confession: I am more a native of the state of Illinois (born and raised in Peoria) than a native of Chicago, but at the tender age of eleven I pledged my allegiance to All Teams from Chicago.
I will have to find some place to watch or listen to the Cubs Series wins, especially Game Seven. Not waiting around to watch that magical tenth inning will be one of my greatest regrets.
There was too much heartfelt in this sentiment for me to bitch about the train wrecks from this week’s Bears/Bulls games, so I will save them for new year’s.
December 26, 2016 at 12:25 pm
Also, will anyone here miss Boers and Bernstein, as long as we’re getting sentimental? I spent three years in Rockford and took every chance to listen to them when I had to drive to/from Milwaukee.
December 26, 2016 at 1:32 pm
I listened to the final Boers and Bernstein show on Thursday. I wanted to call in, but I was working. I saw them do their show back in 2008 at the 15-year anniversary of the station at a place called “Blues Bar” in Mount Prospect. After the show ended, it took me about two hours (usually, just 45 minutes) to get home because of how much snow was falling.
I remember you mentioning you spent some time in Rockford. That must have sucked. Growing up in Lena and Rochelle, I spent a lot of time up there and unfortunately, still go there about once or twice a month.
December 27, 2016 at 11:52 pm
Great post, Fro…one of these days when I’m visiting, you and I should go for a walk in in the “neighborhood of baseball”…
December 28, 2016 at 12:12 am
Sounds good to me, my frendt. Too bad it looks like a fraternity of corporate people in suits and douchey 23-year old college kids. It’s sad to see all of those houses that people use to live in are now just places for people to pay watch games on rooftops. I just don’t adjust well to changes.
On a lighter note, after walking around there, would you like to take a trip up to Halas Hall? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
December 28, 2016 at 11:54 am
Halas Hall? We’ll have to bring large amounts of drano, ammonia, and bleach. And a plunger. What am I forgetting?
I know what you mean…my Mom and stepdad have lived nearby for 30 years…it’s different, better in some ways, worse in others.
December 28, 2016 at 2:37 pm
“What am I forgetting?”
If you have any cyanide under the sink or in the basement, bring that with you too. I understand there is a rodent infestation up there. Not sure if it’s in the water or not, but we have to find out.
December 28, 2016 at 3:05 pm
What are you forgetting? I’ll tell you what you’re forgetting.
Me and my chainsaw!
December 28, 2016 at 4:03 pm
Chuckster!
Well, you aren’t too far from where you are now. Would you like to meet us there or do you want us to come get you?
January 1, 2017 at 3:23 pm
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA